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Final Fantasy IV (Nintendo DS)
Encyclopedia
is a role-playing video game
for the Nintendo DS
. It is an enhanced remake of the original Final Fantasy IV
, which was released in 1991. It was released as part of the campaign for Final Fantasy series 20th anniversary on December 20, 2007 in Japan and in North America on July 22, 2008. The game was released in Europe on September 5, 2008.
The game was developed by Matrix Software
, the same team responsible for the Final Fantasy III remake, and was supervised by members of the original development team: Takashi Tokita
served as executive producer
and director, Tomoya Asano as producer and Hiroyuki Ito
as battle designer. Animator Yoshinori Kanada
storyboarded the new cut scenes.
Final Fantasy IV was well-received by critics and fans alike; it was praised for being sufficiently faithful to the original while expanding on many gameplay and story elements.
Final Fantasy IV retains the original Active Time Battle System from the initial Super Nintendo
release. Similar to the previous remake of Final Fantasy III
on the Nintendo DS
, the control of stylus is limited and optional in order to retain the same control input while allowing other players to use the Nintendo DS's unique touch control scheme.
However, the remake features a new ability system known as the Augment System, or the in the Japanese version. The system allows for certain character-only abilities to be transferred to other characters who did not have them in the original and previous releases of Final Fantasy IV. Up to three abilities can come from temporary party members. When leaving the party, temporary characters will yield abilities of their own, the number of which is dependent on how many abilities they were given. There are also other abilities; some scattered around the world, and some that become available after certain story events.
This new system entails another new feature: command menu customization. All commands in a character's battle menu, except the Items command, can be replaced with augments. This includes individual abilities that are ordinarily contained in a group (e.g. Curaga can be added directly to Rosa's command list, rather than only being accessible through the White Magic sub-list).
The Augment System was devised to replace the system in Final Fantasy IV Advance where the characters that were temporary in the original version became playable again at a certain point. The developers felt that this system changed the game too much.
Other exclusive enhancements to the DS version of the game include:
According to director Takashi Tokita, the scenario writer and lead game designer of the original release, three quarters of the original script had been left out of the original Super Famicom version. In a Q&A feature in the official Square Enix Members page, Tokita corrected this by saying that the original story script was never cut, but during the development of the original release, the game's text could not fit and had to be revised to a quarter of its intended size.
. Megumi Ida was selected from approximately 800 applicants to perform the theme song . The song was arranged by Kenichiro Fukui
, with the lyrics penned by scenario writer Takashi Tokita. The song only appears in the Japanese release of the game, over the ending credits - international versions cut the song in its entirety and replace it with a music track from the game itself.
Other developer blog entries have focused on the art and programming of the game. According to the art director, Matrix tried to make each location of the game feel unique. For example, the desert kingdom of Damcyan has taken on a Middle-Eastern
flair, Fabul has been given a Chinese
feeling, and Eblan has been given the feeling of a Ninja
residence, which was not possible in the Super Famicom edition due to limited data capacity. Final Fantasy IV displays more characters and enemies on screen during battle compared to Final Fantasy III, which required the modeling team to reduce the number of polygons per character The main programmer also suggests that the game is much larger than Final Fantasy III from a data standpoint, and compressing all the data to fit on a 1Gb ROM was difficult largely due to the voice data.
Final Fantasy IV was well-received by critics. It was a nominee for Best RPG on the Nintendo DS in IGN
's 2008 video game awards.
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
. It is an enhanced remake of the original Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy IV
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square in 1991 as a part of the Final Fantasy series. The game was originally released for the Super Famicom in Japan and has since then been rereleased for many other platforms with varying modifications. An enhanced remake with 3D graphics...
, which was released in 1991. It was released as part of the campaign for Final Fantasy series 20th anniversary on December 20, 2007 in Japan and in North America on July 22, 2008. The game was released in Europe on September 5, 2008.
The game was developed by Matrix Software
Matrix Software
is a Japanese video game development company located in Tokyo. Founded in July 1994 by former members of Climax Entertainment and Telenet Japan, the company has since created games for a number of systems beginning with their role-playing title Alundra in April 1997...
