/vr/ - Retro Games

>Hey guys I just got this game, but I don't really have anything to say about it. Anyways, can you go ahead and talk about it for me while I sit here and refresh instead of actually playing it and forming my own opinion to help me create a more constructive dicussion about it.

We really, really need to find out a way to stop these threads

What version is the PSP one based on? I played through FF2 back in the day, did they ever rebalance it to match the JP version?

>>2331824
Literally every single English version besides "FF2" is based on the Japanese version with the missing attacks, missing items, better script, etc.

>>2331804
> I've only ever played the DS version of IV and I heard that it's considered to be shit compared to the snes version.

The FF4 DS version is only shit if you're a fucking casual who can't into strategy, or you're too afraid of the ability system they shoved on there so you can customize your own heroes.

FF4 Advanced & FF4DS are the best versions of the game.

>>2331971
^ I agree with this anon. DS version is the one you want, for the full 100% FF4 experience. The extras are nice, the difficulty is refreshing ( who doesn't like a good challenge? ), and the translation is really good.
There's also basically a "party chat" or "Active Time Event" thingy, where you you can see what your party members are thinking, or saying, at any point in the game. It's nothing big, but just a little something interesting.
The NewGame+ is where it's at, though. Honestly I found the 2nd playthrough even more enjoyable, just because of the customization.

I think the PSP version is the best. Second favorite is GBA.
DS is great and all, but it looks hideous. But if you don't care about that then it might be the best one.

>>2331992
I totally forgot about the thought bubble thing.
You basically get a little bit more out of all of your characters because every couple of dungeon floors you can read their updated thoughts simply by going into the menu with them at the head of the party.

This means Cecil is less of a silent nutcase and more of a well rounded character.
FF4 DS also does the Dark Knight armor a great service by finally showing how the mask works, not to mention the Rendered Armor set in the opening also looks amazing.

FF4 DS also has voice acting that doesn't suck dicks. No one has a grating shit voice, not even the twins, and a lot of the redone scenes are actually pretty amazing, I have a new found appreciation for Cid just because how he does certain things.

Also, most of Cecil's arsenal has a point beyond just having a higher attack power, you could feasibly continue to use the Ancient Sword the whole game through, or make yourself a strong counter-build with a blood sword.

FF4 Advanced is incredibly true to the original games, and then they have extra content. So if you want oldschool graphics go with that.

>>2332007
They don't look that bad.

Cecil has a pretty good design going on with his Paladin outfit in the DS version.
Everyone looks pretty awesome.

Spoilering incase OP doesn't want any potential spoilers.

>>2332018
>Posting a spoiler image, but mentioning Cecil as a Paladin

>>2332056
Mistakes have been made.

>>2332059
It's all good. Just because you know something happens, the circumstances around it are what really make it a good turning point in the game.

I love IV. It's my second favorite after VI. My only complaint with the SNES version was that it took me (on average) 27 hours to beat. I played the DS version and It took me closer to 40.

>>2331992
I didn't even know there was a New Game + on the DS version. I'll have to dig out my DS and try it out I should still have my completed save on it.
>>2331971
I liked the DS version when I played i, Final Fantsy IV became my second favourite final fantasy because of it. The reason I wanted to know more about the other versions was because if I liked the version that was supposed to be shit then I'd love the supposedly better versions.

>>2331804
It is the same game with different graphics. It would be my favorite version if they had just included the original graphics as an option, like they did with the music. As is though, I can't stand the player sprites.

PSP version of FF4 is the most beautiful version, although if you want the original FF4 difficulty then look elsewhere.

>>2333751
This is one of my favorite parts in FF4 DS.
https://youtu.be/6At6XhVogKA?t=66

I'm not familiar with the PSP version but if you find it lacking then give the GBA version a try.

Everyone here recommending the GBA version over the PSP because "extra content" seems blissfully unaware that the PSP has the most additional content.

OP, you did great. PSP is the best, most complete version of the traditional FF4 presentation.

>>2334059
Elaborate, what can I expect in the PSP port?
Lunar Dungeon?
Switchable party members?

>>2334071
Two extra canon games.

It's like, MORE, man.

>>2334086
Oh, TAY & that...between game?
Well I haven't played them so I can't judge entirely but I heard, well, bad things.

>>2334106
If you're OP, then you also "heard bad things" about the DS version, which is also awesome, and means your friends are full of shit.

No offense.

>>2334112
Nah, OP is "The Lucky Irishman". I'm the other guy whose filled most of the thread with his Pro-DS version propaganda.

>>2334114
Ok.

