Final Fantasy IV is a notable entry in the franchise as it introduced the sprawling, subversive story elements that the series is known for today.It was the first game where there was a set protagonist, predetermined character classes, and all kinds of ways to explore the world, laying down the blueprint for other notable games in the series like Final Fantasy VII and XV.While it was a highlight for the series at the time, Final Fantasy IV took a backseat as the newer Final Fantasy games took the reins of the franchise. Which is why it was a little odd when Square Enix announced a full-on sequel to the game called Final Fantasy IV: The After Years.The game was released at a time when NES and SNES nostalgia was just picking up, with even Capcom getting into it with the 8-bit Mega Man 9 and 10. It was quite the experiment for Square Enix especially since, at the time, they had just released sequels for Final Fantasy VII, X, and XII.Return of Kain Naturally, the story of The After Years takes place 17 years after the events of Final Fantasy IV, where protagonist Cecil Harvey has settled down as king of Baron, alongside his wife Rosa and son Ceodore.Trouble begins when a mysterious new moon begins to orbit around the planet, and it is up to Ceodore to round up the old party to face a mysterious threat. It is a much tamer plot compared to the original, though it provides a lot of fan service for returning fans.Combat-wise, the game retains the five-member party system and the Active Time Battle turn-based combat, but adds in extra features. The phases of the moon, for example, affected the party or Band attacks that sync up party members to deal extra damage.Aim for the Moon Since the game was originally distributed on mobile phones and the Wiis online Wiiware service, the plot was split into an episodic release, with the game originally being split into nine parts. Thankfully, later ports of the game would rectify this and combine everything into a single game.Despite being a sequel, The After Years doesnt do much in enhancing Final Fantasy IV, and its story is very much a rethread of the original while lacking the central theme of identity and duty that it was known for.On top of that, the game uses recycled assets which really adds to the sense of deja vu that fans would experience from playing the game. The After Years was truly two steps forward and three steps in this regard.Underlooked RemakeFunnily enough, unlike the other sequels in their franchise, The After Years actually did get a complete 3D remake for mobile and Steam. Granted, it was mostly a recycling of the 3D remake of Final Fantasy IV for the Nintendo DS, but at least fans could play both the original and sequel in both 2D and 3D.Final Fantasy IV and The After Years have definitely enjoyed better treatment from Square Enix than other entries in the franchise, which is pretty weird in the grand scheme of things. It is definitely a notable entry in the series, but youll be hard-pressed to find anyone who really enjoys this duology. If anything, the same amount of care should be given to the two follow-ups of Final Fantasy IV, that being Final Fantasy V and VI which, beyond a shoddy port to mobile, could definitely use a proper 3D remake as well. Heck, even Final Fantasy XIIs sequel should get a 3D remake.In any case, if youre a massive fan of Final Fantasy, maybe give The After Years a look, especially the 3D version. Its lackluster but it's definitely more substantial than not having a sequel at all.