Final Fantasy IV officially DS-bound

  • By Hirohiko Niizumi, GameSpot
  • Posted May 13, 2007 4:20 am AEST

Tokita, Asano, Ito, and the rest of the FFIII DS development team are back for another 3D remake.

MAKUHARI--Square Enix is reviving yet another classic Final Fantasy title on the Nintendo DS. Today at the Square Enix Party 2007, the company revealed that it is currently developing a remake of its 1991 SFC/SNES game, Final Fantasy IV.

Similar to the DS version of Final Fantasy III released last year, FFIV DS will be a total overhaul of the original, featuring full 3D graphics, redesigned characters and monsters, and new dramatic cutscenes. Aside from its graphics, FFIV for the DS is said to feature many new elements, including an "evolved" version of its active battle system.

FFIV is being developed by the same staff that brought FFIII back to life on the DS. Takashi Tokita is executive producer and director, Tomoya Asano is producer, Hiroyuki Ito is battle director, Yoshinori Kaneda is storyboard chief, and MATRIX is working on development.

In a statement, Tokita and Asano said they are working hard to bring more detail and depth to the game's storyline. To do so, one of the things they've done is to redesign the characters with a taller physique than in the original SNES game.

While many remakes lose the original's authenticity, Asano is confident that it won't happen with FFVI because the original SNES developers are working together with them. Tokita should know, since he was one of the developers that worked on the original as well.

Square Enix didn't announce any release date for FFIV DS at the Square Enix Party. Although attendees were treated to an impressive full-CG trailer with lifelike characters, it didn't feature any in-game footage. GameSpot will have more information on Final Fantasy IV as it becomes available in the future.

216 Comments

  • naiar

    Posted Sep 3, 2009 5:30 am PT

    Not been a DS fan ( holding a small console ) but since playing this on the PC I have now moved to playing the DS just for this game, great to see the old FF being ported and updated.

  • Kenji_Masamune

    Posted Dec 4, 2007 3:40 pm PT

    I wanna know where the hell these are for the PSP? Sure the DS has more systems out there, however porting this or really ANY of the FF games to the psp shouldn't be that hard. At least they did (yet another) remake of the first FF for the PSP.

  • kimba28

    Posted Sep 15, 2007 2:17 am PT

    Final fantasy IV is one of my favorite Final fantasies.....I hope this turns out okay.

  • fullmetal_baham

    Posted Sep 9, 2007 4:32 am PT

    I like the ff series but i don't see the point in remaking iv again though because of the gba version

  • SunnyVillian

    Posted Aug 29, 2007 10:43 am PT

    Sweet cant wait for this final fantasy 3 lived up to the final fantasy standards this one should be even better

  • CoChOn-DiNdE

    Posted Aug 13, 2007 10:56 am PT

    FF4?! DS?! I don't care much if it changes much from the original version or not. Purists can go whine with their FF4A.

    They did a good job with FF3. This time, it's bound to be at least as better .

  • lantus

    Posted Aug 11, 2007 8:36 pm PT

    Damn I still have this game in a box somehwere, can't wait to see what it turns into.

  • WiiPS3XBOX360

    Posted Aug 2, 2007 10:00 pm PT

    Whoaa FFIV getting a remake so soon after the gba re-release!?
    Square-Enix suprised me there....Well it will be AWESOME!

  • anmvamp

    Posted Aug 2, 2007 8:43 pm PT

    Amazing. This could be really cool. I hope it is. hehehehe

  • compugraphic

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 4:28 pm PT

    At one part it said FFVI "While many remakes lose the original's authenticity, Asano is confident that it won't happen with FFVI because the original SNES developers are working together with them" Might wanna fix that

  • PyroWolfX

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 9:08 pm PT

    Final Fantasy IV used to be my favorite SNES Final Fantasy game, and it still is, and now, Square-enix is remaking any of the Final Fantasy Games for every Console. It's really wierd that they are making the same game on every consoles. Final Fantasy IV is gonna be like Final Fantasy VII if it's in 3D.

