ven after so many years, the underlying foundation of Final Fantasy IV remains incredibly solid. A rotating cast of party members means your tactics are always changing, and the plot twists keep you on your toes. The gameplay is fun, the musical score is amazing, and Kain still reigns supreme. If you’ve forgotten any of this, or never knew it to begin with, it’s time to set things right.
This enhanced remake of Final Fantasy IV does a remarkable job of blending 3D visuals with classic gameplay; it’s familiar, yet still drives you to keep playing. I couldn’t wait to relive my favorite moments, and most of them are made even cooler with new cutscenes. There’s even some extra backstory for certain party members, leaving you with fewer blanks to fill in yourself.
Don’t be put off if you’ve never played the original version of this game, since there’s more here than pure nostalgia. As opposed to the 2006 remake of Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV makes intuitive use of the DS’ capabilities. The game doesn’t strain itself trying to work in touch screen controls; the lower screen is used almost exclusively for battle info and area maps – an excellent addition. You can use the stylus to move your character if you want to, but all other commands are entered with the d-pad and buttons, and all the action unfolds on the top screen.
Even with its streamlined design, it’s difficult to escape the fact that the core experience is pretty old. You’ll still need to do some level grinding, and the new features (like minigames tied to a summon for Rydia) seem tacked on. But my biggest complaint is that combat feels sluggish; even with the battle speed set high, the process of attacking, especially casting spells, drags on a bit too long.
There are always going to be parts of a remake that don’t totally live up to the original, but it’s rare that one stays so faithful to the source material as Final Fantasy IV DS. The story of Cecil and his companions set the standard for console role-playing games. That fact will never change, and this version gets things right where they count the most.