| Final Fantasy VI - Retroview | |
The First Of The Great FFs By: TheShroud13
Review Breakdown |
Battle System |
7 |
Interface |
6 |
Music/Sound |
10 |
Originality |
7 |
Plot |
9 |
Localization |
9 |
Replay Value |
4 |
Visuals |
5 |
Difficulty |
Very Easy |
Time to Complete |
-/+20 hours | | Overall | |
Criteria |
For many years, the Final Fantasy Series has been the most accepted
role-playing series in the United States. Final Fantasy, and Final
Fantasy 4 were welcomed with open arms in the United States. Some of
the series' games had not been released in the United States, but every
game after this title was. Final Fantasy 6 (3 in America) marked the
beginning of the golden era in Final Fantasy gaming. Focusing more on
plot and characterization than any FF before, VI marked the breakout
point of the Final Fantasy series. Final Fantasy IV started the
adolescence of the Final Fantasy series, and it became an adult in Final
Fantasy VI. In my opinion, Final Fantasy 6 is the greatest role-playing
game to date, the best Final Fantasy to date, and undoubtedly the
pinnacle of the 16-bit era of role-playing.
Active-Time Battling (ATB) had been around since Final Fantasy IV, and
has not made many changes since then. Aside from cleaning up the
system, and making it flow more smoothly, the battle system in Final
Fantasy VI has not changed significantly since the previous stateside
incarnation of the famous ATB. FF VI does add that FF IV did not have
is support for Espers. While Espers can be used in a manner like
summons were in previous FF games, they have a much more significant
purpose, teaching your party magic. While you have an Esper equipped,
the character the Esper is equipped to will begin draining magical
energy from the Esper at a specific rate multiplied by the AP you
receive after a battle. Because of this, any character can learn any
spell, not just magic users. Another new addition to the battle system
is a couple of new skills you will have at your disposal, including the
Blitz ability, and the Swordtech ability. The Blitzes are performed by
pushing a sequence of directions after selecting to use a Blitz, much
like a fighting game. These new additions add a lot more to the battles
then you might think. There are also a few other skills, but most of
them are operated just like items, or have been used before. The battle
system is not going to wow you, but it is a much cleaner system than
that of Final Fantasy IV, and it serves its purpose well. Although I've
never thrown my back into the ATB system whole-heartedly, it is executed
well.
Much like the battle system, the interface does less to amaze you, and
more to fulfill its role, and fulfill it does. Final Fantasy VI uses an
easy to use, easy on the eyes interface. Since you'll be using the
menus often to arrange your Espers, review your skills, change your
equipment, and use items, you want it to be good. Thankfully, it is.
Final Fantasy VI's menus are easily accessible, easy to navigate, and
simple to use. While there is not too much to do within the system, it
is not a terrible system, and it does a very good job of allowing you to
easily get what you need to get done easily and quickly.
| Look ma! I'm on TV! | |
If there is one thing in Final Fantasy VI that instantly makes it a
classic, it is its remarkable musical score. Some of the cleanest, most
crisp, most detailed music ever to grace the SNES belongs to this game.
>From the beautiful opening scene to the amazing ending medley, FF VI is
the finest work of Nobuo Uematsu, or any composer. Featuring great
battle songs, wonderful, touching character tunes, and all kinds of
beautiful songs that always fit the atmosphere. If the characters don't
get to you, then the music certainly will. The music is the shining
glory of an already great game. I've heard a lot of music, both from
games, and from other sources, and there is no music I listen to more
than that which comes from FF VI. Getting you pumped in battle, and sad
in tough times, FF VI's music pumps emotions through your system like no
other game. As for its sounds, it is nothing special, but you'll be
paying so much attention to the soundtrack that you won't care to
notice.
One of the more original members of the early Final Fantasies, Final
Fantasy VI neither overachieves in the originality department, nor makes
you check your library of books to check out that character really seems
to be just like the ones you experience in the game. There are some
very unique aspects of Final Fantasy VI, and they are joyous to
observe. Nothing is amazingly original, but it is more original than
most, and nothing in the game is so blatantly lacking in creativity that
it makes the game a bore.
| Mog is the name of a Moogle. | |
Final Fantasy VI doesn't sport a very amazing plot, however, it is
executed in such a wonderful way, it seems absolutely amazing. The game
sports very good pacing, excellent characterization, and while not a
masterpiece on the story level, is still a very nice story compared to
most. Final Fantasy VI hosts one of the richest casts in the entire
series, and is bolstered even further by some of the most memorable
dialogue to ever grace a game. FF VI also uses good use of story
development moving from humble goals, to realizing an even greater
importance to your quest. The game deserves very high marks for its
execution, even though the game's plot isn't the world's greatest.
One thing that really helps Final Fantasy VI in its excellent plot
execution is the localization job done by Square for this game. The
text flows smoothly, and richly. The grammatical errors are few, and
hardly noticeable. FF VI sports some of the most entertaining dialogue
in the series, and the characters sound much more like people than any
game before in the series thanks to the localization.
| Don't steal this guy's thunder. | |
The big marks against FF VI are the lack of any reason to play the game
again, and the relatively lacking visuals. Aside from a few secrets
that you could probably find out your first time through, FF VI is very
lacking in many reasons to play the game again. Although the first time
through is very rich and enjoyable, playing the game again is no more
than a waste of your own time. Although the short length of the game
doesn't make it difficult to play it over, but there is no real
motivation to either. The visuals in FF VI are no real show either.
Lacking backgrounds and only fairly detailed sprites make game less than
a treat to look at. Never the less, the graphics aren't so terrible
that it is a chore to look at them like previous games, but if you play
games for graphics, don't play FF VI.
All and all, Final Fantasy VI is the type of game that only comes
around once or twice during a console's lifespan. One of the richest
adventures ever to grace the SNES, and all of RPGaming as well, FF VI is
a true classic. From start to end FF VI holds your interest, keeps you
guessing, and keeps you very entertained. There are few bad things to
say about this game, and the majority of those things are simply
nitpicking. This game is a joy to play all around, and one of the best
the SNES has to offer.
TheShroud13's Bottom Line: One of the all time classics in RPG history,
you simply have to play this game!
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