Here are some tips for first-timers getting into Breath of Fire IV. At the very least, we highly encourage reading the “Beginning” section for a smoother entry into the world of Breath of Fire IV.
Beginning
- Double-check the game’s options and controls and customize them to your preferences.
- Pressing Start/F1 in the field menu and during battle brings up very helpful guides and tutorials that go further into the game’s systems and mechanics.
- The camera can be rotated in 90-degree increments with R1/A and L1/D. Rotate it frequently to get a clearer view of paths and hidden items.
- You can press and hold L1/A or R1/D and move left /right to rotate the camera slowly to peek around corners.
- Most party members can use a unique field abliity (Triangle/V) outside of battle when they’re in the lead. Ryu slashes with his sword, and Nina can soar into the air to get a better view.
- During battle, press and hold R1/D to bring up a side menu that lets you initiate auto-battle (“Charge”) and escape. Auto-battle can be disengaged at any time by pressing the cancel button.
- You can switch between characters in battle by pressing left and right on the command window. This way, you can change their turn order and swap characters into and out of the front row.
- You can learn skills from enemies during battle by selecting “Guard” during your turn. The initial enemies in the Cliff area will have 3 skills to learn. Having Ryu learn “Burn” is especially helpful.
- Pressing the menu button (Square/Z) during battle allows you to examine an enemy. This can give you helpful information on what skills they use and what you might need to do to get the enemy to execute a certain skill for you to learn.
- You can get more experience points by affecting enemies a certain way, such as using the Blind skill on an Eye Goo. “Blind” can be learned from the Scorpion enemy.
- Experiment with combos! Sometimes, when characters use skills and abilities in a certain order (i.e. Fire-Wind-Water-Earth-Fire, etc.), a combo counter will appear, leading to the potential for spells and abilities to combine and create an even more powerful spell or attack chain.
- If a character is KO’d at the end of battle, their Max HP will be 10% lower (marked in yellow on the menu). This is temporary; you’ll need to sleep in a bed (in an Inn, not while camping) to restore their Max HP.
- When certain areas are too tight to see clearly and maneuver, camera rotation and Nina’s special field ability can prove to be very valuable.
- Like Breath of Fire III before it, you can “attack” NPCs to mug them (or make them feel uncomfortable), but there’s a hidden Game Point penalty to this, so don’t do it!
- What are Game Points? They’re acquired through completion of minigames and Ryu and Fou-Lu’s dragon forms will level up as you hit certain point thresholds.
- Inspect dressers and shelves in towns for items and zenny.
- Talk to every NPC in every town you visit. They’ll give you critical directions to your next objective, unlock fishing spots, and share other important clues. Take notes!
- You can also unlock fishing spots by reading signs in “!” fields, and taking different paths/exits in “!” and “?” areas.
- Save at least 1 of every item, piece of equipment, and fish you acquire. A Master that comes along later in the game has a prerequisite for having 80 unique items in your inventory. Equipment must be unequipped for it to count.
- While on the world map, you can set up camp to talk to your fellow party members, rest, save, and rearrange skills. Party members will often have new things to say as new objectives arise.
- As you traverse the world map, you sometimes might get stopped by an exclamation point marker. If you confirm it, you’ll be taken to a random field which can be used for grinding. Plus, there’s a chance this field will have a randomized item to grab.
- Take the time to fish! Catching fish lets you trade them for rare items and equipment at several Manillo merchants. Trading fish subsequently nets you points, which you can spend at a blue Manillo merchant for even rarer items and equipment. From the first fishing spot east of Sarai, it’d be helpful to catch and keep at least 8 Sweetfish, 8 Trout, and 6 Jellyfish before moving on.
- If you want to get better at fishing, read the tutorials in the fishing menu and time your directional and reeling button presses to the rhythmic bongo patterns in the music to increase your tech, which increases the likelihood of getting a bite. Try changing lures and locations if you’re seeking out a certain fish. You can practice with a second controller by listening and tapping to the bongo patterns in this YouTube video.
- Seek out the Masters! You can greatly alter character stats and gain unique skills by putting a character under the tutelage of various NPC Masters inhabiting the world and fulfilling their prerequisites.
- When playing as Fou-Lu, you might be tempted to pick up items you find in the environment. Keep in mind that Ryu’s party can pick these up later in the game if you skip out on them as Fou-Lu.
Sarai
- Try to have at least 500 – 600 zenny before going into Sarai. You’ll need the money to get information out of 2 key NPCs: The old man in the bar and an information broker near Sarai’s entrance. Once you’re done paying them, look into buying equipment.
- Avoid buying Nina’s Sage’s Staff for now. You’ll be able to nab a free one soon in a digging minigame.
- While in Sarai, seek out The Ventriloquist and her colorful, active puppet. She gives you lots of important and helpful tips.
- When feeding the old man at the bar, if you spend more on steak and wine, he’ll give you an item.
- A frog in the bar will sell you a Lead Ball for 158 zenny. Take him up on his offer; this kicks off a ball-trading sidequest.
- If you pay the information broker 123 zenny, he’ll give you an item.
- When seeking out the merchant in order to get the “password”, you’ll need to walk between Sarai and the “?” path to encounter him in a random “!” field.
…To be continued!