$20 Game of the Week: Final Fantasy IV – The After Years (WiiWare)

Beside Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy IV was my personal favorite of the 8 and 16-bit Final Fantasy games. Millions of other players enjoyed it as well, as it included an epic plotline, memorable characters, and top-notch RPG action. Following in the footsteps of Final Fantasy X, VII, and XII, Square has seen fit to expand on the universe of Final Fantasy IV with an all new sequel, The After Years. Originally released as a mobile phone title in Japan, Square has bought the title over here in an episodic format on Nintendo’s WiiWare service. The main title is available for 800 Wii points, while the chapter ‘Rydia’s Tale’ is available for 300. Subsequent releases will be released throughout the coming months for 300 Wii points each with the final chapter priced at 800 Wii points. You’ll reunite with old friends, meet new ones, and hopefully save the world one more time.

The After Years takes place 17 years after Final Fantasy IV. Cecil and Rosa are the new king and queen of Baron, and their son, Ceodore, is hoping to fill his father’s shoes as a knight of the Red Wings. However, strange events are happening. The second moon has once again appeared in the sky, and monsters are attacking the populace. Meanwhile, FFIV alumni such as Rydia, Palom, and Porom, now 17 years older, are encountering strange situations of their own. How are all these events connected? We’ll just have to play the game and find out. This is old-school Final Fantasy at its best, and while the chapters may be a bit linear, there is a lot to explore.

The After Years features slightly redone sprites in a style that resembles the recent Game Boy Advance re-releases of Final Fantasy games. The soundtrack from FFIV has been redone as well, although the music is every bit as memorable as it was nearly 2 decades ago. Most of the maps have been carried over from the original FFIV with a few minor additions added here and there. There are a few new tricks. Combat features a moon phase system which enhances and weakens various abilities and skills depending on the current phase of the moon. Also, characters can team up and do ‘Band’ attacks, kinda like Chrono Trigger’s team-up moves. Also, up to three friends can each take control of a character during battle, adding a small hint of multiplayer.

Playing FFIV:TAY is like coming back to one of the Super Nintendo’s classic titles, only to discover so many new things. It’s good to see Square Enix jumping on the retro-revival bandwagon, and I can’t wait to see what is gonna happen during throughout the next several chapters.