Originally released in 1991 on the Super Famicom, Final Fantasy 4 introduced the Active Time Battle system that would define the series for years. Unlike the turn-based entries before it, battles flow in real time with each character's action gauge filling at different speeds. The game follows Cecil, a Dark Knight questioning his king's orders, through a story that cycles 12 named characters in and out of a five-member party. The Pixel Remaster (2021) rebuilds the original with updated pixel art, quality-of-life fixes, and Nobuo Uematsu's re-arranged soundtrack.
This guide covers the full game: a 20-chapter walkthrough from Baron to the final battle with Zeromus, and a complete 197-entry bestiary with farming locations and missable flags. Four dungeons cannot be revisited (Tower of Zot, Tower of Babil, Cave of Eblan, Giant of Babil), locking out 40 bestiary entries and dozens of chests if you miss them. More guides are on the way.
Walkthrough
Baron
Cecil loses his Red Wings command and is sent to deliver a package to Mist. Grab 6 chests from the castle treasury and inn, collect 9 hidden items across town, and register 5 bestiary entries before heading northwest.
Mist Cave & Kaipo
Fight through Mist Cave and defeat the Mist Dragon. The Bomb Ring destroys Mist Village, stranding you in the desert. Cross to Kaipo, defend Rydia from Baron soldiers, and pick up your first party member.
Bestiary
197 enemies across the overworld, dungeons, and the Lunar Subterrane. Forty are permanently missable, spread across four one-time dungeons: Tower of Zot (9 enemies), Tower of Babil (12), Cave of Eblan (1), and Giant of Babil (7), plus their associated bosses. Each entry in the bestiary lists stats, weaknesses, steal/drop tables, and a confirmed farming location.
Missable Dungeons
Four dungeons lock permanently after their boss fights. Clear every chest and fight every enemy type before moving on. The walkthrough flags each cutoff point with exact enemy and chest counts.