What is the best version to play Final Fantasy IV?

[Jvsouza11]

I was wondering about this for a long time and i wanted a definitive answer for this quention.

 

[MasterEn]

i've played every version except the pixel remaster.
if you want, i can give you a brief rundown on each version.

 

[Jvsouza11]

i've played every version except the pixel remaster.
if you want, i can give you a brief rundown on each version.

yes, that would be perfect.

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

The DS version is in 3D and is my favorite version.

 

[King Koopa's iconKing Koopa]

GBA and PSP are solid choices especially if you want some extra content. I think the only version I wouldn't play is PS1 mainly because of load times.

 

[MasterEn]

yes, that would be perfect.

okay.
snes: this is the easy type version that was released in japan. [they had two versions for some reason] hidden pathways are visoble, enemies have less hp, several ablilities are dummied out: darkness, salve, brace and more. an alright translation. the final boss has a completely different sprite [it's reused in the gba and psp post dungeon complete with a slight name change]
psx: the hard type version [ and the one that convinced me that buff spells don't work] hard as hell if you don't stay leveled up. bosses can be easier than regular enemies. [sometimes they get a full round of attacks for every one turn for your characters, that's how much levels matter] script is alright, there is some unnecessary cursing. not much, but it's there. hidden paths stay hidden. level 60 is the min required level to beat the game with some challenge.
gba: a balance between the two previous versions. easy, but not to easy. better script. atb gauges are visible. buff spells actually work. a brand new training dungeon opens up when the final dungeon opens up. party members can be swapped upon the final dungeon opening up. the final battle will reflect the changes in your party. brand new post dungeon: 11 new bosses and unique challenges for each character and new ultimate weapons. improved sprite work as well and music player too.
3d version [ds and pc port]: the main differences between these two is the unique summon has been removed, and the game was rebuilt to work with only one screen. [it's a bit awkward but the pc port is the one i've played the least. kept getting distracted by dot hack and ftl: faster than light]
ds: wonderful 3d graphics, voice acting, music, new augment system [you can get all sorts of abilities onto all of the characters, including boss abilities] new story content and 2 super bosses hidden in the world and a three pass new game plus. you can play through the game 3 times on a single file, due to the break damage limit ability. stat gains depend on equipped abilities instead of being completely random like in all other versions starting at lv71.
pc port should run the same, minus rydia's unique summon whyt. he's a fully customizable summon party member, but he acts of his own acord if i remember correctly.
pixel remaster: seems to be a throwback to the first final fantasy, with crisp 8 bit graphics. all 6 games share the same sound effects and menus, taking away the uniqueness of each game.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 7:09 PM

oh, i forgot the psp port. it's the gba version with improvements to the graphics and music. has gba difficulty and includes the terrible sequel and a interlude game to bridge the two games together. also include the extra dungeons from the gba version and story content from the 3d version.

 

[Stookymalarkey]

GBA and PSP are solid choices especially if you want some extra content. I think the only version I wouldn't play is PS1 mainly because of load times.

I'd definitely stay away from the PSX remasters of Square games like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy. The load times were atrocious. I recall playing FF6 and it took a whole damn minute to bring up the sub-menu!

 

[Jvsouza11]

okay.
snes: this is the easy type version that was released in japan. [they had two versions for some reason] hidden pathways are visoble, enemies have less hp, several ablilities are dummied out: darkness, salve, brace and more. an alright translation. the final boss has a completely different sprite [it's reused in the gba and psp post dungeon complete with a slight name change]
psx: the hard type version [ and the one that convinced me that buff spells don't work] hard as hell if you don't stay leveled up. bosses can be easier than regular enemies. [sometimes they get a full round of attacks for every one turn for your characters, that's how much levels matter] script is alright, there is some unnecessary cursing. not much, but it's there. hidden paths stay hidden. level 60 is the min required level to beat the game with some challenge.
gba: a balance between the two previous versions. easy, but not to easy. better script. atb gauges are visible. buff spells actually work. a brand new training dungeon opens up when the final dungeon opens up. party members can be swapped upon the final dungeon opening up. the final battle will reflect the changes in your party. brand new post dungeon: 11 new bosses and unique challenges for each character and new ultimate weapons. improved sprite work as well and music player too.
3d version [ds and pc port]: the main differences between these two is the unique summon has been removed, and the game was rebuilt to work with only one screen. [it's a bit awkward but the pc port is the one i've played the least. kept getting distracted by dot hack and ftl: faster than light]
ds: wonderful 3d graphics, voice acting, music, new augment system [you can get all sorts of abilities onto all of the characters, including boss abilities] new story content and 2 super bosses hidden in the world and a three pass new game plus. you can play through the game 3 times on a single file, due to the break damage limit ability. stat gains depend on equipped abilities instead of being completely random like in all other versions starting at lv71.
pc port should run the same, minus rydia's unique summon whyt. he's a fully customizable summon party member, but he acts of his own acord if i remember correctly.
pixel remaster: seems to be a throwback to the first final fantasy, with crisp 8 bit graphics. all 6 games share the same sound effects and menus, taking away the uniqueness of each game.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 7:09 PM

