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FF IV: THE AFTER YEARS

Roleplaying

Ratings

Age

9+

Category

Roleplaying

Languages

English

Set seventeen years after the events of FINAL FANTASY IV, 'The After Years' follows Prince Ceodore and a cast of returning legends as a second moon threatens the world. This full 3D remake features ten playable tales that can be explored in various orders. Master the iconic Active Time Battle system, now enhanced with 'Band' combo abilities and a 'Lunar Phase' system where the moon's cycle directly impacts your combat strength.

Dinsun Expert Review

Our Expert Score

82/100

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years is a fascinating sequel that serves as both a nostalgic trip and a structural evolution of the original. Spanning ten distinct 'tales,' the game allows you to see the world of the Blue Planet through the eyes of both classic heroes like Cecil and Kain, and a new generation led by Prince Ceodore. The episodic format is perfect for mobile play, letting you tackle individual character arcs at your own pace.

The 3D remake brings a level of visual charm and cinematic flair that the original 2D sprites couldn't quite convey, especially during the new 'Band' attacks. These combo moves require specific party compositions and add a layer of strategy to the iconic Active Time Battle system. The Lunar Phase mechanic is the real standout, however, forcing you to plan your dungeon crawls around the moon's cycle to maximize your physical or magical potency. It’s a must-play for FFIV fans.

Dinsun reviewed on: Sat Jan 04 2025

Features

1

Ten playable episodic tales

2

Full 3D remake of characters and environments

3

Band System for powerful multi-character combos

4

Lunar Phase mechanic affecting battle potency

5

Active Time Battle (ATB) combat

Tips & Walkthrough

Gameplays

Screenshot

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Q&A

While it is a direct sequel, the individual tales provide enough context for new players, though returning fans will get more out of the cameos.

Ratings & Reviews

Great in most ways...
Fri Jul 28 2017 Erazrhedd

Played "Yang's Tale" but didn't finish; the save point I used in the game went away after hours of playing when I tried to open the game again. It reappeared after I reloaded it for some reason. Not a deal breaker, but disconcerting. There is much to love about this game, and it verges on interactive fiction, which emphasizes the storyline over the martial prowess of characters. Storyline is clever, kind of reminds me of Saga Frontier (in that you get to play several different characters, but with better graphics). Square Enix unfortunately has recently been following the lead of more notorious companies by suffocating the genre with IAPs. I hope they change this, because to many fans of this genre, that IS a deal-breaker.

...creator!
Tue Feb 02 2016 UncleSlam Temple

This game was certainly a very very mysterious one to say the least. The way that the story line is set up is genius. Being able to pick and choose between different characters and their individual stories and seeing how they all intertwine with one another to the end is brilliant. And by far the strongest part of this sequel is the mind blowing story line. Although I must say that I was very much intrigued by the incredibly mysterious approach they took with the structuring, it got to be a little frustrating after 40+ hours of gameplay and you still don't know what the blazes is going on! But at the very last moment of the game every finally comes to a head, and I would have to say it's the biggest revelation in all of FF history, making it all worth it. Other that the slightly weak gameplay in comparison to the others, it was an amazing experience and I highly recommend it. EVERY Final Fantasy fan needs this piece of the story puzzle‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

Amazing game!!!
Sat Jul 18 2015 Iamthelight66

This game is amazing and I had a lot of fun playing it. I played both this version and the wii ware version. I totally prefer this. True the challenge dungeons are gone, but all the items from them can be bought in The Crystals chapter. Right outside the lunar whale. As far as not being at a high level. You can buy 5 level bands and gain levels in no time at all to catch up. Had no crashing issues what so ever. Playing on iOS 8 with an iPhone 6 Plus. Highly recommended to all FF IV fans.

Fun, but a bit too easy
Thu May 30 2024 Ikwl94mdnisnofdli

If you’re a Final Fantasy veteran, you’ll probably get through 80 percent of this game on auto battle like I did. This game also makes heavy use of the underground waterway between Kaipo and Damcyan, which gets a little dull. I also could’ve done without the Edward storyline, as he’s still the weakest and therefore most inconsequential character. (His hover car is missing here, and that was the most useful thing about him in the first game!) A character I had been building gets killed off near the end of the game, which forced me to grind to get through. This is an apparently low budget project, as there isn’t much new material here. Still, this game is worth playing if you’re a Final Fantasy fan.

A Great Sequel To a Great Game
Mon Jan 16 2017 Ravenclaw Diva

I first played Final Fantasy 4 on my Nintendo Ds and loved it. I'm a dedicated PS4 player and play a lot of FF XV,FF VI. One day I was scrolling through the AppStore looking for something to play in my car. I then stumbled upon FF 4: The After Years, I bought it instantly. I don't play mobile games, but this game was the exception. I sold my Ds many years ago and I now feel my phone is the replacement for it. The graphics are also really good and crisp,so that's great. (playing games on my phone is a guilty pleasure)

Repetitive and annoying
Sun Nov 19 2023 knicholascarlson

As a longtime admirer of almost all Final Fantasy games this one is a pass. It’s got one interesting factor that a Rydia look-a-like is taking all the crystals. But you hear the same thing in different stories too many times. I lost interest during Parom’s story. You play the past and realise it’s not going anywhere. By now there should never be a replay of the past. Any items and building of characters’ power is pointless. It doesn’t seem to add to the story. It distracts the player and takes away interest. This is not a game I would ever suggest to anyone.

One of my favs...
Fri Nov 30 2018 Absolutsynystar

Love the whole series. FF4 just happens to be my most cherished of them all so this was a no brainer for me. Loved it. Bands are great! The bonus dungeons at the end of each chapter are beyond awesome...wait, maybe that’s the Wii version but anyhow I played them both! Loved how you got to revisit stuff EXCEPT for the Waterway between Damcyan Castle and Kaipo. Having to go through there sooooooooooo many times became a real chore. Other than that, the story needed alittle more depth but great if your a fan like me!

Final fantasy four after year
Thu Sep 15 2022 B reed

I just bought a new Sony backbone to play final fantasy on my phone and it does not support. It does support other final fantasy just not this one. All I really play is street fight and final fantasy. I would love to play this one without missing most of the game because I’m to busy fingering my screen.

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