Final Fantasy IV: The After
 

Mystery URL At Japanese Microsoft Site Suggests 360 Final Fantasy IV: News from 1UP.com

Well, finally IV gets the sequel everyone wanted. I just hate that it is on 360. :( Thoughts? I think it's pretty cool and I hope its somewhat decent.

if there's already a thread on this, go ahead and merge

FFIV was definitely my favorite final fantasy (although I haven't played 8, 9, 11 yet) and I'm excited to see a sequel. I've always been a die-hard Nintendo fan though, so I guess I'll have to borrow my roommates 360.

Until anything is even vaguely confirmed this is just one massive rumour based on a URL, especially since now the finalfantasy4 page is the same gibberish seen on the ff5 URL equivalent, and it could have just been a cock up. Guess time will tell.

If this is true, I'd like to know how this cell phone port ended up on the 360 out of all systems. I'd rather lay odds on it being the original FF4 since there isn't anything between the 4 and the /.

If this ends up being true, and it's exclusive to XB Live, then I'm wondering why Microsoft would make an offer to Square Enix for a 16-bit direct sequel to an over ten year old game. An all-platform release would be best, undoubtedly, but speaking by preference, I would prefer to play a digital download of a 16-bit game, an RPG no less, on the Wii. At any rate, I'm happy of the possibility that Final Fantasy IV: The After might be getting localized over here. Next, Mother 3, please. *looks at Nintendo*

Edit: Well, thinking about it, I'm not saying it's automatically assumed that Microsoft made an offer for exclusivity, since Square Enix has been supporting Xbox 360, lately.

FFIV is my fav too. Hopefully this is true. Square I don't think would leave out American gamers with a true FFIV sequel.

Yeah, it sure is confusing why they'd want to secure exclusivity to a guaranteed seller like that, eh? That sort of thing never happens in this industry, no sir. I AM SHOCKED AT THIS TURN OF EVENTS.

And no one knows fucking shit, anyway. No one even knows if it will be exclusive. How do we come to that conclusion based off of a fudged up URL.

I'm not saying it won't make a profit, but for a 16-bit sequel is a little bit weird, and you're being a little condescending towards me.

No one is confirming anything, we're speculating.

You're damn right I'm being condescending.

My point is that anything with the FF name attached to it is free money. It would be dumb NOT to make a move for it.

Speculation is all well and good but it should be reasonably easy to add 1 and 1 together here.

I'm on the fence just how much money a game like this will earn Microsoft. I mean, yeah sure, it's an FF title, but it's pretty niche if you figure that it's a 16-bit sequel. Besides the loyal following of people who grew up with Final Fantasy IV, I question how well it would sell if it were exclusive to the Xbox 360.

I speculate a cell phone game follow-up to one of the most beloved games of all time will not live up to expectations.

What difference does it make which console you can play digital downloads of 16-bit RPGs on? How is the Wii any better at serving these games than any other console?

Because of the controller. I prefer the Classic controller over the PS3 and X360 controllers.

In an age where there seems to be regional exclusivity deals over ports of games that flopped horribly last generation, it seems to be the logical followup that something that would most certainly be a better deal than that should also at least get the attempt.

Secondly, Mega Man 9 did pretty good for itself despite falling into a similar category that you're throwing this into. One could theoretically imagine similar sales in this game's case, possibly more. I can understand them wanting to get a part of that action.

Deni: I never said it would be good. Hell, I never even said it would go exclusive, or to expect it, or anything. I'm just saying it's silly to assume they won't make a pass at it. (It's all theoretical anyway, I'm just throwing the argument out there based on the rather faulty assumption that this URL actually means anything.)

That sounds like good news though I doubt they'll do much to change up the battle system or the role playing elements to garner interest from me. I've been growing more and more to like the PC way of doing RPGs. If they at least do away with random encounters and have something similar to FFXII then I might be interested. Of course it's also an extremely vague rumor so who know what's going to happen with this IP.

I'd personally like to see a FFVI sequel and/or remake. Any system is fine really, except PS3 because I don't own it. :p

Of course. So the best platform for a game is the one on which you prefer the controller. Naturally. All business should be done this way.