, the same team responsible for the Final Fantasy III remake, and was supervised by members of the original development team: Takashi Tokita
Takashi Tokita
is a Japanese video game developer working for Square Enix. He has worked there since 1985, and has worked as the lead designer for Final Fantasy IV as well as the director of Parasite Eve and Chrono Trigger.-Biography:...
served as executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
and director, Tomoya Asano as producer and Hiroyuki Ito
Hiroyuki Ito
, also credited with the spelling Hiroyuki Itou, is a Japanese game producer, game director and game designer who has been working for Square Enix since 1987. He is famous for being the creator of Active Time Battle and Active Dimension Battle...
as battle designer. Animator Yoshinori Kanada
Yoshinori Kanada
was an influential Japanese animator originally from Nara, Japan. He is best known for his popular 1984 work Birth, one of the first original video animations released in the market. Though he did not create many character designs, he was famous for his character animation skills...
storyboarded the new cut scenes.
Final Fantasy IV was well-received by critics and fans alike; it was praised for being sufficiently faithful to the original while expanding on many gameplay and story elements.
Gameplay
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
release. Similar to the previous remake of Final Fantasy III
Final Fantasy III
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square in for the Family Computer as the third installment in the Final Fantasy series. It is the first numbered Final Fantasy game to feature the job-change system....
on the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, the control of stylus is limited and optional in order to retain the same control input while allowing other players to use the Nintendo DS's unique touch control scheme.
However, the remake features a new ability system known as the Augment System, or the in the Japanese version. The system allows for certain character-only abilities to be transferred to other characters who did not have them in the original and previous releases of Final Fantasy IV. Up to three abilities can come from temporary party members. When leaving the party, temporary characters will yield abilities of their own, the number of which is dependent on how many abilities they were given. There are also other abilities; some scattered around the world, and some that become available after certain story events.
This new system entails another new feature: command menu customization. All commands in a character's battle menu, except the Items command, can be replaced with augments. This includes individual abilities that are ordinarily contained in a group (e.g. Curaga can be added directly to Rosa's command list, rather than only being accessible through the White Magic sub-list).
The Augment System was devised to replace the system in Final Fantasy IV Advance where the characters that were temporary in the original version became playable again at a certain point. The developers felt that this system changed the game too much.
Other exclusive enhancements to the DS version of the game include:
- Minigames: Unlike the main game, the minigames are stylus-control only. Their function, aside from being fun diversions, is to increase the power of Rydia's personal Eidolon, , who takes her places in the battle line-up, and acts under computer control according to abilities set to him by the player. The minigames can be played in either single-player or wireless (not OnlineNintendo Wi-Fi ConnectionThe is an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii games. The service includes the company's Wii Shop Channel, DSi Shop, and Nintendo eShop game download services...
) multiplayer.
- New Game PlusNew Game PlusA New Game Plus is an unlockable video game mode that allows the player to start a new game after they finish the game at least once, where certain aspects of the finished game, such as experience or items, affect the newly started game...
: Allows players to start a new game with certain enhancements, such as rare or secret items and equipment, carried over from a previous completed game. Certain other new features are only available in a New Game Plus, such as hidden bosses on the face of the moon and the summit of Mt. Ordeals.
- Namingway: Because of the voice-acted scenes, he can no longer change character names. After realizing this, he travels the world, changing his name to fit each occupation he takes up. Examples of his name changes include "Mappingway" (charting the maps on the lower screen), "Campingway", and "Weddingway". Following Namingway around the world and engaging in his sidequest yields numerous rewards.
- Fat Chocobo, Bestiary, Video/Music Player: Like Namingway, because of new enhancements (in this case, the item limit being removed), Fat Chocobo can no longer serve his original purpose. Instead, he can be called in order to access the new bestiary and video/music player, as well as the Whyt minigames. Any full motion video that has been viewed in the game's story may be replayed. The music player includes Edward strumming his harp and giving information on the selected track.
- New Translation: The English translation of previous incarnations was replaced with a new one. The new translation, by the same translator responsible for retranslating Final Fantasy VI AdvanceFinal Fantasy VIis a role-playing video game developed and published by Square , released in 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System as a part of the Final Fantasy series. Set in a fantasy world with a technology level equivalent to that of the Second Industrial Revolution, the game's story focuses on a...
and the DS version of Chrono TriggerChrono Triggeris a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Chrono Triggers development team included three designers that Square dubbed the "Dream Team": Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Square's Final Fantasy series; Yuji Horii, a...
, features a notably different version of the Mysidian legend. Members of the localization staff also appear in the game's hidden Developers Room and refer to a famous line from the original translation.
