Hey everyone! I’m on a journey to play all the Final Fantasy games in order, starting with the Pixel Remasters for 1-6. Right now, I’m really struggling with FF4. It feels way harder than the previous game, and the unbalanced gameplay is quite frustrating. I’m particularly having issues with the ATB bar; I find it annoying to watch my party get repeatedly hit before I can even take my turn. Will future FF games maintain this combat style, or do they improve? I’ve already played FF13, and I found its combat system much more manageable since I only control one character. I’m six hours in, actively hunting for the earth crystal, and I’m wondering if I should just skip to FF5 or if it will be just as tough as FF4? Thanks for any advice!
5 Answers
FF4 does start off pretty tough, especially until you get past the antlion boss, but trust me, it does get better! This game first introduced the ATB system, so it’s got its quirks, but things improve in FF5 and 6. Also, make sure you play on Wait Mode so you’re not getting attacked while trying to pick your moves! Most other FF games do use ATB, but they refine it over time, so you’ll see those improvements down the line.
In my experience, the combat in FF4 is simpler compared to FF5, but FF6 might be a tiny bit harder than FF4. Don’t forget you can use spells like Haste and Slow to really swing the battles in your favor. Plus, you’re at one of the hardest parts of the game right now; it does ramp up significantly in difficulty!
I remember dropping FF4 halfway when I hit a rough patch, but when I picked it back up, I ended up loving it! The story gets really compelling, and I couldn’t put it down until the end. Just a heads up, the conclusion might be a bit of a letdown, but it’s totally worth sticking with it. You got this!
Yeah, that’s exactly how I felt too! It’s worth it in the end!
Since you’re on the pixel remaster, try boosting your EXP gain to make things more manageable, like switching to 2x or 4x. Also, check your battle speed settings and try setting the ATB mode to Wait! Honestly, I’m not a massive fan of the ATB in most games, but it works well in 13 because of its style.
Just a heads up, the ATB system sticks around until FF10, and then comes back in FF12. There’s definitely a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, it flows better. If you find the pixel remaster too challenging, there are versions of FF4 that are considered some of the hardest in the whole series.
Yeah, that segment is pretty infamous! Just hang in there; it really pays off later!