But even excepting that you may or may not like the extra storylines, they still have extra dungeons and the core FF4 game is at its most polished with PSP, and is graphically superior to GBA.

>>2334117
I like their enemy sprites a lot better, but these redone character sprites are just, my eyes don't like them

>>2334227
dem giant man hands

>>2334227
Fuck, I don't know. I can't really get behind that. Looks like some phone game bullshit.

But then I look at the original, and that really doesn't look as good as I remember it. Damn rose tinted glasses.

>>2334369
This
>>2334280
Isn't the original either. It is the GBA version, and has messed up color.

Unless you just mean that it looks like a game made in 1990. Which it does.

>>2334414
PSP Character sprites are ugly shit.

>>2334419
I like it, although I wish they were better animated in-game

The original is always the best. They should have left it the way it was. At least you can play FF titles on phones, DS and PSP though. It's better than nothing.

DS Master Race

>>2334427
Problem with FF4 is that the "original" isn't the original. FF2 for the SNES has all the character special abilities cut.

>Not playing it on the original platform

>>2334430
Literally BobHeads: The Game

>>2334437
Really? It's been a long time since I played it. I played the DS version more recently. Like what special abilities are cut?

>>2334457
This is better than >>2334227
>>2334419

This is /vr/. Everyone here considers the old games and their old graphics to become better with age like a fine wine. As you can see from this thread most of the posters here will say that the newer graphical updates are crap. /vr/ runs on nostalgia to a high degree. It looked better back then because that's how we first played it as kids when it was the best most exciting thing happening in our boring small town lives.

>>2334457
Yeah it is way sharper on my Samsung Galaxy. You'd think they could do better with a dedicated game system. Is it really that pixelated on the DS?

>>2334462
The character class abilities are mostly (but not entirely) missing. See what's missing in this picture? It is like that for most characters.

If you want the "closest to the original", play either a translated ROM of the Japanese SFC version, or play the Playstation release (the one bundled with Chrono Trigger, except don't play that, that port blows).

>>2334469
/v/ is that way.

>>2334472
Don't play Chrono Trigger on Chronicles or don't play that version of FFIV?

>>2334469
Except there are tons of people in this thread praising the DS version and its visuals.

So what now?

>>2334472
>>2334472
What is Cecil missing here? I only remember him having white magic when he becomes a paladin, but this looks like it was before that when he was still a dark knight. What did he have when he was a dark knight other than attack?

>>2334471
The DS has effectively the same resolution as the Super Nintendo. All textured 3d games look that bad on it. Basically like the Playstation with less warping textures.

>>2334469
I know, right. Fucking reactionaries wanting all their games to look like SNES games from 1990, when they SHOULD want them to look like Playstation games from 1998. Fuck off.

>>2334473
I wouldn't know I never go on /v/. I don't even know what the hell is happening with new games and forgot there was a PS4 the other day. My PC can run the latest beautiful sexy graphics and all I use it for are emulators of old consoles, mostly PS one.

>>2334475
Don't play the Playstation version of CT. Because the game has no battle transitions, the loading times are excruciating. I am recommending the Playstation version of 4. I believe you can also get that on the PSP, independently of the "Complete" version. Confusing, I know.

>>2334479
His Dark Wave ability that sacrifices health to do AoE damage to all enemies.

Also, as a note, I don't dislike "FF2" on the SNES. I'm just saying why you might not want to play it, when other versions have more stuff.

>>2334472
DS fag here.
This looks great

>>2334227
>>2334419
I think paladin Cecil looks better here than in the DS version. He looks like some dumb 80s barbarian character like He-Man in the DS version except girlish.

>>2334483
Thanks, I will play the PS version of IV if that is the truest to the original, and I don't mind if they threw some FMV scenes in there because it's not like it affects anything else in the game anyway.

>>2334486
Funny how his TAY PSP appearance is inspired in the DS version.

>>2334478
So go to /v/ if you want to praise non-/vr/ consoles douche.

>>2334491
The FMVs only appear during the introduction before you start the game and right after the game ends. They're not intrusive to the game at all.

FF4 on PSX's only blatant problem is the compressed sound effects. Music sounds fine, but the sound effects sound like they were compressed to 8khz or something. Really distracting going back to it after playing the Super Nintendo version.

>>2334494
Man, there are too many versions now, I have no idea what you are talking about.

>>2334498
TAY, man. The After Years?

>>2334497
Weird they messed that up considering Sony did the sound for the SNES. You'd think the PS sound would be able to handle any SNES sound effect.

