GBA vs. DS version

So some of you may have played both the GBA version and DS version of FF IV. Both are the same game, but also both games have different bonuses. So my question is, which version did you enjoy playing the most? I haven't had a chance to purchase the DS version due to a tight budget, so I can't really comment on that one. But I will say that I enjoyed the GBA version alot. I liked the playing through the two bonus dungeons, love the revamped script, and I especially liked the fact that you can switch out characters at the end of the game, something I wish the DS version would've included. Hopefully within the next month, I can purchase the DS version and play through it so I can compare the two.

Well...

there are no extra dungeons in the DS version but two super enemies, Geryon and the Prototype Babil. But the Advance version has Zermous EG and its two dungeons...both of them are good in their own way but in my opinion the DS version is better cause seeing the characters 3D is nice, the sound is better and the enemies are stronger. Most of them are too strong like the CPU who can instantly knock your party out by using it's "laser beam" but it's quite a challenge so it's fine.

It's hard to say which one I enjoyed better, the GBA version was great with the extra features, and I also really enjoyed the DS version because of the 3D graohics and the fact that they brought back the original difficulty making the game more challenging.

DS version is my choice, the revamped script (just slightly better than the GBA) new story sequences that fill up plot holes, better localization (Feymarsh just sounds cooler and more mystique than "Land of Summoned Beasts"). The Augment system combined with the revamping of a few character (OMG! Edge and Edward are overwhelmingly useful! :Eek:) made the GBA's switching party members by end game a moot point. The revamped difficulty makes the two optional dungeon from the GBA version a moot point as well. Plus, the GBA lacks the rather fun and amusing Whyt mini games that seriously break up the monotony this game has.

I also love the new feature that allows you to read your parties thoughts while in the menu screen. I felt it fleshed out the characters better and overall its a feature that should see future use in the genre.

They both have their faults. There's some glitches with the GBA one (ATB glitch, item-freezes-game glitch) and there's just some things that annoyed me with the DS version. It would have looked more visually pleasing if they didn't cram all of the less-than-stellar voice acting into the stupid card.

I actually thought the voice acting was pretty good. Considering when Rydia screams "I HATE YOU" was pretty effective. Actually, the entire script was well done on the DS. I thought the sprites were ugly, but they were just as ugly in ffiii so... i didn't care.

I haven't played the DS version yet due to a dead DS and no money, so I can only pick between the original, the PS1 port that was slow as hell, and the GBA version. I'm picking the SNES one out of nostalgia.

I felt that the Nintendo DS version of Final Fantasy IV was far more challenging than the Gameboy Advance version of Final Fantasy IV.

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Originally Posted by Roogle

I felt that the Nintendo DS version of Final Fantasy IV was far more challenging than the Gameboy Advance version of Final Fantasy IV.

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Of course it is. The counter attacks, A stronger Lugaborg, a CPU which can instantly K.O. you with the Attacker's Laser Beam, that all makes it more difficult.

I preferred the Ds version's difficulty increase and overall tweaks over the GBA end of the game stuff. Plus I was juts happy to see my favorite FF in 3D, albeit not fantastic 3D.

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Originally Posted by Rase

albeit not fantastic 3D.

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There wasn't even trees in the towns!! :irked:
Just 2d bushes!

i love that they took party exchange from this one, its annoying trying to come up with a party and then realising your selection sucks

DS version > all others.

As well as the obvious bonus of 3D graphics and voice acting, the difficulty is a most welcome challenge. And I can not believe how useful Edward is now. The lead character's thoughts appearing in the menu screen is a cool addition also.

Tough call. I consider the GBA version to be the definitive version of the SNES game I played all through my childhood. The translation was the best I'd seen by far, the ability to choose your party toward the end was awesome, and the bonus content was a great addition.

While the GBA version is the definitive version of that SNES game, the DS game is almost like something new. The thought bubbles are great, the cutscenes and voice acting add a lot. Those modern touches can add more to a game than I ever thought they could. And they don't go overboard with it either, it still feels like I'm actually playing a game, rather than watching a movie that requires me to do work to keep the movie playing (I hate those "games").

