/vr/ - Retro Games

>>10118176
PSP versions of FFI/II are good, but they really started to shit the bed graphics-wise with FFIV, it's the missing-link between FFI/IIPSP and FFV/VImobile.

>>9940316
No real standard, FFIV is prob the game with the most schizo replies outside of VI, but thankfully there aren't as many "you MUST play THIS version!" autists with it. The weakest release is the Wonderswan Color conversion and the Advance port based on it, which don't run well and have timing issues - yeah IV WSC had to be the opposite-day version compared to I&II WSC, presumably because it was rushed after III WSC was canceled. You can play any other version and still come out fine, they all have their own pros and cons.
>SNES: US II has censorship and script issues plus simplified gameplay, better to patch JP IV.
>PS1: uncensored version, close to vanilla and actually has the best load times out of any S/NES->PSX version, audio can sound a bit off tho.
>WSC: skip.
>GBA: has extra content but performance took a hit, is outdone by both the obscure JP cell version that remixes the content and the PSP version that carries it over.
>DS: very well done compared to III DS, game is made harder in many ways tho so not recommended for first time, some questionable choices like new augment system and optimizing it also isn't explained well.
>PSP: closest to being the "complete" package with a better GBA-based main game, a version of TAY, and an exclusive interquel scenario (which is meh), we don't blame you if you pick this one altho visuals can be a mixed bag and sit sonewhere between PSP I&II and mobile V&VI in quality, TAY uses OG cell progression so the bonus dungeon that was combined on WiiWare is split back up but the neat graphical flashbacks are lost in transition.
>Steam: basically just DS without Touch Screen bonuses and a difficulty selection to have something a little more normal, just avoid Steam TAY since it was made on a budget missing many features and details and easily the worst version of TAY (which is already rather unimpressive).
>Pixel Remaster...
>>9935873 summed it up.

>>9892279
>memeing FFIV "Complete Collection" for anything other than accessible TAY and InterLOL
Dude the graphics have tons of amateur-hour intern issues, sure not as bad as the mobile V&VI but still a sharp nosedive after PSP I&II, only good graphics were the assets shared from that.

>>9799418
>PSP version adds nothing new,
But Anon it comes with INTERLUDE and the downfall of the PSP style, that's why everyone loves it right?

>>9755713
They never really did IV in the true PSP style either; IV-PSP was qualitywise between I&II-PSP and V&VI-mobile.

Not to say there aren't subpar versions of these games (because there clearly are) but I find it a little fascinating how easily you can tell the agerange/experience of people who suggest certain versions of the classic Final Fantasies. You can divide it into at least three major phases:
>1987-2003 (Famicom-PlayStation): The Square Era. The company respects its legacy catelog and may do some QoL here and there for re-releases but otherwise leaves the experience relatively untouched. For oldies.
>2004-2020 (Advance+): The Square Enix Era. The merger fundamentally shifts priorities and the company no longer sees the classic games in the same light, suddenly perceiving flaws that must in some way be "corrected" in each successive re-release, effectively pulling a Lucas except replace George with mostly random employees. For newbies.
>2021-present (Pixel Remaster): The Postmodern Era. In the wake of the abject failure of the later re-releases, the company receives word that pixels are "in" and commissions a new coat of paint that outwardly goes back to the tried-and-true basics, but upon closer inspection carries over much of what was done to these games in the previous phase, creating hodgepodge versions that don't strictly belong in either phase. For plebs.

>>9509610
>The PSP version of ffiv is thr best but ignore the After Years and Interlude.
Dude, that's the only reason TO get the PSP version, so you have a convenient bundle of FFIV and its sequels, if you're JUST playing FFIV then you're doing it wrong.

>>9118437
>I&II: WonderSwan
Origins is decent and preferred in some respects despite longer loads and sprite stretching. It comes down to whether you prefer music chiptunes (WonderSwan) or rearranged (PlayStation).
>III: This is the only one you can get away with playing the Pixel Remaster
Agreed, modernized 2D FFIII was the only necessity and it blows DS out of the water, borrowing a few of QoL. Music arguably has the best care. That said, some might prefer original due to PR removing capacity system altogether, making it too easy to cheese growths.
>IV: ...if you want TAY then you may want the PSP bundle
I still don't see why anyone likes PSP. It's a definite visual downgrade from I&II and is closer to fugly V&VI mobile. Interlude is also laughable/ignorable. If you really want to play The After Years (which isn't even that great in the first place), best bet is to hit up WiiWare version. But yeah, either DS if you want a hard mode or restored Super Famicom patch (don't get suckered in by "restorations" of SNES "II").
>V: https://www.romhacking.net/translations/2600/
I liked this one and used it with Leet Sketcher and noisecross addendums, but it looks like it semirecently had a big update and is probably incompatible now. I'm wary of the new version taking after parts of GBA localization, which went too far in places to make the tone go from "generally lighthearted" to "abridged series."
>VI: ...relocalization scene is too swamped
I can tell you lowkey that the best of the bunch is "Retranslated" - https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/4619/
...But if you don't mind the experience not being vanilla, two fantastic hacks are T-Edition (has practically all GBA content and truckload more: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/6339/)) and Divergent Paths ("what if this game got the Lunar remake treatment and events unfolded slightly differently about a quarter of the way into the game ultimately turning a minor character into a major one: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/5997/).).

