http://www.gamespot.com/gba/rpg/finalfan...id=6139352
Now, I actually managed to glean some information from this wishy washy standard karp.
The main problem I tend to have with big name review sites is they don't give people the details they are actually WANTING, the stuff they don't know but want to know. They just repeat the same stuff about things we already know, but in detail. I really wish they would answer questions like "is this based on the original Japanese, or did they screw up and bring the US SNES version to GBA?". Well, from what they have said, I gather it's the original unaltered gameplay, since Cecil doesn't have "dark magic" in the US SNES version.
They don't tell us anything about the translation, at least nothing I'm not second guessing. They state it has the "same broken translation" as the original. However, they ALSO stated that the dark magic was just like the original. Since the Japanese version was NOT in English, I really don't think that's the original they are talking about. I believe they read half a page about the translating differences between the US and Japanese versions, then played the PS1 version, and are now basically "faking it". I don't even think they realize the PS1 version was completely retranslated and restored the lost Japanese things to the game.
That said, I have my doubts on a lot of the info there.
They DO state that the artwork of the game has been overhauled to a small extent. Not FF3 level mind you, but good enough I suppose. I suspect it's the same changes they made to the wonderswan color's visuals, but of course I only guess that because it would be the easiest path to take.
Anyway, now to rant. These guys are too afraid to actually state an opinion! They dance around every little aspect of the game as though it's ALL a grey area that you could love or hate. They even defend what they think is the original translation, which they at least know is unpopular, by saying "well, maybe purists will be pleased". What purists? Purists want it in Japanese, not in a broken translation. Perhaps you should check the personality of a purist, what it means. I myself want the next best thing, an accurate English translation.
They do this with everything, like "lots of random battles, but hey XP". Not once do they ever risk commiting the sin of having an actual opinion. Of what use can scoring even be in a situation like this? Well, it's not as though ratings below a 5 even really exist at these places... It's really just a 1-6 scale only more like 5-10. Still, has it become so bad? Have the fanboy's complaints become so thunderous that they have no choice but to just completely toss any sort of actual reviewing process out the window in favor of just pandering to both "sides", even when one side likely doesn't even exist? Well, the real news does this too. They claim they are being purely objective (well, in the case of a game review site, I don't really want purely objective all the time, but if they go that way, stop scoring games completely then, either get in the pool or go home, but I digress... from my digression), and in reality it's actually just an attempt to not take sides, even if it means boosting up a logically failed argument just to give the appearence it's on equal footing with something sound, pretending there's a debate when really one side has all the evidence and the other has nothing.
DJ, it's a preview... sites/magazines always try to be optimistic/impartial in previews, with the 'it's not finished yet, they could fix the issues' line usually... the real criticism is reserved for the review. So I can understand the 'not taking positions' thing, with it just being a preview...
However, that is not what they were doing.
They didn't qualify a single part of it by saying "well they could fix this". They acted like it wasn't even broken.
Maybe that part of what I said isn't true in this specific case, but it's still true that as a general rule games get the benefit of the doubt in previews.
A graphical overhaul would really be all I would ask of this wonderful game (or perhaps musical as well, if I were feeling greedy). Even if it's the dumbed-down version with the bad translation, I'll take it happily.
Although it does raise an interesting point regarding Cecil's dark magic, as it was not present in the original US FFIV. Perhaps they're giving us the more difficlut Japanese version? Well,I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Either way, I'm stoked to finally get IV on GBA.
Now if they would only port Super Mario RPG, I can die happy (so long as my GBA is buried with me).
But exactly how would you do anything if you are dead? Me, just lock my mind in a computer simulatrix with ROMs and a perfect emulator of all my GB games.
I still think this preview may not have all the details correct, considering the dark wave comment. Also, they DO need to retranslate this game anyway, and with two possible translations to choose from, one of which would need to be improved to apply to a game with all the original features, and one of which is already fine tuned for such things and is far more accurate to boot, why on Earth would they go with the SNES translation?
No, I think the details are just a bit too fuzzy here. It doesn't make any sense.
I'm still confident we'll get the superior version, and if you would be happy even with the dumbed down version, I'm sure you'd be ecstatic if they did that.