But at the same time, I'm not sure if I like the translation as much as the GBA version. In the beginning I busted out laughing when Cecil was emoing about the darkness in his heart or whatever. I did it again when he got to the Rydia's village and let out that Darth Vader-esque "NOOOOOOOOOO." I don't think good translations are unintentionally supposed to make you laugh. Plus, the bonus content of the GBA version I assume will be gone (the ability to choose your own party and the bonus dungeons), and instead we get this whyt crap. I'd much prefer having more of the actual game (new dungeons) to having cutsie kiddie mini-games tacked on that just distract from the actual game. I can't fully judge the DS version yet because I'm only about half done and I'm not sure what benefit the game+ will add.

The difficulty of each game also works out to make the GBA feel definitive and the DS feel new. GBA was an easy version of the game, but since I was playing it for the billionth time and I just wanted to power through to see the new stuff, that was what I wanted. Just let me play through, I've already beaten this game a dozen times. When I did get to the new stuff, it did get more difficult.

DS, of course, is actually pretty challenging. For one thing, the frickin' eagles killed me in my first random encounter -.- (couldn't help remember the Power of Cheese thread and the joke about losing to eagles). Plus some enemies are different. Golbez has barrier change, Lugae has reversal gas, so you can't just play the same way you always played for every battle. I have no idea whether to expect certain enemies to be easy or hard anymore.

So, GBA=Final Fantasy IV as it should have been. DS= Final Fantasy IV as it would be today if made for the DS. Can't really choose which is better. Gun to my head, I guess I've have to say I'm enjoying DS more because I don't know what to expect like I did with the GBA.

Being the old school fanatic I am, I can't help but chose the SNES/GBA versions. Probably the only thing I liked about the DS version was the chance to finally hear the characters speak, but other than that It didn't really strike me as anything special. Not that I didn't like it(which I did), it's just I prefer the classic 2D feel that I grew up with as opposed to 3D graphics.

After playing through FF4 to the point of becoming a paladin on the DS, I can't go back tyo the SNES. Sure the VA's suck, but that is sort of the charm, as well as the better graphics and increased difficulty.

Yeah, this topic's old, but I'm bored so I feel like posting.

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Originally Posted by Blue Cup

Being the old school fanatic I am, I can't help but chose the SNES/GBA versions. Probably the only thing I liked about the DS version was the chance to finally hear the characters speak, but other than that It didn't really strike me as anything special. Not that I didn't like it(which I did), it's just I prefer the classic 2D feel that I grew up with as opposed to 3D graphics.

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I like both 2D graphics as well as 3D graphics. However, if they do 3D graphics, they need to execute them well and present them well. The balloon-head concept for the characters on the movement screen as well as the battle screen looked cute when done with sprites. Balloon-head sprites have a certain charm/cuteness to them [it looks pretty close, if not the same as a chibi anime-style]. However, I really feel like complaining that translating the balloon-head concept into 3D polygons was a bad choice, and made the characters look ridiculous. It pissed me off! I couldn't take any of them seriously. Especially when I fought Valvalis/Babariccia, it looked like a bunch of 7 year-olds fighting a grown woman. It looked silly! The sound effects of the menu also drove me insane.

Aside from that, everything else about Final Fantasy IV for the DS was awesome. There is a slight jump in difficulty, but I didn't really find this game to be as hard as people are making it out to be [but then again, I could see it becoming difficult for someone that chooses to run away from battles too often].

To anybody that's played the SNES or GBA version of this game: Am I the only person that's wondered why Paladin-Cecil has short, pink~violet gradient hair in the movement/battle screen, but not in char select? It's like two different people [obviously this was intentional, but WHY?]. If this was discussed before, then I must have missed it [and for that I apologize in advance]. Although personally, I'm more of a fan of his short hair look as opposed to his woman-hair look.

The difference in Cecil's design is based on technology limitations. Trying to translate the Amano style into those blocky little sprites is a nightmare from what I've heard. My guess is, that his whole color scheme was changed from his original design so he could stand out better from the other characters.

Yes, character art was changed in the early days of Final Fantasy to adapt the character properly in sprite form. That is likely the reason for the differences between Cecil on the status screen, overworld screen, and battle screen. They were like three different characters!

Terra, or Tina, from Final Fantasy VI has blonde hair in her concept art and DISSIDIA Final Fantasy, but was given green hair in the release of Final Fantasy VI to help distinguish her from Celes.