>>9026149
IV PSP is visually weaker than I & II PSP.

>>8672875
The best versions if you like a modernized presentation but are still somewhat of a purist:
>I: Wonderswan/Origins
>II: Wonderswan/Origins
>III: Pixel Remaster
>IV: DS
>V: Original/Advance
>VI: Original/Advance
The best version if you're a trashy-ass pig-beast who'll eat all the slop:
>I: PSP
>II: PSP
>III: PSP
>IV: PSP/Pixel Remaster
>V: Pixel Remaster
>VI: Pixel Remaster
Just save yourself the grief and play the originals.

>>8544131
Eh, PSP FFIV was def the transition between I&II PSP and V&VI mobile. Too off-putting for me, I'd rather "obtain" WiiWare TAY and play FFIV separately. Interquel was lol

>>8199249
>PSP
Do remakefags really just say that as a reflex at this point?

>>8193381
The PSP script is pretty much the GBA version with terminology from the DS version and a few minor things from TAY like the name of Yang's wife. It's not the most accurate script, but it's probably the most cohesive with its sequel, which is based on the GBA version too. Pixel Remaster, pretty laughably, reverts to the GBA script with virtually no changes, so the Archfiends are back to being the "Elemental Lords" and stuff like that. (For that matter, the GBA script seems to be a heavy edit of the PS1 script, which in turn looks like a rewrite of the SNES translation as a handful of SNES-isms are still in those versions. I don't remember which off the top of my head but Legends of Localization did an excellent analysis.)
>>8193071
The only issue with the PSP version is that the graphics are noticeably a step down from the PSP's previous 2D remakes (tho still not FFV/VI mobile levels). Like, Dark Knight Cecil[ should be showing his face in the overworld and spoiler]Paladin Cecil has two different designs depending if you're in battle or not, not to mention pic, etc. TAY flashbacks also lose the neat retro graphic effect. I'm kind of shocked there hasn't been a mod attempt to restore the OG graphics.
Also the load times are worse than the PS1 version in my experience, which is the odd one out.

>Game script more or less reverted to the GBA version, not even to the PSP version which at least updated parts of it to somewhat align with the DS version.
Not as drastic as using the PlayStation translation, but imagine going that far backwards? I knew it was expecting too much to be expecting remastered translations. I'm almost surprised they didn't just ChaosRush the III localization.
>>8118930
The best the PSP remakes have to offer, sure, at its core it's the GBA version in a passable state, and that arguably had the best extras despite being held back by gameplay issues (European revision was better still not flawless like some people would have you believe). Graphically, in several ways it was the precursor to mobile V/VI.

>>8077132
They better not.

>>7991908

Real talk: where are PSP kiddies coming out of the woodwork? I refuse to believe there are that many of you. There's gotta be a handful of samefags like that /v/autist.

>>7910437
This kills the psp-fag.

>>7864910
>just port the psp versions to the pc and phones
I dunno, SOME people dislike the PSP versions too, and it's refreshing if these are really from-scratch remakes and not ports of ports of ports of ports.

>>7779093
it's debatable.

>>7701674
>Best graphics goes to psp version
...Look at this picture. See everything wrong with it. Absorb it. Now, wanna know the real funny part? That was actually Final Fantasy IV, widely considered the PEAK of the PSP remakes. And if you think that's something, the PSP remake introduces its subpar mediocrity before you even start the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO-SrskvGi0 - note the intro clouds get simplified in each major rerelease, from most dynamic on WonderSwan Color to flat cardboard on PlayStation Portable. Awe at the lazy "underpaid intern" quality of the crystal animation capping it off, which now has to glisten contantly and throw the accompanying sound effect off track. Etc.

>>7439824
It has its charms (to make fun of): http://bastardly.org/power_of_cheese/index.html
>>7439825
The PSX version (at least North American) somehow doesn't have the issues that plagued the other SNES-PS1 ports, and it the first version officially released im the west uncut. The translation on the other hand is almost as bad as the initial version of the J2e fan-translation, if not worse in a few places: https://legendsoflocalization.com/which-final-fantasy-iv-translation-should-you-play/
>>7439936
PSP version has the least issues from a gameplay perspective; from a presentation standpoint, well, see pic (from Mato Tree).
Also a reminder not to indulge in any current post-PSP rerelease: https://legendsoflocalization.com/this-be-bad-translation-9-sloppy-mobile-pc-ports/

>>7428138
Can we please stop pretending that the PSP versions weren't terrible too?
Just look carefully at the intro for a quick comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO-SrskvGi0
The dynamic, ominous clouds from the WonderSwan version somehow got downgraded so much over time that the PSP version looks the most flat. The graphical upscale looks like some amateur RPG Maker junk. And look at the crystal animation - it's completely mistimed. The "shine" sound before they come together now plays with no obvious visual effect, even though it made sense in earlier intros. Imagine that things are this sloppy before the title screen.