Caves of Narshe: Final Fantasy IV

More Final Fantasy IV: After Years Content

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 16:59:15 GMT

Yesterday, on 6 July, the next three "Stories" in the After Years canon were released to the WiiWare store at a cost of three hundred Wii points apiece. The new stories belong to Edge, Palom, and Yang; however, details around each story are still sketchy in nature.

So, that being said, who among you has gotten these stories downloaded and can fill in the rest of us with regards to what's going down? If you plan to get them, you had best get started as the next batch will be out in under a month's time. After that, there's just the final large chapter coming in September and then this Final Fantasy IV spinoff will be fully in the books.

Source: Wikipedia: FFIV: The After Years

Final Fantasy IV sequel on the Wii Virtual Console

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 17:09:25 GMT

That's right, all of you Wii owners out there can see what Cecil and Rosa's son Ceodore as well as the rest of the Final Fantasy IV cast's progeny are up to today, by downloading Final Fantasy IV: The After Years for 800 Wii points (approximately $8 US).

Originally released for Japanese mobile phones, The After Years is the first of an unknown number of chapters of a new adventure. The planet's second moon has reappeared out of nowhere, and a mysterious blue-clad woman is attempting to steal the world's eight crystals. Kain has also exiled himself to Mount. Ordeals, where he hopes to return as someone cleansed of his inner darkness. If you want to find out how all of this new plot goes down, then it's time to get downloading.

Source: <a href="http://kotaku.com/5273891/the-nintendo-download-final-fantasy-iv-continues">Kotaku</a>

Final Fantasy IV Sequel Shows Up on ESRB

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 19:24:33 GMT

Could this be the start of a trend? First Japanese cellphone-exclusives The Third Birthday and Final Fantasy Agito XIII receive PSP ports, and now we have a WiiWare port for the cellphone-exclusive Final Fantasy IV The After: Tsuki no Kikan.

This sequel to Final Fantasy IV is planned to be released in monthly installments over Japanese cellphones. Virtually all of the surviving characters from Final Fantasy IV make appearances, with a few of their offspring as playable characters (Cecil's son Theodor and Yang's daughter Ursula). Kain makes a key appearance as one of the game's major antagonists. The game uses a traditional SNES-era Final Fantasy interface, with 2D sprites, the ATB system, and random battles. The stats of players and appearances of monsters vary on lunar phases, which can be changed by spending the night at an inn. In addition, players can execute powerful "band" attacks that require any two players taking action, similar to Twin attacks in Final Fantasy IV DS or Dual Techs in Chrono Trigger.

The ESRB (North America's rating organization for videogames, the equivalent of Europe's PEGI or Japan's CERO) has published ratings for Final Fantasy IV: The After Years as a WiiWare game dated for 2009. This is all the information we have on a non-Japanese release, and hopefully we'll have more information soon.

Source: <a href="http://kotaku.com/5161587/the-esrb-rates-wii-final-fantasy-iv-sequel">Kotaku</a>

Release Dates: FF4DS (EU) and Harvest Moons (US)

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:51:30 GMT

After too much waiting for a game that doesn't require any real localization at all, Amazon.co.uk now has a release date for Final Fantasy IV DS; it's September 5, 2008. Of course, that's coming up in just over three weeks, which really makes sense given that there wasn't any real localization necessary. As usual, AmaCoN tries hard to get all preorders to you on the actual release date of the game, so you won't have to wait: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FFinal-Fantasy-IV-Nintendo-DS%2Fdp%2FB001B42EDA%2Fref%3Dsr_1_4%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dvideogames%26qid%3D1218633663%26sr%3D8-4&tag=cavesofnarshe-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=6738">order now</a>.

The other new release dates for the day are for the new Harvest Moon games, for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii, subtitled "Island of Happiness" and "Tree of Tranquility" respectively. While the Harvest Moon series has always been a bit niche, even for a series that has been going on for over a decade, I know there are quite a few fans who might be looking to pick these games up; if you're one of them, you can preorder now for a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FHarvest-Moon-Island-Happiness-Nintendo-DS%2Fdp%2FB00149TZ66%2Fref%3Dpd_bbs_sr_2%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dvideogames%26qid%3D1218634841%26sr%3D8-2&tag=cavesofnarshe-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">DS release on August 26</a> and a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FHarvest-Moon-Tree-Tranquility-Nintendo-Wii%2Fdp%2FB0018RYC9Y%2Fref%3Dpd_bbs_sr_1%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dvideogames%26qid%3D1218634841%26sr%3D8-1&tag=cavesofnarshe-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">Wii release on September 16</a>. Not only that, Amazon preorders for these games pack in farm animal plushies as bonuses. So, uh, get your farm... animals?

Final Fantasy IV DS Developers' Q and A

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 15:29:34 GMT

The development team for Final Fantasy IV DS, beyond simply <a href="http://ff4developers.cocolog-nifty.com/">having a blog</a>, is opening itself up for a web-based question and answer session with us, the fans, starting now. This is all being facilitated by the <a href="http://member.square-enix.com/na/blog/2008/06/final-fantasy-iv-fanpowered-qa.php">Square-Enix Members Blog</a>, and you have to have an account to participate, but if you don't have one and don't feel like signing up, please feel free to ask your question right here and I'll be happy to submit it on your behalf.