I love the DS version, but the difficulty is killing me (yeah. Not a good player. I know :rolleyes2).

I just beat FF IV on the DS for the second time. The only real difficulty in the game is in the end-dungeon, and even then, that doesn't last too terribly long [after a short while of leveling off of Silver, Gold, and Blue Dragons, as well as getting all the main equipment, the difficulty of the final dungeon melts away pretty fast]. Zeromus is stupidly easy, they should've buffed him up more. I did the entire game without the use of any augments or stat-boosting items [I'm a bit of a purist on top of the fact that I feel augments make this game too easy, so I chose not to use any augments whatsoever] and beat Zeromus on a level range of 66~71.

However, I can see why this game would be hard for those that don't know how to fully use Rydia's and Rosa's range of spells. The final dungeon would be pretty difficult otherwise. Also, avoid Dark Sages. They're a waste of time! They deal way too much damage and give practically no exp.

I hate fighting Behemoths!

I only played half of the SNES version (not the GBA one), but I can say I love the DS version a lot more - I favour polygons over sprites anyhow.

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Originally Posted by Omecle

I only played half of the SNES version (not the GBA one), but I can say I love the DS version a lot more - I favour polygons over sprites anyhow.

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I only favour polygons over sprites if the polygons are good. The polygon models for all the FF IV characters are chibi-style, which makes them look pretty ridiculous [chibi looks cute with drawings or sprites, but as 3D rendered models chibi-style looks retarded]. I'd rather have an extremely detailed and well-done sprite than a half-assed polygon model.

I personally like them and don't think they look retarded.

YouTube - FF4DS-Valvalis

It looks like a bunch of 8 year-olds fighting an adult. D:

1. No it doesn't.

2. Why does everyone on EoFF feel their opinion is final? If I liked something, why do people feel the need to try and tell me I should feel otherwise?

3. I happen to be a big fan of more stylized art direction, so deal with it I guess?

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Originally Posted by Omecle

3. I happen to be a big fan of more stylized art direction, so deal with it I guess?

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You should probably choose a different word besides "stylized", because this can be applied to any form of art.

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Originally Posted by Omecle

2. Why does everyone on EoFF feel their opinion is final? If I liked something, why do people feel the need to try and tell me I should feel otherwise?

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Actually I don't. You'll probably notice that not many people agree with my statements, haha. It doesn't bother me, so I don't see why you're so offended. Try not to get so defensive and be so sensitive to people that have different opinions and give examples.

I personally like the chibi polygons better than the realistic look. Whenever I play a game that attempts hyper realistic graphics it always makes it seem almost more fake, as they are never perfect and my attention is always driven to the flaws. With stylized graphics I take them for what they are. (Don't get me wrong, just because they are stylized doesn't mean they are good, there are styles I don't like, but chibi is one I do)

My biggest beef about the sprites is how skinny they made Cecil and Kain look. They look like they have sticks for limbs. Being the physical attackers of the party I would expect a little more muscle mass.


"I'd rather have an extremely detailed and well-done sprite than a half-assed polygon model."
I think the reason you come off as hostile is statements like this. Disagreeing with the choice of style is one thing; calling one of them a copout is rather inflammatory. (As I side note, I think extremely detailed sprites look awesome as well.)

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Originally Posted by VeloZer0

I personally like the chibi polygons better than the realistic look. Whenever I play a game that attempts hyper realistic graphics it always makes it seem almost more fake, as they are never perfect and my attention is always driven to the flaws. With stylized graphics I take them for what they are. (Don't get me wrong, just because they are stylized doesn't mean they are good, there are styles I don't like, but chibi is one I do)

My biggest beef about the sprites is how skinny they made Cecil and Kain look. They look like they have sticks for limbs. Being the physical attackers of the party I would expect a little more muscle mass.


"I'd rather have an extremely detailed and well-done sprite than a half-assed polygon model."
I think the reason you come off as hostile is statements like this. Disagreeing with the choice of style is one thing; calling one of them a copout is rather inflammatory. (As I side note, I think extremely detailed sprites look awesome as well.)

