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Do not buy this - please read

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 11
Date: August 04, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Try before you buy! This game has a major glitch: its save game files are erased sometimes, so you can start all over again.
Beware.

How did this game make it past the debug team?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 5 / 10
Date: February 23, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Though this is otherwise a remake of the SNES classic, "Final Fantasy II / IV," there are some things to consider before purchasing the game:

1.) There are many obvious bugs which will often ruin gameplay.
2.) These bugs never should have made their way past test play. The fact that they weren't even noticed / corrected during the North American localization leads me to wonder how lazy the developer really is, given the opportune amount of time to deal with such apparent issues.

I don't mean to bicker, though the technical issues completely ruined this re-release for me. First and foremost, there are a number of artificial speed-ups and slowdowns on the overworld map, and this is the first issue which I noticed during the opening sequence. Secondly, there is artifacting all over the map, which is the result of unproperly adjusting the map's proportions to fit the resolution of the GBA. (This shouldn't even be a problem, because any half-wit who knows how to use Photoshop can avoid artifacting.) Third, we move in to the newly-implemented battle system, which is an adaptation of the infamous ATB system. A few of the problems here are lag times, commands failing to register and shifty turns. These problems are quite annoying, and can make combat unnecessarily frustrating. I honestly don't know how other people manage to overlook these things...

Now, I have a few other serious issues with this game which aren't necessarily related to bugs. One of the new features, the bestiary, allows the player to add defeated monsters to its databank for later viewing. Simple enough? Well, it seems that the developers redid the encounter rates to make them pre-determined upon starting a new game. In this sense, there are no solid rare or common encounters, as the encounter rates become subjective to the individual game itself. Considering that I've played through the game roughly 3 times, I've never been able to complete the bestiary due to uncommon encounters being too common, and common encounters being too uncommon, vice versa. Doesn't make sense? It doesn't have to -- the developer took a cheap route to make players invest more time in completing the game.

Moreover, many of the new features are completely unecessary, ridiculous, or both. Without spoiling the game, I can say that the difficulty, though advertised as being based on the hard-type release, is significantly nerfed by these additions. Overall, the game barely resembles the original in this right. Albeit, I have no reason to detail much else about this release, as just about all the other details are generally covered in other reviews.

An OK Fantasy

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: December 06, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Background: I have played most of the Final Fantasies, including FFVI (released as III on SNES in the US), which definitely showed that 16 bit RPGs can mix excellent gameplay and a compelling story. I did not play this one when it came out as Final Fantasy II.

The gameplay for this FF is your usual RPG fare of random battles and an ATB bar. However the ATB system is broken. There were many times in battle where my characters were completely skipped over, so their bars would just refill. Even more often, I would enter a command and the game would either take awhile to execute the action (after I entered in commands for others and they acted before the first character) or just completely skip the action that I entered. Always in battle, the game does not respond right away to buttons being pressed, so commands are even more delayed.

The story was alright. I did not find myself really caring about any of the characters (as I have in most). There was no loving relationship between any of them either (a kind of Cloud/Aeris or Squall/Rinoa relationship). The ending seemed to just have that "slapped together at the last minute" feeling.

I did enjoy acquiring the summons and ultimate weapons (for the few characters that had them). However, once getting them and having the characters at 50+ levels, the final boss is incredibly easy compared to most of the monsters found in the final dungeon. And the game is still very short after all that. I find no incentive to do the Lunar Ruins.

If this was your first FF back in the SNES days, then I understand why you like this one so much, but after VI-X (well VI-IX really) the bar for an excellent RPG has been significantly raised.

Disappointing remake

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 16
Date: December 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Don't get me wrong, this game is by no means a disappointment, it just is not as good of a remake that I thought it would be. I'm not sure if the other reviewers who've posted before me are actually talking about this version of the game, or Final Fantasy IV in general.

Final Fantasy IV (when it came out as II here) was and has remained one of my favourite games of all time, even in comparison with some of the more recent games for the SNES/SFC, PS, and PS2. Over the years I have played through various versions of this game countless times, and have tried to get my hands on many versions of the game, even the original Japanese version for the Super Famicom. This version, however, has turned out to be somewhat disappointing (not in all ways, but certainly in some).

