Live Blogs Let's Play FFIV: The After Years

SomeColorMage2012-08-17 01:39:51

Well, it's about time I got this thing started.

What can I say about Final Fantasy IV: The After Years? Originally a game for Japanese mobile phones, it then got remade for the Wii and PSP. I'm playing the PSP version.

Picking up 17 years after the preceeding game (for those who don't know what happens in that game, I direct you in this general direction), The After Years follows the cast of FFIV and some others as a new crisis befalls the world. As should be expected from FFIV, it's moon related (In fact, the full Japanese name translates into Final Fantasy IV The After Years -Return of the Moon-).

Anyway, this game has a few problems. While the gameplay is decent, a lot of the plot feels like parts of FFIV have been cut and pasted around the place with different characters. The new characters are either dull, not very good in gameplay or sometimes both, and, well, most FF games are a Tough Act to Follow. That's probably why direct sequels weren't a big thing in the series for quite a while.

At least it's got FFIV's soundtrack.

Well, let's get this thing started. The story is split into various tales, each one focusing on a different lead, which unlock as other tales are completed. Below will be a list of where each tale of the game starts, so if you want to jump to a specific tale, go ahead:

• Ceodore's Tale: The Last of The Red Wings
• Rydia's Tale: The Eidolons Shackled
• Yang's Tale: The Master of Fabul
• Palom's Tale: The Mage's Voyage
• Edge's Tale: The Pulse of Babil
• Porom's Tale: The Vanished Lunar Whale
• Edward's Tale: Star-Crossed Damcyan
• Kain's Tale: Return of the Dragoon
• The Lunarians' Tale: The Blue Planet That Was
• The Crystals
  • The Gathering Tale: The Moon's Gravity
  • Final Tale, Part One: True Moon
  • Final Tale, Part Two: Planet Eater

Comments

EndarkCuli Since: Dec, 1969

Jan 3rd 2012 at 11:36:50 PM

"This is not a repeat of the past," says Kain. Aside from the parts where Baron knights invade the kingdom for its crystal, Yang & his allies fight back in roughly four battles, and a dragoon acts like a real [CENSORED]. I'd go on, but since the main joke of this update was how heavily it 'borrowed' from the original title, it just wouldn't feel right.

SomeColorMage Since: Dec, 1969

Jan 4th 2012 at 2:06:14 AM

I'm pretty sure if I knew the writer of that line, I would slap them. This is probably the worst part of the game until we reach endgame, and considering some parts that are still to come, that's a big claim.