The second "true sequel" in Square-Enix's treasured Final Fantasy series was released today for download on Nintendo's Wii Ware service much to the joy of longtime fans in the U.S. who have been clamoring for a chance to continue the stories of Cecil, Kain, Rydia and the rest of the old gang, ever since the game was originally released for japanese mobile phones last year.From its recycled sprites to the slightly remixed score by series composer Nobuo Uematsu, everything about The After Years screams nostalgia. The familiar intro and revisiting of old locales will simply have Final Fantasy veterans smiling at every turn.

The game starts off with the introduction of Cecil and Rosa's son, the crowned prince Ceodore, as he embarks on his quest to become a full fledged knight of Baron. Unwilling to simply skate by on his status, Ceodore wishes to be treated just as any other squire and to be judged on his own merit, something his mentors, Biggs and Wedge, are happy to oblige. Throughout the game, players will assume control of various other characters, both old and new, as they advance the story. There will also be downloadable content available that will feature side quests that further flesh out the stories of certain characters.

Battle remains very similar to to it's 16-bit counter part with one major exception. Characters can now team up for combined attacks when certain conditions are met. This new addition to the tried and true turn-based, active time battle system is largely reminiscent of the Double and Triple Techs found in another Square-Enix gem, Chrono Trigger.

With all the delights found within this little sequel, there is one thing that bugs me. Having originally been made for cell phones, The After Years would be perfectly suited to the on-the-go style of gameplay of say, I don't know, um... the DSi? Don't get me wrong. I am really glad that this game made it stateside on its current platform, but with the DSi severely lacking in the DSi Ware department, this could have been a great opportunity for those of us that have been greedily hoarding our free 1000 DSi points to happily spend them. It makes even more sense when you consider the recent release of the Final Fantasy IV remake on the DS and how conveniently it would have followed.

That small complaint aside, I truly am excited about being able to revisit the world of Final Fantasy IV once again. I can't wait to find out what happens to Ceodore and especially can't wait to see what a certain ninja has been up to... The After Years does much to demonstrate how a game that has changed very little aesthetically from it's 18 year old predecessor can still make quite a splash amidst mediocre games on Next Gen consoles.