The WhatsNext verdict
If you want a 16-bit RPG driven by expressive music, a huge ensemble, and theatrical swings from comedy to tragedy, Final Fantasy III delivers a memorable character drama. It suits players who enjoy rebuilding a party and finding their own way through an open late game, but less so anyone needing every recruit developed or constant direction.
What it does best
A soundtrack that carries the entire emotional weight of the adventure
An ensemble cast with unforgettable personal stories
A daring story that breaks its world and rebuilds it
An audacious blend of melodrama, comedy, fantasy, and opera
What might put you off
The enormous cast leaves some characters underdeveloped
The World of Ruin can feel aimless
The setup
What you are walking into
Final Fantasy VI is the sixth main installment in the Final Fantasy series, developed and published by Square. It was the final title in the series to feature two-dimensional graphics, and the first story that did not revolve around crystals. The game gives players up to fourteen playable characters, the largest cast in the series, and features the Active Time Battle pseudo-turn based menu command system. A party can consist of up to four characters, though some events require the player to assemble three different parties of up to four and switch between them. Each character has a unique command ability, such as Terra's Trance, Locke's Steal, Edgar's Tools or Sabin's Blitz, and can also learn Magic spells from earning AP from battles with magicite equipped. Each character's rare Desperation Attack will randomly activate after using the Attack command when at critical health.
Where it lives
Genre
Vibe
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