Final Fantasy III DS
Story:
Luneth, an adventurous youth from the village of Ur, accidentally falls into a hole made by a recent earthquake. He discovers a mysterious Crystal that asks him to gather three other companions who share his destiny. Following a short adventure where Luneth and some new companions save the village of Kazus and kingdom of Sasune from a curse, Luneth returns to the crystal alongside the shy but intellectual Arc, tomboyish Refia, and gallant Ingus. The Crystal charges them with restoring the balance between Light and Darkness and lends the last of its waning power to the new companions…
This is the first time that Final Fantasy III, originally for the NES, has officially been available in the English language. The original versions claim to fame was the inclusion of the first Job System that has since been used in other Final Fantasy games. It also featured the return of the Experience Point system for gaining levels that had been left out of Final Fantasy II. This new version of Final Fantasy III features updated 3D graphics, updated music, a tweaked Job System, new names and personalities for the previously characterless protagonists, a Mognet mail system for new sidequests, and the added ability for storyline travel companions to randomly help out during battle.
Originally the first Job System required Capacity Points, won in battle, to switch between jobs. The remake has done away with this, now allowing characters to switch jobs at any time, though there is a temporary period of weakness while the character becomes acclimated to the job change. Using commands in battle will eventually cause the Job to level up, which raises the stats, spells available and damage that can be done with that Job. The party starts with only a few jobs but gain more as the story moves forward.
Also changed from the original version are the storyline travelling companions, who will now randomly enter battle to deal damage or cast spells.
The new Mognet mail delivery service allows the player to send mail to in-game characters and other players of Final Fantasy III DS through a Wi-Fi connection. Mail can hint at new side-quests and allow players to share mastered job class cards with each other.
Cons:
- Boss Battles: Boss battles can be surprisingly easy for the most part, which is in contrast to how difficult it is to get to them. More challenge might have been welcome, though the second con would have to be changed as well to avoid becoming too frustrating.
- No Save Points: There are no save points inside dungeons. While most dungeons are small enough to not require a save point, the grind to get to the end of the dungeon will sometimes cause a Game Over, starting you at the beginning of the dungeon all over again. Frustrating when it would have been easy to place a save point just before a boss.
- Grinding: At its core, this is a game of grinding. New Job Levels are based on using a specific amount of battle commands and not on winning points in battle. This can make starting new jobs pointless as you’ll have to spend the same amount of time leveling up a new job. Regular enemies can be tough and can make extended journeys monotonous as well.
Pros:
- Presentation: The visual and auditory overhaul really helps bring the NES game into the modern day.
- Extras: New side quests and a Super Boss add some extra challenges to the game.
- Difficulty: The NES-era difficulty is still in place. Regular enemies are tough and new equipment is expensive. While it can be a con when faced with a relentless wave of enemies at some points in the game, tough enemies at least save the game from being too easy and too short.
Summary:
An excellent job was done to overhaul and upgrade the presentation of Final Fantasy III to make it look and sound modern. The game still retains most of its NES structure, which can be a good thing for fans of the era and for those who want to experience a previously unreleased Final Fantasy or an old school RPG. Unfortunately, the Job System is dated compared to more modern interpretations, and the grind to get to where you want to go can be monotonous.
Grade: C
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