FF4j/FF2 Changes

-These are many of the changes made from FF4j and FF2 (hardtype and easytype). I've listed all of the major changes in the 2 games. Final Fantasy 4 was released in Japan but when it was brought to the U.S. it underwent many changes and was made considerabely easier. Note: Final Fantasy Chronicles which included FF4 does not have these changes made (thankfully), this is for FF2 for the SNES. These are the changes that were made.


Story Changes

-Basically the story in FF4j is identical to the story in FF2 except for a few minor differences.

-In the Tower of Zot a scythe that almost hits Rosa is changed into a large metal ball.

-A scene where Cecil and Rosa kiss each other was changed to a hug.

-In FF2 it's not mentioned that FuSoYa is actually Cecil's uncle.

-In FF4j, Kain is revealed to have became a dragoon to follow in his father's footsteps, even when the king persuaded him to become a dark knight. This is omitted in FF2.

-Many phrases are toned down when referring to death. For example: Cid in FF2, "Oh I'll just get off here, hold the bad guys off, and stay in the underworld a bit longer. Cid in FF4j same situation, "I'm going to blow myself up and sacrifice my life to save you! Yang will be lonely in the afterworld!"

-Swearing and other more vulgar language and references were toned down or rephrased.

-In FF4j there is a secret programmer's room located in the Dwarf Castle Pub where you can talk to and fight programmers. This was removed in FF2.


Items

-This is one of the main reasons that FF2 is so incredibely easy. In FF4j there are MANY different items needed to cure status effects and many cannot be found into quite a ways into the game. In FF2 there is a heal potion that heals all status effects and costs 50 times less than what it does in FF4j. It is also purchasable right away while in FF4j you cannot buy it until you're deep into the game. You can also buy an ether from the very first town in FF2 where in FF4j you cannot buy one until the final shop in the game. And they also cost a lot more. These changes make the game a LOT easier.


Skills

-Many special skills were completely removed from FF2. Making the game much less complex. Square's goal with this game was to make it easier for players in the U.S. because they thought that FF1 did not sell well because the game was to hard and complex for U.S. players. These are the skills that were removed from FF2. For detailed info on what each skill does go here.

-Dark, Recal, Heal, Pray, Bear, Power, Bluff, Cry, and Regen were removed.


Other Changes

-In FF2 all of the secret passages in the game are clearly visible while in FF4j they aren't and are difficult to find.

-In FF2 there are no rows among the enemies. Where in FF4j if you attack an enemy in the back row you do half the damage you'd do to one in the front row.

-Battles are overall much harder, many of the enemies (especially bosses) stats have been toned down to make the game easier. Defensive stats in FF4j are considerabely higher than in FF2 for many enemies. Enemies also seem to attack much more often.

-In FF4j the summon Asura either casts Life1 on the party, protect on the party, or heals the party a little. While in FF2 Asura is basically fully cures your entire party. The unpredictability of Asura in FF4j keeps you from using it that often but in FF2 it helps enormousely.

-These are not all of the changes made between the 2 games. There are quite a few more slight changes but these are all the minor ones.