Final Fantasy III presents itself as a title that takes a step forward in some aspects but simultaneously takes some steps backwards in others. The storyline, for instance, falls into the generic "Four Chosen Heroes" trope again, starting off rather loosely. However, as the game progresses, it manages to weave together a more cohesive narrative with the introduction of a shallow villain. The dungeons are visually appealing, but they still consist of convoluted corridors that lead to a boss, an item, or both. Fortunately, the irritating empty rooms from FF2 are gone, streamlining the gameplay. Instead, players are rewarded with hidden passages that typically contain 2-3 chests. An annoyance in the dungeons is that there are a few where players can only access them by casting Mini or Toad status onto them, squeezing through small openings or swimming through underwater passages. While it's a cool idea, it puts players at a significant disadvantage during subsequent battles, as the Mini or Toad status reduces damage output. Those who haven't levelled up and selected Black Mages, Red Mages, and Co. in advance may face some difficulties here.
The combat system remains relatively straightforward, much like in its direct predecessors. Players attack the enemy while healing themselves until the opponent is defeated. Once again, the Autobattle function proves to be a reliable ally. Levelling up has returned from the traditional style of the first Final Fantasy, discarding the weapon and spell levels seen in Final Fantasy II. Instead, players can now switch the jobs of their four heroes at any time, allowing for experimentation to find the best team composition. Through this it doesn't only change what spells the characters can use but which weapons to wield too. From powerful Warriors and tanky Vikings to the typical White and Black Mages, as well as the new Bard the game introduces also the Summoner and with that Final Fantasy III brings in those famous summons like Shiva, Ramuh, Bahamut, and more into the franchise. Some battles require specific job classes to prevent enemy abilities or deal stronger damage. Many jobs also receive extra actions, such as the Dragoon's Jump or the Viking's Provoke. In most cases, the game communicates the necessary jobs fairly well, but occasionally, players may be caught off guard by the sudden increase in difficulty when they aren't aware of the desired class.
Another delightful addition in the third instalment of the series is the introduction of the wonderful Chocobos, allowing players to ride through the open game world. Fat Chocobo also makes its first appearance here. The characters are endearing and full of charm, with Cid and his wife being particularly adorable. Throughout the journey, players are accompanied by a character who doesn't engage in battles like in Final Fantasy 2 but briefly indicates the target with a button press. The world itself is fantastical, with its floating island and a true surprise that left me astonished. Overall, traversing the world, engaging in conversations, and most battles were enjoyable, even though the direct predecessor's war and intrigue-focused story was more captivating (despite being tropey as well). But why only most battles? The development team around Sakaguchi once again failed to create endgame bosses that offer more than just being "bullet sponges." The final five bosses of the game are pure endurance tests, with enormous health pools requiring players to attack and heal round after round, minute after minute. There's little depth in strategy. The final boss, in particular, relies almost solely on its Particle Beam attack, inflicting massive damage on the entire team. The player must spam their strongest attacks, have at least one healer constantly casting Curaja or something similar, and hope the boss doesn't use Particle Beam twice in a row. This mindless repetition lasts for several minutes. Despite this flaw, Final Fantasy III's journey is filled with engaging stories, encounters with friendly characters, and travels across land and sky. One can't be too critical, considering that, at this point, the franchise was still in its infancy and on the path to becoming the grand JRPG series it is known for today.
The combat system remains relatively straightforward, much like in its direct predecessors. Players attack the enemy while healing themselves until the opponent is defeated. Once again, the Autobattle function proves to be a reliable ally. Levelling up has returned from the traditional style of the first Final Fantasy, discarding the weapon and spell levels seen in Final Fantasy II. Instead, players can now switch the jobs of their four heroes at any time, allowing for experimentation to find the best team composition. Through this it doesn't only change what spells the characters can use but which weapons to wield too. From powerful Warriors and tanky Vikings to the typical White and Black Mages, as well as the new Bard the game introduces also the Summoner and with that Final Fantasy III brings in those famous summons like Shiva, Ramuh, Bahamut, and more into the franchise. Some battles require specific job classes to prevent enemy abilities or deal stronger damage. Many jobs also receive extra actions, such as the Dragoon's Jump or the Viking's Provoke. In most cases, the game communicates the necessary jobs fairly well, but occasionally, players may be caught off guard by the sudden increase in difficulty when they aren't aware of the desired class.
Another delightful addition in the third instalment of the series is the introduction of the wonderful Chocobos, allowing players to ride through the open game world. Fat Chocobo also makes its first appearance here. The characters are endearing and full of charm, with Cid and his wife being particularly adorable. Throughout the journey, players are accompanied by a character who doesn't engage in battles like in Final Fantasy 2 but briefly indicates the target with a button press. The world itself is fantastical, with its floating island and a true surprise that left me astonished. Overall, traversing the world, engaging in conversations, and most battles were enjoyable, even though the direct predecessor's war and intrigue-focused story was more captivating (despite being tropey as well). But why only most battles? The development team around Sakaguchi once again failed to create endgame bosses that offer more than just being "bullet sponges." The final five bosses of the game are pure endurance tests, with enormous health pools requiring players to attack and heal round after round, minute after minute. There's little depth in strategy. The final boss, in particular, relies almost solely on its Particle Beam attack, inflicting massive damage on the entire team. The player must spam their strongest attacks, have at least one healer constantly casting Curaja or something similar, and hope the boss doesn't use Particle Beam twice in a row. This mindless repetition lasts for several minutes. Despite this flaw, Final Fantasy III's journey is filled with engaging stories, encounters with friendly characters, and travels across land and sky. One can't be too critical, considering that, at this point, the franchise was still in its infancy and on the path to becoming the grand JRPG series it is known for today.