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Arguablly the "deepest" SNES RPG ever made

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: September 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

FF6 Advance is an enhanced re-release of what some people may remember as FF3 for the Super Nintendo (circa 1995.) The enhanced part of the re-release is a slightly remixed soundtrack and some additional content in the form of new items and one humongous dungeon to explore. Also, the game's script has been re-translated so that it "matches" the style of contemporary Final Fantasy games in terms of spell and item names, and also clears up some of the vague confusions in the FF3 translation.

As for the game itself, in terms of approaching it from a non-comparison perspective, it is hard to give this game a low rating. Unless the player has a keen hatred for 2D graphics and "sprites", there is little that FF6 Advance has going against it. In the graphics department, the game has probably the most polished looking graphics that the Super Nintendo could handle during its days of glory. As a testament to this, the game features hardly any graphical tweaking, and virtually none of the game's sprites have been redrawn. The game also features a very good story with quite a few interesting twists, a large world with plenty of places to explore and discover and over 10 characters to utilize in your quest to defeat evil.

As with most RPG games, FF6A relies heavily upon its combat engine. The engine is a little more complex than most SNES combat engines mainly thanks to the fact that all characters in the game have their own specific skill, and for the most part, specific function in combat. The game however manages to blur the characters when it comes to the utilization of magic spells. Spells are learned about 1/3rd of the way into the game by equipping magic stones, which subsequently bestow magic upon their wearers by earning a 100 AP (acquisition points) in combat. Acquisition of said spells will differ greatly upon the amount of AP an enemy leaves behind when killed and also upon the multiplier that the magic stone has on it. This ultimately means that much of the game can be spent leveling and building your characters up into massive magically powered slaughter machines! However, this also means for people who played the original FF3/6, one of the games biggest exploits hasn't been dealt with by the re-release. Going into the details of this exploit is a little off the beaten path, but to summarize it: With a little attention to getting all characters to learn magic, the game begins virtually a cakewalk due to the sheer factor of powerful magic spells and magic enhancing items available in the game.

Still, game play does not have to rely solely upon magic, and players can use physical fighters or whatever else they prefer as they play FF6A. Thanks to the number of party members available, creative players can come up with all sorts of adventure teams!

The game does rely upon having a good story (but ultimately still falls back on combat). The storyline of FF6 is one not to be missed if someone is at all interested in RPG games. It has many conventions that have been copied or innovated upon many times since its inception. It is a tale slightly reminiscent of the types of Star Wars, with an oppressive Empire seeking total domination, and the only thing able to stand against it being a small resistance army. The similarities between the two however stop as the game progresses. In fact, many could play the game without ever picking up upon the similarity between the two. Amusingly enough, there are also a couple references to Star Wars in the game, but it is better for the player to find them than have them spoiled.

The soundtrack of the game is also another fine showing of what the Super Nintendo was capable of. And while the soundtrack has been remixed (if one were to listen to the soundtrack of the original side-by-side the "Advance" version), most of the remixing has only been done to accommodate for the smaller sound output inside of the GBA/DS rather than to "bring the game up to date." The soundtrack features some of the most prophetic, moving and eccentric songs of the 16-bit era. It is VERY diverse and it will surprise players with all of which it holds when they think they've heard every single song the game has to offer.

Finally, touching upon some of the other "enhancements" in the game and how well they'll hold up for people familiar with the game and newcomers alike:

-The new bonus dungeon in the game features almost a days worth of content to explore, and far more complex puzzles than in any of the other dungeons of the game. It also features arguably some of the hardest bosses in the game!

-There are a plethora of new items, almost all of which are available in the new bonus dungeon. Some of them can be outdone by the items obtainable prior to entering the dungeon, but that's most likely only going to happen if the player is aware of some of the game's exploits.

-The original version of the game has had quite a few bug fixes. While there are still some bugs still in the game, the fixed ones will bring a lot of relief to people who might have been frustrated when they played the Super Nintendo version. Newcomers will probably find this to be the least interesting feature of the game, but still, a reassuring feature considering the standards of contemporary games.

-The translation of the game is for the most part the same as the one from the SNES version. But there are still changes that make it a superior translation. There are still a few "incorrect" lines intact in the game, but these were left in due to the humor associated with them, not the laziness of the new localization team. Newcomers again will probably find this not all that interesting, but slightly more since the game now features spell and item names that are consistent with FF lore and terminology.

Final Fantasy VI Advance.....

