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Final Fantasy VI Advance (GBA)

• Developer:
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Genre:
• Official Website: http://ffvi.nintendo.com
• Score: 5 of 5: Purchase

It's hard to believe that Final Fantasy, the most inappropriately-named RPG series in history, is picking up as much steam as it currently is, regardless of the overwhelming critical success of the recent Final Fantasy XII. Final Fantasy VI Advance marks the fourth "new" Final Fantasy release in as many months, coming hot off the heels of a very robust year for RPGs, particularly the last quarter of 2006, not to mention the Final Fantasy franchise itself. With a remake of Final Fantasy Tactics in the works for the PSP, a side-sequel to Final Fantasy XII en route to the Nintendo DS, and three Final Fantasy XIII titles in the works, it seems that the Final Fantasy franchise is frightfully far from final.

Or, perhaps not so frightfully considering the relative quality of the releases we've seen. Final Fantasy IIIdidn't necessarily break any new ground, but it was a solid RPG and an excellent RPG for the Nintendo DS. Final Fantasy V Advance was rather good. And, of course, Final Fantasy XII was possibly the best Final Fantasy of them all and clearly one of the best RPGs for current-gen (or is it previous-gen now?) systems. And while this isn't the first time Final Fantasy VI has been remade and re-released since its debut here as Final Fantasy III on the Super Nintendo, it is the first time in over a decade that players can enjoy the game with a decent speed - the Final Fantasy remakes for the original PlayStation were too sluggish for their own good.

With so many Final Fantasies out in such a short period of time, it is interesting to see how the series has evolved. Though fans are divided on which Final Fantasies are good, bad, best, and worst, many consider Final Fantasy VI to be the very best the series has to offer. I never really understood the almost-rabid zeal people had for the game. To be honest, the original Final Fantasy for the NES was one of my first console RPG experiences, but I had put the series aside until Final Fantasy VII, and I never bought the sluggish Final Fantasy Chronicles or Anthologies. I had messed around with Final Fantasy III with a friend long ago, but I never really delved into it. So, for all intents and purposes, I was a Final Fantasy VI virgin before playing Final Fantasy VI Advance.

Though I maintain much of the love for the game is nostalgic, I can see why this game garners so much of it and so much passion from its fans. Final Fantasy VI takes a few lateral steps away from the dry method of storytelling that has become a normal attribute of RPGs. Indeed, there is no single hero in this game, but rather the game involves a band of protagonists and a point of view that jumps around. Some may find it disconcerting - I admit that the constant jumping around often complimented the story but occasionally disrupted the tension - but most seem to agree that the shifting point of view is what makes Final Fantasy VI so great. It puts the focus on multiple characters who are all fully-fleshed out with backstory, personality, and motive - in a word, character, something that is extremely important for an RPG but is often taken for granted in development nowadays.

Gameplay is standard for SNES-era gaming; not much has changed in that regard. Combat and character attributes are fairly customizable, but I found that combat was easy enough that it doesn't really matter. Encounter rates are slightly high but not too bad considering the crop of RPGs we've seen recently. That said, effort was put into the game to make sure combat did not become too repetitive. All characters can equip magic eventually, but other than that, their skills differ. Certain areas in the game will also dampen certain skills, or magic, or may require the party only use magic, which keeps the game fresh.

In the end, Final Fantasy VI is as non-traditional as you can get within the Final Fantasy series while still maintaining the recognizable qualities that make it a Final Fantasy game. The game looks and feels like a standard SNES-era, 16-bit RPG, but in truth it is much, much more, and I'm kicking myself for avoiding the game this long. On the other hand, it was nice to play this game with a fresh set of eyes, unweighed by nostalgia. In either case, this game is a must buy for RPG enthusiasts and Final Fantasy enthusiasts alike. Those looking to recapture the love they had for their original involvement with Final Fantasy VI when it was Final Fantasy III will undoubtedly enjoy this version with its polished localization and additional challenges. And for those, like me, who never had the chance to play Final Fantasy VI in any of its previous forms, I highly recommend this. It is a true gem and an RPG that any RPG enthusiast would be proud to own.

Feb 23, 2007 | 3 comments
Roger Helgeson