What Version of Final Fantasy IV Should I Play?

[fuctfuct]

I am getting towards the end of Earthbound. Was thinking about playing FF IV, V and VI next. I haven't played it since i rented it back in the day.

US version - Final Fantasy II
Japan version - Final Fantasy IV with the j2e v3.21 translation + Bugfix patches
European version - Final Fantasy IV Advance with the sound restoration patch.

The Euro FFIVA is supposed to have less bugs then US.

Not interested in the PS1 or DS (fugly) versions. The PSP version looks really nice but i'll probably want to play V and VI after words and would like it keep the older looking style all the way through.

Kinda leaning towards the j2e translation. I can't decide though :/

[irixith]

It's such a hard question...

...if you're going for the best SNES version, the translated Japanese one is the way to go hands down. The North American release has the worst script, and a laundry list of changes to make the game easier for the North American audience. Some are cosmetic (such as removing religious imagery, references to death/suicide as per NoA's guidelines at the time), some are butchery (sections of the games plot were removed because there wasn't enough space in the ROM for all the English script), and some affect gameplay (altered/removed/easier items, difficulties of certain bosses/enemies, etc.)

The PS version has an officially re-translated script that's better than the North American SNES version. It also added in some videos at the beginning and end, a slightly improved save function, and the ability to run in dungeons.

The WonderSwan Color version has neutered sound, due to the limitations of the hardware. A lot of the graphics were edited/changed/cleaned up, a quick save is available, and there were a lot of bugfixes...which unfortunately introduced some even bigger bugs into the game. Why does this matter? Well...

...the Game Boy Advance version is a port of the WonderSwan Color version. (This immediately explains the crummy sound and the need for the sound restoration patch.) The graphics have been further edited/improved, and the script has been partially re-translated AGAIN, and merged with the PS version of the script. There are some hefty additions to this version -- the active time battle bar, the lunar ruins (a 40 floor dungeon), the cave of trials, a bestiary, new equipment, etc. Unfortunately, the active time battle introduces a lot of bugs in the battle system, well documented in other places. It's not game-breaking, but creates some really irritating situations.

The DS version was changed to full 3D, and it's either love it or hate it. All of the extra content from the GBA version (dungeons, equipment, etc) is gone. More script translation changes and some additional story elements have been added. More movies and a full intro movie are there. The requisite DS touch screen mini-games are present. There's an "augment" system added to the game where you can give your characters special abilities in addition to their own. (Like a job system I guess.) There are new spells and superbosses, changes to the active time battle system, etc.) You get a map on the bottom screen, and clearing 100% in all dungeons gives you a special treat. Enemies are harder in this version, and so are bosses. There's a new game+ if you want more challenge again. You can't change your name any more (because of the voice acting, I think) so that Namingway character has a new subplot instead. There are tons of changes in this version. A lot of people list this one as their favourite version, and I imagine they're most likely the ones who started with FF VII (i.e. 3D from the start).

Then there's the PSP version (Also playable on PS Vita or PSTV). A modified script AGAIN, based off of the GBA and DS versions. You can switch between the DS and SNES versions of the music, which is a cool feature, and the extra dungeons and stuff from the GBA version is here. There are some cutscenes added, and the character sprites have been changed once again, and the active time battle system has been improved. If you pick up the "Complete Collection", you also get the additional content of "Interlude" and "The After Years". Interlude connects FFIV and The After Years together. The After Years is the sequel to FFIV, originally released episodically on the Wii. The Complete Collection is probably the best 2D version of the game. If you've never played FFIV before and have access to a PSP, Vita or PSTV, I'd recommend it even over the translated SNES version.

You can also get the game on Steam for the PC. It's a port of the DS version of course, with a little bit of a graphic overhaul. Achievements of course, if that sort of thing strikes your fancy. There's a "normal" mode and a "hard" mode, and a bunch of small changes that overall don't make it a whole lot different from the DS version.

There's iOS and Android versions too, which are pretty much the same as the Steam version with a different interface and controls.

