Final Fantasy IV headed to iOS, along with a big sale

Good news for fans of Square Enix’s classic adventure game titles: Final Fantasy IV is headed to iOS this month. The company has listed December 20, 2012 as the release date for the new version of the game that originally came out in 1991.

Final Fantasy IV follows the story of the dark knight Cecil as he tries to stop Golbez, a sorcerer with vast powers, from destroying the world. It’s a favorite among Final Fantasy fans for its diverse collection of characters, intricate plot details, and for the first use in a Final Fantasy game of the “Active Time Battle” system that would become a staple of the series for many subsequent titles.

The original game was produced for Super Nintendo home game consoles, but the iOS version is based on the 3D version Square Enix engineered for Nintendo’s DS handheld in 2008.

Square Enix tends to price their iOS releases rather high, so be prepared to pay a premium. So if you’ve been waiting to purchase Square Enix games because of the price, now may be the time to strike: through December 14th Square Enix has cut the price of some Final Fantasy games in half or less. Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II, normally $8.99, are now $3.99 each. Final Fantasy III dropped from $15.99 to $8.99 for iPhone and iPod touch, or from $16.99 to $9.99 for iPad. And Final Fantasy Dimensions is on sale from $28.99 to $16.99.