Final Fantasy 3 is the 2014 port of the 2007 3D remake for the Nintendo DS with the original game released in 1990. Due to the original never being released outside of Japan it caused the numbering sequence to become out of sync between Japanese and western releases, though this is sort of fixed now. If you like JRPG’s, and want to play a FF which is much simpler to understand, more casual and not overly complicated then this is the game to play.

Unlike later FF games, FF3 has a rather simplistic plot, though might be better for it. A lot of its features and systems are dotted throughout later games, and a lot of the core ideas and themes that exist in every FF game started here. The one standard theme of the characters facing loss is missing, however reoccurring enemies, abilities, weapons, creatures, characters and technology are present. Four orphans are chosen by a crystal to restore balance between light and darkness, becoming warriors of light in the process, to not only the save the world they know, but restore the world to what it should have been. Along the way they find out who is causing the imbalance, how the world fell into ruin the last time it happened, and how the warriors of darkness saved the world back then.

FF3 introduces the job class system allowing you to freely switch between jobs rather than being locked to them. This allows you to freely change the specs and powers of your team as needed, and can be used to overpower some enemies. Each job has its benefits and weaknesses, a unique move (such as steal, magic, boost ect) as well as predetermined stats depending on character level and unique ultimate weapon. The rate at which you acquire new jobs is brisk, giving you a large amount of options to play with early on. While a few of the jobs wouldn’t be used once their higher form is unlocked, they are a stable amongst FF games.

Effectively there are only two separate experience gauges that increase during play, the overarching character level, and the current job level. Two characters at the same character level who share the same job (at different levels) will have the same stats, but the job level will determine how effective they are in it. The only stat to carry over is max hp, which increases every time the character levels up, and is influenced by what job the character is currently using. Since the game doesn’t require you grind stupidly to beat it (it’s quite possible using mid lvl 30 characters to win) ultimate team formations and best setups aren’t needed, and are only really useful for those who are going for achievements or trying to beat the secret boss.

The job rooster is very expansive, with 23 jobs to choose from. Majority of the jobs are good and a few are nice to always have in the team (like thief) so you can use its special abilities in the world map. the onion Knight job is useless until you get to character level 99 where it becomes a best job in the game providing max stats, the ability to cast all magic (except high summons), and can equip any weapon. A secret dungeon that contains a extra boss provides a excellent area to grind up character levels, and the unique drops for the onion knight job, so you are fully prepped to take on iron golem.

The biggest update is to the graphics, which were massively overhauled from the original to the DS remake. While nothing has changed since, it makes the game much more playable, and supports newer resolutions (1080p is still your highest here). Each of the characters now have a unique model, and unique outfit depending on what job they are using, as well as have names and backstories which were missing in the original.

As in all FF games, the music is of very high quality as are the sound effects. Being a port of the older games there aren’t any vocals in the game and the tracks are all electronic, but are still amazing to listen to. Many of the tunes that feature in one way or another in all FF games are present here.

If you are chasing 100% achievements then has some horrible grinding achievements that make other achievements look tame. You have to level up everyone’s job to max (that’s 92 jobs in total), which means a fair bit of grinding, if you’re not prepared to invest in a script to auto battle for you.

For more reviews please visit https://store.steampowered.com/curator/31327216/

Final Fantasy 3 is the 2014 port of the 2007 3D remake for the Nintendo DS with the original game released in 1990. Due to the original never being released outside of Japan it caused the numbering sequence to become out of sync between Japanese and western releases, though this is sort of fixed now. If you like JRPG’s, and want to play a FF which is much simpler to understand, more casual and not overly complicated then this is the game to play. Unlike later FF games, FF3 has a rather simplistic plot, though might be better for it. A lot of its features and systems are dotted throughout later games, and a lot of the core ideas and themes that exist in every FF game started here. The one standard theme of the characters facing loss is missing, however reoccurring enemies, abilities, weapons, creatures, characters and technology are present. Four orphans are chosen by a crystal to restore balance between light and darkness, becoming warriors of light in the process, to not only the save the world they know, but restore the world to what it should have been. Along the way they find out who is causing the imbalance, how the world fell into ruin the last time it happened, and how the warriors of darkness saved the world back then. FF3 introduces the job class system allowing you to freely switch between jobs rather than being locked to them. This allows you to freely change the specs and powers of your team as needed, and can be used to overpower some enemies. Each job has its benefits and weaknesses, a unique move (such as steal, magic, boost ect) as well as predetermined stats depending on character level and unique ultimate weapon. The rate at which you acquire new jobs is brisk, giving you a large amount of options to play with early on. While a few of the jobs wouldn’t be used once their higher form is unlocked, they are a stable amongst FF games. Effectively there are only two separate experience gauges that increase during play, the overarching character level, and the current job level. Two characters at the same character level who share the same job (at different levels) will have the same stats, but the job level will determine how effective they are in it. The only stat to carry over is max hp, which increases every time the character levels up, and is influenced by what job the character is currently using. Since the game doesn’t require you grind stupidly to beat it (it’s quite possible using mid lvl 30 characters to win) ultimate team formations and best setups aren’t needed, and are only really useful for those who are going for achievements or trying to beat the secret boss. The job rooster is very expansive, with 23 jobs to choose from. Majority of the jobs are good and a few are nice to always have in the team (like thief) so you can use its special abilities in the world map. the onion Knight job is useless until you get to character level 99 where it becomes a best job in the game providing max stats, the ability to cast all magic (except high summons), and can equip any weapon. A secret dungeon that contains a extra boss provides a excellent area to grind up character levels, and the unique drops for the onion knight job, so you are fully prepped to take on iron golem. The biggest update is to the graphics, which were massively overhauled from the original to the DS remake. While nothing has changed since, it makes the game much more playable, and supports newer resolutions (1080p is still your highest here). Each of the characters now have a unique model, and unique outfit depending on what job they are using, as well as have names and backstories which were missing in the original. As in all FF games, the music is of very high quality as are the sound effects. Being a port of the older games there aren’t any vocals in the game and the tracks are all electronic, but are still amazing to listen to. Many of the tunes that feature in one way or another in all FF games are present here. If you are chasing 100% achievements then has some horrible grinding achievements that make other achievements look tame. You have to level up everyone’s job to max (that’s 92 jobs in total), which means a fair bit of grinding, if you’re not prepared to invest in a script to auto battle for you. For more reviews please visit https://store.steampowered.com/curator/31327216/