Even 30 years after release, Final Fantasy IV still shines as brightly as it did in 1991. Its genre-defining story and combat system coupled with the Pixel Remaster’s reorchestrated soundtrack and quality of life updates make this an iconic game you’d be a fool to miss. Much like Cecil struggles with his unwitting role as a killer for his king, I struggle to let go of Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster after spending a few dozen hours wrapping up its main quest. If you have even a modicum of affection for JRPGs, you will too.
Final Fantasy IV was a great game when it came out in 1991, and, 30 years later, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is just as great. The only thing, in my opinion, that could have made this game better would have been the inclusion of the Lunar Subterrain from Final Fantasy IV Advance. But, hey, “almost perfect” is still pretty good, too. Whether you’re a Final Fantasy veteran or are looking to get your feet wet, I can’t recommend Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster enough.
With Final Fantasy IV the Final Fantasy franchise took a giant leap forward -- this is where everything started to really come together. Even by today's standards, Final Fantasy IV features a fantastic story and terrific characters, and would be the blueprint that all future games would follow moving forward.
Final Fantasy IV is one of the best 16-bit RPGs with a strong story that holds up after all these years. Even though the turn-based combat and exploration with random encounters may seem simple compared to modern games, it’s still an enjoyable fourteen hour playthrough. This may not have been the remake everyone was hoping for, but Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster is a great version of a great game.
While the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters aren’t perfect, they’re certainly the best and most convenient ways to play these classic games. The soundtracks are lovingly orchestrated and the pixel art is gorgeous, though the latter does lose some detail in the translation. Each game feels great to play, but I do wish extra content from previous releases or remakes had been included.
It’s not being weak to pounce on Final Fantasy IV once again. Introducing a dramatic dimension that was lacking in the first episodes of the saga, this adventure crosses the generations without taking a wrinkle. For this Pixel Remaster iteration, Square-Enix remains true to its line of conduct, finding an interesting balance between past and present. Charming and exciting, the game would however have deserved more significant bonuses, such as a small making-of for example. Some may be closed to this less flashy approach than the PSP episode, but Final Fantasy IV, for all that it stands for, remains a staple in Japanese RPGs.
Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster is an updated version of a 30-year-old game that stays true to its roots. A great entry point for those interested in the history of the series.
Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster is a stunning update that sings with the bells and whistles of a more modern pixel rendering style. Hindered only by bad font and a small technical issue this is an experience Final Fantasy fans need to have. The story of Cecil is easy to get sucked into, it is backed by some insanely sublime music and the gameplay is a joy, even if it is dated. Only a fool would pass this up!
This is were the series tends to be more user friendly for the modern gamer, or inclined. This pixel remaster is quite faithful with a few improvements for quality of life. I would strongly recommend starting the series here. There is also a 3d remake which is voice acted in some areas if that is more your speed. Definitely give this one a try.
I started off the Pixel Remaster Collection with VI, and then moved to IV, which was my first ever Final Fantasy game. My thoughts regarding the Pixel Remaster of VI are similar to that of IV. What a fantastic remaster of a classic game that apparently holds up extremely well to the test of time. Even by 2023 standards, this holds up extremely well.
Regarding the remaster itself, it’s very tastefully done. Most of the added effects are very subtle, which collectively make the game feel far more modern without sacrificing anything that made the original great. There are some things that are more obvious, such as smoke effects inside of burning buildings or any of the water effects, but then the subtle enhancements are so well executed that I watched YouTube videos of the SNES version to compare. I was shocked to see how similar they looked, yet how the Pixel Remaster was visibly more modern. The best way to explain it is that this game looks like you remember it from when you played it as a kid, although it’s not the same. Absolutely perfect execution. My only complaint is the goofy font selection, which can be very easily modded to restore the original font, which I highly recommend.
The game itself is fantastic. I cannot decide whether I would place IV or VI as my favorite Final Fantasy game. This one feels more pure, the story is more simple (for the most part) which still creates narratives for the characters that create some strong emotional buy in very early on. That’s the difference between IV and VI, this game has a more simple narrative that is always progressing, while VI has a complex narrative with many characters that spends more time creating depth for the characters because of the volume. The story for the most part is fantastic, it has a few weaker moments but it reels it back in for a powerful finale. The gameplay is classic action turn based Final Fantasy, and it holds up wonderfully today. It’s a little more linear than I remember it being as a kid because of how revolutionary it was back then, but even with the linearity, it creates a huge sense of adventure. I don’t have anything bad at all to say about the game, it holds up very well and it perfects the classic Final Fantasy formula.
Pros:
Great story that stands the test of time. Cecil is still one of the best protagonists in the series.
Nice visual upgrade that keeps close to the original as possible but with minor tweaks and effects.
Auto battle helps with grinding.
Fantastic reimagined OST.
Combat flows more smoothly and the ‘very fast’ speed lives up to its name. Combat never feels like a drag and battles move at a brisk or slower pace, that’s up to you.
Excellent pacing that while makes FFIV a shorter game than others in the series, does not outstay its welcome.
Cons:
A weak main villain that could use a rewrite.
A high encounter rate can become a chore.
The font is a pain to read but it is an easy fix.
Bottom line:
Final Fantasy IV is a fantastic game and while it has some cracks of age that show, the pixel remaster does amend a good bit of them. Sure, the high encounter rate is still there but auto-battle makes battles a snap and even if you don’t use it, the highest speed will move things along. The reimagined soundtrack is fantastic and does add to the experience.
Being able to quickly save anywhere is a game-changer as well with the later parts of the game, including the last dungeon. All and all, with the music upgrade and quality of life improvements, this is my favorite version of Final Fantasy IV and well worth the asking price.
A little bit too easy and I've heard it's even easier the original but I still had so much fun completing the game, getting secrets and defeating secret bosses. But the best part is the story, really fine stuff! I recommend if you haven't played Final Fantasy IV.
I have HUGELY mixed feelings on this release. This one has widescreen, nice art, and *most* of the new tracks are good (though you can barely hear the bassline for the main battle theme, and you can barely hear the snare in the Red Wings theme), but they SIGNIFICANTLY dumbed this version down. Half xp level requirements, half the encounter rate, and a treasure map, though I guess a lot of people would play this with a guide anyway, these three changes seem like SE wanted to hand the game to people. After decades of people complaining the SNES version is too easy and people preferring harder versions, SE does this release and makes it the easiest one ever. What the hell were they thinking? They should of at least had a difficulty option, maybe mods will fix it, but frankly not having to earn your stats does not give me the same sense of attachment to the game I have for other versions.
SummaryFINAL FANTASY IV delivers one of the richest and most powerful stories in the series. It's filled with characters and scenarios that fans continue to love to this day.
It focuses on the dark knight Cecil, who finds himself stripped of his position and rank when he questions his king's increasingly troubling orders. When he's sent on a s...