LogFAQs > #958912002

Hello everyone! In 2016 and 2017 I played through several Final Fantasy games for the first time, making playthrough topics for each of them. Now, over four years later, I'm back for at least one more! I apologize for my extended absence, I kind of fell out of playing video games for a long time. People seemed to like these back in the day, so hopefully some of you are still around. I hope I still have my old write-up skills, too.

Here's my current FF ranking, which I'm sure you'll all agree shows my impeccable taste:

XIII > X-2 > LR > VI > WoFF > IX > VIII > X > II > I >>> XIII-2

And a ranking of my current... let's say top fifteen Final Fantasy characters, just so we can see if any of the IV cast can break into it.

Lighting > Yuna > Dagger > Terra > Rinoa > Squall > Cyan > Eiko > Sazh > Lumina > Rikku > Reynn > Auron > Vanille > Vivi

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The recent release of the IV Pixel Remaster was what got me interested in playing it. However, I opted for the 3D Remake (Steam version, if it matters), mostly because it has voice acting. I'm going into this more or less blind. I know character names and a few plot points but nothing substantial.

FFIV starts with Cecil, our hero, having just murdered some defenseless people in a neighboring kingdom and stolen their crystal with his airship army, the Red Wings. He's at least conflicted about his actions, even raising an objection with the king of Baron, who has been acting suspicious lately while hunting these crystals. The king promptly demotes Cecil for insubordination and sends him to deliver a ring to the nearby village of Mist (Mist might be a kingdom, I don't remember. The full picture of political entities hasn't become clear to me yet). Joined by his friend Kain, leader of the dragoons, Cecil ventures through a cave, slays a mist dragon, and delivers the ring to Mist.

Only, the ring activates a trap as soon as they enter the village! What looks like sentient fireballs swarm the town and kill everyone, leaving only Rydia alive. As an aside, I'm unclear on how old Rydia is supposed to be. Her 3D chibi sprite and the way people talk about her make her seem the same age as Eiko from IX, maybe six or seven, but I saw her in the (awesome) opening video and let's just say Rydia looks like a teenager there. Google says she's sixteen and Cecil is only twenty, why is she a little girl sprite and treated like a kid. Oh well.

Cecil and Kain, who didn't know their arrival would cause such destruction, are aghast. Well, Cecil is, at least. At first Kain seems willing to murder Rydia if that's what the king wants, but he backs down when Cecil tells him not to. The cutscene framed it as Kain testing Cecil's resolve, but he sure had me fooled with his willingness to murder. I'm watching you, Kain! Not that it matters much right now, Rydia splits the earth with her summoner powers and Kain gets separated from the other two. Cecil brings Rydia to a nearby desert village, then earns her trust by defending her against Baron goons in the night.

The next morning, in addition to being hunted by seemingly the strongest army on the planet, they have another problem. Rosa, Cecil's... I'll say girlfriend even if I'm not sure if they're at that point yet, has tracked him down and contracted some sort of desert fever in the process. Seems a bit quick for her to learn what happened and get all the way here in one night, I mean how did she even know where Cecil would be, but who am I to argue with video game logic. She's sick and the antlion pearl that'll heal her is a long way away.

Cecil and Rydia meet an old sage named Tellah in some nearby waterways, and together they make their way through. Once outside, they're just in time to witness another kingdom get annihilated by the Red Wings, now led by someone named Golbez. Among the casualties is Anna, Tellah's daughter who he'd set out to save. She's also the lover of Edward, a spoony bard (lol) who is secretly the local prince. Tellah, understandably enraged at Golbez, sets out to get revenge. Cecil, meanwhile, refuses to let Edward mourn for even five minutes before slapping him and dragging him along to find the antlion pearl. Another dungeon later and the three have killed an antlion and cured Rosa. At least Edward gets some closure that night when Anna's spirit visits and implores him to be strong.

Now aware that Baron is on a warpath to gather all the crystals, heading to the next kingdom is the logical next step. The last thing I did before quitting was melt the ice wall leading there, which took some convincing as Rydia is understandably wary of fire after her whole village was destroyed by it. Still, she overcame her aversion and now the adventure can continue!

I'm enjoying FFIV3D so far. Combat isn't super complex, but there have been moments where I was caught off guard. Mostly they've been through enemies with counter powers, I had Kain jumping and Cecil set to darkness attack when the first dragon turned to mist and started countering attacks, that damn near killed me. Still, I'm not seeing any problems that grinding won't cure. Exploration feels good, there have been a few secret chests and whatnot so far, and I haven't felt lost on where to go.

The story and characters are nice so far too, though not the most complex. I'm sure they'll continue to grow on me. I thought Rydia and Edward got over their traumas too quickly, but then right when I was done playing there were two little moments that showed it was still on their minds, I appreciated that. Cecil's character is shaping up to be the crux of the story, and I like the dynamic for the most part. I just hope the story isn't done exploring the redemption angle, he was set up as a guy who did some bad stuff and I hope Rydia teaming up with him despite that isn't the end of him seeking forgiveness.

Back in the day I was known for my speedy playthroughs. I can't guarantee I'll get through IV quite that fast these days, but I'll try not to let too much time go by without updates.
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**R.O.B.A.Z.O.I.D**