FINAL FANTASY IV

After 37 hours with the Pixel Remaster of FINAL FANTASY IV, I just wrapped the main story (Zeromus down, peace restored) and I’m sitting at 20/30 achievements. This run felt complete and deeply satisfying.The story remains one of the strongest in the early Final Fantasy lineup. Cecil’s journey from dark knight to paladin, the party’s bonds, the betrayals, the emotional weight of characters like Rydia, Kain, Rosa, and the rest—it all still lands. Climbing Mt. Ordeals, the elemental lords, the underworld, the moon, the rematch with the four fiends… the pacing and drama hold up remarkably well. “To the Blue Planet” felt like a proper payoff after the whole arc.The Pixel Remaster treatment is excellent. The updated 2D pixel art looks sharp and vibrant while keeping that classic charm, the rearranged soundtrack (with the option for the original) is wonderful, and the modern QoL features—auto-battle, adjustable exp multipliers, encounter toggle, better UI, bestiary, music player—make it way more approachable without watering anything down. Combat with the ATB system still has that nice urgency, and grinding for the sealed equipment or pushing through the later areas felt rewarding rather…

This game is so well-written, I simply can't. It's easy to get emotionally attached to characters and pacing is just right. If you're getting into FF franchise or so, this is PERFECT place to start. Just my opinion.

Final Fantasy 4 has been my most nostalgic game for a long time and it was a great experience to relive it in a new way. Plus, the conveniences of the Pixel Remaster are nice after a few SNES playthroughs, although I still find the SNES version superior. Very much recommended!

Like FF3, this wasn't my first time with Final Fantasy IV, I'd already played the 3D remake on Nintendo DS. Still, revisiting it in 2D through the Pixel Remaster was a treat, and it's interesting how much the tone carries over even in this simpler format. Characters are probably the strongest part of the game. Both allies and villains are written with actual depth, antagonists aren't just obstacles, they have motivations that make them feel like people rather than plot devices. The reveal of who's really behind everything by the end is genuinely well built up too, a nice change from FF3 where the Cloud of Darkness just shows up out of nowhere. Cecil in particular is a great main character, and his arc is genuinely well done, anchoring the whole story in a way none of the previous protagonists really did. The job system is gone. Every character have now their own class, with unique abilities that make their place in the party clear without needing to shuffle classes around like in FF3. This is also the entry that introduces the Active Time Battle system, and it changes the feel of combat entirely. Turns no longer wait patiently for you, so fights carry a real sense of urgency. Th…

As someone who is starting the FF series from the first game forward, Final Fantasy IV by far has the best story. The new battle mechanic was definitely something that took a little bit to get used to but nonetheless it was a great thing to add. Cecil's path towards redemption throughout the game made this very much worth playing from start to end. 10/10 would recommend.

Of all the various Final Fantasy games, FF4 is considered to have one of the best storylines. The customization takes a back seat in favor of more fleshed out character arcs. FF4, at times, feels a bit more linear than many of its colleagues, as well. However, it is phenomenal, with an enchanting story, character development and huge worlds. It is definitely one of the best retro jrpgs around.