  • swyg

    Posted Jul 30, 2007 8:22 pm PT

    Think of it this way, SE is outdoing themselves, they're giving multiple types of FF/DQ fans the chance to play the older games in multiple ways, and SE can afford it, even if some of the games don't sell that well. When The Last Remnant, FFXIII, Versus XIII, KH3, Crisis Core and Dissidia come out, everyone will see why SE still has the stuff that made them awesome hotsauce.


    Besides, it's their 20th anniversary, be happy; they're working their butts off to make us happy. ^_^

  • none17256375947

    Posted Jul 27, 2007 1:16 pm PT

    to date, III DS is my fav. It’s the perfect mix of difficulty, gameplay, and I really like that its portable. FF IV has always been my fav game until the III DS was released. I’m rather sure that IV DS will be the best, so long as they keep it at least as difficult as III DS, not of this kiddy difficulty crap…

  • 1aRmAnDo1

    Posted Jul 23, 2007 7:39 pm PT

    why can't they just skip ahead to ff 6?

  • PixyMisao

    Posted Jul 23, 2007 12:01 am PT

    It's one of my favorite FF games no question, but this might seem a bit devious doing this so soon after the GBA version. IV, V & VI on the GBA seemed like after-thoughts, and now Square seems intent on erasing Sakaguchi's name from the series entirely.

    As for fleshing out the story, it doesn't really need it. FFV could use a script overhaul however.

  • jesusfreak3

    Posted Jul 16, 2007 3:53 pm PT

    cinematic cutscenes wud kick ass

  • hypnometal

    Posted Jul 9, 2007 1:02 pm PT

    Arastophes, I love FF, too, but I will say I hope they don't remake FF7, 8, and 9 for handhelds, simply because the technology of the DS and the PSP is too different from the PSX. The things I loved about those games were their storylines, and how complete they were, and you can't pack that much story into a DS cartridge without sacrificing technical quality.

    But if they're going to remake IV for the DS, they might as well remake V and VI for the DS, too. I just hope that if they remake VI for the DS, they do Dancing Mad(battle music for the final battle) like they did in SNES instead of like the GBA remake. :-)

  • gotrice415510

    Posted Jul 8, 2007 2:09 pm PT

    ag_04 why would square enix make the characters for ff3 look like the characters from ff8, it seems like just because u think the theme in ff3 is dumb, that makes it a bad game.

    by the way i dont like this games charactermodels or overall look either, but saying square enix is lazy because they couldnt make the game to ur liking is idiotic.. and if they are so lazy why would they make the effort to remake it in 3D

  • Trance-Necron

    Posted Jun 21, 2007 1:50 pm PT

    ag_04, you're a fool. You clearly haven't read up on this game. The interview totally explains the graphical style, FF VIII characters would look crammed on the screen says the makers, and character models have 1 more body part than those in III DS.

    Also, they are not just changing the plot a bit, they are like, adding 75 % of the original script that was LEFT OUT of the original version to this game. Yah, totally LAZY of Square Enix to bring us the full version of IV, bwaha! They are also making the ATB deeper it seems and adding a new system that will make it worth replaying the game. YES THIS WILL SO TOTALLY SUCK! To hell with lazy Square ENix. =D

    And III DS didn't suck. I've played the original and the DS remake totally lives up to it. You're probably just pissed off that the Cloud of Darkness kicked your behind in 1 hit cause you forgot to finish of the Dark Warriors. =P Yes, I do like making assumptions. =)

    Gee, I forgot to say that this remake will also feature a new 'Theme of Love' song with vocals and voice acting.

  • ag_04

    Posted Jun 21, 2007 7:31 am PT

    this remake will totally suck, like FFIII DS did. I don't like the new looks of the characters either. They could have made them like FFVIII ones, but i guess they are extremely lazy to put a little effort on that... Probably the plot will be a bit changed (removing insults and stuff that the original FFIV SNES had) and so on... Don't trust Square-enix any more. FFIII TOTALLY SUCKS as a remake.
    however I do recommend that people play the original FFIV from snes, a really good game from that times!

