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HEADS UP, GAME BOY Advance owners - your New Year treat is about to hit the shelves with the imminent release of Final Fantasy IV. The game is packed with all the features and game play from the original version, however rather than a straight port, a lot of effort has been spent on enhancing and improving the game.

The Final Fantasy series has always featured a strong story line and this release is no different. With evil kings, disgraced knights and innocent souls to save, the story will quickly draw you in and take you on an unforgettable journey rich in colour and gameplay.

The king of Baron has directed his loyal Red Wings armada to steal the sacred crystals from the neighbouring nations. When the king commands his dark knight, Cecil, to destroy the village of Mist for its crystal, Cecil abandons the king and vows to put an end to his madness. Taking his friends and Rydia, the sole survivor of Mist's destruction, Cecil embarks on a quest to set the world right and to make amends for the atrocities he committed in the king's name. Final Fantasy IV Advance will feature some 18 towns and castles, dozens of magical spells and hundreds of monsters, weapons and items to assist players on their quests. The game itself will feature a whopping 30–40 hours of game play and the adventure will take place over land, sea and air. Enhancements include 12 new characters to interact and team up with as you continue on your journey. Some of the new features include:

• Players can test their skills in a new, 50-level dungeon on completion of the game, or strengthen their characters in the training dungeon.
• Study foes with the Bestiary, or listen to the legendary score using the soundtrack player.
• Experience never-before-seen story sequences as party members are switched.
• 12 new character with new spells and abilities
• Explore new towns, caves and mountains as you pursue your quest
• Active time battles where quick commands are required