Old Review: Final Fantasy VI (GBA)

I finished this game in September, and wrote this review immediately after. Without a doubt, Final Fantasy VI is one of the best RPGs in existence, and arguably Square's finest work. Also, seeing as the game is out this Tuesday on PSN, I figure this was timely. ;P

My Review- Final Fantasy VI (GBA)

            Every series has a game which pretty much every other installment is compared too, a game which embodies the creative ideas behind the franchise. For example, Zelda has Ocarina of Time, a game which many consider to be one of the best video games ever made. For Square’s venerable Final Fantasy series, that game is arguably Final Fantasy VI. Originally released on the SNES as Final Fantasy III, the sixth fantasy is one of Square’s most famous RPGs ever, and remains to this day an excellent installment in this great series.

            STORY

            Could anyone be so foolish as to repeat that deadly mistake?

            Final Fantasy VI focuses on a band of rebels, called The Returners, as they fight a war against the invading Gestahlian Empire. The Empire, wielding their powerful Magitech, has conquered much of the world in its hunt for Espers, ancient beings that are the source of Magic, a deadly force that vanished millennia ago after the War of the Magi. When Terra, a young woman who is half-Esper, joins the Returners after escaping the Empire, an epic quest begins to save the world from the Empire’s tyranny, as well as prevent a cataclysm of magical power that will occur should the Empire attain their goals.

            Final Fantasy VI’s premise- a band of heroes fighting to free their homes from an evil invader- is one many RPGs have used, but here the story is told excellently. The story is a sweeping tale of courage, love, and betrayal. This excellent story is supported by a fantastic cast of characters. While Terra seems to the protagonist of this fantasy, almost every character gets their moment in the spotlight, truly making this a tale about a group of people rather than one character. This is the rare game where all the characters are well written, complex, and well-rounded, and considering this was originally a SNES game, that is quite an achievement. The womanizing, responsibility-burdened king Edgar,  the gambling airship hotshot Setzer, the former Empire soldier Celes, and the grief-stricken samurai Cyan are just a few of the great characters you’ll come to love along their journey. Even several NPCs, such as General Leo, have interesting arcs in the story. However, the truly outstanding part of the story is the second half, where, after a shocking plot twist I won’t spoil here (although you probably know about it already), you must track down and recruit your old party members in an almost completely nonlinear set of content, packed with secrets to uncover and filed with great character moments.

            Final Fantasy VI is one of the best stories in the Final Fantasy series, and I would go so far as to say it’s one of the truly great video game stories, period.

            GAMEPLAY

            Final Fantasy VI’s fantastic story is backed by possibly the best iteration of the series’ classic gameplay. Travelling an overworld, exploring towns and dungeons, active-time battles- all the basics are accounted for here. The game’s world is packed with secrets to uncover, making it worthwhile to travel off the beaten path. This classic gameplay is enhanced further by what is, in my opinion, the best character system in a Final Fantasy game- the Esper System.

            Put simply, the Esper System turns the series’ trademark summons into a method of character advancement. Only a couple characters learn magic through leveling, but all the characters can equip an Esper. Each Esper acts as a summonable creature in battle, but in addition, they allow the character to learn new magic spells. Whenever you win a battle, the character gains AP, which go towards the Esper they have equipped. Each Esper features a list of the spells a character will learn, along with a number next to it. The AP earned in battle is multiplied by that number, and when enough AP is earned, the character gains that spell. For example, a Cure x10 will multiply the amount of AP earned towards that spell by 10, while a Fira x1 means that the amount of AP added is the same as that earned in battle. The best thing about the Esper system is that the percentage of a spell and the spells learned by the characters are permanently retained, so there is no penalty for switching Espers. Some Espers also grant stat bonuses upon each level up. The Esper System is very simple to use, and provides a great method of character customization. Add that to the effects of weapons and armor equipped to each character, as well as Relics which add different effects to characters, and Final Fantasy VI has one of the best character growth systems out there.

             PRESENTATION

            As far as I’m concerned, late-16 bit era games such as Chrono Trigger still look great, and Final Fantasy VI is no exception The sprites look good, although they don’t animate much, and the 2D backgrounds look fine. Enemy sprites, particularly bosses, feature an astonishing level of detail, even if they animate even less than the characters do. Nobuo Uematsu’s classic score remains excellent, and several of the tunes will stick with you long after you finish playing the game.

            CONCLUSION

            What else can I really say about Final Fantasy VI? This is a truly outstanding game, able to sit alongside Chrono Trigger as Square’s finest works. An epic story with believable characters, classic gameplay, and great old-school visuals and sound make Final Fantasy VI a real treat to play.

            SCORE- A+