Final Fantasy 3
Reviewed by Eugene Kim
Square's last Final Fantasy game to come out for the SNES. It is nearly
identical to it's Japanese counterpart, Final Fantasy VI. This adventure is
completely unrelated to any previous Final Fantasy, although it carries
the same themes, such as magic, airships, and chocobos. In this quest,
you play as the Returners, an underground resistance movement that
opposes Kefka, a madman who threatens to destroy the world with
magic that has disappeared, but has since been rediscovered. Of
course, the plot is more complicated than this, but that pretty
much sums it all up. It may seem simple, but this 24 meg cart has
set RPG standards.
Graphics 4.6 out of 5
Final Fantasy 3 sports improved graphics over Final Fantasy 2. The
character sprites have been enlarged, and backgrounds are more
intricately drawn. Mode 7 effects are used throughout the game,
and for once, this effect enhances the game. The enemies are also
drawn well, and animations in the battles have improved drastically.
Music and Sound 5 out of 5
Nobuo Uematsu has once again outdone himself in this game. The music
effectively sets the mood for the situations, and enhances the ambience
of the game world. The town of Narshe is a good example. The music is
dreary and oppressive, indicative of the town's martial law. That doesn't
mean that the music can not be light and cheery, however, as it is when
you ride the chocobos. (On a side note, all the game's music has been
collected onto 3 CDs, and is a bestseller...in Japan, of course.)
Game Challenge 3.8 out of 5
The game challenge is moderate, and not as difficult as Final Fantasy V.
The main challenge lies in figuring what to do next. Most of the enemies
are not a challenge either, and not even Kefka puts up much of fight.
Game Play-Fun 5 out of 5
In terms of entertainment, Final Fantasy 3 is one of the best. You
will enjoy watching the plot unfold and characters develop. The
music will have you humming along, and you may lose some sleep
trying to beat the bosses or advance your characters. One of the
knocks against RPGs is all the fighting you must do to gain experience.
In Final Fantasy 3, what used to be repetitious becomes effortless.
Replayability 2.5 out of 5
As with most RPGs, this game does not offer much replayability. It is
rumored that Final Fantasy 3 has multiple endings, so you may try to
do that. Other than that, once you finish the game, the only thing left
to do is find things that you may have missed or...well, I don't want
to give too much away.
Game Value 4.5 out of 5
Final Fantasy 3 is definitely worth the price of admission. Although
RPGs are rather expensive, the length of this adventure will make you
forget how much you paid. You'll be having a blast anyway, so you won't mind...
Overall 4.7 out of 5
This game is a masterpiece. It incorporates all the elements of the previous
Final Fantasy games, and adds on a layer of depth. For the first time, you
have characters you can sympathize with, and you can witness their growth
throughout the game. The non-linear gameplay keeps it from getting too
boring. Add this to rich, detailed graphics, and wonderful music, and you
have a game that is a delight to play. Definitely a classic.