So there you go. If you want to stick with the original SNES style all the way through, translated Japanese versions all the way. (For all three.) The GBA versions are also not a bad way to go, although definitely with sound restoration, and I believe there are palette restorations too. However, if you want the absolute best version of the game, the PSP Complete Collection is where it's at.

[Ziggy]

I have to run, but my short answer is The PS1 "Chronicles" version. That's the one I picked to play through for the first time.

[irixith]

I have to run, but my short answer is The PS1 "Chronicles" version. That's the one I picked to play through for the first time.

While the PS version is the closest port to the original game, the loading times and general lag pretty much make it the "never play this version".

[fuctfuct]

Thanks for the input irixith.

I think i will go for the GBA version.

I am comparing the (E) versions (sound patched vs. original) .... I think i actually prefer the gba sound!

[ninjainspandex]

Jesus I never knew there were so many ports of Final Fantasy IV, it seems to be on par with Ys Book 1 and 2

[Tanooki]

I want to throw in there on the DS version that at least for me I consider one change completely game breaking, or at least, it forces one to use a strategy guide (bought, borrowed or gamefaqs) to get by with. All the bosses in the game, and a random monster in many dungeons have been retooled entirely. They're set up on what I call the 'simon says' system of play. You basically are only allowed to do and at specific moments an attack it wants if you do the attack when it doesn't or you do the wrong attack, the boss or random monster will throw down a critical attack which will kill or put you on the steps of deaths door within a round or two tops with nearly zero chance at recovery as punishment.

The easy early way to see it is the antlion and it's obvious on that one. They redrew it with a red and blue eye. Depending on what it randomly changes itself to align to you can only use magic or physical attacks. So even if you do follow the rules, if you queue an attack and it switches before you pull it off, you're screwed. It uses the normal 'needle' attack as always, but you get a super needle(don't remember if it's named as such) where the attack kills anyone except maybe Cecil in one blow. Later in the game, the blue flame dogs in the Tower of Bab-il, random encounters, have the same mechanism and if you hit them out of turn they do the same. Normally they whack you or use blaze which is a weaker fire spell that hits the party for X damage, but if you piss them off out of turn they use a mega version of blaze that'll kill almost everyone in your party even if you're at the needed or a little over the recommended level for the area. What sucks is, they always go in packs of 4, and if the 1st one doesn't kill you, #2 will as they ALL will fire it off. The only way out of that fight is kill in one blow or run away.

Reducing the game to agonizing time based rape of your party for doing the wrong move, or even the right one at the wrong time to die immediately sucked the fun entirely out of the game and I ended up selling it.

The DS version is the worst version of the game by far due to the broken combat mechanics.

I'd suggest playing the GBA release or one of the SNES versions. The wonderswan one isn't that great, and the PS1 version has some poorly coded problems that get weird on you when playing as the mode7 gets choppy, also it likes to take its sweet time on save/load procedures.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Jesus I never knew there were so many ports of Final Fantasy IV, it seems to be on par with Ys Book 1 and 2

No. Ys destroys it.

Standalone versions of Ys
PC-88
PC-98
X1
FM-7
MSX
Sega Master System
Famicom
PC (DOS)
Apple II GS
X68000
PC (Windows)
DS

Standalone versions of Ys II
PC-88
PC-98
X1
FM-7
MSX
Famicom
PC (Windows)
DS

Ys Book I & II compilations
TurboGrafx CD
PC (two different versions - Complete and Chronicles)
PlayStation 2
PSP
DS

Both games are also included on Sega Saturn Falcom compilations. Ys I is on Falcom Classics, Ys II is on Falcom Classics II, and both are on the Falcom Classics Collection (which is just the previous two compilations combined).

There's also the Korean-only Ys II Special for PC-DOS, a heavily reworked version of the second game.

And that doesn't even cover all the digital / mobile phone ports.

[ninjainspandex]

Theres mah boy Bone

[Kidpanda]

I enjoyed the PSP version of FFIV the most. And I've played ALL the versions when they were new. IV is still my fav FF due to it being the first RPG I played on the SNES.