oh, i forgot the psp port. it's the gba version with improvements to the graphics and music. has gba difficulty and includes the terrible sequel and a interlude game to bridge the two games together. also include the extra dungeons from the gba version and story content from the 3d version.

i dont know if i choose the 3d remake pc version or the psp, because in the psp version there is extra content and revamped 16-bit sprites, but at the same time there is the 3d version with better cutscenes, voice acting, and extra scenes.

 

[Karnik 2.0: reboot]

Personally, I prefer the DS version, because it uses the stylus to move the character, and the map is always visible on one screen. The 3D graphics are cute and enjoyable, because funny, unrealistic and pixelated.

 

[Crabulon]

I first played FFIV on PS1 and had nothing to compare the loading times too and it never bothered me. Thoroughly enjoyed the little cinematics they added as well. About 30hrs into the 3D DS remake and it's superb. Definitely the better of the two ways to play. The DS one can be played on Steam for achievements and may also be on RA if using a DS emulator.

I hear the GBA version has extra content, and was for a time the definitive version, but I can't speak to that personally.

 

[MasterEn]

i dont know if i choose the 3d remake pc version or the psp, because in the psp version there is extra content and revamped 16-bit sprites, but at the same time there is the 3d version with better cutscenes, voice acting, and extra scenes.

who says that you have to choose? play both.
oh, and the 3d version has the most brutal difficulty out of all versions.

 

[Xdqwerty]

FF4: If you are a stickler for SNES-style graphics, this is the best. However, if you prefer high-res graphics, go with the PSP. Again, no extras from the PSP/GBA or DS versions. The DS version is practically a different beast in terms of graphics (dated 3D, though not as bland as FF3), translation (super accurate, but super wordy), and extras (weird New Game+ mode). Also notable, PR has the best version of the last boss battle music.
Ranking: S-tier - PSP; A-tier - PR & DS; B-tier - MSU-1 (J Hard Type w/ PR music); C-tier - GBA; D-tier - SFC; E-tier - SNES; F-tier - PS1, & WS

 

[Aeriththeflowergirl]

My preferred version is the Gameboy advance port

 

[McDoob]

It's kind of surprising how often this question comes up for the earlier titles in the Final Fantasy franchise. At least until one considers how very many remakes Square has made.

I recently just finished the PSP version, and I'd recommend either that or the Pixel Remaster. I think the Pixel Remaster is always the correct answer where available, though.

-McD

 

[Bonkers225]

PSP with the extras > GBA > Pixel Remaster > SNES

 

[Iguana-0]

I ask myself that too. But any version that doesn't have Ted Woolsey involved is my go to.

 

[miguk]

I've played almost every version, so I can give my take, from best to worse:

1. PSP - Pros: Best 2D graphics, 2nd best music, 2nd highest resolution. Good translation and all GBA version content is included. Cons: Lacks the floweriness of the DS translation, no voice acting, resolution isn't as high as PR.
2. PR - Pros: Best music, highest resolution, best version of SNES-style 2D graphics, great QoL updates to base version. Cons: All bonus dungeons and added content from other remakes have been removed.
3. DS/PC - Pros: Uniquely flowery & very accurate translation, voice acting, unique 3D graphics, unique augment system, high res if played on PC. Cons: Translation is a bit difficult to read for ELLs and young players, 3D graphics are dated, New Game+ only lets you play through 3 times, none of the bonus dungeons from GBA/PSP versions.
4. GBA - Pros: Updated SNES pixel graphics, bonus dungeons, new translation. Cons: Translation fixes some issues and creates new ones, lowest resolution of any version, graphics are overly bright and not as good as PSP or PR.
5. SFC (hard type) - Pros: Original version of the game, all original content available, higher resolution than GBA or DS. Cons: No QoL additions, no other advantages of remakes, some fan translations are of questionable quality. Note: the MSU-1 version actually elevates it above the GBA version to some degree if it has the PR music.
6. SNES (easy type) - Pros: Historical value, nostalgia, easier for younger players. Cons: Mediocre translation, overly simplified gameplay because of items and abilities being removed, low difficulty.
7. PS1 - Pros: A few unique FMVs, first official version of hard type in English. Cons: Bad load times.
8. WS - Pros: It's on Wonderswan if that matters to you. Cons: It's a lower res version of the base version.

