Japanese FFIV: The After Years release schedule revealed

by Xav de Matos { Jul 13th 2009 at 6:00PM }

Famitsu has revealed the Japanese release schedule for the episodes that make up Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. Following the July 21 release of the title's initial chapters, Square Enix will stagger episodic releases weekly and bi-weekly. Additional chapters for the game will be priced at 300 and 800 Wii Points.

Already into its seventh (of 13) chapter on the North American WiiWare store, The After Years tells the story of characters following the 1991 SNES classic Final Fantasy IV -- presumably in an effort for Square Enix to tease and ignore all fan desire for a actual Final Fantasy VII remake. The series originally debuted as a episodic mobile game, exclusively in Japan. The Japanese release schedule can be found after the break.

Gallery: FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS

[via Andriasang]

July 28: Rydia Chapter
August 4: Yang Chapter
August 18: Palom Chapter
August 25: Edge Chapter
September 1: Porom Chapter
September 8: Gilbert Chapter
September 15: Tsuki no Min Chapter
September 29: Shingetsu Chapter Hoshikui

Tags: final-fantasy-iv, final-fantasy-iv-the-after-years, japan, release-date, square-enix, the-after-years, wiiware

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Roto13 @ Jul 13th 2009 7:00PM

"Already into its seventh (of 13) chapter on the North American WiiWare store,"

There are only 9 chapters. And you don't get them from the Wii Shop Channel, you download them from the main game. :P

Xav de Matos @ Jul 13th 2009 7:42PM

There is an initial game, plus two additional free packs that download into it. And the final chapter is split into two additional packs. It's 13 pieces in all when you include the initial game.

Roto13 @ Jul 13th 2009 7:45PM

Except the multiple chapters in the cell phone version were smooshed into 9 paid chapters for the WiiWare version. The main game, Rydia, Yang, Palom, Edge, Porom, Edward, the Lunarians, and the final chapter. The first and last are 800 points and the rest are 300. They're all in the game's instructions under "purchasing add-on content" complete with dates and prices.

Santos L. Halper @ Jul 13th 2009 7:46PM

So how much would the entire thing cost?

Roto13 @ Jul 13th 2009 7:47PM

8 x 2 = 16

3 x 7 = 21

16 + 21 = $37

Santos L. Halper @ Jul 13th 2009 7:52PM

Yeah, I didn't get to read your comment before I posted mine. Thanks, though.

Roto13 @ Jul 13th 2009 7:54PM

Yeah, I figured my second comment probably wasn't there when you loaded the page. :P

Xav de Matos @ Jul 13th 2009 8:52PM

Yeah, I'm not only counting the paid content pieces. I'm considering all of the separate pieces not included in the initial product and the actual first piece.

Roto13 @ Jul 13th 2009 8:54PM

But there are only eight pieces besides the basic one.

duke_87 @ Jul 13th 2009 7:18PM

300 & 800 pts a chapter? Seriously? That's a pretty high price for a game that dated. If I could buy all episodes for a reasonable (sub $20) price I might have done it, bit I think I'll pass.

Santos L. Halper @ Jul 13th 2009 7:24PM

"presumably in an effort for Square Enix to tease and ignore all fan desire for a actual Final Fantasy VII remake."

I'm confused. What does a FFVII remake have to do with a FFIV sequel?

Xav de Matos @ Jul 13th 2009 7:44PM

Nothing at all. I'm just commenting on how Square seems to be doing everything except for making the remake everyone wants.

Santos L. Halper @ Jul 13th 2009 8:03PM

Oh. I think they'll probably end the whole FFVII compilation with a remake but that won't be till 2017.

Xav de Matos @ Jul 13th 2009 8:51PM

I hope I'm alive... or out of prison by then.

MMLgamer @ Jul 30th 2009 6:46AM

I think he meant "fan desire for AN actual Final Fantasy VII remake

aj @ Jul 13th 2009 7:25PM

I'd pay 40$ for the game on a DS cart or a Wii disc, but not as a series of downloads. It just doesn't seem worth it, no matter how awesome FFIV was.

Roto13 @ Jul 13th 2009 7:46PM

So you essentially want to pay more money for a DVD or game card?

aj @ Jul 16th 2009 11:00PM

Yes, a few dollars more for something I can keep and play in the future is worth it.

A few dollars less for something that is "licensed" to me and which will vanish when my Wii stops working? Why is that a good deal? I've still got 20 year old video games that I play regularly. Why wouldn't I want to keep playing games that are coming out now in another 20?

Dreganfyre @ Jul 14th 2009 9:34AM

"fan desire for a actual Final Fantasy VII remake"

It still boggles my mind that people want this so much... FFVII are upset that they won't release a remake of it, and FFI to FFIV fans are upset that they keep releasing remakes, because they're not as good as the originals.

Personally, I'm quite happy to be playing The After Years, and I just wish they would release the original on the VC :)