>>2334501
Hmm, I hadn't heard of it until now. I guess I'll have something to play after I finish IV on my Galaxy.

>>2334503
I'm not sure if the games are straight up ports or are being emulated though. That is probably the reason for the sound fucking up. FF6 on Playstation, which I wouldn't recommend, also has way more battle slowdown than the original. It goes without saying that the Playstation is more powerful and should have less slowdown.

>>2334507
They were all ports. They were just poor ports by TOSE.

>>2334486
Really? Are you fucking retarded

>>2334510
Oh right, of course I would be retarded if I didn't like the same character art as you.

>>2334513
I dunno, you did say that Cecil looked like a He-Man character.

>>2334527
Yeah I said He-Man not a He-Man character.

>>2334541
That makes it so much better.

>>2334570
Oh my, you're the retarded one.

>>2334486
He sure does!

>>2334645
Rosa lookin pretty hot there. Fucking kek at the rest, though.

>>2334495
But that has nothing to do with your original statement saying that everybody at /vr/ automatically prefers the original sprites. I easily proved you wrong and then you told me to leave. And you called me a douche. I'm likely to kill myself just out of spite now.

>>2334645
>that Kain butt cheek

Fucking glorious.

>>2334645
>>2334598
All these wrong opinions.
Disgusting

DS is definitely the best version of FF4. It's got the most you can do in the battle system, a decent amount of challenge, and is just all around really good.

Since you have the PSP version of FF4 though, you can play the spinoffs they include: Interlude and The After Years. Personally, I didn't care much for Interlude and it kinda spoils things, but The After Years is actually pretty neat as a game set like 17 years after FF4 with a ridiculous amount of characters with unique skills, equipment, and stats to them. By the time you get to the end, you get to choose parties from like 30+ characters, with different team attacks between combos of characters. Story's not great, but it was really neat anyway.

>>2334984
>Cecil has no nipples

>>2335786
Hes wearing armor over everything.
Who knows if he has nipples.
They're probably bright purple anyway

>>2334984
I don't remember the third one being in that game. That's the proper costume.

I only played the original, though, not the re-release/sequel/whatever that was.

>>2336061
Dissidia 012 had more costume choices and DLC for certain characters.

I like using the DS costumes, not sure why they went with those silly spear things instead of giving him one of the sword designs from the game. Granted the Death Bringer didn't look all that great in the DS version.

>>2335684
I hated the After Years. The story was so bad it just ruined it for me and I couldn't stand like any of the new characters. Ceodore had all the personality of a plank of wood which I wouldn't have cared about if they didn't try so hard to make him the focus and don't get me started on that "mysterious girl" antagonist or the final boss.
I'm probably just hating on it a bit too hard but FF4 was the first RPG game I ever played and it holds a special place in my heart. That long with all the hype I had for it's release really amplified all the problems I had with the game.

>>2336072
Why would you get hyped over that? FF4 wasn't my first; FF6 was, but I too love it, for its charming 80s style and simplicity. I've never touched the sequels because I know what's up. Remember X-2? The first FF sequel? Yeah, that showed why FF games all being standalone and not having sequels was a good idea and why breaking that tradition was terrible. Crisis Core was painful, too.

>>2334984
Squeenix really knows how to oversell it in the character design department. There's such a thing as "over-designing".
And why the hell did they give him a spear? What's wrong with a sword and shield?

>>2336072
I never played TAY but I did read the Lets Play of it, the guy who went through the game had an interesting take on Ceodore's mostly retarded character.

Ceodore doesn't want to be a Paladin like his father, he wants to be a Dragoon
Probably the only interesting thing I got out of it besides Edward almost being competent.

They could've done more with Palom & Porom I think.

>>2336081
Huh?

Huh?

Huh?

I missed the ffVI thread,
any tips for moron's first play through?

>>2336250
At some point towards the End Game Ceodore & Kain confide in each other.
I'd have to dig through a 100 page something Let's Play to find the actual scene, I'd rather not if I can help it.

>>2336276
Eh, Tips on what exactly?
There's a lot of hidden shenanigans I don't want to spoil straight out that might be interesting to read on a second playthrough.

>>2336081
They couldve done more with anyone except just Repeat spots.

Edge and Edward had ok stuff. Everyone else was either repeat this shit, or do nothing and be Out of character. I fucking hated what they did with Rydia, it was so dumb.

>>2336408
Eh, I have to admit, those "character development" camping scenes in the final dungeon were pretty sweet.

>>2336619
>>2336628
Alright I actually found the page and the guys theory.

"...Hold on a minute. Did that cutscene just have actual character development?

