Final Fantasy III

[Dogasu]

One of the year's most anticipated DS titles was released in the US today - Final Fantasy III. This extreme makeover of a remake was a big hit in Japan, so much so that Square-Enix is now considering remaking other games in the series. The game, originally released in Japan in 1990, was the first Final Fantasy game to feature Summons and the Job System (which was featured heavily in the recently released Final Fantasy V Advance).

So has anyone gotten it yet? My EB Games store won't be getting one until tomorrow, so I haven't had a chance to play it yet.

 

[Rayne]

I'm still deep into my FF XII... so it's going to be a while before I pick up a new
game. But yes, this is definitely on my 'must buy' list.

 

[Nekusagi]

I hear the save system is troublesome... especially given how hardcore it is.
But the graphics are cute, and I'm definitely asking for it as a Christmas present.

 

[Rayne]

I hear the save system is troublesome...

Only adds more to it's difficulty I think. [I say bring it on!]

 

[Dogasu]

I'm not in favor of design flaws being the cause for difficulty in a game.

This game is a bit more difficult than I thought, though. Just getting through that first cave where you fight the Djinn took me a few retries because your characters start out so weak at the beginning of the game.

 

[Dogasu]

Update!

Well, I've just gotten out of the

Spoiler

Gnome village...place. I went through the Viking village and then faced the sea dragon, but he promptly kicked my ass.

If this game has one flaw, I'd have to say is the storytelling is particularly weak. I don't even know the motivation for going to half the places I'm going to right now...random NPC just tells me to go to X Cave and I'm expected to go there, no questions asked. It's a bit annoying.

 

[Mozz]

Welcome to the early FF's, Dogasu.

I played a translated version of this years ago on a rom, and i'm quickly remembering why this was one of my least favorites. It's just not that fun having to spend SO much time leveling up. Especially after just beating FF1 again, where the bosses are troublesome at best.

Graphics are ridiculously good.

 

[Adamant]

Imported the japanese release, beat it, loved it. Brilliant remake (though the lack of monsters in each fight was somewhat disappointing. With a single exception, you'll never face more than 4 at once in this gae, while you in the original could face up to eight).

Spoiler

I went through the Viking village and then faced the sea dragon, but he promptly kicked my ass.

You're not supposed to. Listen to the warnings you get

Yeah, the story isn't exactly the best in the series, but it's actually a lot more involving than the previous two games. The main villain

Spoiler

Zande

even has a motive for his evil ways, while other NPCs actually have some personality. The story was actually pretty good for it's time.

And while the game certainly isn't as laughably easy as the current games, it's not HARD. As long as you pay attention to what goes on, instead of expecting to win each battle by holding down the A button, you'll be fine. And of course, a balanced team is important.

 

[Dogasu]

Welcome to the early FF's, Dogasu.

I've played through FFI and FFII, and while FFI had some of that "go here because I told you to"-itus, I don't remember that happening too much in FFII. FFIII seems to be a step backward in that respect.

 

[Mozz]

I've played through FFI and FFII, and while FFI had some of that "go here because I told you to"-itus, I don't remember that happening too much in FFII. FFIII seems to be a step backward in that respect.

Agreed, but none of them are so far from one another that any stand out. The jump from 3 to 4 as far as story goes is the biggest one in the series history, with 5 to 6 being a close second, IMO.

 

[Adamant]

And while the beginning of FF3 has a very loosely connected story, it does shape up after you meet Dorga.