/vr/ - Retro Games

>>10059179
Holy based, I've always felt this way but people seem to hate him getting away. If he had been killed off it would feel like any other typical jrpg ending, the antagonist not only not being evil but having real ground for his viewpoint feels above most jrpg conflicts and Yuna dying would just destroy all of that.

>>8918934
It's frustrating how the battle system is incredibly interesting but held back just by how easy the game generally is. The combo system has a really neat concept behind it but the player never truly needs to look too deeply into it at any point which is a damn shame.

Something I really have to give credit to BoFIV for is that as I've got older it's the only plot in a jrpg that I think I appreciate more now then I did when I played it. It still has your typical anime stuff but some of the themes feel pretty mature. I know it annoys a lot of people but Yuna surviving is genuinely brilliant I feel. It really makes Fou-Lu's whole journey and ideals feel a lot more justified knowing that someone as evil as him can just actually get away with it.


If you haven't I can't suggest enough reading this thread that compares the Japanese and English scripts for the games, really interesting read.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/four_against_nature/the-beginning-the-end-and-the-beginning-brownie-pp-t428.html

>>6316617
It's not, I actually feel the exact opposite.

I genuinely feel it's absolutely brilliant, one of the few times I feel a jrpg has had an actually compelling plot point. Fou-Lu, as the antagonist, argued that mortal's sins are too great and that allowing the cycle to continue as it is will only induce more widespread suffering. he believed that the suffering of millions at the hands of the few is worth exterminating. What separates him from so many other jrpg antagonists or villains is that he has genuine ground to stand on. If Yuna had died and got what he deserved Fou-Lu's argument would hold no weight since, like any old jrpg, the villain got what they deseved.

In real life the villain doesn't always get what he deserved. Some of the worst humans to ever live went on to die without enduring even a fraction of the suffering they caused others. Fou-Lu's rage against society feels so much more genuine since you, the player, also are angry at Yuna just as Fou-Lu is. You've experienced first hand just how Yuna made Fou-Lu suffer from the start to the end of the game.

It's a genuinely great ending that shows we can't save and fix everyone and everything, some times the system can't be fixed and things aren't so black and white. Even though Fou-Lu is wrong in his aim he feels far more genuine then most jrpg antagonists.

Reminder that Yuna living is brilliant and BoFIV's plot would be inferior without this aspect of the plot.
>>6265535
That's usually what fans of that theory claim in terms of how the games connect the games.

>>6099572
There's nothing in the game's files suggesting it, though I believe Capcom has said he was suppose to. Even if unintended him living was genius.

Reminder that Yuna living is actually a great plot point as it adds actual depth and reasoning to Fou-Lu's motivation.

>>5472368
Yuna surviving feels like it was intended though. It adds so much to the plot and Fou-Lu's character that neither would work had he died.

Fou-Lu's entire argument about mortals actually holds weight because Yuna lived. If Yuna had was killed like he so much deserved then Fou-Lu's argument would feel shitty as the player sees that all the villains are personally punished. Knowing that literally the most evil possible person is able to continue living makes Fou-Lu's motive actually effective rather then just angsty.

Even if Yuna surviving was due only to rushed development it was genuinely for the better and I wouldn't have ot any other way.

>>4886447
>>4886456
>>4886467
Yuna surviving, intended or not, absolutely brilliant.

Had he died BoFIV's story would be fine, but just that, fine. Every jrpg has a happy ending where every antagonsist reforms or gets what they deserve. That's not a bad thing, but at a point you want something different. In BoFIV Fou Lu had the belief that mortals are evil by nature and that they are destined to destroy themselves. This isn't uncommon for jrpg antagonists, or antagonists in general, but Fou Lu is so amazing and memorable for two reasons. For one, we actually see him begin to question his outlook on certain occasions like when he meets Bunyan and Mami, players actually experience his development. But even better is that we understand why he feels the way he does, and Yuna surviving is why. if Yuna died so would Fou Lu's argument. If every antagonist suffered for what they did Fou Lu's point would just be made mute, as the game shows us that obviously karma exists. Because Yuna lived what he says before the final battle actual had depth, we feel the same way about Yuna he does, and we actual are left to question if maybe he is right, even if just for a minute.

I don't mean to sound pretentious, and I'm sorry if it does, but I think having him survive really elevates BoFIV's story, not as the greatest writing or anything, but above what is expected for jrpgs. It's been one of the few plots in a game to ever really stick with me, which is why i think it creates a powerful response for me.

>>4061542
Fou Lu wasn't exactly right but his character and actions are understandable. That's what make him a good antagonist. The thing is Fou Lu is the central antagonist, the main character conflicting with the protagonist, but Yuna is the actual villain.

The actual reminder is that Yuna escaping is brilliant and adds so much more depth to the story and Fou Lu.

>>4005247
You are not mistaken but allow me to explain the importance of this aspect.

The main antagonist and main villain are not the same people. Fou Lu is the main antagonist but Yuna is the main villain. Fou Lu is the one providing the central conflict that the heroes are concerned with resolving, Yuna is the one who has been the main source of evil in the world of the game. Yuna's schemes are also ultimately the source for Fou Lu's hatred of humanity. When ressurected from his sleep Fou Lu experience countless tragedy. An army burns a forest down to try to kill him, he learns the peaceful empire he onced ruled over is now a strict dictatorship that has created decades of war, and a innocent woman who falls in love with him despite not knowing his true background is used as a sacrefice for a weapon used to try to kill him. Ultimately all of this occurs because of Yuna. During the final battle Fou Lu vows to destroy humanity as the evil of the world outweighes the innocent. He believes that unless evil is punished it will only thrive and grow worse. By having Yuna escape with no consequence we see that his view isn't entirely wrong. If he received punishment then Fou Lu's point would seem baseless and make him shallow. Players are able to see that his point is actually understandable. The player may not agree with his view but his view feels more logical and understandable.

>>3982545
BoFIII's are good but BoFIV's are better.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HlbYkWDrtbc
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x7WbJfY4Dns
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GS-NPweV0YA
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb6PIjrC1ek
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rD0thC7D5go

>>3982445
>>3982527
Later I played IV, and holy shit did IV wow me. I initially dropped III but still wanted to try IV as the art just really interested me. IV actually has a greater focus on story then III, however its pacing is MUCH better then III. The story and game move at a good pace, new things are happening constantly and little time is wasted. Combat is also personally better. In IV you have a row system and combo system. Throughout the game you will get six party members. With rows three characters will be in the front while the others remain in the back. Basically while only three can act all six are in battle always and you can move characters to the back and front easily and as much as you want. For example if you see a character low on health you can put them in the back and have someone else go in front. Magic also works in combos. Magic has four alignments. Depending on the order you use magic the elements can link with one another. For example if you use a fire spell then a wind spell the wind spell will now become a new, stronger spell. The blue mage system returns as well. On top of an excellent battle system the story is just as good. The game offers an amazing mix of tension, tragedy, and true moral dilemmas. Despite all this I do have one nitpick. Around maybe the last fourth on your last huge goal the game kind of falls a bit. For around 4-5 hours dumb sidequests with little story occur. All I can say is muscle through this, the ending is phenomenal.

Overall I say this, try III first then IV. III is a bit of a slog but one worth slogging through. While III took a second attempt though IV had me instantly. Please play, or at least try, both of these amazing games.