This game, known as Final Fantasy 3 in the US, has
quite a reputation. And it fully deserves it. It's
one of the best RPGs that I've played!
Long ago, the War of the Magi reduced the world
to a scorched wasteland and magic simply ceased
to exist. 1000 years have passed... Iron, gunpowder
and steam engines have been rediscovered, and high
technology reigns... But there are some who would
enslave the world by reviving the dread destructive
force known as "magic". Can it be that those in power
are on the verge of repeating a senseless and deadly
mistake?
These are the words that introduce you to this game.
As you can see, the story looks interesting. In my
opinion, it's great. It's not absorbing, but it's
damn good. Its non-linearity is what I like the
most. You can have up to four simultaneous members
on the team, but sometimes you'll control three
teams. I've also enjoyed the fact that you are not
limited to the same characters. For example, when
you get to know about Terra's past, you won't
watch an animated sequence... you'll control an Esper!
It'll be just for a short period of time, but it sure
adds up to the global game environment. And this will
happen very often! I've also liked the way how you
can improve your team. Not only will they win experience
and increase their statistics, but you'll have an
almost complete freedom to create their magic powers.
The magics they learn will depend on the Magicites
you have and that you equip on them. Doing the correct
choices, you'll end up with a really cool team! Of
course, there's also the chance that your team is
awful when using magic... but what counts is that
you can make whatever you want! Have a balanced team,
an aggresive group, a defensive army... choose some
members to learn defensive magics and the remaining
to attack... it's up to you! This is an amazing
detail that really increases the gameplay!
Moving on, we have the graphics. I think they're cool
graphics... not superb, but they're pretty good. Highly
detailed, well coloured, smoothly animated... you won't
be disappointed. The music is also good. Sometimes it's
annoying, but globally you'll like it. The sound isn't
very good, but you'll hardly notice it.
In the playability department, there's just one thing
to complain... the game is too slow! Unless you get the
"Sprint Shoes", you'll get bored by the lack of speed.
But, apart from that, you won't have any problems. The
menus are quite simple and intuitive, the battle system
is just like the previous games of this saga... it's
easy to control.
Well, I think that's all... This game isn't as good as
Chrono Trigger, but it sure beats the crap out of many
RPGs (even from superior systems). You can't call yourself
a RPG fan if you don't have this beauty!