If you ask a certain generation of RPG fans about the "best" version of Cecil Harvey’s redemption arc, they won't point you toward the 3D remake on the DS or even the flashy Pixel Remaster. They’ll point you toward a PSP disc. Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection is, for many, the definitive way to experience the saga of the Blue Planet. It’s weird, honestly. You’d think the newest versions would be the definitive ones, but this 2011 handheld release captured a specific kind of lightning in a bottle that Square Enix hasn't quite replicated since.
It’s about more than just nostalgia. It’s about the sheer volume of content and the specific aesthetic choice to go with high-definition 2D sprites rather than the "rounded" look of the newer remasters.
What is Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection Exactly?
Basically, it's a massive bundle. You aren't just getting the base game. You’re getting the original Final Fantasy IV, the episodic sequel The After Years, and a totally unique bridge scenario called Interlude.
The Interlude chapter is a funny little thing. It only takes about two or three hours to beat, and it’s set roughly a year after the first game ends. You play as Cecil again, investigating some strange occurrences at Damcyan and the Sealed Cave. It’s not groundbreaking, but it fills a narrative gap that helps The After Years feel less like a random bolt from the blue and more like a natural progression of the world.
The visuals are the first thing you notice. They are gorgeous.
Instead of the 16-bit pixels or the chunky 3D models, we get hand-drawn, high-resolution sprites that look like what your brain imagines the SNES original looked like. It’s crisp. The animations are smooth. When Cecil uses Darkness or Kain jumps, it feels impactful. This version also lets you toggle between the original SNES soundtrack and the rearranged versions from the DS era. That’s a huge win for purists who want that 1991 chiptune vibe while looking at 2011 graphics.
Why The After Years is Better (and Worse) Than You Remember
The After Years is a divisive piece of media. Let's be real. It started as a mobile phone game in Japan, released in bite-sized chunks. Because of that, the structure is a bit disjointed. You play through several individual "tales" focusing on different characters—Edge’s students, Rydia’s journey, Yang’s daughter Ursala—before everything converges in a massive final act.
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Some people hate the recycling. You’re visiting the same caves and towns you’ve seen a dozen times. But there’s a charm to it. Seeing how the world has aged and how the political landscape has shifted after the defeat of Zeromus adds a layer of depth to the world-building that most Final Fantasy games never get. Most of these stories end when the credits roll. Here, you get to see what happens when the heroes grow up and have kids.
The Band system is the real mechanical star. It’s an evolution of the "Twin Cast" mechanic from the original game but expanded to include almost any combination of characters. If you have Ceodore and Cecil in your party, they can team up for a powerful "Cross Slash." If you have all the Ninjas, they can perform a massive coordinated strike. It adds a layer of strategy to the combat that makes the grind much more bearable.
The Pixel Remaster Controversy
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series is the current "standard," but it actually lacks a lot of what made Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection special.
The Pixel Remaster only includes the base game.
That’s it.
No Interlude. No After Years. No Lunar Ruins (the massive 50-floor bonus dungeon from the GBA version). If you play the Pixel Remaster, you are getting a very faithful recreation of the 1991 experience, but you are missing out on the decades of "extra" content that Square added in subsequent re-releases.
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For many, the Lunar Ruins alone make the PSP version superior. It’s a procedurally generated gauntlet with unique trials for every single character. Want to see Palom and Porom face their past? There’s a floor for that. Want to get the ultimate weapon for Edward? You have to brave the ruins. It gives the game an endgame that the original desperately needed.
Technical Nuances: The PSP vs. Emulation
If you're looking to play this today, you have two real options: find a physical PSP/Vita or use an emulator like PPSSPP.
Honestly, the game holds up remarkably well on a big screen. Because the art is 2D sprite-based, it scales beautifully to 4K. There’s no blurring or pixel-bleeding. It’s one of the few games from that era that doesn't feel "old" when you blow it up on a 55-inch OLED.
The load times are also virtually non-existent on modern hardware. Back on the original UMD, there was a slight hitch before battles. Now? It’s instant.
Why You Should Play It Right Now
Final Fantasy IV is the moment the series found its soul. Before this, the games were largely about "The Warriors of Light" (generic avatars). Cecil was different. He was a Dark Knight who committed atrocities in the name of his king and had to literally face his own reflection to find redemption. It’s a heavy story for 1991.
The Complete Collection preserves that weight while giving you the most polished version of the gameplay. The difficulty curve is well-tuned—not as punishing as the DS remake, but not as breezy as the original US "Easy Type" release.
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It’s the Goldilocks version. Everything is just right.
Tips for Your Playthrough
If you’re diving in, don't sleep on the "Auto-Battle" feature. The PSP version has a very fast auto-battle toggle that makes grinding for the rare Pink Tail (to get the Adamant Armor) much less of a headache.
Also, pay attention to the moon phases in The After Years. It’s a mechanic that most players ignore, but it drastically changes your damage output. If the moon is Waxing, physical attacks are weakened but Black Magic is boosted. Planning your boss fights around the lunar cycle is the difference between a frustrating wipe and a clean victory.
- Focus on the Lunar Ruins: Don't just stop when the credits roll. The trials in the Lunar Ruins are where the best gear and character development happen.
- Switch the Music: Try starting with the arranged soundtrack. If it feels too "modern," flip back to the original in the settings menu. You can do it anytime.
- Save often in The After Years: The difficulty spikes in the individual tales can be brutal, especially in Edge’s or Rydia’s chapters where you have limited party members.
Final Word on the Legacy
Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection isn't just a port. It's a celebration of a game that changed JRPGs forever. It respects the source material while acknowledging that fans always want more.
Whether it’s the inclusion of the GBA bonus content, the crispness of the 2D art, or the fact that you get three games in one, it remains the high-water mark for the series' many re-releases. If you want the full story of Cecil, Rosa, Kain, and the next generation, this is the only place to find it all under one roof.
Check the second-hand markets or digital storefronts if you still have a Vita—this is a journey that still deserves to be taken.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check Compatibility: If you own a PS Vita or a PSP, verify if the digital store is still accessible in your region, as this remains the most stable way to play natively.
- Hardware Setup: If using an emulator, enable "Texture Upscaling" (xBRZ or Hybrid) to make the 2D sprites look even sharper on high-resolution monitors.
- Completionist Goal: Aim to unlock the "Trial of the Twins" in the Lunar Ruins early; it provides some of the most useful mid-game equipment that carries over into the deeper layers of the dungeon.