Bec66
Since: Dec, 2016
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Pixel-Remaster: A Final Fantasy finally redeemed after 31 years.
Final Fantasy III is a SNES game that got released a generation early. While it has the tropes of old like the Dragon Quest combat, the party of blank-slates, and Vancian magic-system, it stands as a highly ambitious work that measures up with the classic SNES trilogy.
After the stinker that was II the series went back a step and took to making a bigger, better, and more original version of I. Four light-warriors, four crystals, but now twice the length in a world twice the size.
You have versatility. You can change your job at will. You can swap magic around instead of forgetting expensive spells. You could make a lot of weird party combinations work.
The pacing is brisk. Dungeons are much shorter, tighter, and linear. There's little aimless wandering as you get the airship incredibly early, under the midway point. There are actual sidequests for the first time, like facing Odin and Bahamut.
I recommend playing not just III, but the Pixel Remaster in particular. This version fixes faults that plagued the original and went unfixed in the DS remake.
You can save anywhere. The original was notorious for making you complete the final dungeon in one go with no checkpoints. A single game-over cost you two hours. The Pixel Remaster respects your time and gives you a quick-save and auto-save. I got the Platinum achievement in just twenty hours.
You can switch jobs without issue. You don't have to spend points nor do you have to fight several battles with a stat-penalty.
The 16-Bit aesthetic ages far better than the bland visuals of the DS remake.
The OST is outstanding. Take a listen to the renditions of 'Eternal Wind', 'Boundless Ocean', or 'Priestess Aria'. It's like a choir of angels having an orgasm.
Final Fantasy III is where the series came into its own. The first game was solid, but unoriginal. The second game introduced series staples but by itself it was a glum failure. III has a light tone, a wide scope, colorful bosses like a gold-obsessed knight and a camp pirate-zombie, cool set-pieces like your airship aiding you in combat, and a more involved mythology.
Granted, the Job System is fairly limited with no multi-classing, and the endgame fights are more battles of attrition over tactics, but the whole package is the best game it could be for the era, now made better with the Pixel Remaster. It absolutely holds up as a classic.