When most gamers think of video game subscription services, Apple Arcade is usually not the first that comes to mind. Given that it's only available on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac, Apple's flagship gaming service doesn't have nearly as many AAA titles as its competitors, such as Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. Nevertheless, it has a large library of games, both exclusive and non-exclusive. Those who subscribe to Apple Arcade can access microtransaction-free versions of several popular mobile games, including Jetpack Joyride, My Talking Tomand Crossy Road. They can also play console-quality single-player titles, such as Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!, Sonic Dream Tea wand Fantastic.
As with most subscription services, new content is added to Apple Arcade's catalog every month. By December 2024, Apple plans to bring 8 games to the service. These include the mixed reality city builder Small Towns: Dioramaword puzzle game Boogle: Arcade Editionthe endless maze runner Pac Man 256and the 3D racing game Hot Wheels: Race Off!inter alia. Interestingly, Apple will also add Final Fantasy 4 and Final Fantasy 4: The After Years to Apple Arcade next month. Final Fantasy fans who haven't yet played these retro JRPGs might want to check them out when they're released on the service on December 9.
The
Final Fantasy 1
Pixel Remaster is also coming to Apple Arcade, but it's launching on January 9, 2025, not December.
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Final Fantasy 4 and Final Fantasy 4: The After Years are coming to Apple Arcade in December
Final Fantasy 4 is an important part of JRPG history
Final Fantasy 4 it's not talked about very often these days, but among those who have played it, it's widely considered one of the best JRPGs of all time. Although it's a fairly old game, considering it was originally released on the SNES in 1991, its influence cannot be understated. Final Fantasy 4 was the first Final Fantasy the game with the Active Time Battle (ATB) system, which became a staple of the series in later installments. It was also one of the first JRPGs to place a heavy emphasis on dramatic storytelling.
Final Fantasy 4
was originally called
Final Fantasy 2
in the US because, at the time of its worldwide launch, the real
Final Fantasy 2
and
Final Fantasy 3
had not been released outside of Japan.
The version of Final Fantasy 4 coming to Apple Arcade this December isn't the original SNES iteration of the classic JRPG, but rather, it's the game's Nintendo DS remake. Some may not know this, but FF4 was actually rebuilt from the ground up for Nintendo's dual-screen handheld back in 2007. This remake featured 3D graphics instead of 2D pixel art, and was largely praised upon release for being a faithful adaptation of the source material. The game was eventually ported to iOS, Android and Windows PC in the early 2010s. Final Fantasy 4 (2007) is not as modernized as recently FF4 Pixel Remaster, but it's still an enjoyable version of the game, despite its age.
Final Fantasy 4: The After Years is the divisive sequel to Final Fantasy 4
Final Fantasy 4: The After Years is, as the name suggests, a direct sequel to Final Fantasy 4. Released exclusively for Japanese mobile phones in 2008, it made its international debut on the Nintendo Wii in 2009. Much like the main line FF installments from the early 90s, the original FF4: The After Years was a 2D game. However, its 2013 remake for iOS and Android was fully 3D. FF4: The After Years received mixed reviews across the board, with many considering it a disappointing follow-up to the original FF4. Despite its negative reception, diehard Final Fantasy fans may still want to try the game at no extra cost Apple Arcade to see if they will like it or not.
Apple Arcade
Apple Arcade is a subscription service that offers hundreds of popular games from all genres. Apple offers a one-month free trial to try it out, with the link below.
