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[Brandon F]

Glitchy combat? Lameduck SFX mixing? Was easytype so difficult that they had to wreck the game balance even further? Mystic Quest is somewhere pointing a great phat middle finger at this travesty of game balancing. Forget us fans, the freaking GBA deserves better than this.

I suppose I can sit back and read this digital novel until I hit the bonus content, but poor form Squeenix. PSX port keeps it's seat at the table.

 

[RevenantKioku]

There's the occasional glitch in the battles with the ATB, but outside of that I don't see much wrong with it. Portability and the bonus dungeon push it way ahead of FF4 PSX.

 

[MoxManiac]

Glitchy combat? Lameduck SFX mixing? Was easytype so difficult that they had to wreck the game balance even further? Mystic Quest is somewhere pointing a great phat middle finger at this travesty of game balancing. Forget us fans, the freaking GBA deserves better than this.

Don't worry, they left the mid to late game difficulty level intact (currently getting my button kicked in the cave of summons, harder than i remember.)

 

[RevenantKioku]

Yeah really, what are you even talking about with balance issues? It progresses just fine and I think I'm even overleveled since

Spoiler

Yang

is doing 9999 on some Dragons, but even then he's only doing it to a few enemies. I'm still having tough random encounters in the last dungeon.

 

[Brandon F]

I hope so. I have been on cruise control through to the Paladin transformation, it's ridiculous. The PSX was a vastly different beast up to this point.

 

[jooey]

it's new, therefore it's all wrong!

 

[RevenantKioku]

I hope so. I have been on cruise control through to the Paladin transformation, it's ridiculous. The PSX was a vastly different beast up to this point.

Was it really? I only played through the PSX version once, and the original Japanese version once or twice, wait no the second time was the WSC version but I don't recall any of them being overly smashing.
Heck, I'd say since my playstyle in RPGs has changed (I used to be ultra conservative with mana and items) most RPGs have gotten easier for me.

 

[PhoenixDark]

Hey I love the game!

Granted I never played the original SNES one, but the GBA one is a very good game. One of the best games I've ever played.

 

[RevenantKioku]

FFIVa is the best version out there. And I've played 'em all!

 

[ghibli99]

I hope so. I have been on cruise control through to the Paladin transformation, it's ridiculous. The PSX was a vastly different beast up to this point.

Yup... just wait. I was saying the same thing in the official FF4A thread, and now, party members are getting killed left and right if I'm not careful.

 

[Teddman]

FFIVa is the best version out there. And I've played 'em all!

Is it really? No one has ever really compared the PSone version to it in any detail...

 

[Red Scarlet]

I've played them all too, except the version in FF Collection (likely the exact same as the JP FF4 on PS1) and the US GBA version (likely the same as the JP GBA version). FF4 Advance is a good port of a shitty port (WSC version). It plays like ass compared to the Super Famicom version and US PS1 version. The bonuses are just as lackluster as they were in the GBA versions of 1 and 2. They sound cool on paper, but once you get to them and have to go through the dungeons over and over and find badguys if you want to complete the bestiary it gets really boring.

And again, the GBA version plays like shit. ATB is broken (just like in the WSC version) and when the game pauses when nothing is happening (set the battle speed to 1 then watch), you know something isn't right. Portability doesn't matter when the game has been portable for years already, and both portable versions play like shit.

IAW topic starter.
It depends on what you want, Teddman. The GBA version has the bonus content, but sounds like crap compared and the buggy play is very annoying. If you have the choice of playing the PS1 version or the GBA version on a tv, the PS1 version playwise wins easily. By the time you get to the bonus content (post-game), you may not even care to go through it, and it is hardly rewarding.

Neither the WSC nor the GBA version are satisfying ports of the original game to play as a substitute, IMO.

 

[speedpop]

I can agree somewhat with both Brandon F and Red Scarlet.

The fact that there are quite a bit of glitches, not to mention the slow-down, in the battle system really up ended it. People say that it doesn't matter too much.. that having Tellah cast a curing spell, then automatically get a brand new turn right after it isn't that much of a big deal. It's a big deal because the strategy in the fight is eliminated. I blame bad coding on Square Enix's part. I really hate it when I have 5 people in the group and I am chucking high powered spells left right and center, and the A button doesn't work or moving through the actual list is unresponsive.. it matters a lot if you are in the active battle mode.