Thanks for the sarcasm. Next time be direct with what you want to say, good sir. In a 16-bit game's case, there isn't going to be much of a difference between all three platforms, aside for the preference of the controller.

Look, is this a gang-up on me or something, I detect this being a classic case of regulars ganging up on a newb, or someone who doesn't post as much. It bothers me that you can't respect each other in a civilized manner without resorting to mud slinging. It's juvenile.

I have my preferences, and I have my views on this particular topic. Am I more wrong than you, or are you more wrong than me? No one is really saying anything factual. It's all going by "what I think" or "what you think."

And, that, seems to be, at large, a bigger problem at GamingForce, but that's a topic for another day, and sorry that I derailed the topic, but people kept pecking at my posts.

For the record, my comment had nothing to do with stature, or regularity to the board, or any such nonsense, it was purely in response to the fact that you made a stupid point. Your justification for why this 'non-game rumour game' should be on the Wii, and not the 360, is because you prefer that controller. Businesses don't base their decisions around the whim of one person, because well hang on now, I prefer the 360 controller. And well, my mate Jeff, he's odd and he likes the Dual Shock 3. Damn which platform should it be on now?

You've come in here and leaped to all sorts of assumptions - about the fact that this is going to be a port of the mobile phone game, that it's going to be 16-bit - and make all sorts of silly statements as if talking with some sort of authority on why your random guesses are accurate, and then have the audacity to suggest that people calling your arguments silly are only doing so because you don't post that much. Please.

Hey there.

Actually, there is no element of ganging up on the new guy going on here at all. What's happening is people are ganging up on the guy who's talking nonsense and you'll find that happens a lot, whether the guy talking nonsense joined yesterday or years ago (See Dopefish for example).

It is a simple fact that writing Final Fantasy on a game guarantees reasonable if not good sales.

It is also a fact that Microsoft have been throwing money at Square to secure exclusives of late, just look at The Last Remnant and getting access to Final Fantasy XIII can't have been cheap.

It's fairly undeniable that Square have suggested that they'll be chucking out some of their old stuff on the XBLA in the future.

It's pretty common knowledge that the XBLA generates much higher sales than Wiiware.

Taking all these undeniable facts into consideration, do you not see how you might be viewed as a bit simple to think that Square and Microsoft wouldn't between them come to some mutually beneficial arrangement regarding the release of some Square IP's over XBLA, at the exclusion of their rivals?

On a more subjective level, I'm struggling to see how the controller really makes a blind bit of difference to a traditional jrpg, given it'll spend most of the time held limply in your grasp while you endlessly select the same four options from a battle menu. I mean, it's not like they require precision inputs is it? Unless of course you have tiny and feeble hands that can't cope with anything bigger or heavier than a GameCube controller in which case I meant no offence and I can see why you might prefer to play games on the Wii.

To be fair Prime, 1up is making that assumption that it's going to be a port of the FF4 sequel from the cell phone...yet when it comes down to it that's pretty much all this is. However, now that I think about it, does anyone know of Square bringing a cell phone game to the US previously?

A port of a 16-bit game does not a 16-bit game make. See where the logic falls down there.

While non have actually come yet (as far as I know), wasn't Parasite Eve 3 officially announced to hit the PSP over here?

Quoting and fixing because it applies again.

So... you don't prefer the classic controller over the xbox one? Why did you say so then?

:cmbirthday:

I have never said that it should be on one console over the other. I said I'd like to play the game on the Wii, because I like the feel of the Classic controller. I'd rather not play 2D RPGs using the bulky X360 controller.

Yeah, you make good points. I realize that Square and Microsoft could come to an agreement, although, it would be nice to offer the game on all platforms so everyone could get a chance to play it, and yeah, it's an opportunity for more profit going to Square.

Anyway, guys, sorry about all this. I didn't mean for this to turn into a heated debate.

"I hope this game is on a console with a controller that I like!"

"YOU FILTHY MOTHERFUCKER!"

One would imagine that during the negotiations Square would estimate how much money they'd make releasing multi-platform and then ask Microsoft to pay something approaching what they're missing out on to secure exclusivity.

