Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection
By Chad Sapieha,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Complex RPG with mild violence, mature themes.
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Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection
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Great Game
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What’s It About?
FINAL FANTASY IV: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION is the latest iteration of a beloved role-playing game originally released two decades ago. It contains the original game -- a huge story with a dozen playable characters -- reworked to feature improved graphics and music, as well as its 2009 sequel, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, which is set years after events of the first game and follows the stories of franchise's main characters and their descendants. There's also a short, brand-new episode dubbed "Interlude" that helps bridges the two games' tales. The end result is a sweeping and epic narrative that tells the complete story of several of the most memorable protagonists ever to appear on the medium's fantasy RPG stage.
Is It Any Good?
Assuming you aren't a traditionalist who abhors the idea of old games receiving mild graphical and audio tweaks to take advantage of modern hardware, Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection is clearly the definitive version of what many RPG fans believe to be one of the best entries in Square Enix's popular series. The story of Cecil, a guilt-ridden dark knight who betrays his king in order to do what he believes to be right, is as moving now as it has ever been, as are the tales of his companions, many of whom are similarly troubled and have suffered terrible losses. Indeed, few characters in the world of games conjure up as much sympathy as this bunch. That you can continue their stories after the game ends with a quick visit back to the main screen to select The After Years, an episodic game that came out nearly 20 years after the original but is nearly as compelling, only enhances the experience and adds to The Complete Collection's value. This is one Final Fantasy game not to be missed by franchise fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in interactive media. How did you feel when taking part in this game's fantasy combat scenarios? Would you have felt differently had these scenes played out with more realistic graphics?
Families can also discuss storytelling in games. Have you ever felt emotionally moved by a game? What advantages or disadvantages do games have in terms of telling a compelling story?
Game Details
- Platform: PSP
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Release date: April 19, 2011
- Genre: Role-Playing
- ESRB rating: E10+ for Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes
- Last updated: August 30, 2016
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