Final Fantasy IV

Final Fantasy IV is the fourth installment of the Final Fantasy series. It was originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in July 1991 for Japan and November 1991 in North America. It was the second Final Fantasy game to release in North America, so the original release was titled Final Fantasy II. In October 1991, a month before the North American release, an easier version of Final Fantasy IV released in Japan, titled Final Fantasy IV Easy Type.

Final Fantasy IV is the first game with Active Time Battles, where characters and opponents fight in real time, meaning that they do not wait for the other side to attack. This feature has been included in subsequent Final Fantasy games and other RPGs in general. Final Fantasy IV is one of the earliest games to utilize the graphics chip. The game received critical acclaim upon its release.

Like other 2D Final Fantasy titles, Final Fantasy IV received several reissues over the years. In 1997, the game received a PlayStation remake in Japan. In 2001, Final Fantasy IV was included on the North America-exclusive compilation title, Final Fantasy Chronicles and has since dropped its Final Fantasy II title. In 2002, another remake was released for WonderSwan Color. In 2005, Final Fantasy IV was released for the Game Boy Advance under the title Final Fantasy IV Advance. In 2008, the game received a 20th Anniversary Edition remake for the Nintendo DS, similar to the third title, Final Fantasy III.

In 2009, the game received a follow-up WiiWare title, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. In 2011, both Final Fantasy IV and its follow-up were included on the compilation title, Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection.

Gameplay
Final Fantasy IV takes place on a large overworld. Over time, the party receives the option to travel the overworld via airship or by riding a Chocobo. Assorted towns and dungeons are shown on the overworld, and they are represented by an icon. The party can access an overworld location by moving to it. Several dungeons take place either inside or outside of a mountain and usually end with a boss battle.

Like other Final Fantasy games, when a located is accessed from the overworld, the screen zooms in closer. Towns and villages each have an inn, where the characters can pay a fee to rest at and restore all of their HP and MP. Towns and villages also have shops, and later ones sell more effective items and stronger weapons to reflect the game's increasing difficulty. In towns and villages, there are houses that can be entered, and the party can talk to the person inside of the house. The villages have various objects where small items are hidden, such as a potion or some gil.

Certain areas have a Fat Chocobo, which can store some items for the party.

Final Fantasy IV is the first game in the franchise to feature the Active Time Battle system. However, in this game, there is no gauge to tell the player when and in what order the player characters can attack.

Trivia

 * The original Super Nintendo version, Final Fantasy II, is featured on the cover for the 30th issue of Nintendo Power.