Plot and setting
According to director Takashi Tokita, the scenario writer and lead game designer of the original release, three quarters of the original script had been left out of the original Super Famicom version. In a Q&A feature in the official Square Enix Members page, Tokita corrected this by saying that the original story script was never cut, but during the development of the original release, the game's text could not fit and had to be revised to a quarter of its intended size.
Story
The original storyline of Final Fantasy IV is retained, and some of the previously missing script has been worked into the DS version in the form of flashbacks, including both Golbez becoming Zemus's pawn and the childhoods of Cecil, Kain, and Rosa. There are also brand new scenes.Audio
In June 2007, Square Enix held a casting for a vocalist to sing a rendition of Final Fantasy IVs "Theme of Love" composed by Nobuo UematsuNobuo Uematsu
is a Japanese video game composer, best known for scoring the majority of titles in the Final Fantasy series. He is considered as one of the most famous and respected composers in the video game community...
. Megumi Ida was selected from approximately 800 applicants to perform the theme song . The song was arranged by Kenichiro Fukui
Kenichiro Fukui
is a Japanese video game composer and musician. Before working at Square Enix, he was employed at Konami. He is an arranger and a keyboardist in the band The Black Mages, formed in 2003. Additionally, Fukui arranged Angela Aki's "Kiss Me Good-Bye" from Final Fantasy XII. In October 2007, he left...
, with the lyrics penned by scenario writer Takashi Tokita. The song only appears in the Japanese release of the game, over the ending credits - international versions cut the song in its entirety and replace it with a music track from the game itself.
Voice cast
One of the biggest additions to the DS version of Final Fantasy IV is voice acting, which can be turned off if the player so desires.| Character | Japanese voice actor | English voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Cecil | Shizuma Hodoshima Shizuma Hodoshima is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with MT Project. He has performed in a Shakesperean theater group since 1997 in addition to anime and video game roles.-Stage:* A Midsummer Night's Dream* Henry VIII* King John* La historia de los Tarantos... |
Yuri Lowenthal Yuri Lowenthal Yuri Lowenthal is a voice actor that has voiced several anime and video game characters. He also voiced Kamal for the alternate reality game I Love Bees.... |
| Rosa | Yūko Kaida Yuko Kaida is a Japanese voice actress and theater actress from Kanagawa. She works at Ken Production. Kaida's most known roles include Neela Rasgotra in the Japanese dub of ER, Shimei Ryomo in Ikkitousen, Kyō Takamimori in Potemayo, Amane Ootori in Strawberry Panic!, Minako Tsukiyama in Maria-sama ga Miteru... |
Kirsty Pape Karen Strassman Karen Strassman is an American voice actress and actress who is most known for her television and film appearances as well as voice acting. She voices many characters in many video games, animated series and anime series, including Zhalia Moon in Huntik: Secrets & Seekers, Fantine in IGPX, Kallen... |
| Kain | Kōichi Yamadera Koichi Yamadera is a Japanese voice actor, actor, tarento, narrator, master of ceremonies and impressionist from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He graduated from Tohoku Gakuin University's economics school, and is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment. Before that, he was affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's... |
Liam O'Brien Liam O'Brien Liam Christopher O'Brien is an American voice actor and voice director perhaps best known for his roles as Gaara of the Sand in Naruto, Captain Jushiro Ukitake in Bleach, War in the video game Darksiders, 'Vincent Law' in Ergo Proxy and 'Illidan Stormrage' in the 'Warcraft' game series... |
| Rydia | Noriko Shitaya Noriko Shitaya is a Japanese voice actress who works for 81 Produce.-Anime television:2000* Hamtaro, Sumire-chan, Tsutomu-kun2001* Parappa the Rapper Gallery * Alien Nine , Kasumi Tōmine2002* Mirage of Blaze... |
Daniella Macey |
| Tellah | Gorō Naya Goro Naya is a Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator and theatre director from Hakodate, Hokkaidō. He is a drop-out of the legal education division of Ritsumeikan University. He is connected to Theatre Echo. He is the older brother of actor and seiyū Rokurō Naya. He is the husband of actress and seiyū... |
Lee Everest |
| Edward | Ryō Horikawa Ryo Horikawa is a Japanese voice actor. He is married to fellow Japanese voice actress Hitomi Oikawa, whose birth name is also . His former stage name is also Ryo Horikawa, which has his given name, Makoto, pronounced as Ryo.-Career:... |
