Customer Rating: 
Summary: Best of the series; one of the top ten RPGs of all time
Comment: Before I go into my review, I'd like to point out that some people reviewing the game seem to have done so without PLAYING the game. The [...] review, for instance, talks about "stragglers, some of which can transform." No one in this game except Ryu can transform. That reviewer also states that the game is a continuation of the ongoing BOF storyline, which it isn't at all, as the Goddess Myria has nothing to do with this game. Another reviewer mentions that the game has only 8 directional control, unlike the Final Fantasy games. Well, that'd be because the game uses 2D sprites, not 3D models, and for every angle there has to be a different sprite. Unlimited directions simply are not possible in a 2D game - even if it's on a 3D background. Moving on...
What Breath of Fire IV has that so many RPGs lack, is a solid, coherent story that doesn't rely on the Japanese convention of pseudo-philosophical and over-convoluted mish-mash. The characters are fleshed out pretty well, some better than others, but all with some measure of substance.
The battle system is brilliant - following the standard formula enough to make it simple for newcomers to the series or genre to jump right in, but adding enough complexity to reward the long-time RPGers who crave a little something extra. The combo system and all of the variations on the standard attacks that it creates make combat much more interesting.
The character animations for combat and cut scenes are incredible. Capcom used 3,000 frames of animation for every major character, which is simply unheard of in 2D games, and the pastel art style makes them well-integrated into the 3D backgrounds. And speaking of those backgrounds, there is a lot more attention to detail in every location, from small meaningless objects in random rooms to the splendor of the Emperor's Palace. This game is - for its generation - simply gorgeous.
The music is of collectible quality - Yoshino Aoki delivers a performance that makes the rather odd jazzy tracks of Breath of Fire III a distant memory, and puts her on the same tier as some of the bigger name composers. The eastern-influenced themes go well with the overall Asian aesthetic, making the games various elements gel together seamlessly to provide complete immersion.
I really can't say enough about this game, but my final words are simply this: Buy it.