As far as music, the Wonderswan Color version (and this does seem to take it's updated visuals from that version) had somewhere near NES level sound quality. I'm betting it'll just be straight from the SNES game. Sufficient for my tastes. However, if I am to abide by averice's whims (and I don't) it would be frickin' sweet if they redid all the music to at least sound like it is fully orchastrated, ala Dawn of Souls.
At the very least, with the updated visuals this game will actually look like it belongs in the same graphical class as FFV and FFVI. (Speaking of those, those will be nice additions too.)
I'll bet you don't want them to "fix the glitches" do you? Heh, perhaps there is one glitch in particular you happen to be a fan of? Perhaps there are neat weapons you enjoy being able to have another of at any given time? Perhaps Edge just seems cooler when equipped with two Masamunes? I know it was a fun glitch there. They didn't bother fixing a single one of the glitches in the PS1 version just so you know.
Not a concern, because I never beat that friggen' dragon you needed to fight to get Edge's Masamune!
Seriously though, I never exploited any of the glitches in FF IV. FF VII on the other hand...
*gives self 99 Elixirs*
Yeah, I'd like fully redone (but NOT changed) music, but if not, I'll live. I DO however, want the battle animations to work correctly. The PS1 version caused heavy slowdown with some of the bigger spells, especially when used on every enemy.
*shudders of thought of using Fire3 on a screen full of 5 or 6 enemies*
The sound would be over before the animations were half done!
Yeah, there were some slowdown issues. However, they will likely be fully porting the code rather than some attempt at emulation. That shouldn't be an issue in this version, but if it is, heads will ROLL! Not really sure what that means... *someone wispers in DJ's ear* Wh- hhh.... that's.. .that's terrrrible!
You used those glitches?! Cheater! CHEATER! *pets 99 of every item in old Pokemon games* Missingno looks like a Rhydon now... I mean...
By "changed" music, you mean some sort of rock version of the music? I really don't think they would do that. So far all the music redoings in the games have perfectly captured the original game's song, including instruments (when the instrument that is intended is clear). When I say "the games" I'm talking about every remake I've yet seen.
But, I will say this. If a song is reused far too often in the game and they want to replace, let's say, town music with some special indoor tune when you go into an inn, I can't complain. If they want to, on top of the existing battle music, add a few alterations to the battle music to a few more battles, I can't complain. They did this in FF1. They added a lovely church theme when you enter a church in the game to restore someone to life. They also added boss music. In the original, there was no boss music at all. Fighting the final boss wasn't quite as climactic in the original due to this. So, if there are cases where it will add some flavor without taking anything away, sure, add a tune. Thing is, FFIV seemed to have the spread of music pretty good as it is. The only exception would be towns that suddenly were destroyed. Suddenly, a town of utter sadness has peaceful joyous music accompanying it. Now, that does serve an artistic purpose, like for example, "life goes on" or something to that effect. Most of the time, that really isn't the intention. The whole scene just seemed a little awkward.
Changing music is always a problem in remakes... sometimes it improves things, but...
For instance, Sword of Mana versus Final Fantasy Adventure. That put in new music while retaining the old themes, but even so, like the rest of the game, it didn't quite satisfy me and I was left thinking that despite the numerous ways that Sword was an improvement over FFA I can't help but like the original version better... such as the opening themes of both games, for instance. :) But it's always tricky, modifying a game, even if it isn't a full-on remake like Sword of Mana was... it's hard to change things without annoying longtime fans, and companies don't (and can't) always get it right.
I don't mean some sort of Black Mages overhaul, I just meant updated, you know. Like you said, something that sounds more orchestrated than MIDI.
Hey, blame Ryan for my exploiting the glitch in FF VII.
Ryan: It's okay...everybody's doing it. Think of all the experience you get from those Magic Urns...but you need Elixirs. Lots of them, and the game gives you so few...so here's what you do...
*is converted to the dark side*
Haha. But really, it's not cheating so much as taking advantage of a loophole. That's something perfectly acceptable to me so long as it's a single player game.
And, I didn't mean some sort of Black Mages overhaul either. I meant exactly what you meant, completely redone songs wherein tinny 8 bit sound effects are replaced with lush full orchastrated bliss, maybe with a few extra instuments that only add to the song rather than take away. I hardly mean they should turn a boss battle song into heavy rock metal and the love theme into gangsta rap. However, should they decide to take the town themes of a couple of the towns that get totally devastated and change it to fit the new mood of the location, I'm all for it. In FF1, all the towns had the same music. This was fine except in one town, it is a ghost town full of shadows and a brooding king ruling over nothing. The music really doesn't fit. So, they updated it. The standard town music just had that total overhaul into orchastrated mode, and it sounded great for it. However, that town got a special remix of the town music. It sounded depressing which fit the location a lot better. It, in all ways, could only really be considered an improvement.