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: April 11, 2007
Author: Amazon User

At long last, I'm finally to the end of the Gameboy Advance editions of Final Fantasy. This one being Final Fantasy VI. Originally released in 1994 on the SNES as Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy VI- next to Final Fantasy VII- is the most beloved game in all the series & the most widely talked about. For those of you who weren't lucky enough to play the game during its' first release, the story goes like this...The Gestahlian Empire is taking over the lands. Led by a trio of powerful generals & headed by its' namesake, Emperor Gestahl, they are gaining power. Having fused both magic and technology into something called Magitek, the Empire continues to take over the world one kingdom at a time. A group of people known as "The Returners" begin to fight back, and that's where the story begins. In its' day, Final Fantasy VI was one of the most epic games of its' time. Even by today's standards, few games can stand up to the scope the game had. With a fresher translation, new spells, new espers(like Diablos-Gilgamesh-Leviathan & Gigantaur), a new dungeon & the Soul Shrine; this game is even better than before. While I, personally, never played the SNES version of this game...having played it now, I find the game to be a very entertaining RPG that definitely lives up to its' legacy. What more can I say. If you're new to the series or just now getting into RPGs, you owe it to yourself to round up this game. Heck, you need to round up the other four Gameboy Advance games as well as Final Fantasy III for the Nintendo DS. Then, you'll truly get schooled in Role-playing games 101.

FFVI on GBA! SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 10, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The best FF game ever (in my opinion) has a GBA port. Unlike the other two GBA ports, this version of the game doesn't really have any enhanced graphical backgrounds. The reason I consider this to be the best one in the series is because the fact is that there really isn't no main character (like Cloud of FF7) that the game mainly focuses on. you get to have 12 or 14 characters as all main characters (2 who are secret characters) and you get to have any of your favorite characters as a group of 4 (like Locke, Sabin, Shadow and Cyan are my favorite group) even though I like all of the characters in this game anyway. There isn't too many graphical changes in this version but just a few. when a main character is talking, they have a picture of that character in the talking box (You even get to see Kefka's face which is creepy) and Non-exeistent load times with battles and Character menus (unlike the PSone version which I also have). If you don't have FF3 for the SNES, or FF anthology (which has FF5 and FF6), then get this game. Seriously, this is the best one ever created and you will not be disappointed.

Everything one could expect and more.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: February 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Although I've yet to fully finish the game, so far it's everything I had ever expected and more. The translation is much better than any version previously release, making the characters slightly more in depth. (Example, at Thamasa when Relm calls Edgar "Lover Boy" and he finds out that she's only ten, as she walks off to the airship he mumbles, "I hope you're still around in eight years." like the pervert he can be.)

The music remakes are okay, though it's nothing to fan about. The opera scene's lyrics have been redone almost completely (but not terribly -- trust me, it's my favorite part of the game, and I wasn't disappointed).

The graphics are nice, and the additional character portraits (Gestahl, Kefka, Cid, etc.) are bonus eye candy. Plus, there are additional espers to collect later on in the game, and a new dungeon to explore. Who could go wrong with that?

Like I said before, I've yet to fully finish the game (just finishing up the World of Balance now), but my money's already been well spent. I think every hardcore FFVI fan should give it a go!

A Pretty Good Port of a Fantastic Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Final Fantasy VI is one of those few games that I will buy over and over; I owned the original release (as FFIII) for the SNES and also the PS1 rerelease, making this my third time buying this excellent game. Since this is a port, I'll let the greatness of the original game speak for itself and focus on how well it was adapted to new hardware.

Issue #1: Playability
There are some slight loading times, but nowhere near the nigh-unplayable mess that was the PS1 version. You'll also notice some slight chugging during the more elaborate spell effects in battle, and your character seems slightly less responsive in towns and dungeons than in the original. In an action game this would be unforgivable, but since FFVI is an RPG that seldom requires precise control anyway, you'll barely notice it.
It's also worth noting that they've added the ability to run at any time, whether you have Sprint Shoes equipped or not. (This ability can be mapped to a button or enabled at all times, or just ignored for you purists out there.) IMO this is a long-overdue and welcome change. You'll also note that if you run while Sprint Shoes are equipped, your character will dash wildly about at twice the normal running speed. This is fun to try out for giggles, but not recommended for normal play, as it makes your character nearly impossible to control.
A "save anywhere" feature is also implemented, another long-overdue and welcome change that can safely be ignored by anyone wanting the "pure" experience of the original game.

Issue #2: Censorship
To my surprise and bafflement, there is some slight censorship in the scene in which you first meet Celes. In the original version, she is beaten (from what we can see given the basicness of the sprites, quite severely) by her Imperial guards. In the Advance version, this beating is completely excised. I am against censorship in all forms, so if I had known this in advance, I would not have purchased the game. Many players will not be so bothered, however.

