by Amy Simard

Created on: December 25, 2009

While looking at all of the Final Fantasy games I own, I had a difficult time figuring out which main series game was my favorite. I will say right now, I do like all of them. There is something about these games that makes me turn into the fan girl I am. There is only one game that I keep going back to over and over again. I will have to say that Final Fantasy IV is my favorite, though IX comes at a close second.

When I evaluated IV the reasons were simple enough. The first thing is the story. Yes, I am quite aware there are many who says that VII has the best story, or X has one of the best character arcs with Tidus. It was IV where the main character blindly wraps himself in darkness and finds a way to redeem himself. Like all stories in the franchise, there is some great evil who is slowly poisoning the world to do what the main bad guy wishes, in this case killing all humans and destroying the planet. What makes the story unique is the characters and how they impact the basic, but classic type story line.

Cecil Harvey is one of the classic archetypes. The shining knight. What I find interesting about him is how he starts, as the Dark Knight. He is the only character in a game that goes from one class to another where they don’t have the job system. Cecil is slightly brooding in the beginning. It’s not like Cloud’s brooding though, he knows what he’s doing is wrong but feels that the King has a good reason for doing what he does. When he is sent on the Village of Mist mission that is where he starts to change. He starts to take charge. This change is solidified when he goes with Palom and Porom to Mt. Ordeals. There he faces himself and becomes the Paladin he always was inside. Cecil has all the makings of a potential angst-festival, but manages to stay out of there for the most part, though he does feel horrible for everything he’s done.

If the in-depth character development on it’s own isn’t enough there is the boss battles. The four fiends of the elemental are some of the most iconic bosses in Final Fantasy. I don’t know a person who doesn’t know of Scarmiglone, Cagnazzo, Barbariccia, and Rubicante. They’re tough fights. They have some of the most Iconic lines in the game such as Rubincante’s, "come let me heal your wounds. Face me at full strength." But even the Archfiend’s are nothing compared to the final boss battle. Zeromus is one of the most difficult bosses in Final Fantasy. His black hole mutes any positive spells such as protect, then the big bang does tons of non-elemental damage. The first time I beat him I was lucky. Every one but Kain was down. I won the fight with 28 hit points left on Kain. I never felt so very victorious while playing such a game.

You wrap character development, with great plot line, challenging game play and a brilliant music score, and you have a recipe for an outstanding game. These are the reasons IV is my favorite game. Though IV is my favorite, all of the Final Fantasy games will always have a special place in my Fan-Girl heart.

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