Was the original FF3 really grindy and hard?

[Uncle Jon]

I think I heard that somewhere, but this version of the game is somewhat easy. Did they make all of the pixel remastered games easier than their originals? Are they going to do that with games from 4-6?

[Nooneyouknow]

3 got pretty much it's entire "difficult" rep from it's final, very long dungeon with no save points.

[Easy Lemur]

In truth, they are all re-balanced which makes them much easier to begin with. No brokind INT stats here. Also the quicksave feature basically acts like an anywhere-anytime save so that makes them easier too. The quicksave trivializes the FF3 final dungeon. Gaining experience seems to happen much faster too which reduces the grind. Also, the minimap and hidden route previews make it easier to get through late game dungeons.

The answer to the 4-6 question is still in the air as far as I know.

[Polantaris]

From my experience years ago, some of the problems with FF3 were unfair enemies. They're still here. For example, Salamander doing 300 damage party wide when your party only has like 400 HP max, and it also basically being Salamander's only attack. Then later random mobs have this when you don't have much more health so you can't really take that either.

But then if you never see these mobs, you take them out quickly, or they're conveniently nice, they're a joke. They don't have much health either so it's easy to kill them without ever seeing what they can do.

The other major thing is that in the base NES game your stat increases were based on your job but then, as far as I know, those stats didn't change when you swapped classes. So you could permanently harm your stats by leveling as certain classes, or permanently boost your stats by leveling other classes. For example, a known tactic is to get your first few levels where your party is entirely Monks/Black Belts so that you get much higher max HP to start off with compared to if you hadn't. This isn't a problem anymore, which helps you recover from trying out classes that suck.

[Furry Wrecking Crew]

Originally posted by Nooneyouknow:

3 got pretty much it's entire "difficult" rep from it's final, very long dungeon with no save points.

I'll second this. Although the challenge was old-school FF still through the game, it was not that bad. FF III is the only FF 1-12 I haven't beat. (DS version doesn't count)

[PC2070]

The original NES version isn't much harder than this release, it just didn't have a minimap or the ability to save anywhere

[Furry Wrecking Crew]

Originally posted by PC2070:

The original NES version isn't much harder than this release, it just didn't have a minimap or the ability to save anywhere

The ability to save anywhere can make an incredibly difficult game super easy. That is probably the biggest reduction in challenge of all NES games: the addition of "save Anywhere." The end dungeon of FF III was brutal with a brutal boss. If i can save every 5 minutes, the challenge is gone because any screw-up can be easily mitigated by a reload. And of course you're saving immediately before the boss.

[Crush The Backlog]

The last dungeon is a freakin slog with no way to recoup your MP other than elixirs. :(

[Keytee Tamira]

Originally posted by Vigi React:

Originally posted by PC2070:

The original NES version isn't much harder than this release, it just didn't have a minimap or the ability to save anywhere

The ability to save anywhere can make an incredibly difficult game super easy. That is probably the biggest reduction in challenge of all NES games: the addition of "save Anywhere." The end dungeon of FF III was brutal with a brutal boss. If i can save every 5 minutes, the challenge is gone because any screw-up can be easily mitigated by a reload. And of course you're saving immediately before the boss.

You know, it's annoying to be kicked to the title screen after getting a game over after a long dungeon...
When the neighbour series called Dragon Quest simply sends you back to the last church, and only penalty you get is losing half of money, while keeping all the exp and items.

Quick-save is a nice... anti-frustration measure.
I still wish to be resurrected at a nearby town, losing nothing but half of gil.

[Furry Wrecking Crew]

Originally posted by Keytee Tamira:

Originally posted by Vigi React:

The ability to save anywhere can make an incredibly difficult game super easy. That is probably the biggest reduction in challenge of all NES games: the addition of "save Anywhere." The end dungeon of FF III was brutal with a brutal boss. If i can save every 5 minutes, the challenge is gone because any screw-up can be easily mitigated by a reload. And of course you're saving immediately before the boss.

You know, it's annoying to be kicked to the title screen after getting a game over after a long dungeon...
When the neighbour series called Dragon Quest simply sends you back to the last church, and only penalty you get is losing half of money, while keeping all the exp and items.

Quick-save is a nice... anti-frustration measure.
I still wish to be resurrected at a nearby town, losing nothing but half of gil.

I hear you. I've certainly been mad after losing hours of gameplay on an end boss (Persona 1.) But I also can't stand easy JRPGs with no challenge. There has to be a "threat" to me as a player or it's too boring.

[Keytee Tamira]

Originally posted by Vigi React:

Originally posted by Keytee Tamira:

You know, it's annoying to be kicked to the title screen after getting a game over after a long dungeon...
When the neighbour series called Dragon Quest simply sends you back to the last church, and only penalty you get is losing half of money, while keeping all the exp and items.

Quick-save is a nice... anti-frustration measure.
I still wish to be resurrected at a nearby town, losing nothing but half of gil.

I hear you. I've certainly been mad after losing hours of gameplay on an end boss (Persona 1.) But I also can't stand easy JRPGs with no challenge. There has to be a "threat" to me as a player or it's too boring.

I do like challenge.
But i don't like challenge in JRPGs... or in any genre that requires tactical thinking and tons of waiting.
In action games i do like challenge, as i'm in full control and once i memorize the pattern, i can make quick shortcuts.
But in turn-based games... it makes me only frustrated.