Focus on a new link system where multiple characters chain attacks together or help to defend. Larger battles with allies. Story is decent, the usual political/revolutions/military affairs of FM setting, not as much time with characters as the story is split between two groups. Always a fan of overthrowing US backed dictatorships, or a game's equivalent. Nice to see unit XP shared based on everyone who had done damaged or healed damaged taken from destroyed enemy units. Sounds good and portraits look nice but the environment are often dull and it would be nice to have more active battles like FM2 (but with acceptable loading times), look of fights are improved with multiple units attacking through the link system though. Weather and day/night cycles as stages go on with different effects.

The random ability activation has always been an odd series feature that makes it unlikely that you would want to use certain abilities. No eject/capture in this game, didn't get huge use but it would have been nice to see it kept and used in a more interesting way. Dull combat simulations that take up a lot of your playtime but likely to want to do them for the experience.