  • will_serenity

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 6:41 pm PT

    ZOMG!! Knock me for saying this, but this is like a dream come true! 4 was always my favorite FF. It was my first of the series and I've always loved it. Beat it through I don't know how many times on the old SNES. Bought it with Anthology on PS and played the hell out of it then. I'd get the GBA remake, but I don't have a GBA, but this has solidified that I'm going to get a DS. And, don't just call it a remake, it's a revisualization to an already great story. I like to see S/E going back to the classics and making them better for a new generation. Anyone that hasn't played one past 7 is a noob anyways and doesn't know just how good the old school was

    Although, it would be sweet if they did this for 6 too, but 4, to me, will always be the greatest Final Fantasy ^_^

  • Trance-Necron

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 7:27 am PT

    New SE games in the working:

    FF XIII
    FF versus XIII
    FF agito XIII
    Dissidia FF
    Crisis Core - FF VII
    FF CC: Ring of Fates
    FF CC: The Crystal Bearers
    FFTA2
    The Last Remnant
    and others I might have forgotten

    Yeah, the meaning of the sentence "NO NEW GAMES STUPID SE!!!" has changed drastically indeed.

  • GhostyMcboo

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 12:55 pm PT

    im going to buy a ds like, tomorrow. Square is letting me relive my childhood as an adult!

  • Shinobi221

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 12:17 pm PT

    Im Buying it, I loved FF3 on DS

  • enral

    Posted May 29, 2007 11:16 am PT

    Yes!!! I was wishing this would happen and they really did plan another 3d remake! If they re-make ff6 in 3d, I'll be eternally grateful~

  • Silicon_Noob

    Posted May 22, 2007 3:01 am PT

    they need to remake ff VI in 3d

  • ARASTOPHES

    Posted May 20, 2007 9:27 am PT

    Well, now let's look at the history of Final Fantasy remakes for Nintendo and Sony.

    Final Fantasy I and II GBA
    Final Fantasy I and II PSP
    Final Fantasy III DS
    Final Fantasy IV GBA
    Final Fantasy IV DS
    Final Fantasy V GBA
    Final Fantasy VI GBA
    Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings
    Before we get to complications with hardware and technology, all that's left are Final Fantasy VII,VIII, and IX

    Please let those be on DS
    Final Fantasy

  • Raykuza

    Posted May 16, 2007 8:41 pm PT

    @marmasquad: 'Technically superior PSP?' Okay, okay. PSP can have the title of 'technically superior,' but it can also have 'worst selling product since cancer-in-a-bottle' while DS gets 'sells like hotcakes.' Let's just face it: the DS, which first seemed like a joke, is now the system with the largest number of sales. But at least you PSP owners will always have your loading screens to comfort you.

  • spike6958

    Posted May 16, 2007 5:27 pm PT

    ever since square remade ff3 for the ds and it became a HUGE sucess i new that they would make more 3d remakes and why not i mean loads of people play the ff series over and over and wouldn't you prefier to do it with better graphics
    @marmasquid: the reason square keeps rereleasing all the old final fantasy is because they are much better than all the new games they are releasing (with the exception of kingdom hearts) i mean what the hell where square thinking with FFX-2 and 12 wasn't that great.
    keep on with the remakes i say.

  • marmasquid

    Posted May 16, 2007 7:59 am PT

    What the hell is it with Square Enix re-releasing all this old stuff? I've bought every bloody FF that I've been able to... I don't wanna buy them again, just make some new ones! The PSP 'remakes' grate the most though. It really makes no sense to make 3D versions of the old games for DS and keep the 2D ones for the technically-superior PSP. It bewilders me!

  • Georgemen

    Posted May 16, 2007 2:03 am PT

    Nooooo! Damn it! I already own the gba version! Why did you do this, Square-Enix? Why? So unfair...

