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Final Fantasy VI Review (continued)
More User Submitted Final Fantasy VI Reviews
Date: 2007-03-08
Son of a what?
This game was amazing back when I first played it and the original charm is FOR THE MOST PART still there. It's one of the greatest stories ever told in my honest opinion, but the new translations lack the punch of the original one. Specifically, if you ever thought "son of a submariner!" was the best insult ever fangled, you'll be very disappointed with this new iteration of an old classic.
But I'm nitpicking. This is indeed an excellent game if you're into that whole nostalgia thing. I am.
Date: 2007-03-03
Best Final Fantasy Ever
This game originally appeared on the SNES as Final Fantasy III. Now, 14 years after playing it on the SNES I get to replay a "Directors Cut" of the game on GBA. This was the first RPG I really enjoyed playing, and I highly recommend this to anyone who has not played it, or to anyone who would like to try an RPG. The story is good, the translation is good, the character developement is good. All in all if you haven't yet played it you need to.
Date: 2007-02-22
Epic classic that will grip you from beginning to end.
I must say that this RPG is and clearly is the best RPG game ever made.I have played this game countless times before. I own the original SNES cartridge and PS1 game.The game in itself is tale like no other, never in a game have I felt the way these characters capture you with their story.Everyone in this game has reason for being there and you will want to be there also to see them through.The music score in this game is phenominal even though it was created on a system had little audio advancement but it still pulled through to keep the music humming in your head for days (in my case years after I put down the controller).The artistry is one the best ever and effects are beyond.It's too bad this game didn't get the remake it really deserved like a full 3D version not some slapped up CG cut scenes like on the PS1 or a better face lift like FF3 on DS (shame on you SquareEnix).With all that aside though I wouldn't recommend any other game that has the visual,emotional & musical attraction that is Final Fantasy VI.
Date: 2007-02-18
A great version of the best FF game of them all
I loved FF6 when it was released on the Super Nintendo. Despite a lot of bugs (some of which I actually gre fond of), the game was incredibly impressive, over-topping the previous FF entries (and, IMHO, over-topping subsequent entries as well).
I then purchased the PS version, and while I still loved the game, the presentation was lacking (incredibly long load times really marred the game).
Thus, fast-forward to the cartridge version of FF6, which is fantastic. Forget the surface additions, such as a bestiary, additional levels and espers, and a remixed soundtrack - the selling point here is a return to the game you knew and loved as a teenager. FF6 has the goods, and I'm glad non-PS owners can once again enjoy this classic. What more needs to be said?
Date: 2007-02-15
A Decent Port of a Fantastic Game
As a fan of the original "localized" version of Final Fantasy VI (named Final Fantasy III to keep with the American Final Fantasy numbering scheme), I have long awaited a portable release of this game. I can say, with certainty, that Final Fantasy VI is and always has been one of the best (if not the best) games in the series. While I'm overall very pleased with this re-release, there are a few caveats to the port that fans of the original might notice.
To speak of the game itself, it is a masterpiece.
The story is captivating, keeping the player interested to the very end. The plot involves many of the traditional Final Fantasy themes (balances of natural forces, quests for power, a floating continent), but weaves them in subtly without being overbearing.
The characters are very memorable and grow as the story progresses. Each of the protagonists has their own quirks and weaknesses, and many of them have to overcome their personal demons in order to face the final challenge of the game. In addition, Final Fantasy VI provides a quirky antagonist. While the Final Fantasy predecessors all served up vague, devil-like antagonists with little personality other than to state that they are the source of evil, Kefka is quirky. His dialogue is written with a sense of humor where necessary, and his back story provides further impetus for the protagonists. Kefka is the first Final Fantasy villain that fans truly love to hate. Also, the gameplay is fun and varied. The esper system (used to learn magic in the game) is powerful and customizable, yet still simple enough for everyone to pick up and understand. The addition of a special armor / accessory class (relics) provides a simple way for players to know what equipment will cause what effects. The dungeons are challenging but not frustratingly long or inaccessible.
With all that said, this port of the game is decent enough but does have its drawbacks.
The graphics are just as beautiful as in the Super Nintendo / Famicom version and don't suffer a significant slowdown as with the Final Fantasy IV advance remake. The sharper screen of a Nintendo DS best showcases the visual beauty of this game, and those playing on an older Gameboy Advance or even SP might miss some detail.
The soundtrack to this game is one of Uematsu's masterpieces, and the port does a decent job of recreating the experience with the Game Boy's limited hardware. The music has been slightly remixed to fit in the fewer channels that the portable system allows. While many of the tracks have been "jazzed up" to cover the lack of extra instrumentation, the transferred soundtrack is still a slight downgrade from the original. While new fans of the game are not likely to notice, old schoolers who played the original incarnation will stand to be slightly disappointed.
Lastly, the game has been retranslated and relocalized, overwriting some of the heavily criticized decisions made by original translator Ted Woolsey. In many aspects, this serves to help the game. The vagueness that came from Woolsey's Western-interpretation of the plot has been somewhat cleared up. In addition, some of the character interactions that would have once seemed vague and misleading now show clear direction. Not all of the changes are for the better, however. The new translation also censors a few of the games scenes, seemingly for brutality (ie, Celes's incarceration). Also, and this will probably only affect those familiar with the original, the new translation has changed the lyrics of "Aria di Mezzo Carattere." While the new translation better fits with the music, the Aria is considered one of the most memorable moments in the series, and the difference is likely to irritate old fans.
Final Fantasy is a brilliant series with many brilliant games, but in my opinion, the true beginning of Final Fantasy as a dynasty is here. The game is more grown-up in many aspects than those before it and still shines as brightly as some of those that have come after. While this is an imperfect port of the original, porting a game always requires some sacrifices. The developers made decent choices, given the options that they had.
Whether you're an old fan back to reminisce or new to the series, Final Fantasy VI Advance will provide hours of intrigue and fun.
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