They're a bit nebulous on the deadlines for submitting questions and the posting of the collection of answers, but I would imagine that all of this will be happening over the next couple weeks so that they can publish the final article no later than the North American release date of the DS game, which is still currently scheduled for July 22.

Source:
<a href="http://member.square-enix.com/na/blog/">Square-Enix Members Blog</a>

Finally, Final Fantasy IV DS with English

Sat, 31 May 2008 16:27:30 GMT

In advance of the upcoming North America release, now under two months away, the official Square-Enix blog has now published <a href="http://member.square-enix.com/na/videos/">the first English-voiceover video</a> from the game. This video is meant to be an in-store promo, so you should also be able to see it quite soon at your favorite game shop.

Far be it from me to comment on the voice acting, as I'm no expert on the matter, but it sounds solid enough to me. If anything, it's just good to finally hear it in English; they could have Bobcat Goldthwait and Gilbert Godfried doing the lead roles and it would still be nice to finally see the progress towards launch.

Finally, of course, I have to ask, why haven't you <a href="http://www.cavesofnarshe.com/amacon/redirector.php?aurl=http://www.amazon.com/Square-Enix-90811-Final-Fantasy/dp/B00184219U/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8;s=videogames;qid=1211590038;sr=8-1">pre-ordered it from AmaCoN yet</a>?

Source:
<a href="http://member.square-enix.com/na/">Square-Enix Members Blog</a>

FF4DS NA Site Opens, FF4 After Characters

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:15:06 GMT

Square-Enix has opened their <a href="http://na.square-enix.com/ff4/">North American Final Fantasy 4 DS website</a>, setting the stage for information regarding the much-anticipated remake. The site opens with a beautiful splash screen featuring many characters from the game, but unfortunately there isn't anything at the site yet. However, the actual opening of the site is a good sign for information being translated and updated regularly as the release of the game approaches. In the meantime, you can check out the Japanese site for <a href="http://www.square-enix.co.jp/mobile/ff/ff4after/index.html">Final Fantasy 4: The After</a>, Square-Enix's Japanese-only mobile game, to make yourself jealous over what you aren't getting.

I have played FF4 way too many times, on different platforms and translations, and I am still very excited for the game to be released in July. I'll almost certainly be getting it on release day, if I'm not still playing Squenix's current gem, The World Ends With You. The site launch is good news for those of us waiting for another one of the company's trademark gorgeous sites, and The After is fun to look at, even if I can't read it, we're not getting it, and Luca looks like some sort of ridiculous 80's teen idol.

Those links again:
<a href="http://na.square-enix.com/ff4/">FF4DS NA</a>
<a href="http://www.square-enix.co.jp/mobile/ff/ff4after/index.html">Final Fantasy 4: The After</a>

Final Fantasy IV DS Gets Official NA Release

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:18:28 GMT

Yes, we all knew it was coming. Who couldn't? But now we have a real date: 22 July 2008. On top of that, the <a href="http://na.square-enix.com/ff4/">new site for the North American release</a> is up and ready, with a pretty-cool splash page as well.

Unfortunately, AmaCoN doesn't yet have the title ready for preorder (merely the <a href="http://www.cavesofnarshe.com/amacon/redirector.php?aurl=http://www.amazon.com/Final-Fantasy-IV-DS-OST/dp/B0010SGT1U/">OST</a>), but I'll keep everyone posted once it shows up.

From what I've seen and heard, this game is a must-play for DS owners. If anyone would like to buy me a DS, I'll be inclined to try it out and agree.

Source:
<a href="http://member.square-enix.com/na/blog/2008/04/final-fantasy-iv-release-date.php">Square-Enix Blog</a>

Final Fantasy IV Sequel Announced

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:53:46 GMT

...but don't get too excited.

The continuation of Cecil's epic story probably isn't going to be within your reach. FFIV: The Big Whale Flies Again (okay, I completely made that title up; the real title is Final Fantasy IV the After - Return to the Moon) will appear in 2008 as a cellphone exclusive.

The story will follow the travails of Theodore, a young boy descended from Cecil's noble line.

Hey, at least we're getting FFIV DS, right?

Source: <a href="http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216571">neogaf</A>

Thanks to Crazyswordsman for the heads up!

My first reaction was a general blah to news of a sequel to any Final Fantasy game. Generally speaking, I don't think there's much room for two epic, world-shattering adventures in the same setting... and we've already seen the IQ-lowering power of FFX-2.

Then again, FFIV did leave some room for further development, and it sounds as though we're leaving the previous cast of characters behind. What do you think? Are we missing out on something?

More FFIV DS Teasers

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:34:06 GMT

Square Enix has added a bit more functionality to their <a href="http://www.square-enix.co.jp/ff4ds/">official Final Fantasy IV DS website</a>.

Along with a new movie debuted at the Tokyo Game Show in late September, the site also notes an official release date set at December 20 in Japan, and a starting price of 5,695 yen (about $50). A robust (and growing!) character bio section is available on the site, too, including in-game models for each of the characters.

Furthermore, underneath the "Spec" section of the flash site, Square Enix notes a full cast list for all the main characters of the game, leading to speculation that the upcoming DS remake of FFIV will include voice acting.