Final Fantasy IV was, to put it simply, an astounding game. It went above and beyond the call of duty in being an excellent RPG. Everything is there--great heroes, astounding villains, and many deep themes that may be missed if you only look at it from a superficial perspective.
This is, in the author's opinion, one of the places where Final Fantasy IV shines. Its ability to astound is unparalleled. The story hooks the player right from the start and just doesn't let go. It slowly evolves (making the game much better than many that simply have the heroes running after the villain(s)) and improves itself.
There are also many great themes shining through in FFIV's story. One very major theme is sacrifice. Nearly all of the characters voluntarily sacrifice themselves for something or someone more important to them. Love also runs strong, not simply in the romantic vein (as per Cecil and Rosa), but in love for country, a friend, or anything.
Rating:10
FFIV was better than the average RPG in terms of its gameplay, using the ATB (Active Turn Battle) to simulate real-time that so many Squaresoft games use. The battles were not too difficult, though the tough ones were memorably frustrating (the author hated the Magus Sisters, Evilwall, and Zeromus particularly). The game's characters and traits are set in, but everyone has a particular use throughout the game. There is much to be enjoyed.
Rating:9
The graphics in this game were somewhat good during their day, but have since been outshined. The overworld still used square characters, but that is not an overly major flaw. The battle sequences were good-looking and generally well-animated.
Rating:8
This game was astoundingly fun. There was a lot to enjoy here, from watching the story unfold to finding cute little secret call spells (such as the Imp, which summons the lowliest creature in the game to do one attack). It's enjoyable all the way.
Rating:10
Overall Rating 9.25