Final Fantasy IV Advance (gba: 2005): Reviews

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Final Fantasy IV Advance


8.7

based on 30 reviews
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How did we calculate this?

based on 13 votes
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Official Website

The GBA version of this classic adventure includes 18 towns and castles, dozens of magical spells and hundreds of monsters, weapons and items to help players on their quests. The game features the astounding music, challenging adventures and interesting storyline that are the hallmarks of the Final Fantasy franchise. Additional game elements also have been added to enhance the Game Boy Advance version.Players can expect 30 to 40 hours of playing time as they journey on land, on sea and in the air, and explore new towns, caves and mountains in their attempt to recover stolen crystals. Twelve different characters with new abilities, spells and items join and leave the party at different parts of the quest to keep the game fresh. [Nintendo]

PUBLISHER:	Nintendo
DEVELOPER:	Square Enix
GENRE(S):	Role-Playing Game
PLAYERS:	1
ESRB RATING:	E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
RELEASE DATE:	December 12, 2005

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

eToychest

Square Enix finally gave Final Fantasy II the treatment it deserved in Final Fantasy IV Advance, and whether you've worn out two of the old carts from overuse or have never even played a 2D Final Fantasy, you should pick this one up to see what made the Final Fantasy series such a powerhouse of the role-playing genre.

Gaming Age

Armed with the updated translation, and new abilities that we did not get in the original release, Final Fantasy IV is definitely a classic RPG worth picking up and playing through again or for the first time.

GameBrink

The game has a great story, one of my favorite stories in a game, offers fun RPG gameplay, so it’s a great game for just about every RPG fan, or at least people who loved this game before.

Games Radar

Small mistakes can't wreck such a consistently pleasurable experience as FFIV. With additional content that drastically increases the role of its large and likable cast, this is one RPG you'll have slotted into your GBA or DS for a long time coming.

N-Insanity

Whether you’re a fan of Final Fantasy or RPG’s, you owe it to yourself to pick this game up, especially if you haven’t played it before in the other two versions.

Nintendo Power

One of the best RPGs of all time gets even better. [Feb 2006, p.101]

GameCube Advanced

With the added new perks to the gameplay, new adaptive areas, and added fan service allows for enjoyment from old fans and new.

GamePro

In addition to a well-laid out story, the pixel art is incredible, the gameplay is sensible, and the music is enjoyable. Final Fantasy IV is possibly one of the best, if not the best, game of its series.

GameSpy

A great version of an RPG milestone. The story seems a bit simplistic by today's standards, but it's also uncommonly charming. The quicksave feature makes it an excellent candidate for fun on the go.

Yahoo! Games

Get past the slightly dated presentation and you'll find a game that's as involving as the best current RPGs.

Game Informer

A good port of a fantastic game. [Jan 2006, p.154]

Electronic Gaming Monthly

The addition of a dash to the GBA version makes exploring snappy, and the redone graphics look great. [Feb 2006, p.112]

RPG Fan

From the excellent storyline, to the addicting gameplay, everything in Final Fantasy IV Advance is just as good as it was in the early '90s, despite minor changes and a few lag issues.

Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

Don't let the fact that it's an update put you off. Easy to pick up and impossible to put down, this is a classic RPG. [NGC]

My Gamer

It's doesn't do anything new, it's just the best at what it does. If you're new to RPGs, this is the best title to start off with.

Nintendojo

Square-Enix has really produced a fine piece of software here, not only because of the quality of the original title but also because of the fantastic attention to detail.

IGN

One hell of a great pickup for portable gaming fans and is an even better acquisition for old-school players that can't get enough of it. No other port of the title has been as thorough or content-packed as this one.

1UP

Best of all, FF4A is more than a simple port. Like "Dawn of Souls," it offers a massive amount of bonus content.

PALGN

Quite easily the best version released yet, and is an ideal RPG for handheld gamers. An essential purchase for what is, currently, a dead console.

Just RPG

While Final Fantasy IV may be an old game, the story and characters have aged well, and the new content helps to flesh out the experience even further.

GameSpot

Final Fantasy IV, arguably the breakthrough entry in the influential series, is a perfect fit for the Game Boy Advance and is a must-play experience for fans of role-playing games.

Games Master UK

It's old-fashioned but don't let that put you off. This is a highly entertaining bit of history. [July 2006, p.63]

EuroGamer

There's a depth of enjoyment to Final Fantasy IV Advance - even pathos - that few other games can match.

Pocket Gamer UK

It might look a bit dated now, but Final Fantasy IV Advance is a classic gaming experience.

GameCritics

It's a good RPG with varied gameplay and an interesting story that unfolds at a nice pace.

G4 TV

Some players may not like the pacing or the style, but by any objective standard Final Fantasy IV is as much a success now as it was on the first day of release.

NintendoWorldReport

Playing it is fun and quick, but the Lunar Ruins are tedious and are a task for completionists only. The biggest disappointment is the lack of a bonus ending for completing the Lunar Ruins, but fans of the game and/or series will still appreciate the added content.

Gamer 2.0

Because of the game’s tried and true gameplay, solid visuals, and timeless soundtrack, this is a game that newcomers and veterans will cherish for generations to come.

Worth Playing

If this is your first chance to play Final Fantasy IV, it's not to be missed, but if you already own the PlayStation port or the original SNES version, think about it twice or even three times.

netjak

Despite the fact that I’d bet that my Game Boy Advance (let alone my Gamecube or my DS) is much faster and technologically sound than my Super Nintendo, this game’s slowdown and terrible enemy clock speed make this way too easy.

The average user rating for this game is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 13 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Brandon V. gave it a10:
This is the (current) definitive version of one of the best RPGs ever made, fixing several embarrassing translation flaws in the original North American SNES release. The story is deep and involving, the characters are all easy to like, and there are more than enough bonus features and extras to keep anyone busy for many weeks. Time will tell whether or not the upcoming 3-D remake for the DS will be superior to this release, but for now this one takes the crown.

Shane S. gave it a5:
The character classes are all too simular to each other to the point where you've really only got two classes... Jack of all trades fighter, and Jack of all trades mage. What happened to the White Mage, Black Mage, Fighter, Warrior, Red Mage, Theif, interdependency system from Dawn of Souls? In this game all your characters are jack of all trades, so they can pretty much run on their own without assistance from others. No teamwork in this game at all. Add the fact that the game constantly forces you to use specific characters, and all the joys of building your own party go out the window. Very bad game. Just get Dawn of Souls instead.

Derek B. gave it a10:
I've beaten this game six times Love it been playing it since the SNES.

Jason T. gave it an8:
This was the first FF game I've actually finished (i've gotten to Disc 3 on Final Fantasy 7, but that's it) I personally didn't care for the story all that much, and the characters were good, but not great, yet the many extras in this game, added weapons, levels and monsters made it enjoyable. Some bosses have strategies were you just can't lose, but others can prove to be hard. It's a fun game with good gameplay featuring the time-based system. If you played the original, you may or may not like this port, depending whether you'd like to see theadded extras, but for new comers, this should be fun.

Hexen M. gave it a10:
Being an old-school fan,these games bring back the good old days of gaming when things had a good story.I can remember 1995 when I frist played this.I miss those days.

Ryan T. gave it an8:
This has and always will be a phenomonal game, and this port stays pretty true to that. The translation is fantastic now, and the graphics look a little better, and still retaining that old school feel. However, the sound effects have been completely bastardized and the music is slightly disappointing. But by all means, pick this up, even if the sound effects are atrocious.

Steve W. gave it a10:
Great game with a great story line. What else is there to say except that this is a must buy.