Sam Riegel Sam Riegel Samuel Brent Oscar "Sam" Riegel is a voice actor, writer and director who appears in many television cartoons, anime, and video games. He began as a child actor in theater in Virginia, and moved to New York City to perform in Broadway and off-Broadway shows... |
| Palom | Rie Kugimiya Rie Kugimiya is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with I'm Enterprise.Kugimiya's most famous roles include Alphonse Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, Happy in Fairy Tail, Kagura in Gintama, Nagi Sanzenin in Hayate no Gotoku!, Shana in Shakugan no Shana, Louise in Zero no Tsukaima, Taiga Aisaka in Toradora!, and... |
Megan Harvey Megan Harvey Megan Marie Harvey is an American actress and voice actress who voiced the English dubs of anime for New Generation Pictures.Besides animation Harvey has also played roles in live-action projects such as the 2009-indie film, Etienne! which premiered in the CineVegas Film Festival.-Anime... |
| Porom | Rie Kugimiya Rie Kugimiya is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with I'm Enterprise.Kugimiya's most famous roles include Alphonse Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, Happy in Fairy Tail, Kagura in Gintama, Nagi Sanzenin in Hayate no Gotoku!, Shana in Shakugan no Shana, Louise in Zero no Tsukaima, Taiga Aisaka in Toradora!, and... |
Hunter MacKenzie Austin Hunter MacKenzie Austin Hunter MacKenzie Austin is an American voice actress who has had roles in various anime. While she was in her teens Austin was a journalist for magazines like Tiger Beat, Glamour and LA Weekly.... |
| Yang | Tesshō Genda Tessho Genda is a Japanese voice actor. He is employed by the talent management firm 81 Produce. When he debuted, he used his real name, . as artist name. Because he had experience with ballet, he was known by the nickname "Pirouette Genda."... |
Jackson Daniels Dan Woren Daniel E. Woren is an American voice actor who is also known as Jackson Daniels, Warren Daniels, Dan Warren, Daniel Woren, and Dan Worren... |
| Edge | Hiroya Ishimaru Hiroya Ishimaru is a Japanese voice actor most famous for performing the role of Kouji Kabuto in the 1972 series Mazinger Z and its sequels. He also gave voice to Tutty from Bosco Adventure and recently voiced Ultraman Taro in Ultraman Story, Ultraman Mebius, and Ultraman Mebius and Ultra Brothers He is also the... |
Taliesin Jaffe Taliesin Jaffe Taliesin Jaffe is an American voice director, script writer, voice actor, and former child actor.Jaffe was born in Los Angeles, California. He is known for directing and writing many English language anime titles for New Generation Pictures, most notably R.O.D the TV and Hellsing... |
| Cid | Ichirō Nagai Ichiro Nagai is a male seiyū from Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture. He was formerly represented by Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society, but is now represented by Aoni Production.-Television animation:*Akuma-kun *Bikkuriman... |
Stephen Martello |
| Fusoya | Banjō Ginga Banjo Ginga , sometimes credited as his real name , is a Japanese voice actor who was born in Kofu, Yamanashi. Ginga is currently affiliated with Aoni Production... |
Michael McConnohie Michael McConnohie Michael D. McConnohie is a voice actor and is the President of the Nevada-based Voxworks voice-acting corporation. He is known for his recognizable deep booming voice and is generally known for playing more charismatic characters... |
| Golbez | Takeshi Kaga Takeshi Kaga is a well-known stage and movie actor in Japan who is probably best known internationally for his portrayal of Chairman Kaga in the Japanese television show Iron Chef produced by Fuji TV. His real name is .-Biography:... |
Anthony Landor |
| Scarmiglione | Konishi Oonishi | Dameon Clarke Dameon Clarke Dameon J. Clarke is a Canadian-born American actor and voice actor who currently resides in Los Angeles. He has worked on numerous film and television productions as well as many anime and video game properties for FUNimation Entertainment, New Generation Pictures and OkraTron 5000. He is... |
| Cagnazzo | Takeshi Aono Takeshi Aono is a Japanese voice actor and actor from Asahikawa, Hokkaidō affiliated with Aoni Production. He graduated from Hokkaidō Asahikawa Higashi High School.... |
Michael McConnohie Michael McConnohie Michael D. McConnohie is a voice actor and is the President of the Nevada-based Voxworks voice-acting corporation. He is known for his recognizable deep booming voice and is generally known for playing more charismatic characters... |