I mean, that's the way I'd do it and one would hope the deal makers at a company like Square have at least as much business sense as I do.

Hey I'm posting in this thread to which I have nothing to contribute.

BUT I AM AIMING TO TAKE THE PISS OUT OF SOMEONE I DISAGREE WITH WITHOUT ACTUALLY ENGAGING IN ANYTHING VAGUELY CLOSE TO A DISCUSSION.

Did I do it right Pang?

Additional Spam:
Fair enough, and looking back I evidently misread the posts leading up to that, so I apologise. But don't just jump to the conclusion that people are ganging up on you just because multiple people disagree with various points you've made.

A guy says he would prefer a game on platform X. Somebody asks why. He says because of the controller. This, somehow, erupts in a massive wave of indignation on your part because you assume via some magical leap of logic that he will therefore use his mighty god hand to enforce his controller-preferring will on the masses and disenfranchise everyone else, the bastard!

A man likes a controller and you are having a screaming fit over it. Do try to have some perspective. You're not a bad guy, but you need to be more careful reading the posts you respond to or get more sleep or something.

hth!

O hey, problem solved, thanks.

Final Fantasy 11 is for idiots, don't play that!

You should definitely play Final Fantasy 9, though!

SQUARE ENIX PRESS RELEASE!!!!!!!
 

http://www.thegond.com/rp/12x12block.gifhttp://www.thegond.com/rp/12x12block.gifhttp://www.thegond.com/rp/FFIVTHEREC...NLEAPSTER2.gif

Final Fantasy IV: The Reckoning exclusive to the Leapster®2 Learning System will be a text based dating game 'slash' train simulator (driven by Cid of course) where all characters are Rydia (even Cid). There will be lots of silk and moon-gravity physics. In extra mode you can do limbo dance battle with aliens at the local castle rocket oasis. It'll be rated E for Everyone except for you Daniel. You're grounded, mister. http://www.thegond.com/em/mad2x.gif

LOL Blanket. Acer wins this thread. I'm buying that day one.

That's better. Now my world makes sense again.

So apparently Square trademarked "The After Years" for PSN, XBL & Wii-ware or whatever it's called.

So, first episode drops on WiiWare on monday.

Nothing on pricing structure yet.

I'm starting a betting pool on price per episode.

800 Wii points times 9 episodes seems about right for S-E.

Any takers?

So is this Wii-exclusive, a timed exclusive or?

Wii "exclusive". It could change, but I doubt demand for a cell phone RPG on other consoles is all that high.

Who knows though, Crystal Defenders found its way to multiplatform.

On the other hand, Crystal Defenders is in a similar situation, and that's either out or coming out soon for all three.

I can't imagine it doing that hot regardless though, I agree.

Skills, looks like you were half-right with that 800 Wii Points guess.

Checking out the game's instruction manual on the Shop Channel, the main story is 800 points. After purchasing that, you are given the open to download "Additional Character Tales" that tell the stories of the various returning members of the IV cast. These cost 300 points a pop, seven altogether. The third and last section is "The Crystals 'The Planet Eater'" scenario which, judging by the diagram, acts as the game's final chapter and will likely cost another 800 points. So... 800 x 2 + 300 x 7 = 3700, or 37 bucks.

That's still a ripoff for a cellphone game, but far more reasonable than $72.

Well, I bit. Despite it being overpriced for a cellphone game my curiosity got the better of me, and I bought it this afternoon.

I'm not very far, but holy christ is the encounter rate high. It's not uncommon to hit a string of encountering battles every three steps. That's really annoying in the first dungeon with Ceodore since he can usually kill 4 enemies before any of them get a chance to attack even though he's alone. You're in no danger, but they decided to use this as a way to force you into leveling up. The second area with Cecil is a bit better on the difficulty since groups of enemies will actually attack you, but it's still not difficult.

Tell us how it goes. I resisted the urge to buy it yesterday since I had no opinions on it.

I really like the game so far. I have been playing for about 4 hours now. Encounter rate IS high and I'm guessing they're trying to keep the same "difficultly" level as the original FF4 SNES Japanese version. In fact the feeling it's like you're playing a FF4 SNES game plus audio and music quality from FF4DS and support widescreen.