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Haha, yeah I know. Roogle has pointed out to me on a few occasions when I'm coming across as rather "mean". It's actually not my intention to, but without the tone of voice attatched to my words on here, I probably sound like an overly-critical forum tyrant. Actually, I'm just opinionated by nature, but there isn't really a violent intention behind my words.

Still, I kinda wish they had done sprites or a better 3D polygon model. I understand that some people liked the chibi polygon model look, but, I just... couldn't take it seriously. When I first saw a preview of this game [which was actually the youtube video of Valvalis/Barbariccia that I posted there], I started laughing and it seemed embarrassing to look at. I don't mean that it has to have hyper realistic graphics, but something that looks proportional would be nice. For example, the way they did the battle-screen models Golbez, Valvalis, and Rubicante looked really nice. They actually look humanoid in terms of being proportional. To balance this out, they could have chibi-fied the models of the villains like Golbez, Valvalis/Barbariccia, and Rubicante as well, but then someone said that it would make the villains look somewhat silly. My response to that of course was "Well, there you go! You think it would make the villains look silly, whereas I think it's currently making my favourite childhood characters look silly". My bias against balloon-head polygon models probably got started the first Wild ARMS game.

Everyone person has their tastes and preferences though. My taste is somewhat hard to explain, as I still like the chibi look when it's limited to 2D-art and sprites, because in those two forms I think it can look wonderfully cute [as in teddy bear cute, it's adorable!].

Well, you can't say the polygon's are perfect, but I liked the graphics in the DS version very much. I'll always prefer this style to something that we had, for example in Xenosaga Episode I. I don't mean to say those graphics were bad, but I don't think the "realistic"-manga look (as opposed to super deformed) looks good in CG. I mean, on some occassions when you could see a close-up of Shion's face, she would show no emotion at all. Even in some dramatic scenes. The characters looked like they were baloons.
Anyway, the DS version guarantees, IMHO, the ultimate FFIV experience. The voice acting is fair, the new scenes are great... It' superb!

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Originally Posted by The White Wizard of Fynn

but I don't think the "realistic"-manga look (as opposed to super deformed) looks good in CG.

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In some cases no, it doesn't [mostly with older video games]. However, I really liked how the faces and bodies looked in games like Star Ocean 3, Star Ocean 4, Last Remnant, etc. I felt those were very good renditions. Of course, It would be silly to expect the DS to perform on that level, but maybe they could try something like that. It's always possible to go Star Ocean 2's route as well [spirtes on a 3D world]. Or if they want something that doesn't look as shoddy, they could do it in the Style of Ragnarok online [same concept, but the sprites are far more refined and detailed, and have more angles available].

That said, I'm still split on which version I like more, but I'm inclined to want to change my mind and go with the DS version. As much as I didn't care for the character model presentation [at least for the heroes, whereas the villains get special treatment for some reason], I liked that this game at least had some kind of difficulty in it [even if it wasn't much]. I recently have played through the SNES version again, and I was shocked at how easy and effortless it was. I always knew the SNES version was much easier, but I couldn't remember to what extent it was easier since I haven't played this game in years.

To me, the best thing about the DS game is the presentation of the story. I mean, things that seemed cheesy to me in the SNES and GBA versions now look really epic and moving. This is the version that really made me take the game seriously.

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Originally Posted by The White Wizard of Fynn

To me, the best thing about the DS game is the presentation of the story. I mean, things that seemed cheesy to me in the SNES and GBA versions now look really epic and moving. This is the version that really made me take the game seriously.

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They fixed the translation and managed to give their characters more depth. The voice-overs really helped with that. They enriched some of the dialogue as well as giving us some history on Cecil and Golbez ["Theodore"? If I remember the spelling right]. I think that alone will make everyone like this a lot more than the SNES versions.

You say the bosses get special treatment, but having bosses several times larger than party members is as true to the original as they could get with sprites.

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Originally Posted by VeloZer0

You say the bosses get special treatment, but having bosses several times larger than party members is as true to the original as they could get with sprites.

