SNES Final Fantasy II VS Nintendo DS Final Fantasy IV DS

In the early nineties when I was looking for a game that was a bit long, intriguing and a little different from the Super Mario Bros. run and jump style, I happened across an RPG title known as Final Fantasy II for the SNES.

It was so intriguing and involved that I spent many a spare moment helping out Cecil, Rosa and the rest of the crew protect the crystals from falling into the evil hands of Golbez, the game’s villain.

And long after I had beaten the game and moved on to other RPG titles, there were scenes in that Final Fantasy II game that lingered. Scenes like the fire at Mist Valley that wiped out everyone except a little girl known as Rydia. And the one in which Cecil was banished from the Kingdom of Baron. I thought those scenes were unforgettable.

Then earlier on this year, Nintendo released an updated version of the same game for the Nintendo DS. Titled, Final Fantasy IV DS, was I surprised when I saw, heard and felt what Nintendo had done to this much improved version. For it has exciting features the SNES did not have.

For in the SNES version, there was 16 Bit graphics, nothing too fancy, no voice acting, no dramatic, dark scenes that made you think the game should have come with a T for TEEN rating instead of an E for Everyone, there was no stylus you could use to draw maps, or creatures you can capture and train to help you or Cecil out in battle and no cinema like cut scenes.

But you do have them in the Nintendo DS version. It was finally great to hear Cecil, Rosa, Rydia, Kain and others speak. And even though it’s the same game as the SNES, with the same story, this Nintendo DS version is a remarkable addition to any RPG lover’s collection, even if you have played the SNES version.

All those sound effects, voice acting and dark scenes packed into a little DS cartridge. Imagine that?

Why I Chose The Nintendo DS Over Sony's PSP

Video games have been a part of my entertainment life since the eighties. And the system I began playing these games on was the original 8 Bit NES.

Games such as: The Legend Of Zelda, Final Fantasy and Super Mario Bros. drew me in with their addictive and fun gameplay. And when it came to portable systems, then, I chose the Nintendo Gameboy system. So when the folks at Nintendo introduced its dual screen Nintendo DS and Sony its PSP, the matter of which portable system to get next weighed on my mind.

Should I get the Sony PSP or the Nintendo DS? After careful consideration and a little research into both portable units, it came down to the kinds of games I enjoy playing.

It did not matter to me which system had more high tech features than the other. And since I already had a liking for games such as: The Legend Of Zelda, the occasional Mario Bros. and games from the Metroid series, the obvious choice for me was the Nintendo DS.

I like its dual screen, stereo speakers, microphone, backward capability, you can play GBA games on it, and if you want to save your progress in a game, you do not need to clutter up the system by using a Memory Card.

For one other unique feature about the way Nintendo makes its games, is that for video game systems like the NES, SNES, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance and the Nintendo DS, the game cartridges come equipped with save features or save files.

Maybe someday, I will consider getting a Sony PSP, but for right now, I still enjoy playing some of my favourite games on the Nintendo DS.