Not too long ago I *not* played FF2 (the American FF4) for the first time and, accustomed to the GBA and DS re-released, was struck by how much the story was simplified for then-stupid American audiences. For example, Kain and Cecil's history together at the beginning of the game was entirely cut.

What were your first impressions of the "FF2" story and how to they compare to your later realization of the, *ahem,* complete story?

*"Favourite's"

Anyway, if it wasnt for that dreaded moon section, I would've loved this game so much.

http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/3715/809482-946589_102925_front_large.jpg

This is a question for Topher. So you spoke about My Stop Smoking Coach several weeks back and how you were trying to use it to help you out. I was wondering how that was going?

I have several friends that are trying to quit but keep falling back into it. I wish you the best of luck with it, regardless of whether or not the DS game helped you out.

Anyways, on topic. I've never played a Final Fantasy game...ever. Can the Retroforce help me decide which one to cut my teeth on?

Final Fantasy IV was my first RPG as a kid, and it remains to this day one of my favorite games of all time. The DS remake couldn't come soon enough, and I've been waiting for The After Years since I first finished the original at the tender age of 9 (I'm now 25).

Here's a few questions:
- What do you think happened between Rydia and Edge that they aren't an item at the start of the After Years?
- Which character from FFIV do you most hope pops up as a secret unlockable in FF: Dissidia?
- Why the hell does Porom have red hair in the After Years? Is it all that remains of a brief yet intense teenage rebellion?
- Kain has been on top of Mt. Ordeals for 17 years. What has he been doing up there to pass the time?

Palom & Porom: Great sacrifice or greatest sacrifice? I mean really, they're two young children who by all accounts shouldn't have been there at all. Yet they both know when the time comes that it's their duty to save the rest. It's so very touching and is one of my favourite scenes.

Also, magic twin powers activate! Form of... Stone statues!

I have never played FFIV. I'm still playing VI (I got sidetracked by finals, didn't play for a while, got lost in the story, yadd yadda yadda, and now I have to start over so I won't be confused). But I've enjoyed VI enough to know that I would like to play IV. Not counting the SNES version, since that will probably be prohibitively hard to find, which version should I get? The GBA version? The DS version? Or should I just wait for the original to be released on the Virtual Console? Have you all even played the re-releases?

When facing's Cecil's other self before becoming the paladin, did you ever try to defeat him the old-fashioned way, not picking up on the hint the game gives you? It took forever, but I managed to do it. Also, why must this game consist of two distinctly different games, i.e. the awesome story heavy first half and the grindtastic 30 hours before you are able to beat the final boss? Did you have any problems with him?

In terms of numerical order, IV was the first truly developed in terms of character attachment. Can you recall in 1-3 of any characters you felt sad at losing? To me, the previous titles had pretty standard place holder characters and any PCs/NPCs lost were just mere side stories.

Also, I haven't played IV in ages(played a fan translated emulator PC copy back in the day) and have the remake sitting on my desk for months. Is it blasphemy that I haven't opened it yet?

Hey guys, I love you!

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
So I decided that I was gonna FINALLY sit down and play ALL the final fantasy games that I could get my hands on.. Idealy on a handheld of some sort. But it turns out that a bunch of them have DS remakes in which the graphics have been "updated" and the entire game is in like, funky polygons n stuff. Would you guys suggest any of those DS remakes or should I stick with the GBA versions?

It's annoying getting off work to find that there are so many comments posted already!

Question: What do you think about Final Fantasy II (NA) being an "easy mode" of Final Fantasy IV? (after you explain the changes to people who don't know)

Also, since I can't remember, did (low?) sales of Final Fantasy II (NA) affect Square's decision not to release Final Fantasy V in North America?

Since this was the second FF game to come to america (as in numbered games) for a Nintendo system, do you consider it your "first" Final Fantasy game that you actually sat down and played?

@topher

Going back to the last episode of Podtoid, you talking about Super Puzzle Fighter got me to buy the game for both XBLA and PSN and there awesome (but I suck at them, but fun regardless!)

I always found the hand gestures as you cast a spell in the game hilarious, but did you start checking your watch like I did when you cast meteor.......-looks at watch-...30...-Looks @ watch-
And then Rubicant rapes Rosa's face. Meanwhile FuSoYa is a puddle of hair.

Long time listener, first time commenting (though I did send a sappy love letter to you guys not too long ago). FFIV was my first true RPG, and arguably my favorite video game, when I feel like arguing with myself, so I can't think of any episode better to give my commenting virginity.

