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Final Fantasy III seems to be a black sheep amongst Final Fantasy fans. So much so that when a Final Fantasy fan ranks his or her favourites, III always tends to hover around the bottom with the other unloved FF games, I and II. Yes, these games are fundamentally flawed, but they were unique for the time they came out. Most Westerners first experienced Final Fantasy III on the DS, and many of us have cursed the various problems with the game. With the exception of a few oddballs I know, most people hate the game, and it's largely due to the very old-school feeling that the DS version attempts and successfully retains.
While it's not one of my favourites, I just don't have this seething fount of dislike for the game like I see on forums. Certainly there are many reasons to dislike Final Fantasy III, but I've been contemplating where my enjoyment is coming from, and although I still haven't finished the game, it's possessed of charm I never thought would be there in the first place.
Let's put it into perspective: Final Fantasy III is a difficult game that wants players to grind until they feel like gouging their eyes out with a fork. It's also a game in the Final Fantasy family that lacks any sort of replay value, and doesn't reward the player by any means other then a pat on the back after finally toasting Cloud of Darkness. Oh Cloud of Darkness, how I loathe you. In comparison to its direct descendant Final Fantasy V, its job classes are some of the most restrictive and linear around. See any positives yet?
Despite of all these negatives that make me want to grind my teeth in frustration, I can't hate Final Fantasy III. The plot is one of the most cornball around, to the point where I often refer to the Light Warriors as the "Captain Obvious Squad." The "Captain Obvious Squad" is made up of four adorable orphans, who are chosen to save the world in lieu of creating a modern plot. It's hard not to think that the characters aren't adorable considering their dim situation. They believe in helping others, teamwork and, of course, tolerance. This game is built on positive messages that are constantly reinforced in the story. One can argue it makes the characters flat, but I see the characters as a collective unit instead of single entities. I like that they believe they have the hope of the world resting on their shoulders. I adore that they believe they can change the world. It's hard to see the four Light Warriors as anything but charming.
It's sad that the positive message of Final Fantasy III is overshadowed by all of of its frustrating aspects. In some ways I miss playing RPGs that enforce positives messages. You can argue that many JRPGs have a foundational message they are trying to get across, but it's hard to enforce this message through just one main character. Sometimes it takes a crew of bubbly orphans to make you appreciate the simple themes of love, courage and strength. I'm not trying to argue that the story in III is good, because in some ways it's flat-out terrible, but maybe I love it because everything about the characters and their ideals seems genuine. But not the boss fights. Those are a genuine pain the butt.
Final Fantasy III may have a lot of flaws, but it's still the only game that lets me play as a Viking, and I suppose that gives it one point above Final Fantasy V.
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