Final Fantasy IV Advance Review

Intro:
Well, we probably don't need another review for this fantastic game. But I'll take a swing at it anyways. After playing the game on every platform it has been on, mastering the game down to every aspect you can think of, and pouring over 140 hours in to the game... I believe my insight may be slightly appreciated.

Graphics 10/ 10:
The game has been released on several platforms due it's huge success with people of all ages. Even on Apple's App Store, and Android's Play Store! Taking in to consideration that the game was initially released in 1992, and the graphics have only gone through minor transformations between the platform ports, the graphics should be looked at as incredible for a game released in that time period. If you take the time to truly examine the world, monsters, and spells that you encounter throughout the game.. It is truly an inspiring pixel-by-pixel art piece of a game!

Sound 10/ 10:
Baffling sound effects. As should be expected from Square, of course. And not to mention the music we all fell in love with in the final fantasy series. From the title screen jingle, to the chocobo dance song, to the intense boss battle music. This game gets it right every time. The actual sound effects themselves are so fitting and satisfying. When you win a battle and collect you spoils, or cast your new incredibly powerful spell, you'll be loving every minute of it.

Addictiveness 10/ 10:
I personally found this game to be nearly impossible to put down once I got in to it. I, myself, am a hardcore completionist. So this game gave me an insatiable craving for more. And the further you get in the game, the more powerful you and your enemies get, the more fun the story gets, and the more you just want to keep playing to see what happens next. This won't apply to everyone, obviously. Especially when you get to a more difficult spot. But that satisfaction you get after you beat a boss you've been stuck on for ages.... absolutely incredible.

Story 9/ 10:
 The story is really, really good for a game that is so limited by the technology it is given. The story is presented in a way that flows smoothly with your game play and will leave you wanting more. Rather than force-feeding you a pointless story, it integrates it in to every aspect of the game so well. I promise you'll find the story rather enjoyable. And a lot less dark and sad than most other final fantasy games. A lot less deaths of characters that you end of developing a connection to! Summary:  The game's story follows Cecil, a dark knight, as he tries to prevent the sorcerer Golbez from seizing powerful crystals and destroying the world. He is joined on this quest by a frequently changing group of allies. Final Fantasy IV introduced innovations that became staples of the Final Fantasy series and role-playing games in general. Its "Active Time Battle" system was used in five subsequent Final Fantasy games, and unlike prior games in the series, IV gave each character their own unchangeable character class.

Depth 9/ 10:
The depth of this game is just another one of my favorite things that always comes with Final Fantasy games. There is so much to do. So many monsters to kill, so many spells to unlock, so many items to find and buy, so many rare items/weapons to find. And just when you think that you're already a bit overwhelmed by how much of the game there is, almost right off the bat you have most of the world unlocked via airship! And once you beat the game there is so many more powerful and rare things to unlock to further enhance your game play experience. And in an attempt to avoid spoiler... keeping it as vague as possible, you unlock several different characters with their own unique personalities and abilities. And the post-game is basically just as good as the entire game in general in my opinion.

Difficulty 5/ 10:
Very easy to learn how to play, although it doesn't explain how certain mechanics of the game work, it's not hard to learn them. I also have a full, in-depth game guide posted for this game if you're interested. Once you get the hang of certain mechanics, (weaknesses, resistances, spells,items, etc.) the game becomes even more fun and maintains a pretty consistent difficulty throughout. If you're expecting to run through a game like this without doing any kind of grinding, though, then you should move on to a different game.

Overall 10/10:
It has to be my favorite handheld game, and favorite Final Fantasy game (other than FFXII) of all time. Extremely enjoyable game that is easy to immerse yourself in and find yourself ending up dumping 50+ hours in to perfecting it. I highly recommend this game to just about anyone. Every one's experiences will vary, but i promise that if you like RPGs, you'll absolutely love FFIV!
 Graphics 10   Sound 10   Addictiveness 10   Depth 9   Story 9   Difficulty 5

Final Fantasy IV Advance Box Description:
An epic journey of redemption retold. At the orders of the king, a village burns. Torn by guilt, the dark knight Cecil, commander of the Red Wings of Baron, must choose between loyalty and justice. Compared to the original version, this game features improved graphics, enhanced music and an expanded storyline. Experience an all-new 50-level dungeon, a bestiary, a soundtrack player and many other innovations!