Even now as I’m writing my eyes are glancing towards my DS.  It’s heartbeat, the little blue glow on the top left, is letting me know that there’s something waiting for me.  It’s the next great game on my DS, Final Fantasy : The 4 Heroes of Light.  The English teacher in my head is telling me to spell out the number (She doesn’t realize that it’s how they created it).

I’m not sure why they originally titled it Final Fantasy : Gaiden, considering all Final Fantasy games are side stories.  The game introduces you to four heroes and a quest to save the world.  All is not right with the world, as it seems. Your first mission to take you away from town creates disaster for your home town.  The story will take you through different towns, finding someone in trouble, and saving their town.

Along the way you’ll do combat through the Crown system.  It’s this game’s neat little job system.  You can upgrade your Crowns through gems that are collected through battle.  You will also need to sell some of these gems for money since monsters don’t drop gil.  The Action Point Battle system takes the messy MP from the game.  It was refreshing to have a black mage who didn’t use physical attacks until he got to a boss.

You’ll find the combat a little more difficult in this one than previous titles.  I spent about 30 minutes grinding while watching Venture Brothers.  That’s really my own complaint, besides the fact that they are not explicit enough in what needs to be done in order to advance.

I find it’s old school setting welcoming in a day where even Final Fantasy XIII wasn’t turn-based.  Sometimes the reasons why the classics were so good are BECAUSE THEY WORKED.  Check this title out, but don’t be offended when it kicks your ass; at least you know someone who’s in those ranks with you.