|
Carrying on the now honoured tradition of remaking every Final Fantasy
game at least once, Square-Enix is getting ready to release the
first 3D version of the SNES classic Final Fantasy IV (or Final
Fantasy II if you still haven't recovered from the SNES era). Coming
just over a year after the excellent DS remake of Final
Fantasy III, the game is being developed by the same company,
Matrix Software. This is a good thing, as it means that the same
highly polished gameplay and design of last year's game will be
present here, hopefully improving what is already a fantastic game.
Once
again Square-Enix has given the game a complete graphical overhaul,
using 3D polygons instead of 2D sprites. This worked tremendously
well for FF III and the same will be the case here, with characters
such as the Dark Knight Cecil coming alive like never before. A
more realistic approach has been taken with the character design
this time around, probably due to the heroes having a lot more emotion
and character than the previous games in the series. More importantly
for the characters, this is the first time they have had vocal chords.
As was the case with the Crystal
Chronicles game on DS earlier this year, voice acting is present.
This is an excellent addition to the game and will make the already
enjoyable story of FF IV that much more believable. If the voice
acting is as well done as the company's first attempt then be prepared
for some amazing vocals.
But
the aesthetics aren't all that has changed; the game has acquired
several new features when making the jump from SNES to DS, all of
them looking as though they will fit well with the world of Final
Fantasy IV. It will retain the Japanese difficulty level though,
meaning that it will most likely be just as difficult as last year's
entry, with Square-Enix keeping other features from the non-Western
version. These include extra abilities for certain characters, such
as the Mage Tellah's ability to cast a larger variety of magic.
New areas have been added as well, with a host of secret ones that
the developers have hidden in the expansive world. But while these
features all seem appropriate to the FF universe, one brand new
section of the game seems, well, somewhat odd.
FF
IV's summoner, Rydia, travels with her guardian, Wit, a creature
that has a distinctive lack of a face. And that's where you come
in; with some stylus strokes you can create this blank slate's face,
which you can then take into battle with you. This looks to be similar
in design to the emblem creator seen in Mario
Kart DS, which spells good things for the feature. On the other
hand, the developers have decided to add even more gameplay styles
into Wit's development, taking cues from the DS classic Brain
Training. Yes, you heard right! Final Fantasy is using some
of Dr Kawashima's patented brain surgery in the form of performing
maths equations to increase Wit in level. This is so odd that it
will probably work, adding just another layer to the already deep
FF IV formula. Let's hope we don't see Wit's Maths Training in the
near future though!
Final
Fantasy IV on the Nintendo DS will be the definitive version of
the already stellar game - of this much we can be certain. Incorporating
the best elements of all the remakes so far and throwing in mounds
of additional content will make this essential for any FF veteran.
I haven't even touched upon the improved control method, dense plot,
or the battle system, but this will all become apparent when the
game is released in September. This could be better than last year's
entry and could be one of the best RPGs of 2008. Let's hope that
this will be a journey worth going on for a second time.
Previewed by Sam Atkins for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).
|
