Final Fantasy IV: The After: Return to the Moon

[Sephex]

More details.

Square Enix announced last week it will release Final Fantasy IV -- The After: Return of the Moon for mobile phones in Japan, according to Famitsu, and now we have more details on the game.
The sequel features 2D graphics, similar to classic Final Fantasy. The story takes place 17 years after the events in the original game, with Ceodore, the son of Cecil and Rosa, as the main protagonist. Apparently, we can expect to see most of the characters from the original; so far we know Cecil, Rosa, Kain, Rydia, Yang, and Cid will be returning -- and some are confirmed to be playable characters.

"When we were making the DS remake of FFIV, there were talks on creating an after story of sorts as well as talks on working on a game for mobile phones," said sequel Executive Producer Takashi Tokita. "I have strong attachments to the characters and I was working on the remake so FFIV was always on my mind these days. After having played the remake, I thought that allowing users to download and play the continuation to the story on the mobile phone was a good idea."

The battle system won't be seeing any drastic changes, incorporating the Active Time Battle system in the original. However, Tokita adds "there will be a new feature to the system specifically for mobile phones which will also links with the story in the game."

Additionally, expect arranged versions of the music, as well as some newly composed tunes. Concept art is drawn by Yoshiitaka Amano, while the character art are done by Akira Ogura, who worked with Tokita on Hanjuku Hero in the past. Meanwhile, Kazuko Shibuya, the 2D sprite artist responsible for the series until Final Fantasy VI, is returning to work on the graphics for the sequel.

Final Fantasy IV The After: Return of the Moon will be released monthly in episodic chunks beginning Febuary 2008 in Japan, for both DoCoMo and au mobile phone services. The first episode will serve as a demo and available for free. Hopefully, we'll get to see this on a handheld system down the line or I will have to buy and switch cell phones again.

More Details on Final Fantasy IV's Sequel news from 1UP.com

[Evastio]

I hope Bahamut just eats him and the game ends right there.

Oh man, I can just see it now.

"Hi, Mr. Big Dragon! I'm Theodore, from the Blue Planet!"
"Mind if I just rename you 'Snack', son? *CHOMP!* Thought so. *BURP!*"

I wouldn't hate on it too much yet.

And yet you're still doing it. Yes, let's all hate on a game that we barely know anything about and we don't want to give a chance to. Very reasonable and fair thing to do.

If I remember correctly, quite a lot of you EoFFers were hating on FFIV DS. (Cue prologue music) However, that stopped as more was revealed and known about it. You all stopped hating it because you got to learn more about it and got used to the idea. Hating the idea of FFIV DS was unfair, but it took all of the insults, got strong, and ended up redeeming itself to all of you. Even if you have no faith in Final Fantasy IV The After: Return of the Moon you eventually will. Just like FFIV DS: FFIV's sequel will rise from the darkness of your insults and will shine in the light of the sun receiving respect from all FFIV fans worldwide!!!

Wow. That didn't sound like it came from a movie.

[Yar]

I'll download it on my computer and see if it's any good. No way I'm seeling my soul and buying a mobile phone.

What? You don't have a mobile phone? Get with the times, man. :rolleyes2 [/sarcasm]

I too would like to read the story just to see how it goes, but even if it were released here, I doubt I'd pay for it.

[Tempest]

I do wish this game would come out, out of Japan. I wouldn't mind playing it but, waddayagonnado.