Why did Matrix Software add in the Decant Ability system? So they don’t have to mess around with the story. They mention that the character “deaths” in Final Fantasy IV’s storyline left players with out those abilities. The Game Boy Advance remake came up with the solution of letting players swap characters out at the end. However, they found this to be awkward and it broke the flow of the original scenario. With the decant ability system you get the best of both worlds: the original story plus other characters skills.
Before a character dies they entrust their powers in an item. This item can be used to give another character a skill, just like the event in the Final Fantasy IV TGS demo where Edward “dies” and passes his song ability in an item. I see what Matrix Software is thinking, but they didn’t mention if these abilities are going to be interchangeable. Also what happens to characters that die and then come back, like Edward? Do you get two copies of the song skill when he dies the second time? Does he take it back when he is in the party? And this is a little speculation here, but it seems like the party swapping system in Final Fantasy IV Advance is getting the axe.
Also Matrix Software is changing up the boss patterns. Let’s look at the Antlion as an example. In Final Fantasy IV DS its eyes change colors. When they turn red the Antlion will use a magic based counter attack instead of a physical counter attack. I didn’t notice this during the TGS demo, but I like the sound of new challenges.