There's a lot to say about this particular cutscene, and most of it is surprisingly good. I really like how despite being the son of Cecil, it's actually Ceodore and Kain that have a strong mentor/pupil relationship. It was Kain that taught Ceodore to survive, and who drove Ceodore to become a competent soldier. And though I'm sure this was unintentional, Golbez and Cecil didn't really give a shit when Kain talked to them, yet Ceodore listened intently because of their bond.

Once again, if this game had good writers, there could actually be something to this. Golbez might hate the sight of Kain as Kain is a reminder of what Golbez used to be, and perhaps how Golbez could never truly redeem himself for his wrongs the way Kain did. Cecil may harbor secret resentment for Kain, for the wrongs he did in the past, for his continued lust for Rosa, or maybe how Kain bonds with Ceodore more than Cecil ever could.

Another thing I have to give the game props for is actually being subtle about something. Ceodore didn't have any interest in following his father's footsteps. He focuses on speed, he's trained in the art of spears, and as the final piece of the puzzle..."

http://lparchive.org/Final-Fantasy-IV-The-After-Years/Update%2083/

>>2336687
"Yeah, Ceodore wants to grow up to be a dragoon. In fact, this is probably what he wanted to do even before meeting Kain. It's no wonder then that Ceodore secretly resented his parents, as he felt the pressure to be a Paladin or whatever when he had no desire to be one.

And of course, we actually learn a bit more about Kain's backstory, which is something I wish these little scenes did with the rest of the characters. It helps Kain further relate to Ceodore, and to show him that Cecil isn't a bad father at all. Ceodore doesn't hate him, but he still resents him a bit, and Kain's story gives Ceodore some much-needed perspective.

The main thing I didn't like was Rosa at the end, suggesting Kain talked to Ceodore more out of obligation than because Kain actually liked Ceodore as a pupil and friend. Remove Rosa, and that scene would've been as good as it possibly could've been in a game like this.

But yeah, new Band and all that. At this point, I give Golbez the Triton Dagger to boost his Intellect and switch him with Ceodore."

>>2331804
The positive is that there is more content "The after years" which means more levels and story. That said, here are the cons:

>>Shitty Tablet game sprites
>>Extra storyline reads like a fanboy fanfic with cheap characters like Goblez being playable and Kain taking over as MC.

>>2337368
Complete doesn't have mobile-tier sprites. They aren't technically awful, like those shit tier FFV and VI ports. They are just ugly due to art style.

>emulate FFIV DS and hook up a dualshock 3 to go with it
>enjoy higher res quality gameplay with silky, buttery smooth 60 fps

i like ff4 snes a lot but i prefer the big head version, it's very fun

>>2337368
Not to sound like a critic, but the original story wasn't that great either.

>>2337446
FF4's story was utterly retarded, but it had a certain charm and had surprisingly great pacing. Yeah it had moments of sheer stupidity but it didn't care and knew what it was, and didn't dwell on it.

TAY was just bad and insulting to both the characters and player. Creator being the stupidest thing about it.

>>2337381
I really don't find the art style ugly, it seems like a pretty good update to the original art style to me, but the font choices sure are ugly.

>>2337405
what does this even mean?

>>2337494
Monster art is okay.
It's the player characters, and walkabout graphics that are disgusting.

Too bad they never ported After Years iOS to PC.
Same style as FF4 DS.

It's not that hard.

You want something closer to the original without the cut content?
>PS1 version

You want some challenge?
>DS version

You want lots of extra content?
>PSP version

>>2337494
>>2337642
Did Yang really have a blond moustache?

While were on the subject of PSP ports. Tactics Ogre. SFC, PS1, or PSP?

>>2337667
His mustache was black in the original version, but that's probably because of sprite limitations.

>>2337684
PSP > SNES > PS1

PS1 had some annoying loading times.

>>2337698
Aren't the mechanics of the SNES and PSP/1 versions almost entirely different?

I prefer the better translations of PS1 games the PSP had, like Symphony of the Night and Final Fantasy Tactics.

>>2337698
That's 6 that had the long-ass load times. 4 was fine, damn near instantaneous if you were playing them on a backwards-compatible console like a PS2 or PS3.

>>2337742
Read the post he quoted.

>>2337724
The SNES and PS1 versions are almost identical. PSP is the one that's different.

>>2337746
Yeah, whoops, thought I was somewhere else, my bad.

>>2337494
The fonts and the windows are horrid.

Holy fuck, they didn't even bother to align sometimes.

>>2337494
The monster sprites are new and refreshing, they're all very crisp and clean.

