Final Fantasy IV DS English Version First Impressions

[Skyla Doragono]

Well, it's no big secret that I get really hyper about the DS 3-D remake of FF4, one of my favorite games since I was a kid.  I've already ranted and raved about how awesome it is to play and how wonderful the graphics are from playing a semi-translated version before, so I'll spare everyone that rant again.

So, the English version just came out today, and... well, it's not bad; so far, it's better than what I was expecting.  The dialogue is translated fairly accurately, only it has a sort of pseudo Old English slant to it, which... I guess that's okay, considering the game setting, but comes off odd at times.  Some things were... named oddly though.  Summoned monsters have become Eidoleons like in FF9 so... okay, I guess that works.  Kain's class has returned to "Dragoon", which would be more acceptable if it hadn't been properly translated in the PSX and GBA versions.  And the Bomb Ring that you take to Myst in the beginning... is now named "Carnelian Signet".  What? O_o;

The one thing that's definitely GOOD is the voice acting, the one thing that I dreaded the most.  The voices so far are actually quite good and better than the Japanese version in some rare instances.  In fact, I'm trying to find something to nitpick about it, but I can't. :x

Lastly, so far it seems like they didn't curb back the difficulty at all.  You still get slaughtered if you go straight to the Mist Cave without leveling a bit.  Yikes. @_@

Anyway, so far a very good translation; I'm quite pleased.

 

[tofurkey]

Where exactly is all the new content tacked on; is it spread out through the whole game or is it all clustered at the end? I was gonna pick up my copy after work today.

 

[dupont7]

yeah its pretty good. A lot better then the 3D remake of FF3. i havent tried english version yet but ive played the japan version. Going to get US version once i can get a used copy for cheap. But yeah good remake

 

[moog]

Ive heard its a shitload better than FFIII, which I didnt like. Cant wait to buy it.

 

[Skyla Doragono]

Where exactly is all the new content tacked on; is it spread out through the whole game or is it all clustered at the end? I was gonna pick up my copy after work today.

Hoo boy; it's spread all over the place.  You can't rename your characters due to voice acting, so Namingway has various new purposes, such as giving you maps and other things.  Rydia has a new summon called Whyt (formerly called Poochika), whom you can customize with the DS touch screen, and also get new skins for when you play certain character minigames.  The Fat Chocobo also has new features, as you have space in your inventory for everything now.  There are also new Decant abilities (I know they changed the name in the English version, but I haven't gotten far enough yet to see what it is), which allows you to use the abilities of characters that don't stay in your party, among other things.  Cecil as a Paladin also gets more spells, making him infinitely more useful as a caster instead of just an emergency healer.  There are also new cutscenes that reveal more of Cecil, Kain, Rosa, and Golbeze's pasts.

 

[moog]

wait you cant name your characters?

D:

 

[Skyla Doragono]

wait you cant name your characters?

D:

Duh.  :|

The only character you can name is Whyt.

 

[GrooveMan.exe]

Only watched the opening sequence and fought a few battles on the overworld. It's very pretty, moreso than III.

I've not played the original, so I was a little peeved when that name changing rabbit was like "LOL NO NAME CHANGE SRY".

 

[candle]

It's interesting that you say the voice acting is a strong point because every where else I've checked has said it was weak.  Now I can just hope the new Chrono Trigger will have voices.

 

[tofurkey]

Kain sounds like a badass. This is awesome :O

 

[Luminier]

Dammit, Square-Enix! I already have FFIVA im not gonna buy this one too! idc how definitive it is i dont wanna play through the same game again so soon
I'm gonna save my money for a different SE DS remake of a fourth installment in a flagship franchise :3

also Yuri Lowenthal as the voice of Cecil is a HUGE put-off. i have more talent in a single strand of hair than he does in his entire body @_@

Now I can just hope the new Chrono Trigger will have voices.

you know that it's just a port, right? so i really doubt it

 

[Skyla Doragono]

It's interesting that you say the voice acting is a strong point because every where else I've checked has said it was weak.  Now I can just hope the new Chrono Trigger will have voices.

Yeah, I know.  I think so many people just expect voice acting to be bad, that it's become an automatic response.  I personally hate most English-from-Japanese voice acting, so me actually LIKING THIS says a lot.

Also, Lum, if you're going by the trailer, his voice sounds better in the actual game.  I think they used a different voice cut for the trailer or something, or if the DS speakers are just different.  I dunno.

 

[Celesinator]

Now, I know this isn't something big not to like, but the only thing I didn't like was that you can't change window skins XD. But everything else is fantastic... well I played through the Japanese so the voices and retranslation are great!

 

[tofurkey]

Please don't tell me I'm the only one who drew a wang for Whyt's face >_>

 

[iamsephiroth]

Blue Windowskins Only..=Fail QQ
Besides that......Still too Easy...=/

 

[arcthemonkey]

You know, considering the fact that I loathe japanese voice acting in general, it may not be surprising that I like the voices in this game. But no, they aren't FFXII quality, but so far I've liked them quite a bit.

As far as I've seen, this is quite a bit harder than FF4 japanese hard type. Anything that casts magic just about steam rolls you if you aren't careful.

Anyway, I'm really enjoying it.

 

[adelaidechoc]

Blue Windowskins Only..=Fail QQ
Besides that......Still too Easy...=/

Ha? Are you reffering to the gameplay? As far as I know FFIVA's battle was tedious enough to beat.

 

[Prexus]

This doesn't work on my R4DS card yet

 

[Celesinator]

It does on mine o.o

Did you trim it?

Sometimes trimming can make it work, although, sometimes it doesn't.

Or do you not have the new firmware?

 

[Prexus]

I just downloaded the new firmware but haven't tried it yet. I was wary about downloading it at first because I heard a rumor that the 1.18 firmware for the R4DS will brick your DS if you have a knockoff R4 card, and wasn't really 100% sure my card was real (although I got it from a legit site)