Final Fantasy IV (1991), directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi for Square, marked a narrative leap for the series: characters with their own motivations and arcs, a plot built on betrayal and redemption, and the Active Time Battle system, which broke away from the strict, turn-based rules that had defined Japanese RPGs until then. It's one of the most beloved entries in the entire franchise and essential reading in JRPG history; its influence on the genre's narrative design can still be felt in role-playing games today.
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