  • hammer_of_thor_

    Posted May 15, 2007 6:58 pm PT

    Seems like a weird thing to do, but I'm excited for it.

  • RealXBoxKiller

    Posted May 15, 2007 6:06 pm PT

    One thing comes to mind when reading this: Why? The game is perfect the way it is. A little dated, yes, but still very playable. I'd much rather see a spin-off of FF4, or perhaps something that brings together some of the more popular FF characters in some kind of a crossover game.

    Imagine Kane vs. Sephiroth, or a battle of the wussies, Butz vs Tidus. :-D

  • bboycookie2

    Posted May 15, 2007 5:14 pm PT

    its cool that they are doing this for the ds but i think they should do what they are doing for the anniversary additions like 1 and 2 for the psp.i dont know this FF seems like it will lose a lot of its "feel" .hope they do it right in any case

  • matrixman2k

    Posted May 15, 2007 3:06 pm PT

    Another 'dang good reason' to get yourself a DS - it just keeps getting better, doesn't it?!

    Not to mention, there's enough incentive for even the people that own/played the original title(s) for the SNES and/or emulators etc.

  • RadioactiveApeX

    Posted May 15, 2007 2:13 pm PT

    Great news! I hope the remake 5 & 6 too, and they might as well redo Chrono Trigger while they're at it!

  • THE_WHITE_MAGE

    Posted May 15, 2007 1:45 pm PT

    I have to pitch in my vote for IV as the best in the series. VI is excellent, but some of the characters are blah, the three goddess' story line seems ripped straight from Link's Triforce origin, and once you get to the World of Ruin the intensity falls flat, as they let you just run around doing side quests instead of following a dramatic narrative like you did in the World of Balance. By contrast, IV keeps you on the narrative rollercoaster the entire game until the final battle.

  • Snake329

    Posted May 15, 2007 8:18 am PT

    Good. Now I can play the games in the series that I missed.

  • macici

    Posted May 15, 2007 6:09 am PT

    this is a great idea!!! but they are making so many final fantasy games in such a short time. i hope i have time to beat them all.

  • xJackelx

    Posted May 15, 2007 4:15 am PT

    "And then they will keep remaking all their games (and FFVII eventually) on all systems till when?"


    Until millions of people stop buying? Quit knocking the remakes. They make original titles and people complain. Now people whine about remakes. The games are fun, and they sell well, a winning combo for Square-Enix for many years now.

  • xJackelx

    Posted May 15, 2007 4:15 am PT

    "And then they will keep remaking all their games (and FFVII eventually) on all systems till when?"


    Until millions of people stop buying? Quit knocking the remakes. They make original titles and people complain. Now people whine about remakes. The games are fun, and they sell well, a winning combo for Square-Enix for many years now.

  • MarkedByAshes

    Posted May 15, 2007 3:46 am PT

    I say remake all of them on the DS...1 - 6. Just don't produce any more Final Fantasy movies ever again!

  • madmalz

    Posted May 15, 2007 3:31 am PT

    This sounds pretty great, but I'd much rather see a remake of FFVI.

  • KnightsofRound

    Posted May 15, 2007 1:57 am PT

    What the hell, they just brought this to the GBA, now it's headed for the DS? ALREADY? I mean come on... usually a little bit of time passes before you remake the game, but it's barely been a year and a half since the last version came out.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted May 15, 2007 12:06 am PT

    I love my FF3 remake. I cant wait to own this!

  • Nawras

    Posted May 14, 2007 10:16 pm PT

    And then they will keep remaking all their games (and FFVII eventually) on all systems till when?

  • Renzoku

    Posted May 14, 2007 9:26 pm PT

    Ok, now make V and VI to complete my hapiness...

  • Wyndia_Highwind

    Posted May 14, 2007 9:19 pm PT

    I don't care if I have this game for the GBA. I WANT IT!!! I've wanted to see them in 3d forever!

    I hope they remake V and VI as well!

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