The game is initially $8 but including the add-on and how far I'm loving the game I'll say it's worth $37. Time for me to go buy some more Wii Points. :)

Downloaded the main game, I'll see if it keeps my interest long enough to warrant the add-ons. Anyway, this is... pretty standard fare. The "Band" concept is sort of interesting-- it's almost like they were trying to replicate the Dual and Triple Tech aspect from Chrono Trigger, without enemies being able to move around. Was that in Final Fantasy IV? I've barely touched it, so I wouldn't know.

Game looks fucked up pretty bad on a big HDTV, though. The picture warps as it scrolls along, and everything is blurry as hell (with the exception of menu boxes which are jarringly crisp). But really, what would you expect?

So anyways I am probably the biggest FFIV fan along with another member named BORG on here.

The whole game has been leaked for people with the homebrew channel.

I like the game so far. I would have rather them not made a sequel, but so far its better than I thought it would be.

I don't know about you but the game looks fine for me on a HDTV.

And by the looks of it you can buy the "Character Tales" in packs thus saving you some money. I don't know exactly how much you'll save but this is good nevertheless.

I don't really get this. If you're one of the biggest fans of the game ever, why would you not want a company to produce a sequel? I'm probably one of the more outspoken fans of Too Human here and I'd be stoked if a sequel was ever made (It won't be but I can dream) as I'd get to experience the game again only with a fresh story and enhancements. Likewise, I'm rather childishly excited about the announcement of Crackdown 2, having really enjoyed the first one and wanting to play something the same but with a new city and weapons and stuff. I really enjoyed FFXII and I'd love it if SE released another FF with the same battle system.

I can't understand why if you liked something you'd rather there wasn't more of it.

I think he's trying to say he loves it so much he wants it to be left alone. That way, they can't fuck up the story or characters.

Anyway, if you want another game with Final Fantasy XII's battle system, you should go look at Monado: Beginning of the World. Not entirely sure yet, but it looks almost exactly the same.

I've never really understood that stance either to be honest. I appreciate that perhaps in the case of rpgs, it's the story and characters that people are into more than the game system itself (Although as I'm currently playing through FFIV, unless it suddenly throws a curve-ball storywise towards the end it's pretty fucking predictable fare, the story can't have taken more than a morning to write so how badly could they possibly rape the memory of the characters?) but I've just never been of the opinion that releasing a sequel to something lessens the original.

It might not improve on it but in that case, you just don't play it. The very presence of a sequel can't possibly make me enjoy something less. The same applies to films and books and anything there's likely to be a sequel of. Does the existence of Return of the Jedi make Empire Strikes Back a worse film? Does Godfather 3 getting made make the first two parts worse films? No, of course not, no more than the hundreds of shitty Sonic games to have come out recently make the first couple worse or the horrific open-world gameplay of Burnout Paradise makes Burnout Revenge worse (Actually in that case it does because everyone stopped playing it online to play Paradise but that doesn't count as FF isn't online).

I think saying you're a fan of something then saying you'd rather they'd not made more of them is a little melodramatic is all.

I think it's the idea that you're fucking up the memory if you produce a bad sequel (like with the case of Nights... Into Dreams and its sequel). Or worse, implementing some sort of change that meddles with the story of a previous entry retroactively (like the Fourth Dimension in Star Ocean 3).

I sit along in the "eh~, I was happy with the original and the sequel wouldn't have been necessary" camp, but having seen what's come out of Square-Enix with this project so far, I will happily fork over the amount of money to own this game as soon as I have disposable income.

I really found this game to be excellent, actually. The story didn't do anything too stupid, "Hooded Man" was kind of clever (as I spent the entire time debating exactly who it could be), and the forced-leveling made it jarringly easy.

But that's just me, I guess.

I was left wondering how Rosa still manages to be young and attractive even though she has to be pushing fifty now.

Well, I just checked out the official site - it's got updates for the latest episodes that are coming out, but those episodes aren't yet available on WiiWare... frickin tease...