Final Fantasy IV (2007 video game)

Lore & Background

The remake was pitched to original director Takashi Tokita by producer Tomoya Asano after the Final Fantasy III DS remake concluded. Tokita was initially concerned about remaking the game after the Game Boy Advance release but was impressed by the III remake and decided to proceed. The game was developed by Matrix Software, the same team behind the Final Fantasy III remake, with supervision from original development team members. The game features a new Augment System allowing character-specific abilities to be transferred to other characters, and command menu customization.

Reader's Guide

Final Fantasy IV (2007) is significant as a faithful yet expanded remake of a classic entry in the Final Fantasy series. It introduced the Augment System, which replaced the temporary character system from the original and allowed greater customization. The game's difficulty was notably increased from the original to challenge veterans, though later ports added a lower 'Normal' difficulty. The remake also restored previously omitted script elements through flashbacks, including Golbez's backstory and the childhoods of Cecil, Kain, and Rosa. Its critical reception was generally favorable, with an 85/100 on Metacritic for the DS version, and it was nominated for Best RPG on the Nintendo DS by IGN in 2008. The game sold 612,044 copies in Japan and 1.1 million worldwide as of July 2008. Later ports to iOS, Android, Windows, and GOG.com extended its reach.

Did You Know?

• The game features a new Augment System that allows character-only abilities to be transferred to other party members.
• Three quarters of the original script was left out of the Super Famicom version due to text capacity limits; the remake restored some of it via flashbacks.
• The vocalist for the ending theme 'Tsuki no Akari' was selected from approximately 800 applicants.
• The Nintendo DS version's difficulty was so high that later ports renamed it 'Hard' and added a lower 'Normal' difficulty.

Development & Creative Vision

Following the successful Nintendo DS remake of Final Fantasy III, producer Tomoya Asano approached Takashi Tokita—the original game's director and scenario writer—with a proposal to give Final Fantasy IV the same modern treatment. Tokita had initially hesitated, given the relatively recent Game Boy Advance release of the title, but after seeing the III remake he described it as impressive and agreed to serve as executive producer and director. Matrix Software, the studio behind the III remake, handled development, with Hiroyuki Ito overseeing battle design and legendary animator Yoshinori Kanada crafting the new cutscenes. The art team aimed to give each region a distinct cultural identity—Damcyan evoked a Middle-Eastern aesthetic, Fabul carried a Chinese atmosphere, and Eblan resembled a Ninja residence—details impossible in the Super Famicom era due to hardware constraints. The programming team faced the challenge of fitting a substantially larger data footprint than the III remake onto a 1GB ROM, while also displaying more characters and enemies simultaneously in battle, which required reducing polygon counts per model.

The Augment System & Gameplay Overhaul

The DS remake preserved the Active Time Battle System from the Super Nintendo original while introducing a major new mechanic called the Augment System, or Decant Ability System in Japanese. This system allowed players to transfer character-exclusive abilities to other party members—up to three could be assigned to temporary characters, who would in turn yield their own abilities upon leaving the party. The developers designed this as a more elegant alternative to the Game Boy Advance version's approach of simply making formerly temporary characters permanently playable, which they felt altered the game's balance too drastically. Alongside this, the remake added full command menu customization: every battle command except Items could be swapped out for an augment, letting players place abilities like Curaga directly on Rosa's action list rather than burying them in a sub-menu. Stylus-only minigames let players boost Rydia's Eidolon Whyt, and a New Game Plus mode unlocked hidden bosses on the moon and atop Mt. Ordeals. Fat Chocobo's role shifted from item storage to serving as a gateway for the bestiary, media player, and minigames.

Narrative Depth & Character Moments

The DS remake kept the original storyline intact but wove previously missing script into the narrative through flashback sequences, including the moment Golbez becomes Zemus's pawn and the shared childhoods of Cecil, Kain, and Rosa. The addition of voice-acted scenes brought a new layer of emotional weight to these moments. One of the most charming touches involved Namingway, the original game's character-naming system, which was removed here because the voice actors had already recorded fixed names. In response, Namingway instead changes his own name to match whatever occupation he takes up as he travels the world—becoming Mappingway when charting maps on the lower screen, Campingway, or Weddingway. Players who follow his sidequest are rewarded with various items. Another subtle storytelling device placed the current party leader on the bottom screen whenever the menu was opened, where the character would share thoughts about the unfolding story; the development team encouraged players to check this feature frequently, as it contained humorous anecdotes.

Anniversary Release & Multiplatform Longevity

Released as part of the Final Fantasy series' 20th anniversary celebrations, the Nintendo DS remake launched on December 20, 2007 in Japan, followed by North America on July 22, 2008, and Europe on September 5 of that year. Critics and fans responded warmly, praising the title for honoring the original's spirit while meaningfully expanding both its gameplay systems and narrative content. The game's lifespan extended well beyond the handheld: it arrived on Apple's iOS App Store in 2012, on Android in 2013, and on Windows through Steam in 2014 in western markets, with a Japanese Steam release coming in 2020 alongside further updates. Most recently, the port found a home on GOG.com on January 29, 2026. Throughout these ports, the stylus-based controls remained optional rather than mandatory, preserving the traditional button layout while still taking advantage of the DS's dual-screen and touch features where appropriate.