I’m curious about the original North American release of Final Fantasy IV, which we know as Final Fantasy II here in the States. I’ve heard that it differs quite a bit from the original Japanese version, but I’m wondering if those changes are actually interesting, or if I’d just end up feeling like I missed out on key elements. I’ve collected the game for a while but only played it for the first time on the GBA, which has extra content. So, I’m basically asking if there’s anything compelling about playing through the SNES version, or if I would just be wishing I were playing the updated PSP version instead. Also, I’m interested in the same for Final Fantasy V on Super Famicom; I can navigate through Japanese but had my first experience with it on GBA. Is there anything uniquely appealing about that original version, or is it just like the GBA version without the extras?
3 Answers
A lot of fans prefer the SNES for its music and overall vibe. If you’re okay with emulation, there are romhacks out there that can patch the translation and adjust some gameplay elements that got changed in the NA version. But if you don’t care about nostalgia, the pixel remasters are solid with some new features, although the visuals can be divisive. For FFV, the GBA localization is great, but the SNES still holds up with its presentation and charm, just maybe not as much new content.
Yeah, the dialogue in the GBA version of FFV really matches the tone of the game well. But SNES still has that classic look!
Honestly, if you’re not attached to the nostalgia of the SNES version, you might not find much value in going back to it. The translation issues can be jarring, and while it has a lighter difficulty level, there’s nothing groundbreaking about it compared to the GBA or Pixel Remasters. If you’re looking for the best version, FF5 on the Super Famicom is definitely the way to go since it offers a much better overall experience. Just avoid the PS1 version; it has terrible translation and frustrating load times!
That’s a good point; I remember hating the long load times on the PS1 version! The translation definitely leaves a lot to be desired.
Agreed, the GBA version felt so limited in comparison to the original, especially regarding audio quality.
The original SNES version definitely has its merits! For starters, it has a great soundtrack and if you play it on an old CRT TV, the visuals look exceptional with those scanlines. Plus, there are some notable translation differences that can be fun to explore. Just keep in mind that if you go for the Pixel Remasters, you won’t miss out on too much content; it’s mostly quality of life improvements and better music anyway.
That’s super interesting! I didn’t know about the romhacks for better translations. Might have to look into that.