And yes ABF, I know of what you speak. They even took out the very last form of the final boss (though that's the least of the major changes). Now, if they decide to do an update of that magnitude, that's fine, but what I would really have liked is if they tossed in the original version. GBAs have GBC hardware in there, it's not like that would be a HARD thing to do.
Quote:And yes ABF, I know of what you speak. They even took out the very last form of the final boss (though that's the least of the major changes). Now, if they decide to do an update of that magnitude, that's fine, but what I would really have liked is if they tossed in the original version. GBAs have GBC hardware in there, it's not like that would be a HARD thing to do.
It's tough... on the one hand, Sword of Mana is a fun game. It's got a solid game system, nice story, etc, etc... but on the other hand, it's a remake of one of the best games on the original Gameboy, and though it's "improved" in a lot of ways, it just doesn't feel as great or as special. It's hard to say exactly why... I'd be interested to see what the opinion of someone who played Sword first would think of FFA, since for me I'm sure that nostalgia is part of why I love FFA... but it's tough. I'm as conflicted about Sword of Mana now as I ever have been...
On the one hand: - It has good music. - The length is solid for a portable title. - The story is quite good and detailed. There's a lot there and it's well done. - The action is fun. - The interface works well most of the time and is about as efficient as you can expect from a complex game running on a system with six buttons. - The game is fun to play.
But on the other hand... - FFA made truly brilliant music out of the system with one of the worst sound systems ever. This does not do that, and the songs are not quite as great in comparison as the old ones. - The story was overdone at times. I mean, having villians you sympathize with is fine... but making EVERY boss a sympathetic character that you're sorry to have to defeat? Every single one? It gets a bit old... (also on a 'storyline' front, it's somewhat paradoxical in comparison... in FFA the actual amount of suffering and number of character deaths shown is very small, but it's a very dark, sad game. Sword has a lot more shown suffering, but the tone is a lot lighter... and, despite the suffering it shows, the lightness of the tone is what sticks with me more. I guess it just shows that you don't need the best technology or longest, most well done story to tell a good story... FFA may have been simple, but it did a really good job. Lengthening everying, explaining everything, lightening the overall tone of the game... I don't know, I just think that Sword didn't work quite as well or effectively as FFA did, even if its story is so much better technically.) - The game is relentlessly linear to a greater degree than FFA: the areas are not even open anymore. There is just one path through each area and side paths are just dead ends. This is, truly, one of the biggest downgrades in the game when you compare it to FFA... perhaps FFA was bad to have things like dungeon mazes where you can get lost and stuck forever, but that's better than virtually never having to worry about silly things like 'which way to I go now'... - The whole 'using fruits and vegitables to upgrade weapons and armor' system is completely nonsensical... - The interface is a bit more confusing than it needed to be. - NO MORE SAVE ANYWHERE!!!
Um, even though the 'negative' is a lot longer, I don't hate the game... it just had problems.
http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?pager....Id=3145957
I suppose it's out or is about to come out, and no, they didn't go with the US SNES nerfed version. This is the Japanese version with the best translation yet. For SOME reason they decided to keep the corniest lines just because they are considered "classic" by some people. Idiots, I call them. So, apparently Edward is still the spooniest of all bards, which while otherwise would be funny, is a moment ruiner considering the story going on right then. Also, Edward is not Gilbert, like in the Japanese, but Edward, but that's what Namingway is for.
So, they've added a lot. Is it enough to warrent a purchase? Perhaps so. I do sort of resent buying the same game slightly updated... On the other hand, the additions do seem pretty interesting, and challenging.
Quote:For SOME reason they decided to keep the corniest lines just because they are considered "classic" by some people. Idiots, I call them. So, apparently Edward is still the spooniest of all bards, which while otherwise would be funny, is a moment ruiner considering the story going on right then.
It doesn't specify which lines they kept, you know...
No, but I'm aware enough of the fan community to have a pretty good guess as to which ones were kept. Spoony Bard is the one with the highest probability assigned to it. It's wave function looks something like... um, oh right, I can't make a wave function yet...
