Final Fantasy IV: The After Years Rated by ESRB

[Crossblades]

RPGamer - News Bulletin - Final Fantasy IV: The After Years Rated by ESRB (http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2009/022709a.html)



North American RPGamers have just been given hope that Final Fantasy IV: The After will no longer remain an unattainable object we are forced to watch others play with through the bulletproof glass of the Pacific Ocean. Originally a Japanese mobile game unlikely to ever make it overseas, The After details the story of what occurred 17 years after Square's classic Super Nintendo RPG Final Fantasy IV.

The ESRB has given an E rating to Final Fantasy IV: The After Years for the Wii, a slightly changed title but unquestionably the same game. Seeing as this was an ESRB leak, there is no confirmation whether the game will be available as a retail release or on the WiiWare download service. A WiiWare release is more likely, considering the Japanese version's episodic format. The game is currently being released in multiple mobile chapters rather than all at once. Whether the game could also be released in an episodic format for the Wii or as a package is unknown.

Of course, just because a game is rated does not mean it will ever see a release, but at the least there is now more of a chance for a North American release than before. RPGamer has a staff review blog available for more information on the mobile version of the game.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

Ehh.

I guess it won't be as ugly as the mobile phone version, at least.

[sdm42393]

The After, from what I've seen/read, doesn't seem that great.
If I have money to throw away, I might download it (if it's WiiWare).

[Wolf Kanno]

I've been avoiding it for the most part. I'll probably read a translation on Gamefaqs and call it good. I feel IV is one of the few FFs that is inconceivable for it to have a sequel; as the game pretty much tied up every loose end and left little to work with. Though I love IV, I'm not so sentimental to throw money away on a sequel I feel should never had been made.

[Bastian]

http://wii.ign.com/articles/957/957943p1.html

Final Fantasy IV Sequel Heads to Wii
The Japanese mobile phone game is coming to America.
by Daemon Hatfield


February 27, 2009 - Did you know there was a sequel to Final Fantasy IV released on mobile phones in Japan? It's true! Looks like American gamers will be getting a chance to play it, too, as a synopsis for Final Fantasy IV: The After Years has popped up at the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB). En route to the Wii, the sequel is described as a 2D role-playing game involving -- what else? -- magic crystals. Players adventure across an overworld map and delve into dungeons, getting caught up in turn-based battles along the way with leopards, birds, and monster fish (the worst kind of fish).


Final Fantasy IV: The After Years will be rated "E" for everyone and includes references to alcohol and mild fantasy violence. No release date is available at this time. The fact that it was a mobile phone game in Japan makes a WiiWare release possible.


I dunno . . . the wiki page on it makes the plot and new characters sound frikkin sweeeeet!

I'm definately getting this! I can't wait!

[Unstoppable Pig]

I think party of ninjas is only reason to get this game, but maybe its not enough. Yangs daughter seems worth of seeing too and teen Palom and Porom but then again this game doesn´t seem interesting at all. Only good direct FF sequel is Revenant Wings.

Kain´s story is only worth to get sequel but I guess they could have worked him somehow into Dissidia. It may not be canon but still it would have shown how much he wants to restore his and dragoons honor.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

teen Palom and Porom

Not that they really look it, but they're twenty-two.

[Elpizo]

Meh, I'll never forgive SE for what they did to our favorite "Clad in the Dark" in this sequel, and for that IV The After sucks and will forever suck.

[Bastian]

What did they do to Golbez?

Wait . . . I think I read something about it did they kill him and FoSoYa off by the new villain?

[The Man]

I've been avoiding it for the most part. I'll probably read a translation on Gamefaqs and call it good. I feel IV is one of the few FFs that is inconceivable for it to have a sequel; as the game pretty much tied up every loose end and left little to work with. Though I love IV, I'm not so sentimental to throw money away on a sequel I feel should never had been made.

Seriously? Honestly, FFIV was the only game I thought that, apart from FFVII, even left room for a sequel. Zeromus even explicitly said he'd come back, and Cain's character arc left a lot of questions unanswered as well.

That said I still haven't developed an opinion on whether the sequel was a good idea. Someone on thelifestream.net pointed out how closely various plot elements of the sequel resemble the plot of the original game :monster:

[Wolf Kanno]

Kain´s story is only worth to get sequel but I guess they could have worked him somehow into Dissidia. It may not be canon but still it would have shown how much he wants to restore his and dragoons honor.

If you read the interview with Nomura in the Dissidia Ultimania, he mentions that Kain was originally planned to be in Dissidia. He was original brought up to be the Chaos warrior from the title but Golbez was chosen instead. After that, Kain was planned as a secret character until he was finally dropped at the last minute due to time restrictions. It was amusing to see how sad Nomura was about the decision cause Kain seems to be one of his favorite characters in the series.



Seriously? Honestly, FFIV was the only game I thought that, apart from FFVII, even left room for a sequel. Zeromus even explicitly said he'd come back, and Cain's character arc left a lot of questions unanswered as well.