| Barbariccia | Yūko Kaida Yuko Kaida is a Japanese voice actress and theater actress from Kanagawa. She works at Ken Production. Kaida's most known roles include Neela Rasgotra in the Japanese dub of ER, Shimei Ryomo in Ikkitousen, Kyō Takamimori in Potemayo, Amane Ootori in Strawberry Panic!, Minako Tsukiyama in Maria-sama ga Miteru... |
Kirsty Pape Karen Strassman Karen Strassman is an American voice actress and actress who is most known for her television and film appearances as well as voice acting. She voices many characters in many video games, animated series and anime series, including Zhalia Moon in Huntik: Secrets & Seekers, Fantine in IGPX, Kallen... |
| Rubicante | Norio Wakamoto Norio Wakamoto is a veteran male seiyū and budō expert affiliated with Sigma Seven. He was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and was raised in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. He graduated from Waseda University... |
Lee Everest |
| Anna | Hitomi Akino | Zarah Little Zarah Little Zarah Little is an American actress and voice actress. She has done voicework for New Generation Pictures and FUNimation Entertainment.-Anime:* Angel Tales - Tsubasa the Parakeet* Boys Be..... |
| Mysidian Elder | Ryuji Saikachi Ryuji Saikachi is a Japanese voice actor. most known for the roles of Prof. Pat Pending , Rerere no Ojisan , and Grandfather Otonashi .-Filmography:*3x3 Eyes Seima Densetsu as Tinzin... |
William Frederick William Frederick Knight William Frederick Knight, sometimes credited as William Knight, William Frederick, or Frederick Knight, is a voice actor who has lent his voice to the English dubs of many anime series and several video games... |
| Kluya | Banjō Ginga Banjo Ginga , sometimes credited as his real name , is a Japanese voice actor who was born in Kofu, Yamanashi. Ginga is currently affiliated with Aoni Production... |
Ralph Lister |
| Zeromus | Ryō Horikawa Ryo Horikawa is a Japanese voice actor. He is married to fellow Japanese voice actress Hitomi Oikawa, whose birth name is also . His former stage name is also Ryo Horikawa, which has his given name, Makoto, pronounced as Ryo.-Career:... |
Michael McConnohie Michael McConnohie Michael D. McConnohie is a voice actor and is the President of the Nevada-based Voxworks voice-acting corporation. He is known for his recognizable deep booming voice and is generally known for playing more charismatic characters... |
Development
The official developer blog (maintained by producer Tomoya Asano) has outlined several key features of the remake. As in the original, players can reform their party with whomever they choose as party leader. When the player enters the menu, the party leader will now appear on the bottom screen where the player can read their thoughts about what is happening in the story at that time (the development team suggests players check this feature often for humorous anecdotes).Other developer blog entries have focused on the art and programming of the game. According to the art director, Matrix tried to make each location of the game feel unique. For example, the desert kingdom of Damcyan has taken on a Middle-Eastern
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
flair, Fabul has been given a Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
feeling, and Eblan has been given the feeling of a Ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
residence, which was not possible in the Super Famicom edition due to limited data capacity. Final Fantasy IV displays more characters and enemies on screen during battle compared to Final Fantasy III, which required the modeling team to reduce the number of polygons per character The main programmer also suggests that the game is much larger than Final Fantasy III from a data standpoint, and compressing all the data to fit on a 1Gb ROM was difficult largely due to the voice data.
Reception
As of July 9, 2008, the game has sold 612,044 copies in Japan. Worldwide it has sold 1.1 million copies.Final Fantasy IV was well-received by critics. It was a nominee for Best RPG on the Nintendo DS in IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's 2008 video game awards.
External links
- Square Enix Final Fantasy IV for Nintendo DS Official Site
- Square Enix Official Developer Blog
- Square Enix Final Fantasy IV for Nintendo DS Official US Site
- Final Fantasy IV at WikiaWikiaWikia is a free web hosting service for wikis . It is normally free of charge for readers and editors, deriving most of its income from advertising, and publishes all user-provided text under copyleft licenses. Wikia hosts several hundred thousand wikis using the open-source wiki software MediaWiki...
- Translated Developer Blog
- RPG Land Review