No one can deny that modern Final Fantasies are a wholly different beast when compared to the classic entries in the series. Each new iteration has been changed and adapted that it is like night and day when comparing Final Fantasy I with Final Fantasy XIII. Because of that wide difference, there are gamers who prefer the older games and gamers who prefer the newer ones. In an effort to satisfy those gamers who are clamoring for something more in line with the first six games in the series, Square-Enix is releasing Final Fantasy: The 4 Warriors of Light.

The first thing anyone will notice when starting up the game is its art style. It’s reminiscent of the Final Fantasy remakes on the DS but the style is much more distinct. The characters and world are simply designed though far from plain. The style evokes memories of the old games while being almost achingly cute. Interestingly, the camera is also slightly different from past Final Fantasy DS games. Moving around in the game, whether in town or on the world map, makes the camera scroll like Animal Crossing: Wild World. The immediate effect to all this is that the 4 Warriors of Light is an immediately arresting game visually.

The gameplay is different from what I was expecting when I first picked up the game. It’s definitely an RPG but specific elements stray from Final Fantasy elements while others stick closely to it. Battles are random encounters and are now turn-based. Strangely, the game doesn't allow players to specifically choose which enemy each character attacks. Instead, the player chooses a move and the characters act it out accordingly. They’ll attack whatever enemy they see fit and heal whichever one needs the health the most. This streamlining actually makes combat quick ordeals as players just need to decide what move they want to use. The 4 Warriors of Light also has a limited inventory for each character (ten slots each) and slight elements of the adventure genre. One of the caves was pitch black and torches needed to be purchased in the nearby town to move on. I’m not sure if there will be more instances of this or if it will be isolated down to a couple of times.

If there’s one thing that Final Fantasy will always be associated with it is the job system. In the case of the 4 Warriors of Light, that element takes the form of the crown system. Each crown grants a different job and there looks to be twenty-four in all. Unfortunately, I’m not sure about the inner workings of this system or how it exactly works but it is sure to be, at its most basic level, similar to the job systems in past games. The story also seems to be a throwback to the older games as it focuses on four young heroes setting out to save the world. I doubt it will get any more complicated than that since the game seems to be courting a younger audience.

I came away from Final Fantasy: The 4 Warriors of Light more intrigued than anything. I was able to learn a bit more about the game but much of it is still a mystery to me. There’s definite potential here for those looking for a more classic Final Fantasy experience, but as of yet I’m not sure how the full game will turn out.