That said I still haven't developed an opinion on whether the sequel was a good idea. Someone on thelifestream.net pointed out how closely various plot elements of the sequel resemble the plot of the original game :monster:

I took Zeromus' "return" statement as more of a symbolic gesture than a literal threat. I felt IV mostly wrapped up everything concerning the characters. Maybe not Kain, but his ending seemed rather fitting and I find more enjoyment of dreaming of the possibilities than seeing him return in a sequel as the angsty loner. I just don't see enough plot elements to come up with a real sequel idea and the game also nailed my one of my taboos about sequels: Bringing a kid into it. I'm not interested in FFIV: The Next Generation. ;)

[sdm42393]

Someone on thelifestream.net pointed out how closely various plot elements of the sequel resemble the plot of the original game :monster:

Why does that remind me of Metal Gear Solid 2? :mad:

[Wolf Kanno]

Hell, Crisis Core :roll2

[Bastian]

Well, I'm totally buying it. And I bet I'll love it.

[Evastio]

Episodic format? :sweat:

I really hope that you don't have to keep using up Wii Points to buy all the episodes.

[Bastian]

I was thinking that they would probably lump the whole game of episodes together. I HOPE they don't expect people to buy individual episodes.

I'm new to Wii. How do the points work?

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

1 Wii Point = 1 cent American

You can buy them on the Wii Store with a credit card, or using codes from cards (good for, say, 2000 Points) that can be bought at retail locations where electronics are sold.

[Roogle]

All of the major consoles have a currency system like Wii Points.

I have to admit that I would not like to pay on a chapter-by-chapter basis because the entire game has already been released in other territories. Square Enix should consolidate all episodes of the game and release it as a single game with various chapters like Dragon Quest IV and Suikoden III.

[Arthurdent_78]

Has anyone seen? During his keynote address at the Game Developers Conference, Squenix President Satoru Iwata confirmed that FFIV: The After Years is coming to WiiWare!

Also, FFI, FFII, & FFIII's original Nintendo versions are coming to Virtual Console! Finally, and least exciting to me, FFCC: My Life as a King is getting a sequel called My Life as a Dark Lord.

I wish they would say something about FFCC: The Crystal Bearers already!

Here's the link to the IGN article if anyone wants to see it.

IGN: GDC 09: Three Final Fantasy Titles Coming to Wii (http://wii.ign.com/articles/966/966158p1.html)

[Roogle]

What did they do to Golbez?

Wait . . . I think I read something about it did they kill him and FoSoYa off by the new villain?

Yes. These plot points occur at the end of the game and the middle of the game, respectively.

[Wolfen]

Also, FFI, FFII, & FFIII's original Nintendo versions are coming to Virtual Console! I thought II and III were just coming to the Japanese VC? Or are they releasing the originals in English too?

[Bastian]

I'm glad of the confirmation, even though we all already knew. I just wish there was some sort of date set. And more info about whether it will be episodes or one whole purchase.

I'm so excited for it!

[Arthurdent_78]

I found an official Squenix website for FFIV: The After Years! No release date yet (or any other features), only a "Coming Soon" and some background info. Well, here it is:

FINAL FANTASY IV: The After Years | SQUARE ENIX (http://na.square-enix.com/ff4ay/)

I just noticed that, interestingly, when you click on the European versions of the page, the site offers a link to "register for more information" in place of the U.S. version's ESRB link.

[Brennan]

teen Palom and Porom

Not that they really look it, but they're twenty-two.

I thought they were 10 in Final Fantasy IV, wouldn't that make them 27?

[Zeromus_X]

Surprisingly, the twins were only 5 in FFIV.

[Arthurdent_78]

Squeenix has now added new content to the website. Here's the link again

FINAL FANTASY IV: The After Years | SQUARE ENIX (http://na.square-enix.com/ff4ay/)

[Arthurdent_78]

Supposedly, there is an add from Squeenix in the June Nintendo Power issue that says The After Years will be released June 1.

Here's the link I found it on:
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years Coming to WiiWare June 1st - Nintendo Life: WiiWare (http://wiiware.nintendolife.com/news/2009/05/final_fantasy_iv_the_after_years_coming_to_wiiware_june_1st)

[joerevs300]

This being the first 16 bit FF, I was simply blown away with this game (when I was a teenager). Great plot, great stories, and awesome gameplay (the only FF now and probably forever that lets you use 5 characters).

How could you not want to play a sequel? I just don't understand that. It's true (ESPECIALLY for FFVII) that sequels are going to be judged rather harshly by most, especially if they think nothing can top the 1st game. But it's also true that there are other gamers that would love to just revisit the same maps, characters and weapons/magic with some additions and do it all over again.

The stupidest thing Square Enix has not done is made a sequel to FFVII (and I'm not talking the garbage that was Dirge of Cerebus or the totally different gameplay of Crisis Core). The money to be made of such a game, with today's graphics technology is just through the roof.

I hope they release this sequel in other ways so I will have a chance to play it (DSi download? Please?). I for one would gladly pay to play this game.