GDC09: A mess of Final Fantasy games for WiiWare and Virtual Console (that's right, Virtual Console)

by JC Fletcher { Mar 25th 2009 at 1:08PM }

Iwata just announced two new Final Fantasy games for WiiWare! My Life as a Darklord is a spooky-evil sequel to the WiiWare launch title My Life as a King. Final Fantasy IV: The After Years is the previously cellphone-only sequel to Final Fantasy IV!

Even better, vintage Final Fantasy is coming to the Virtual Console! The Final Fantasy games will be arriving on Nintendo's download service starting later this year.

Gallery: FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord

Gallery: FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS

Tags: ffcc, final-fantasy, final-fantasy-iv-the-after-years, gdc-2009, my-life-as-a-darklord, virtual-console

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Tatsuyame @ Mar 25th 2009 1:11PM

Ohmigod another version of FF4. ,-,

Josh @ Mar 25th 2009 1:16PM

Yeah, um, the original.

Tatsuyame @ Mar 25th 2009 1:19PM

Yeah it's the original, but why would you really want to play it instead of the DS remake, or the GBA port? That's assuming they keep the SNES translation, which I hope they don't and use the updated ones instead.

MowDownJoe @ Mar 25th 2009 1:19PM

The best part? NO SQUARE TAX!

Kadamon @ Mar 25th 2009 1:53PM

Because it's not another version...it's a sequel.

The main character is Cecil and Rosa's child

Kadamon @ Mar 25th 2009 1:54PM

Nevermind me.

That's what I get for skimming the post, looking like a tool.

My apologies.

Tatsuyame @ Mar 25th 2009 1:55PM

@Kadamon
I wasn't talking about the sequel. I was talking about FF4 heading to VC.

Tatsuyame @ Mar 25th 2009 1:56PM

And you already realized that. lol.

TwEE @ Mar 25th 2009 2:10PM

The DS version of IV, if its anything like the DS version of III is probibly fugly and definitly costs more then a VC game.

iofthestorm @ Mar 25th 2009 2:20PM

Watch them price it at $10 just because it's Final Fantasy... I mean, I love the games but every damn Square Enix game on DS does not have to cost $40, especially not the remakes.

bm @ Mar 25th 2009 8:46PM

I don't know where the hell you people are seeing FF4 coming to the Wii. FF1, and FF4-2, but FF4?

Tatsuyame @ Mar 26th 2009 2:02AM

@BM
Perhaps where it said all the Famicom/Super Famicom FF games released are coming to VC? The sequel (which you called FF4-2) is coming to wiiware.

bm @ Mar 26th 2009 8:21PM

Hmm, I guess you could take that to mean they're -all- coming. I have my doubts.

Ranus Studios @ Mar 25th 2009 1:12PM

I'll be changing my pants now.

Erwos @ Mar 25th 2009 1:12PM

Two that made it here? Three made it here: I, IV, and VI.

Tatsuyame @ Mar 25th 2009 1:24PM

Also Mystic Quest, if that can be counted...and I'm assuming no one really does.

umm....hello??? @ Mar 25th 2009 1:27PM

of those 3, the original is the only one I haven't played yet. I'd like all 6 to make it over here stateside.

Dreganfyre @ Mar 25th 2009 1:34PM

That would be nice. :) They've all been translated now, so it really can't be THAT much trouble...

smcn @ Mar 25th 2009 5:56PM

Maybe I misunderstood you, but if I'm not mistaken they have all been released in the US.

- Final Fantasy II for PSX (part of Final Fantasy I & II)
- Final Fantasy III for DS (though technically a remake)
- Final Fantasy V for PSX (part of Final Fantasy Anthology which included both V and VI)

vdeogmer @ Mar 26th 2009 1:38PM

Not only have all of the first 6 final fantasy games come out in North America, they have all gotten releases on portable Nintendo systems.

1+2 on GBA
3 on DS
4 on DS
5 on GBA
6 on GBA

Josh @ Mar 25th 2009 1:15PM

I never bought My Life as a King, but honestly, because now there's a sister game to it, I think I'll download MLaaK today.

Also... I really really wish the other Super/Famicom FF games would come out in North America, even not translated, but I'll take what I can get (poor localizations and all).

Yeah, and the missing VI is weird... Perhaps a DS remake is coming?

And... I've never played FFIV, so maybe now I will...Then I can get The After Years..

Finally, the VC is nearing completion, since SE has finally decided to do the right thing.

