Final Fantasy IV
Metacritic
IGDB
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About Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy IV arrived in July 1991 as Square's fourth major entry. It launched on the Super Famicom in Japan before hitting North American shelves as Final Fantasy II with significant changes to fit local guidelines. This title shifted the series focus from pure mechanics toward a heavy narrative emphasis that defined future RPGs. Players control Cecil Harvey, a dark knight seeking redemption while battling an evil empire threatening the world. The game features classic turn-based combat and party management across multiple platforms including Wii U, New Nintendo 3DS, and original Super Famicom cartridges. It remains one of the most influential JRPGs ever made despite its age.
Gameplay
Sessions revolve around switching between overworld exploration and grid-based dungeon crawling. You manage a party of four characters who each have unique abilities like magic spells or physical attacks. Combat is strictly turn-based where you select actions for every unit while enemies react in a set order. A real-time element called the Active Time Battle bar dictates when your character can actually move, adding urgency to decision-making. Story moments play out through detailed cutscenes that advance the plot without player input. You spend most of your time equipping gear, managing inventory, and traveling between towns to recruit new party members for specific story beats or boss fights.
What Players Think
Critics and players still respect this title heavily with a Metacritic score of 87 out of 100. IGDB lists an average rating of 82.1 based on 197 user reviews, showing consistent praise over decades. The community moods lean heavily toward Nostalgia and Appreciation as fans revisit the story. Average playtime hovers around 45 hours for a standard completion run, though some players spend significantly longer chasing every hidden item. Review snippets frequently mention the emotional weight of the narrative and the music by Nobuo Uematsu. No other site tracks how many users actually finish the game versus those who quit early, but the high scores suggest most stick with it until the credits roll.
PlayPile's Take
This is a solid purchase for anyone wanting to understand RPG history or play a story-driven adventure with tight mechanics. The price varies by platform but remains accessible on modern re-releases. Players earn 36 achievements that track specific milestones like beating bosses or finding secret characters. It is not the most polished game by today's standards, yet the character development and plot twists hold up well. Avoid this if you only care about open-world freedom or fast-paced action combat. The Final Fantasy IV experience offers a complete narrative package that justifies the time investment for dedicated genre fans.
Game Modes
Single player
IGDB Rating
82.1
RAWG Rating
3.7
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