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Yeah I know, but for one, they had no choice in order to fit all 5 characters on the battlefield due to their left-to-right format [which they were obviously able to break free from now, as shown by their liberty with the camera angle in some of the battles]. And two, as I said before, chibi-style done in sprite form has a much more acceptable and natural look to it. The only reason why I say this is because it's never bothered me before in any game I've seen it in [FF IV for the SNES, Star Ocean 2, Ragnarok Online, etc.], whereas in the DS version they decided to use 3D models [which would suggest that they want a slightly more realistic look?] while doing their best to keep their bodies disproportional. Thus you have the band of 8 year-olds fighting a grown woman here: YouTube - FF4DS-Valvalis

The whole thing just bothered me really. Of course, there are only a few other people here that are as picky about the style as I am, but I personally would've wanted cooler character models [like Dissidia! Come on now]. Speaking of Dissidia, I have to say that Cecil's Dark Knight costumes in that game look awesome.

I know it's not the best version of FFIV but, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Super Nintendo version. It's the one I grew up with soooo....it can't be helped. :)

I think having 5 full sized people attacking a single person would look really silly in a battle. In order to fit everyone on the screen the would have to essentially zoom the camera out to the point where the party would still look the same size on the screen, only with a far less imposing boss model.

At its heart the FFIV battle engine is always 'my side vs your side' and if you have 5 people on one side and one on the other, the screen will look very empty and awkward on one side. And the character sprites won't be any bigger.

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Originally Posted by VeloZer0

I think having 5 full sized people attacking a single person would look really silly in a battle.

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Nah, I don't really see why. It would look closer to what a normal battle looks like. Just look at FF XIII [I don't mean graphics-wise, I just mean proportional-wise], FF IX, FF VIII, FF X, etc.

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Originally Posted by VeloZer0

In order to fit everyone on the screen the would have to essentially zoom the camera out to the point where the party would still look the same size on the screen

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Actually you wouldn't have to do this. It's very easy to play with proportions, angle work, etc. to get what you want. I understand what your concern is, but it really isn't so bad to do this. Now it would be bad in a game that doesn't really have perspective, and a rigid default camera angle which never shifts [FF IV for the SNES], but they have 3-Dimensional freedom here, so let's not kid ourselves.

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Originally Posted by VeloZer0

At its heart the FFIV battle engine is always 'my side vs your side' and if you have 5 people on one side and one on the other, the screen will look very empty and awkward on one side.

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I don't think so. A lot of games have accomplished this with ease aside from the ones I listed. Of course, 5 people in a party is rarely done, but in reality you actually only need to do very little to compensate for this. And I find this all to be over-dramatized, because in essence, all you would be doing is adding some height and slight width to each character, and possibly pan the camera back slightly to compensate. Any of those that have experience with 3D editors [like Spore perhaps?] probably understand. Intimidating boss models are done by appearance and detail, and not necessarily by size [like Bahamut in the DS version of FF IV for example. He's fairly decently-sized dragon, but I wouldn't exactly call him huge]. I also don't think that having a serious/cool/intimidating/whatever boss model means that your characters have to look like 12-year-old cosplayers. I'd like my protagonists to look awesome, too. :rolleyes2

The characters can't look any more awesome than they look in the DS version (Dissidia's awesome as well, but in a different way).

Oh they look far more awesome in Dissidia than in anything else, there's not even any contest with that. I hate being disagreeable and all, but I find the chibi 3D appearance really difficult to take seriously. It just doesn't really seem very awesome at all. I really wanted to have cool full-grown characters instead of 12-year-old cosplayers. Sorry. :(

However, at least they decided not to go that route when doing things like Star Ocean 3 and 4, or games like FF VII, FF VIII, FF IX, FF X [even though I didn't care for this FF], FF X-2, FF XI, FF XII, and currently they aren't doing it for FF XIII either.

Meh... Say what you want, my opinion remains the same. The DS versions of the characters are pure awesome!

Hahaha. VeloZer0 and Omecle would agree with you on that one it seems, so you aren't alone.

Really tough call. But I'd have to go with the DS version because Matrix Software did a great job at remaking it while keeping it true to the original. Only thing really missing is the extra stuff from the GBA version, but IMO that's no big shakes.

EDIT: Ah poop, I didn't realize this thread was almost a month old. ~_~

Well I plan to get the GBA version. I know what Wk thinks but does the DS version really flesh out the plot better than Advance?

The DS version gets 2 new scenes and the ability to read your parties thoughts when you are in the menu screen. Otherwise, they are pretty much the same so you can't go wrong with the GBA version either. :)