Kabapu @ Mar 25th 2009 1:34PM

"Also... I really really wish the other Super/Famicom FF games would come out in North America"
As I just said in my other post ... they have.
Final Fantasy Origins [includes I and II] (Playstation)
Final Fantasy Chronicles [includes IV .. and Chrono Trigger] (Playstation)
Final Fantasy Anthology [includes V and VI] (Playstation)
The only one that hasn't been released is III (in it's original form at least). It has a remake for the DS.

Dreganfyre @ Mar 25th 2009 1:38PM

"Finally, the VC is nearing completion, since SE has finally decided to do the right thing."

Agreed! Even if I never actually play them on the Wii, I will be buying them to show my support. :)

...

... But... They're pretty awesome games... I'll probably play them.

Josh @ Mar 25th 2009 1:38PM

Oh, I meant on Virtual Console.

Josh @ Mar 25th 2009 1:41PM

(that was directed at Kabapu, of course)

NaeemTHM @ Mar 25th 2009 1:16PM

*sigh*

So no new developments?

Ah well, hopefully E3 will bring the megaton.

Mr Khan @ Mar 25th 2009 1:16PM

And we'll be able to easily buy it all! Assuming we have the money...

WorMzy @ Mar 25th 2009 1:21PM

So that's six for Japan and two for the US.. what's the score for Europe?

Phantom @ Mar 25th 2009 4:18PM

ZED!

WorMzy @ Mar 25th 2009 5:20PM

Pardon?

Kabapu @ Mar 25th 2009 1:25PM

... I'm not understanding this sentence:
"All six Famicom/Super Famicom Fantasies will be released in Japan, while the two that made it over here -- I and IV -- will be released."
Even if you didn't take Playstation platforms into account, I, IV and VI were released here. Taking the PS into account, the only game that hasn't been released stateside is III (3).

Tatsuyame @ Mar 25th 2009 1:29PM

And taking the DS into account, it has.

WorMzy @ Mar 25th 2009 1:30PM

Although that was released on the DS a couple of years back.

Kabapu @ Mar 25th 2009 1:37PM

If you count remakes/overhauls.
It's still not here in its original form. But yes. You are correct.

baby sea tuna @ Mar 25th 2009 1:28PM

Eh. FFVI or nothin.

AsherR @ Mar 25th 2009 1:36PM

Agreed. I may be a bit of a fanboy for that game, but it's hands down my favorite Final Fantasy, all things considered.

Haon @ Mar 27th 2009 11:15PM

Ive played most of them and I have to agree that III/VI is my favorite.

nintendo1889 @ Mar 25th 2009 1:37PM

Still, Final Fantasy games making it to the VC at all is nothing short of a miracle. But yeah, if they added FF I, II, III, IV, V and VI, THAT would be insanely awesome (with the retranslated text, of course...RIIIGHT)?? Now, if they could only release Earthbound...

bio8kids @ Mar 30th 2009 8:01PM

I bet that will be the opening game for the inevitable Virtual Console on DSi.

Maulok @ Mar 25th 2009 1:48PM

I would be far more excited for this if it wasn't for all the releases for the GBA and the graphically updated releases for the DS over the past several years that I have bought and finished already.

Admittedly I'm not an old school die hard for Final Fantasy. Is there a market to play original VC releases of the NES versions when other releases are so readily available?

jaredgood1 @ Mar 25th 2009 1:51PM

Grumble. I'm super happy for a FF:MLaK sequel, but I was really hoping for a proper disc based version (more stuff, more variety, better graphics, no slowdown when a city get's more populated).

CJLopez @ Mar 25th 2009 1:52PM

Man, there goes like 7 pairs of pants wasted already

Never though i'd have so many nerdgasm in a day

TwEE @ Mar 25th 2009 2:25PM

Those pics of My Life as a Darklord look insane. It looks like some sort of Sim tower game, which makes sense considering this is kinda the opposite of the first game.

Mike @ Mar 25th 2009 2:37PM

Yawn

Baltimore Symphony @ Mar 25th 2009 2:47PM

Interested in a FINAL FANTASY orchestral performance? This summer, on Friday, June 27, 2009 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, MD the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) will be performing Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY, by Japanese video game composer Nobuo Uematsu. The program will include compositions from games throughout the series, with video graphics from the popular game projected on a screen above the stage! For more information, or to buy tickets, visit www.BSOmusic.org or call 410.783.8000!!