Issue #3: Translation
The game has received a completely new English translation from the ground up. Players new to FFVI, of course, won't even notice, but veterans of the SNES and PS1 versions will find many of their favorite lines changed. What gets me is that this new translation is seldom actively BETTER than the old one, nor is it really any worse; it's just different for the sake of being different. I'm not sure why Squeenix would go to the expense and trouble of hiring another translator when it serves only to alienate fans of the original and dampen the game's retro appeal, but there it is.
That said, only complete and utter purists will find this a game-breaking change; most players either won't notice or won't care.

Issue #4: Sound and Music
Astute fans of the original will notice quite a few differences in the music and sound effects. Some of these are obviously unintentional byproducts of moving the software to different hardware. SNES sound (and for whatever reason, FFVI in particular) is notoriously difficult to emulate, and no port has gotten it perfect so far. This one does better than most.
But much of the music is also intentionally remixed. The effect is subtle, and often the changes are positive; adding extra MIDI instruments that were probably beyond the capabilities of the original hardware in order to flesh out some of the sparser pieces, for example. But it does beg the question: why mess with perfection?

At the end of the day, though, the greatness of the source material and the convenience of having it in a portable package outweigh any issues in translation, leaving me unhesitant in recommending this to any fan of FF or console RPGs in general.

*Smiles*

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 17, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game really does take an old-time player back. Each character in FFVI has their own personality, and the storyline is just as good.

There are, however, some details.

1) The first time you use Sabin's Blitz in the game. The instructions are very unclear, and because I hadn't played it in a while, I really did not know what to do. A simple: <--, -->, <--, A would have sufficed and been more efficient. Also, and I know this was probably on the original SNES version of the game instead of Down, Down left, Left for the Aura move, it would have been a lot more efficient to mention IN GAME that it was really Down, Down, Left and then A.

2) The Celes scene should not have been cut out. I got this game because I thought it would be in good faith with the original. There was no reason to cut out that scene with her and the soldier. I did not want to buy an abridged or censored copy of a Classic. By the same token, they had no problem leaving the scene with Cyan and his family. So I'm not really sure what is going here, but that did disappoint me as an old-time player, and fan.

3) The music sounds very odd on this system, but it could just be the system itself and how it translates sound.

These are my only observations so far. The Celes part is kind of disappointing, and FF purists should consider this before spending money on owning this product. But the over all story is the same, and some elements of the game are in fact easier to access. So overall rating 4/5.

Son of a what?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: March 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game was amazing back when I first played it and the original charm is FOR THE MOST PART still there. It's one of the greatest stories ever told in my honest opinion, but the new translations lack the punch of the original one. Specifically, if you ever thought "son of a submariner!" was the best insult ever fangled, you'll be very disappointed with this new iteration of an old classic.

But I'm nitpicking. This is indeed an excellent game if you're into that whole nostalgia thing. I am.

Revival of a favorite

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: May 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Whether you've played Final Fantasy VI on the NES, PS1, or just barely found this game for the GBA SP, there's no denying the game's compelling story and memorable music. You'll laugh and cry and want nothing more than to defeat the villain Kefka most FF fans recognize as the second most hated (and loved) villain of the entire series, just below Sephiroth from FFVII. This is one of my favorite FF games of all time. Try it - you'll get addicted.

Good, but not as good as SNES version

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: March 21, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is similar to the original SNES version. The dialog has changed a bit, and they renamed lots of items, monsters and espers. The game play is not nearly as fast as the SNES version and when casting some spells during battle it is down right slow.

Some issues but they don't kill the game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: February 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'd give this a 5 star rating but there are a few issues with this port that I must address.

First of all, there is a problem with the sound. The GBA seems to play sounds on a higher pitch for the most part and there is a "kssss" sound in a lot of the songs.
However, I found that placing the volume at a medium level (just under halfway on the DS) made the sound just fine.

Secondly, there are occasional lag "spikes", but not much slowdown overall. This is nowhere near as laggy as the PSX version, but there are a few places where you notice it.. but it was so minimal that it barely bothered me.

Square retranslated some parts from the original SNES version, however most of the original script remains intact. The only real edits were fixing the grammar and adding missing pieces here and there.

Square has also fixed some of the bugs that plagued the orignal version, including fixing the infamous evade stat which used to not count for anything. They have also changed up a few skills (Gau's leap skill appears to be more streamlined and the Magitek armor skill "banish" makes the enemies disappear instead of pulling them out in columns).

There isn't much new content but I doubt anyone is playing this for that. This is a classic game that is still highly enjoyable, I even own the SNES and SFC versions and I still had a great time with this.
Overall this is great for people who have never played this game and great for those who played the original version, as long as you are willing to forgive some sound issues and occasional bits of lag.

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