In sum, we can put them all into 3 categories:
Worth playing: PSP, PR, 3D PC.
Outdated: DS, GBA, SFC.
Lesser versions: SNES, PS1, WS.

Edit: And someone reposted my old analysis for this game while I was writing this.

 

[Jvsouza11]

I've played almost every version, so I can give my take, from best to worse:

1. PSP - Pros: Best 2D graphics, 2nd best music, 2nd highest resolution. Good translation and all GBA version content is included. Cons: Lacks the floweriness of the DS translation, no voice acting, resolution isn't as high as PR.
2. PR - Pros: Best music, highest resolution, best version of SNES-style 2D graphics, great QoL updates to base version. Cons: All bonus dungeons and added content from other remakes have been removed.
3. DS/PC - Pros: Uniquely flowery & very accurate translation, voice acting, unique 3D graphics, unique augment system, high res if played on PC. Cons: Translation is a bit difficult to read for ELLs and young players, 3D graphics are dated, New Game+ only lets you play through 3 times, none of the bonus dungeons from GBA/PSP versions.
4. GBA - Pros: Updated SNES pixel graphics, bonus dungeons, new translation. Cons: Translation fixes some issues and creates new ones, lowest resolution of any version, graphics are overly bright and not as good as PSP or PR.
5. SFC (hard type) - Pros: Original version of the game, all original content available, higher resolution than GBA or DS. Cons: No QoL additions, no other advantages of remakes, some fan translations are of questionable quality.
6. PS1 - Pros: A few unique FMVs, first official version of hard type in English. Cons: Bad load times.
7. SNES (easy type) - Pros: Historical value, nostalgia. Cons: Mediocre translation, overly simplified gameplay because of items and abilities being removed, low difficulty.

In sum, play either the PSP, PR, or 3D PC version. Consider the rest to be outdated.

I think im going to play the psp version first and the 3d remake second.

 

[miguk]

I ask myself that too. But any version that doesn't have Ted Woolsey involved is my go to.

Literally no version was ever translated by Woosley. He didn't start working on the series until Mystic Quest, which was the next game after FF4.

 

[Iguana-0]

Literally no version was ever translated by Woosley. He didn't start working on the series until Mystic Quest, which was the next game after FF4.

my bad

 

[Dyne]

I want to say SNES for the "authentic" experience, but really I think the PSP version is the definitive one. Plus it seamlessly lets you play the sequel if you're into that.

I wouldn't play the DS version first because it is so different, but it's definitely a good version that's worth playing at some point.

 

[Ravl]

Romhacks not withstanding, for me it's either the Super famicom (jap) or PSX for eng. I do like the ds 3d-version though but it's such a different game that I'd say it's worth playing both the 2d and 3d versions

 

[queensquest]

I haven't voted as I've only played a couple of them, but I was looking into this last year. I ended up playing the PSP version, but the difficulty is tuned so low in that version that it's really pretty dull, unless you just want to breeze through the game to experience the story. I found a rebalance patch on the gamefaqs board intended to make it harder (see here), though I never got around to trying it so I don't know how much it improves things. But it might be worth a look.

DS version I remember being good, but it's been ages.

 

[Graw]

I've only ever played the English translated original japanese snes version. It was good, would recommend. I was thinking of trying the 3d remake because apparently it added some kind of skill augment system. It's a solid game whichever version you pick. All the snes final fantasy games are.

 

[ClarityZero]

I'd say the PSP version and the DS version are probably the best ones to go with, especially if you have actual hardware to play them on. Honestly, there aren't really any bad versions, and all of them (except the WonderSwan version, I suppose) have something unique to offer. Even the GBA version, outdated as it may be.