Knockback, Episode 275 | Final Fantasy IV (Redux) (Patreon)

For the Brothers Moriarty, Final Fantasy IV -- or Final Fantasy II, as we once knew it on SNES way back when -- is a uniquely nostalgic product. Upon its release in the west, we played the game together, often with me (Colin) sneaking into Dagan's room after I was 'put to bed' so I could watch him conquer the tale. Thus, we eagerly revisit this all-time JRPG classic in KnockBack style, but it's not the first time we've done so. Long-time listeners will recall that one of the very first KB offerings in 2018 was FFIV (Episode 16, in fact). But our show today is a lot different than it was then, and frankly, this is a far deeper and more comprehensive look at Squaresoft's classic than the earlier podcast, as we've both come off a fresh playthrough via the Pixel Remaster. Cecil's tale of darkness-to-light -- and the many stories of the lovable cast that surround him -- helped catapult an entire genre into the hearts of gamers worldwide. Some would even argue IV is the best Final Fantasy, full-stop. We think you could easily make that argument, yes, but such a deep topic deserves much more nuance. Three hours' worth, in fact.