First of all, the sound is not that great (well, it is the Game Boy Advance, so it's about as good as it will get here). The music of this game is actually good for the system, but is still sub-par in comparison with the original (keep in mind the original came out in 1991...we're not talking highly-complex synthesised sounds here). The sound effects themselves also suffer in this remake. I might be more willing to let this slide if the sound and music had not been one of the most captivating qualities that kept me glued to my first play-throughs of the game. In 1991 the only games to compare to Final Fantasy IV (II here) were those for the original NES and the few first games to come out for the SNES, so this was a MAJOR leap in quality that seemed impossibly good for the time. Those that haven't played through the original FFIV/II might not care as much as the same technological leap in quality does not exist today.

Secondly, there is an unacceptable amount of lagging and system slow-down, especially at critical times such as battles where the fast pace of the original provided an exciting and enjoyable experience. Yes, the original had slowdown, too, but not at this level, and it did not detract noticeably from the overall playing experience. In FFIVA it actually gets frustrating at times, and does take some of the fun of playing the game out.

That being said this game is not entirely a negative experience. Many of the graphics have actually been updated, and the menu system has been updated some (positively). Some things have been magnified to better suit the small Game Boy screen. A bunch of new stuff, including a new dungeon, have been added to this one that did not appear in the original, even the ability to have characters in your party at the end of the game that were not possible beforehand. There is also a quicksave feature on this one that lets you make a save and quit the game anywhere outside of battle, and start back up exactly where you left off (this is nice when you have to stop playing immediately and you are not near a saving spot).

Most importantly, this game is based on the original FFIV Japanese game, not the American FFII. In Japan, when FFIV was released, there was a "Hardtype" and an "Easytype", where the Easytype was a simplified version of the Hardtype. Unfortunately, the American FFII was a stripped down version of the Easytype version (i.e., even more simplified from the Hardtype). Many of the items in the original were taken out, and the difficulty level was decreased significantly. The translation of the text was also horrendous. This version, like the PS remake, includes all of the items and abilities missing from the original American release, and fixes the terrible translation. However (and this is a big negative for me), the difficulty level on this one so far seems to be suspiciously easy. Some of the other reviewers have stated that this game is very difficult, and indeed the original and the PS remake are, but I think that that does not apply to this remake in particular as I am about halfway through this game so far and am blasting through it with almost no problem at all (I had some trouble with the PS remake...this is not nearly as difficult).

I'm still giving the game four stars just because it's Final Fantasy IV, and I love this game, even when it's not perfect. On top of that there is some new content that may warrant a playthrough by veteran players. I'm just baffled that, after all these years, a faithful remake of this game cannot be made. This game is almost 14 and 1/2 years old, and it's unbelievable that I have yet to see a remake that matches the original Final Fantasy IV in quality. The PS version came close (as part of Final Fantasy Chronicles), but that one had some issues with sound-effect quality and loading times. I had been under the impression that the GBA was designed to make faithful remakes of SNES/SFC games, and the fact that a first-generation game cannot be faithfully remade on this system is unbelievable. I've been playing this game on the Game Boy Player for the GameCube, and even that does not make the sound/music nor the playing experience as good as playing the original. If you do want to play Final Fantasy IV as it was meant to be, get the PS remake. It's not perfect, and does not have all of the added features that FFIVA has, but it is as close to a true translation of the Japanese FFIV that Americans have so far. If the sound and slowdown don't bother you as they do me, then this one will be good enough for you. I just hope that in the future we will have a faithful remake of this game that at least meets the quality of the original, or better yet exceeds it. Until then enjoy this game, as it is still the great Final Fantasy IV, and is outstanding even when not as good as the original.

Pleasantly Surprised.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: September 07, 2006
Author: Amazon User

There are numerous trends in the video gaming industry nowadays. Those developers sure have become sophisticated.