But the Player Sprites are ugly as fuck. I much prefer the midget 2D boots, shirt and hands sprites than these weird uncanny valley giant-hands abomination.

>>2336079
For whatever reason they based that specific weapon on one of Amano's artworks where Cecil was holding some sort of spear instead of a sword.
I guess they also wanted to leave the Sword & Shield business to Warrior of Light.
Fortunately when he goes into his EX Mode he gets a big fuckin' sword.

>>2337490
FF4 had a great story, don't you come around here talkin shit

>>2337642

Why the fuck does porom suddenly have pink hair in the after years?

And start dressing like a slut

>>2337847
Shes going through a phase.
Girls always do this shit

>>2337642
>Cecil's birthing hips

Dayum son! Not bad for a 37 year old man.

>>2337857
datgap

Psp port was great op. You done good.

>>2331804
What the fuck are you talking about?

DS version is the best out of all the versions save impossibility to change characters in the end game (not that it matters, since the party you are stuck with is the best possible)

The PSP version is based on the GBA version, the DS version is good but gets a bit ridiculous in the difficulty department, not that I have problem with a good challenge, but its poorly balanced difficulty issues like how they removed the criteria that needed to be met for some enemies to use their strongest attacks, so later in the game you just get obliterated by certain enemy groups if you have poor rng, regardless of level.

Some people dislike the sprites in the PSP version but I didn't have an issue with them, certainly not as bad as the absurdly pixelated models in the DS version.

>>2337893
>since the party you are stuck with is the best possible
Objectively wrong

>>2337893

I don't know, Edge is pretty fucking worthless outside of his ability to steal, he has low ass hp and does jack shit with his spells and his damage is irrelevant if hes dead, and irrelevant compared to yang period, who can actually take a hit.

>>2337893
>>2337898

In the GBA version they really buffed all the other characters up so much that the classic end-game party was actually quite weak.

In the DS version you can customize your end game party to have all of your old party members abilities. So Edge actually becomes somewhat useful when hes sitting there tossing out Blessing, then playing Edward Songs.

>>2337914
My main problem with the original party is that Edge has mediocre damage(if he doesn't throw) and dies easily.
Kain has mediocre damage output and jump takes too long to be worth it.
Rosa is okay, but I prefer Porom
Palom is also nice with his bluff and overall stronger intellect over Rydia, I think he had a bigger mp pool as well.
Yang triumphs over Edge and Kain everyday

>>2337895
>>2337893
It's all matter of preference. PSP's TAY was getting worse and worse as the game progressed in terms of it "feeling cheap". It nearly ruined the certain charm that the original built up.

1. Could not get over the fact that Kain also needed to be a "Holy" Dragoon in the same manner as Cecil "Had" to become Paladin. Really?
2. Golbez turning from an armored mage to a white maned guy wearing some brown robe. Did they run out of armors in Lunar?
3. Horrible Font and Profile pics that do not sync ex: Golbez looking different from his sprite to his profile pic. It feels cheap like something from an RPG Maker
4. The shit they did to the twins: especially turn Porom into a pink, OOC shit.

>>2337953
Golbez going from this to TAY's abomination.

>>2337953

Also cecil in his artwork and field sprite in the PSP version has long hair like the amano version but has short hair in combat like the original snes version.

Paying homage to different styles at once or just laziness idk, I don't think it breaks the game even if it takes a little immersion away.

>>2337925
>Kain does mediocre damage

This isn't Kain's fault so much, its a symptom of a lot of his Lances being absolutely shit except for very specific instances.
Give him an Axe and when you can give him the Berserker Sword til you can give him a better Axe.
Then only use lances when you KNOW what you're about to fight and that your lance is strong against that enemy.

For example, you get the Holy Lance about 5 or 6 floors about Zeromus, all of the enemies in the Moon are strong against Holy Attacks, so your best weapon on Cecil & Kain actually suck dick against everything you're fighting.
Zeromus is super weak to holy though, and doesn't use his counter-attacks on physical attacks.

>>2337968
Oh, and don't forget to Haste & Zerk him for an unstoppable fuck train.

>>2337925
Rydia has more Mp and is slightly faster, Summons as well but most are admittedly not that great.
Palom has more HP and learns spells quicker. Bluff sort of stops being all that impressive after a certain amount of Int.

The MP amount was changed in the Sequel for some reason.

>>2337831
Hey I like FF4, but I wont be in denial that its story was stupid as fuck.

I don't care, I still enjoyed it anyways. The Series always had stupid stories anyways, doesn't mean I couldn't enjoy them(most of them anyways).