Well, I got the game a few days ago and...I've got some mixed feelings. Don't misunderstand, I'm a good 3/4 through it and I'm loving it. but there are a few issues I have with it...
First, the difficulty, or rather the lack thereof. Even though this is the "Hard" version of FF IV (That is to say, the Japanese SNES version), I've found it somewhat ludicrously easy. I don't know if it's just because I've hd years of experience witht the game, but even as far into the game as I am, <i>I HAVE YET TO HAVE HAD MY PARTY KILLED EVEN ONCE.</i> I used to dread facing bosses like Baigan, Milon of Earth, Dark Elf/Dark Dragon, and The Magus Sisters, but I dispatched every one of them with ease. I'm within a stones throw of the dreaded Evil Wall, I hope it, at least, offers me some challenge. I don't know what Square did, but I wish they hadn't. I feel like I'm controlling scripted battles that I can't die in every single time.
Second, there is some noticable slowdown. It's not as severe as in the PS1 version, but it's quite apparent. Especially in battles, you'll find a lot of pauses and lag, and you move terribly slowly on the world in the airship. It feels like you're still on the ground, honestly.
The music, graphics, and the story are modified only slightly, keeping a lot of what made the original so endearing intact but...the flaws it has are major.
It saddens me that they could have done so much more with this game...but I'm still happy with it nonetheless. I always said I wanted a FF IV port forthe GBA and now I got my wish. Seems my wish was granted by using a cursed monkey claw though, as my wish has been twisted, but oh well. Flaws aside, it's still a great game...but the SNES version kicks it and the PS1 version out the window. I'll take a broken translation and a few missing skills for challenge and smooth animation, thank you.
Now if only Nintendo would re-release Mario RPG...
Not even the Evil Wall could give me a good fight :(
I've already beaten the combined Four Fiends, Asura, Leviathan, and Bahamut...and still have yet to die.
:bang:
The ability to swap characters is nice though, now that I'm to the point where I can. You have your final party of Kain, Rydia, Cecil, Rosa, and Edge, but can go to the Temple of Prayers in Mysidia and swap anyone (except Cecil) For Yang, Cid, Palom, Porom, or Edward.
The experience arc of the game also seems thrown off. I'm near the end of the game, but Rydia had only learned one of her Level 3 spells. Normally, I have them all in time for the Four Fiends battle in the Giant of Babel, but I'm still waiting. I don't run from battles, either. If not for her summons, I'd swap her for Porom. He's got all his spells. Yang and Cid have monstrous HP too when you get them back, so I've swapped them for Edge and Kain (though I may drop Cid. He's one of my favorites, but his strength leaves something to be desired at this stage in the game).
You must be some kind of special at leveling up, because I've found myself with my balls to the wall several times. Bahamut fucking slaughtered me, and the regular enemies on the moon were vicious at first.
I prefer the PS1 version to the SNES version because it's the same old challenge, perhaps a bit more, plus all the added stuff. I'm willing to sacrifice smooth graphics for that.
So, I've heard some interesting reviews. Generally, people are upset.
I've said it many times. If you are going to do an overhall remake, include the original in the game. Only Metroid Zero has done this.
I'm not upset in the least. It's a total improvement over the SNES version in every conceivable way.
Ryan Wrote:You must be some kind of special at leveling up, because I've found myself with my balls to the wall several times. Bahamut fucking slaughtered me, and the regular enemies on the moon were vicious at first.
Are you serious? I haven't been going around leveling up, I don't play like that. Like I said, I don't even have many of Rydia's level 3 spells yet. I dunno, but I've been absolutely strolling through the game. I beat the Evil Wall before it started killing my characters. Dark Elf/Dragon, Baigan, and the Magus Sisters are probably my most dreaded fights but here...nothing. Exactly which fights gave you trouble?
Haven't you noticed the lag in battle? How slowly the airships move? I'm happy to have FF IV on the GBA but this...is very disappointing.
Have you just played it too many times for it to be hard anymore?
That was my reasoning thus far, but I know Ryan has played it quite a bit himself, and he's having trouble with it, too.
I dunno. Personally, the SNES version (hell, even the terrible PS1 version) were harder, in my opinion.
I haven't played it, but given the consensus of all the reviews and stuff I've seen, I very highly doubt that this one is easier than the SNES game...