Final Fantasy IV

Baron is a powerful military country led by a king whose recent actions have begun to unsettle even his most loyal followers. Cecil, captain of the Red Wings, is ordered to seize the Water Crystal from the magicians of Mysidia. After questioning the command, he is stripped of his position and sent to the village of Mist with his friend Kain, setting him on a journey connected to a much larger mystery.

This Japanese-style RPG features top-down world-map exploration, random enemy encounters, and an Active Time Battle system. Combat remains turn-based at its core, but battles continue while menus are open. Characters act when their individual gauges fill, with turn timing influenced by agility.

Party members have fixed roles such as dragoon, white mage, black mage, summoner, and ninja rather than customizable classes. Their abilities and spells are learned automatically at set levels, while characters join or leave according to the story. The active party can include up to five combatants.

Game Details

• Release date: June 29, 2001
• Platforms: Nintendo DS, Sony PlayStation, WonderSwan Color
• Genres: Role-Playing; Role-playing (RPG)
• Developers: Square, Square Enix, Sting
• Publishers: Square, Square Enix, Squaresoft