The music while fair gets really hit though.. I would wish that Square would simply port FFV and FFVI onto DS as they are without taking a hit in graphics, sounds and gameplay - regardless of what they think due to the GBA units out there. Surely the surge of DS popularity in Japan signifies this..

 

[RevenantKioku]

@@
Jesus, I don't know what the fuck I'm playing but I've got ATB on wait, speed on 1 and every once in a while someone will get a turn without their bar being full. Hasn't really upset the game in a noticeable way, cause it's not as if those occasional extra turns are netting me much easier battles. The PSX version is good, but extra content and portability push it up ahead.

 

[Red Scarlet]

I had it on wait + battle speed 1 as well. When the bar lags and doesn't move when nothing is happening is what I am talking about. Putting the battle speed on 2 seems to make things flow smoother, but it still has the broken ATB (have Cain use Jump or Yang charge up) and multiple turns, along with magic 'wait time' seems to be gone for most spells.

The bonus stuff isn't great. Once through was enough for me. It is a non-factor in any replay now. Portability doesn't matter either when I've had a crappy portable FF4 since 2002 (and so have you, Rev) and this version plays just as garbage-ish as it did 3.5 years ago on the Wonderswan Color.

It is quite a disappointment with all the 'GBA > SNES' people and this port shows otherwise. Mucho failed potential. It could (and should, going by those that talk about the superior hardware in the GBA) have exceeded the original, but failed to do so. It's like trying to play the TMNT arcade game, then going home to the NES version. Except now, the 'NES version' is supposedly more capable than the original hardware and comes up short.

Hopefully since there has not yet been a portable version of 5 and 6, those will be a little more acceptable.

 

[Teddman]

Thanks for the info! Decision to stick with FF Chronicles version reinforced for good.

 

[CO_Andy]

The new character portraits, refined translation, and slightly updated visuals are nice.

The lag in battles is extremely annoying though

 

[RevenantKioku]

Game Boy Micro is better than WonderSwan Color, you should know as much, Scarlet.
And I enjoyed the extra bosses and being able to use the different characters. But I'm a huge FFIV whore. So shaddap.

For me, being able to play FFIV on the go is just plain well worth it despite these flaws that haven't really bothered me much.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Game Boy Micro is better than WonderSwan Color, you should know as much, Scarlet.
And I enjoyed the extra bosses and being able to use the different characters. But I'm a huge FFIV whore. So shaddap.

I wasn't comparing the GBA/Micro to the WSC; I was comparing the GBA to the SNES. I'm also a huge FF4 whore, and that's why I found the GBA and WSC's versions crap-play a disappointment. Bonus content isn't worth it when the regular game is a pain in the ass, then the new stuff being a pain in the ass anyway along with the pain in the assness present in the regular game added to it.

Yang in the last place was cool though, if anything due to Behemoths not countering his charge up. I can't even remember any other boss-bosses aside from the

Spoiler

Lunar summons

which were just really high HP badguys that went down easily. The

Spoiler

altered look of Zeromus

is old hat; I played through Easytype last year.

The 'uber dragon' went from omghard to cake after beating

Spoiler

Lunar Bahamut

anyway. Then it just became a monster hunt going through the same cave 7x.

You've been able to play this game on the go for almost 4 years now!

 

[MoxManiac]

Yeah, Kain's Jump is near-useless now. Takes fifty years for him to actually jump after the command is input.

 

[RevenantKioku]

I wasn't comparing the GBA/Micro to the WSC; I was comparing the GBA to the SNES. I'm also a huge FF4 whore, and that's why I found the GBA and WSC's versions crap-play a disappointment. Bonus content isn't worth it when the regular game is a pain in the ass, then the new stuff being a pain in the ass anyway along with the pain in the assness present in the regular game added to it.

I mean the portability is improved simply from going WSC to GBA.
I don't know how the little bugs are making the game a pain in the ass. Maybe it's just been years since I played a non WSC/GBA version of FFIV, but it just doesn't feel that different.

 

[Red Scarlet]

If you have the other characters do absolutely nothing, then Jump and Yang's charge-up don't take that long to do, but what's the point when you have to just sit there instead of doing damage with the other characters (except for the Yang -> Behemoth thing).

WSC had some of the same issues. I had forgotten why I only played through it once until I went through deja vu with the GBA version. If that's what you've gotten used to, then it doesn't seem as bad. I'm still used to the SFAM version, so it was noticable before I got to the Mist Dragon.

Damn, was wondering what the stand-alone FF4 portable device you were talking about was.