One of the tactics has been to release "classic games" on their consoles and see if they can re-milk the market. This, of course, has come with mixed reviews and mixed successes.

Final Fantasy IV for the Game Boy Advance is a champion game. Compared to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) version (FF2), I believe this re-make is slightly better due to the increased/updated features of the game. (SquareSoft retooled some aspects of the game and added some nice features to please the classic RPG enthusiasts as well as the diehard Final Fantasy fans.)

I like to think of FF4GBA as the "upgraded" version to the original program - similar to downloading a patch for a PC game, only, of course, it still remains a console game.

The major stand-out benefit I gathered from this version of the game is that now the gameplay flows smoother into the Final Fantasy III version. (FF6 for you diehards that know the Japanese nomenclature.) That is, the switching of the party members - that was introduced in "FF3." Also, the unlocking feature where optional side quests result in more loot!

The last part of this review deals with the most important topic: the cost-benefit analysis. The question is, Do you want to enroll in this common tactic of the video gaming industry? Is $30 worth the SNES FF2 "patch?" Does having the portable version of the game (albeit a great game) meet your desires?

Probably for most of us, we got rid of our old NES and SNES a long time ago. (I didn't - they are right next to my N64 and GameCube.) A lot of us downloaded emulators a while back and now play these games on our PCs. And I would venture to say that almost all of us who love RPGs don't even care about video game consoles anymore and have gone to PC (more features in our games).

So my recommendation here is, leave your impulses behind. Yes, Final Fantasy II (and the FF4 GBA version) are classic, great, wonderful games. But nostalgia shouldn't cost this much or require special circumstances to be taken advantage of, in my opinion. Buy the game if you are a collector or have money to burn. But always remember, they can't take our memories away!

A great remake with some technical glitches.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: February 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Final Fantasy 4 (previously Final Fantasy 2 released on SNES back in 92) is one of the best overall Final Fantasies. The game combines a wonderful score combined with good graphics for the time with a good story with many interesting characters. In fact, many of the FF archetype characters stem from this game.

The game adds 2 extra dungeons compared to the original and also adds the ability to play as extra characters after a certain point in the game which was also not available in the original.

The translation of the text in this remake is better in some ways from the original, though worse at other parts. A nice touch was the addition of character portraits to the text boxes.

The extras add extra replay value to a game that already has great replay value.

There are a few battle glitches that can be annoying. The first is that characters sometimes get multiple turns back to back. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it can surprise you when you aren't expecting it. The second is much more annoying. Many times buttons are not responsive within the battle menus, which will cause mistakes if you input your commands at a fast pace.

These glitches do not take the fun out of the game. So, I would recommend this to any Final Fantasy 2/4 fan and also to any gamer who would like to enter the world of RPGs.

Classic RPG now portable

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 6
Date: March 06, 2006
Author: Amazon User

There is always a tendency to rate reissued classics on a different scale from new games. If Final Fantasy IV were a brand new game it would likely garner average to below average scores but since it was considered great 15 years ago reviewers hold it to a lower standard. The world in FFIV is rather sparse and the game mechanics rather simplistic particularly when compared to a game like Golden Sun (which in all fairness did get better reviews). Players also need to be aware that the battles are random and very very frequent so be prepared for a lot of fighting.

FFIV is a boilerplate RPG with a Middle Ages theme, experience points, leveling and increasingly powerful weapons and armor. The graphics are sub par by today's standards and for some strange reason the programmer decided to use the classic Japanese super deformed appearance for player controlled characters and regular dimensions for opposing humans. It's strange to see these squatty, dwarf like humanoids smacking around regular looking humans. The creature art is pretty good but the villages and surrounding world are rather unremarkable.

A lot of people claim that the game lasts about 25 hours but it took me almost 40 and I'm a decent RPG player. There are a handful of side quests that can pad out the time and some secret creatures to hunt for in order to fill out your bestiary. In addition to the side quests there is a very large dungeon to be explored after the game is completed so a player could easily spend 50+ hours in the game. In my opinion side quests and secrets add a tremendous amount to an RPG and if I had one complaint about the latest Mario and Luigi game for the DS it would be the complete absence of anything outside of the linear quest. There's a reason that FFIV is considered a classic and it's great fun to be able to take one of the all time great RPG's with you on the go.

