Hey everyone! I’m diving into the Final Fantasy series in order, starting with the Pixel Remasters of the first six games. I’m currently struggling with FF4. It feels a lot harder compared to the previous game, and the ATB (Active Time Battle) system is really frustrating me. It seems like my party takes a beating while I’m waiting for the ATB bar to fill up. I remember FF13 had a much smoother experience since you only controlled one character. I’m about six hours in and just reached the earth crystal, but I’m wondering if I should skip to FF5, or if it will be similar. Are future games better in terms of combat mechanics?
5 Answers
The ATB system remains in use until FF10, then again in FF12. If you’re struggling, the Pixel Remasters let you boost your EXP gained, which can help a lot. Try adjusting the battle speed too—it might make it feel less sluggish. Honestly, ATB can be frustrating, but some people love it!
FF4 definitely has a rough start! It gets better, especially after the antlion boss. Just remember, it introduced the ATB system, so it has some quirks that games like FF5 and FF6 iron out. Play in Wait Mode to avoid getting hit while you’re deciding your moves! Most future FF games will still use ATB but improve it over time.
While I think FF4’s combat is simpler than FF5’s, FF6 might actually ramp up the difficulty a bit. But don’t forget to use ATB to your advantage—spells like Haste can make a big difference! You’re hitting one of the toughest points in the game, but it’s a great story, so push through!
I totally relate to your struggles! I also dropped FF4 at first but gave it another shot later—I loved it! Once you get into the story, it really picks up. Sure, the ending might be a bit disappointing, but the journey is worth it!
Check your ‘battle speed’ settings; if it’s low, battles will feel slower than they should. You’ll end up managing a party of up to five members—it speeds up quite a bit later! So hang in there; the pacing improves after the initial chapters.
