The Underrated Final Fantasy

[Autumn]

A thread similar to this has probably been done before. You've probably heard what I'm about to say before too. But I've still decided to bring back such a topic.

When you ask Final Fantasy aficionados what the best Final Fantasy is, as you know, most answers are 'FFVII' or 'FFVI'. And in my experience FFIV ranks pretty low a the list of great Final Fantasy titles. However, FFIV had a nice story attached and some great gameplay to it. The characters are on par with those in FFVI and in some cases better. Of course, I'm comparing FFIV with the other "classic" FF games for SNES.

So, let's hear whether you consider FFIV to be an unappreciated game or whether the game (as I've heard many times) sucks.

[Neo Necron]

I don't think I've ever heard anybody say the game sucks, really. I thought it was a highly appraised game.

I myself like it. Not in my list of favourite Final Fantasies, but still an awesome game, definately ranking higher than many other of the more popular games out there.

Rock on FFIV!

I've also seldom heard that it really sucks, but I do agree it's not rated very highly.

I do think it's a good game, but it is a forgettable one. It has good gameplay, a decent story, but there really isn't anything ground-breaking in it or about it. It was released during a time where RPGs had different standards, yet unlike FFVI it fails to become timeless because it adheres to what was typical then a little too much. The previous standard for RPGs has become a bit cliche by now, and it being viewed in the same manner is the reason it's so underappreciated, in my opinion.

Do I think it just sucks or is underappreciated? Somewhere in the middle of both, leaning more towards underappreciated. I see it as a middle-ranking game all around, and I don't have too many qualms when it's not in a favorites list.

[ZRO]

I don't understand how you people could forget it at all. I'll be honest, I haven't played through it for probably close on 2 years now. I still remember 3/4 of the game. and the 1/4 is just little bits and pieces throughout it where I've forgotten a detail. So Underrated? Definitely, cuz most of the people who have played it, have loved it. Just not enough people have played it because "OMG, it uses sprites, not polygons!!!" >.>

[LocoColt04]

I think the reason you rarely hear that it sucks is because there isn't really an outstanding number of people who've played it.

Yes, FFVI is atop my list. FFVII is at the bottom.
FFIV ranks fourth, behind FFT and FFIX.

Why is it so underrated? Probably simply because it never got the attention some of the other titles received. Personally, I love this game, and can't see why anyone wouldn't. But that's me, and I'm not everyone else. I can't explain the logic behind it, nor do I even want to attempt it.

Originally Posted by Matto

I do think it's a good game, but it is a forgettable one. It has good gameplay, a decent story, but there really isn't anything ground-breaking in it or about it. It was released during a time where RPGs had different standards, yet unlike FFVI it fails to become timeless because it adheres to what was typical then a little too much.

That's actually a good way to put it. Timing.

I may slip a bit off-topic here, but take Tales of Symphonia, for instance. I personally feel it's the greatest RPG of all time, but a lot of people don't even realize it exists. If it had been released on the PS2 instead of the GCN, it probably would have seen much more attention.

FFIV is in the same situation. The SNES was new, and while Nintendo had already built quite a following, the RPG scene on the SNES was fresh. FFIV, and especially the FFII cartridge in the States, was "just another new RPG title." Only when FFVI was released in America had the SNES gathered enough of an RPG following to justify the attention it got.

Timing, timing, timing. That's what it comes down to.

Final Fantasy IV is a great game. I still have the Final Fantasy II for the Super NES. I do also have the Sony Playstation 1 where they have the Final Fantasy Chronicles that has the Final Fantasy IV. I hope all versions gets re-released & updated graphics

I haven't ever heard that this game was anything less of great. Its underrated? This game is original, very good, one of my favorite. Many new ideas (or so it seemed) in this game. Palom and Porom sacrificing themselves, the love triangle thing between Kain, Rosa and Cecil on top of Cecil and Golbez (you know what I mean, I dont want to ruin anything for the people that have not got this far.) First one to ,leave the main planter and/or go underground.

[Jin]

I've always found this game to act as the "respected shadow" of the final fantasy array. It is rarely brought up, and never emphasised, but always recieves moderate respect from most people. At least, that's how I've come to see it. As why, I honestly don't know. Perhaps it's just the newer generation. Newer gamers are often more accustomed to thier own era's style of game play. The newer gamers that grew up on the PSX FF games may simply view any of the SNES games as dated. Naturally, they often change their minds when they've actually played the games. Anyways, I've forgoten where I was going with this. So to answer the question, I personally find FFVI to be one of the greatest FF games of all times. I don't have a nice fancy list made out like Cesar does =P, but it ranks high, I can tell you that.

[The Alien Elite]

Yea, FFIV is very awesome indeed. It was one of the first RPGs I played actually, and that contributes to it being one of my favorites. It had a great story, great characters (And that includes enemies and bosses), and it had something that I always look at, great sidequests.

I would describe this game as simple, but elegant.

[Chu Chulain]

FFIV was the best to me cause it was the first i played..so most of my childhood emotions/memories are trapped in its story..VII and VI..VI played but don't remember if even beat it..cause borrowed it for such short time..still have respect for it..VII is automatic favorite but suprisingly not as much as IV..remember more of it's story than any other FF.

Being able to carry the hovercraft with the airship was cool too, right up there with goin' into that huge robot that came up from the underground world with dwarves and whatnot...that was another thing..there was a city of dwarves, faeries below that, it pretty much held to the medieval aspect of fantasy more than the others before going to the moon in the whale ship..finding a race of namingways though..pretty wierd..but comparable to the bunch of Mr. Saturns in Earthbound..kinda cool in that aspect.

[Kain FF4]

FFIV and FFVII are tied for my favorite. I love all FF games but the worst in my opinion was FFVIII

[scamrock]

This is one of my favorite games ever. I do think FFVI is better. But I like this one better, if that makes sense to you. But that might have something to do with the fact that I've probably played this more than any other game ever.

While a lot of people seem to like this game, I still feel like it is overlooked or underappriciated.

[The Mighty Dale]

i actually prefer ff ix because its gone back to the medievil era were swords were actually used but i didnt like xiii because of the battle system was very hard to use also i have really had chance to play ffiv as it was before my gaming era i started gaming in 1997

[scamrock]

I see what you're saying about the swords. I never really liked guns in FF that much. Though you would think a gun would stack the deck in your favor, it always seems like guns are relatively weak.

For me, FFIV is the ultimate knight's tale. Cecil was the main char