Good RPG

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: March 10, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I am an atypical GameBoy player. I'm a 57 year old grandmother. I love the RPGs and enjoy this series.

Another re-release of a classic game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 06, 2007
Author: Amazon User

So this would be the 3rd release of the game, only it's been more enhanced, which is pretty fun, even though it's mostly the same game.

PROS: More advanced graphics and music, better dialogue.

CONS: The pause feature is kind of annoying during battle.
It's also good to have it be more faithful to the Japanese original, but the constant purchase of remedies for every health ailment gets on my nerves personally(in the SNES original, only Heal potions were created).

OPINION: I actually played the original when I was 11 or 12, which I didn't understand at first until I realized it had a storyline. The original for SNES was what got me into RPG's in the first place, which makes me different since everyone else on the planet got into it from FF7.

But anyway, if you haven't gotten the general game yet(not for SNES or PS), it's a good purchase.

INTERESTING TRIVIA: This was the only FF game so far that has a 5-person party.

Updated, But Never Overrated or Outdated

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 04, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I remember buying FF2/4 the day it came out and playing it for 12 straight hours. The combination of the graphics and lush (for that time) scenery was almost too much to handle and the music is STILL stuck in my head to this day. Much like FF3/6, this game is one of the classics that's in the Top 10 RPGs of ALL time. Here is a breakdown of the game according to my rating system, with the original being the perfect standard:

Graphics: The GBA/DS doesn't disappoint with the sharper resolution and what seems to be slightly enhanced colors. The portrait redraws are OK and the sprites all seemed to have at least been retouched with some more saturation. The Mode 7 effects and all the magic effects are still the same. There wasn't much improvement in this area and since GBA games are almost direct copies of SNES games, this isn't a big deal. I was a little disappointed that they didn't add some richer textures and patterns in the games to make it sort of like the eye-popping visuals of FF3/6, but since it copies the original, that's OK. 8 out of 10

Sound: This is where the limitation of the GBA hardware comes into play. The sounds are tinny, with none of that rumbly bass the SNES sound engine had (even with high quality headphones.) The songs haven't been changed, but they're running through a different wavetable and it is obvious to those who remember the old SNES sounds. It's still good, though. This is one of the nicest soundtracks ever made to a game and it holds up well to anything today. 7 out of 10

Translation: I've played the full Japanese and original versions and I have to say that I am both pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised by the new dialogue. While it DOES flow smoothly and articles are in place (i.e., THE Sand Ruby, instead of Sand Ruby), the translation takes minor liberties with the dialogue that can sort of spoil the original feel. For example, fans of the original will be disappointed to learn that the magic spells are changed from FIRE 1, FIRE 2, FIRE 3 to the modern standard of Fire, Fira and Firaga. It's not a huge deal, but I kind of miss the old names. While "spoony bard" is still there, the package from the original is replaced with Bomb Ring. Part of the mystery and sadness of Mysidia's destruction was that Cecil and Kain had no idea what was in the package and were just dupes. Well...if you can't guess what a BOMB RING does, then you are as dull as a...well, Dark Knight's buttplate. The text can be tiny at times...for old folks like me with bad eyesight, this can be troublesome. Overall, the story hasn't changed and is as good as ever. 7 out of 10

Gameplay: This is where the game shines, as nothing has been subtracted from the original. Rather, things have been added: easier gameplay through the first half, additonal dungeons, and bestiary. 10 out of 10.

If you liked the SNES version and need a portable one, then you need this game. However, unlike FFI&II: Dawn of Souls, you're not getting a huge upgrade over the original and, in cases like the music, you're getting a little shortchanged. If you don't need this to take on a trip, I'd recommend just playing the SNES version. I know I still have mine!

Overall, I'd highly recommend this: 32 out of 40. Grade: A

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