So here's a quick list of why this is my favorite Final Fantasy, and sometimes, (when I win the argument) my all-time favorite:

1. The battle with Milon/Scarmiglione. What other FF boss fight has you facing off with a horde of zombies?
2. The saddest sad moments with what may be the most somber video game theme ever - Edge's parents killing themselves, Cecil awaking alone after the shipwreck, thinking everyone is dead, Palom and Porom sacrificing themselves, Yang sacrificing himself. Tellah doesn't count - that 90mp crotchety bastard.
3. The most character-driven class system. IE: no one but Rydia can summon, only Kain can Jump, only Edge can Throw or steal, etc. I've always felt that systems like jobs and materia may add more gameplay depth, but they blur the characters and reduce the depth.
4. FuSoYa's body cape beard.
5. Tellah beating up Edward. So satisfying, even if he's a 90mp crotchety bastard.
6. The montages of Cid modifying the airship with everyone moving in fast motion without dialog. Especially the one where he and Edge start shoving each other. I can't think of any other Final Fantasy that includes an 80's style montage.
7. Rubicante, the most gentlemanly villain ever. Actually, he's a sort of how I would envision Chad as a villian: he heals you before you fight and is genuinely upset when Edge's parents are turned into monsters. He's a bad guy, but it doesn't mean he can't be a nice guy.
8. The most non-whiny protaganist around. Cecil recognizes he has problems, but does he sit around and mope the whole game? No, he becomes a damn paladin and gets his ass in gear. Vaan and Cloud could learn a thing or two.
9. The magnetic cave. Sure, it's annoying as hell, (and not helped by the presence of a certain 90mp crotchety bastard) but it's such a cool curve ball to throw at you and force you to reevaluate your strategy.
10. An aged Rydia saving you at the last moment before Cecil is killed by Golbez. And as a bonus, continuing the battle, and leaving you with the challenge of raising your fallen party members while still fighting.

So my question is this, and relates directly to number 3. It seems many RPG's, and Final Fantasy in particular, lean towards a system that is geared more toward customization and gameplay rather than character development. I would rather see the characters having abilities that suit them, rather than be able to equip a spell or special move on any character. Do you prefer an FFIV style where a white mage is always going to be a white mage, or FFVII, where anyone can summon Bahamut, cast Ultima, and perform a deathblow if properly equipped?

Hey guys. Long time listener, first time poster. I am a "lapsed" gamer that recently got back into it primarily because of your podcast. I am mainly playing retro stuff on my DS, but I am also currently playing Earthbound for the first time on your collective recommendations and it's pretty awesome (even though the not-downloaded version doesn't come with scratch-and-sniff stickers). FF IV DS is going to be my next purchase, but my question is this: Will your spoiler-filled discussion spoil the DS version for me? (Just to be safe I'll listen to the reader question part first.)
Bonus question: Chad - has the ice cream cart returned?

@ AshleyDavis: This kind of transformation is definitely something I'd like to see again in the future, especially when it's something that links story and gameplay together. In RPGs there seems to be a tendency towards a "what happens in battle stays in battle" philosophy, and rarely do abstract concepts like "job class" or "stats" have anything to do with the plot. Cecil's transformation in FF4 was bittersweet in a way -- even though he is now on the side of good (and a number of townspeople no longer fear him), he also sort of feels like a less-powerful character when he first becomes a paladin. The dark sword that was so effective (and often instantly killed those tough giant birds around Mt. Ordeals) is gone, and the equipment the paladin starts off with is not very good. It's made clear that becoming a paladin on the mountain was only the first of many struggles toward redemption, and that this was a decision Cecil would have to live with both as a person and as an RPG hero.

@ TheStolker: You stay the hell away from Rosa!! :-P

@ Bizznet: My choice for "best sacrifice" would be the twins turning themselves to stone. Even though I didn't like them much, I think it's the most effective in a couple ways: One, because of their youth, it's technically more life sacrificed for your dollar. Two, because they were initially instructed to spy on Cecil to make sure he wasn't up to his old tricks. The fact that they give their lives for his quest shows that they believe in him completely.

What do you guys think of the overall look of FFIV on the DS? Would you like to see more Square RPGs (Final Fantasy or original IPs) with character designs by Yoshitaka Amano?

How hard is that fucking cave where you cant use swords???? Magnetic Cave, thats the one! How do you beat it? I`m stuck there on the GBA version....haven`t played if for maybe a year now :(

Love the game though, so far, its up there with ff6 though not quite as epic and emotional at the moment. Snes + Squaresoft = High ratios of Goodness.

So RFGO team easy but complex ? This week. If you could pick one Character from FF4 to make your best friend for life who would it be? Oh and who all is going to PAX from the team?

@Draconianviper Yes, Richard Highwind, Josef and Minwu from FF2. Also, when Desh jumped into the Tower of Owen's fire thingy to keep the floating continent from falling.

But I didn't feel as bad as when I figured out Odin = original king of Baron before cagnazzo replaced him.

Arg! I couldn't log in in time for the show. Couldn't remember m old login. And i don't know how to change "first name" so I'm just Dan for now....THE Dan.

FFIV got my gf into final fantasy. It is possible that the love story the preexists between Cecil and Rosa make it easy for s softy like her to get into it, who knows. But, might be a good FF to start off with in general, with it being the first story driven on and all.