 

[Shawn128]

Glitchy combat? Lameduck SFX mixing? Was easytype so difficult that they had to wreck the game balance even further? Mystic Quest is somewhere pointing a great phat middle finger at this travesty of game balancing. Forget us fans, the freaking GBA deserves better than this.

I suppose I can sit back and read this digital novel until I hit the bonus content, but poor form Squeenix. PSX port keeps it's seat at the table.

Do I need to get the bitch stick again?

 

[RevenantKioku]

Honestly, I don't even remember the ATB glitch until the GBA version.
That said, FFIVa is far from "broken" and "unplayable".
It's no FFII, that's for sure. (As much as I love that game!)
I still say it's the best version, even if it's only slightly better than the PSX one.

 

[Red Scarlet]

When I have the original and US PS1 versions right next to it, the GBA one *is* broken and unplayable.

It's not better at all to play!

We'll duel later, Rev. You choose the weapon this time.

 

[Brandon F]

The translation may be new, but I haven't noted anything that makes it superior to the competent PSX localization either. The textbox pixelart is a nice touch though, and of course handheld FF4 -is- the real draw; it's just shameful how gimped this version is turning out, extras or not.

Dawn of Souls looked and acted the part far better.

 

[renvi]

I've played the PSX version, although I never finished it.
The only disapointment I have about this port is the slow down in battles. It's still a decent Port IMO.

 

[Uremifasolasiututut]

Would there be any point for me to track down the PSX version if I already have the SFC/SNES copy? How is the loading on it?

 

[renvi]

Would there be any point for me to track down the PSX version if I already have the SFC/SNES copy? How is the loading on it?

slower than cart, of course.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Would there be any point for me to track down the PSX version if I already have the SFC/SNES copy? How is the loading on it?

The loading isn't bad, and it doesn't lack the needless loss of special moves from characters and the translation's a bit better.

 

[CO_Andy]

...FFIVa is far from "broken" and "unplayable".
It's no FFII, that's for sure. (As much as I love that game!)
I still say it's the best version, even if it's only slightly better than the PSX one.

I agree w/ this guy. Although both PSX & GBA ports seem kinda half-assed

I haven't played the PSX game, but there's some humorous stuff in Nintendo's translation.

 

[Uremifasolasiututut]

The loading isn't bad, and it doesn't lack the needless loss of special moves from characters and the translation's a bit better.

Ah, alright then, thanks RK.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Would there be any point for me to track down the PSX version if I already have the SFC/SNES copy? How is the loading on it?

Depends whether you have the SFC or SNES version.
If you have SFC, then the only real 'enhancement' would be the ability to dash in towns/dungeons and the fact that it's in English if you're going for the FF Chronicles version.

If you're talking about the SNES version, then there's a number of things that are different from that version to the PS1 one that IMO would make a purchase worth it.

 

[Uremifasolasiututut]

Depends whether you have the SFC or SNES version.
If you have SFC, then the only real 'enhancement' would be the ability to dash in towns/dungeons and the fact that it's in English if you're going for the FF Chronicles version.

If you're talking about the SNES version, then there's a number of things that are different from that version to the PS1 one that IMO would make a purchase worth it.

Oh, okay, heh. Thanks for the heads up Red Scarlet.

 

[isamu]

I got a question.... you guys mention that the gba port has slowdown. What if I play it in VBA via my laptop? Would the (vast amount of) extra CPU power eliminate the slowdown since VBA has options to take advantage of your CPU speed?

 

[cvxfreak]

I got a question.... you guys mention that the gba port has slowdown. What if I play it in VBA via my laptop? Would the (vast amount of) extra CPU power eliminate the slowdown since VBA has options to take advantage of your CPU speed?

I ask the same about the DS running FFIVA.

 

[Uremifasolasiututut]

Those kinds of bugs sound more like shoddy programming than cpu issues. Sorry guys.

 

[Jiggy]

I still think this is the best version due to character swithcing if nothing else, but it's just an outright shame that I can't call it the "definitive" version... There are too many flaws to call it that, like the oft-mentioned ATB glitches and menu responsiveness issues, and the not-so-mentioned jerky scrolling while traveling horizontally in an airship.

 

[DSN2K]

playing it for the first time right now, pretty fun but for some reason the random battles are pissing me off more then normal :\

 

[speedpop]

Those kinds of bugs sound more like shoddy programming than cpu issues. Sorry guys.

Basically this is the truth.