Final Fantasy VI

Story

This was the Final Fantasy game that established the high standards of story enjoyment that square lives up to in it's Final Fantasy series, but most other companies (and the occational square fluke) only reach for. The game starts off with a girl of unknown origin and powers that makes the empire tremble in it's boots enough to put a slave crown on her and two complete magitech guards. But after that it switches to a treasure hunter by the name of Locke, and Terra takes the back seat. Then the story jumps to another pair, and from there to others. Whoever is in the spotlight at the moment reacts beutifully to the other characters you chose to have in your group. Every character is developed in due time with thier own quest, some more than others. With the exception of Strago and Gao they grow on you, and when you look at them you distinctly remember under what circumstances you met them, and thier pasts. The character you put in front of the party is the one seen walking around even. The world of ruin allows another look at other characters by depriving you of the ones that just happened to come along first. Once the quests are done, then, having tasted every character's personality, you chose who will lead, who gets the spotlight for the remainder of the game. A truly awsome story idea, that I wish had come along later for multiple paths, not just multiple orders.

Score 9/10

Characters

Most characters had enough spotlight time to define them. The triple juntion allowed you to see the personality of everybody in the game at that point, and the world of ruin really told you who you depended on and (in the cas of Terra) how much you missed them. Strago was a bit weak, though the tower of magic was a nice try to develop him. Cyan didn't have much once his entire village was wiped out, except the ghost train, but that was more about Sabin. All the others have strong personalities that mix well with each other in before, during, and after a major battle or plot point. The ability to chose your favorite is something I'd have liked to see in other games, but the FMV doesn't incorporate that very well. I can't give it a perfect, because of the weak ones, but I can say the attachment you'll have to those in your party is far above average.

Score 8/10

Music

What can you say about a Final Fantasy musical score? There is a song for everyone from the opera, to the addictive chocobo song, to just the world map song. All three I remeber, and find myself singing at odd times. They are undeniably from a super nintendo game, though I have found some orchestral remakes that blow my socks off. but I must score the game, not the orchestra.

Score 8/10

Graphics

Incredable sprite use. The light streaming down from holes in the multiple caves you visit are a nice touch. Spells dazzle, summons destroy, and enimies are downright intimidating. In comparison to todays games, it falls mighty short, though. Playing the game is like a trip to the past, and allows you to forget the awsome capabilities are machines have today. After I played it I asked myself "why couldn't every super nintendo game look this great?" In this spot Final Fantasy III did the utmost it was capable of on a super nintendo. I gotta give a perfect score for any game that can say the same of thier system.

Score 10/10

Gameplay

4 characters in a battle. Every character had unique special abilities (or copycat in the case of gogo). The esper system was a great way of learning magic, and by the end I had Terra know every spell. There are a few things to gripe about, though. The arena should have allowed you to control your character. Cyan shouldn't have to wait to do an aswome sword move. Did anyone use morph? By the time I gotit I was doing enough damage not to need it. I liked the extensive items, the many towns and kick ass relics. When leveling up in a game can keep your interest, it gets a thumbs up from me. The triple party fights were the real kickers though. I haven't seen that before or since. Truly inovative and challenging especially the end battle.

Score 9/10

Replay/Extras

I played it twice, and got something different out of it the second time, but mainly because there was a five year gap between playings. Playing this game twice back to back has little to no appeal. Items and espers and even characters you might have missed hold a little pull, but not if you have a save outside Kefka's tower, because most you would miss are in world of ruin. The story was incredable, but if your not the type that reads a book twice then you wouldn't replay it. All in all, if had played this game this year for the first time I would have no desire to play it again.

Score 1/10

Overall

I loved this game. I has made me purchase all the following Final Fantasy games even being a pretty loyal nintendo fan. (An RPG loving nintendo fan didn't last very long in this generation of console games) I would recommend it to anyone who likes RPGs or even just those who love a good story.