FF3
Latest
Talk to giant crystals this week in Final Fantasy 3 on Steam
It turns out that maintaining the balance of light and dark is extremely important for the well being of the world's inhabitants. Who knew, right? Final Fantasy 3's world has an impending balance problem of its own, but it's nothing that a group of young orphans can't fix by banding together, inheriting power from talking crystals and buffing their skill set at the expense of a lot of monsters. Steam users can do all of the above starting on May 27, when Square-Enix brings the RPG to PCs for $15.99. The Steam version will offer trading cards and achievements, with its store page also boasting "upgraded graphics for PC." Though we'll soon have a choice from the mobile, PC or Nintendo DS versions, it took 16 years for Final Fantasy 3 to reach Europe or North America after its 1990 Japanese debut. [Image: Square-Enix]
Final Fantasy 3 rated for PC in Germany
Square Enix is bringing Final Fantasy 3 to PC, according to a German classification for the game. The USK, Germany's entertainment software regulation body, published a rating for the game earlier this month with the platform PC attached to it. The organization rated the game USK 6, approving it for children aged six and above. Square Enix previously ported other games in the series to PC, including both Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 8's appearances on Steam in July and December, respectively. Final Fantasy 3 originally launched on Famicom in 1990 and didn't arrive in North America until its 2006 3D remake on DS. Since then, Square Enix republished the game on WiiWare in 2009, iOS in March 2011, Android in June 2012, PSP in September 2012 and Windows Phone this past December. The North American classification board ESRB does not have a rating for the game's PC version. We've reached out to Square Enix to see whether the PC version of the game will come to North America. [Image: USK]
Final Fantasy 3 coming to PSP Tuesday
Final Fantasy 3 will be available to download on PSP on September 25, as revealed in a recent PlayStation blog.While both the price of the game and Vita compatibility weren't noted, the PSP version will see a few subtle changes. Namely, players will be able to switch to Final Fantasy 3's original background music, graphics will be optimized to suit the system's 16:9 screen, and it will include an auto-battle system to speed up combat.
Final Fantasy 3 joining Ouya launch lineup
What a coincidence! Final Fantasy 3 was just released for Android, and now Square Enix has announced a version for the rapidly Kickstarting Ouya console, bringing the game full circle from its console (Famicom) roots. That development took Final Fantasy 3 through a circuitous path of "console to handheld to phone to phone to console.""This will be the first time gamers outside of Japan can play FFIII on their televisions through a console," the Ouya team points out. It's also the first support for the unreleased console from a major publisher. We expect to see other big names follow suit in porting their Android games to the console.
Final Fantasy 3 now on Android
A remake of 1990's Final Fantasy 3, based on the DS version, is now available on Google's Android operating system, boasting "3D visuals and story sequences only for Android," as well as improved browsing functionality for the monster bestiary and new designs for the Job Mastery cards, according to the game's listing on Google Play.The port will set you back $15.99 and requires that your device runs Android 2.2 (Froyo) or newer. Alternatively, you could buy the iPhone version, Famicom version for about the same price, or the DS version for about $40. You could also go back in time and prevent the Wonderswan Color port from getting informally cancelled, but that might require significantly more effort/less eBay. %Gallery-159491%
Final Fantasy III available on iPad today
Before they became mopey, meteorologically named belt-enthusiasts, Final Fantasy protagonists used to be heroic, cheerful and chosen youths, with names like "Ingus" and "Luneth." Thankfully, Square Enix hasn't lost touch with that younger generation of yesteryear, having released a 3D remake of Final Fantasy III on DS, the iPhone and iPod Touch, and -- as of today -- the iPad. The latest version is based on the iPhone release, which Touch Arcade called the "definitive version of a classic RPG." Consider that praise as well as warning, since Final Fantasy III remains an occasionally harsh, old-school experience. But then, there's also someone called "Refia." Find it on the App Store for $16.99.
Final Fantasy 3 now out for iOS, other Square Enix titles on sale
If you missed Square Enix's 3D remake of Final Fantasy 3 when it made its way to DS back in 2006, you can now catch it on an even tinier device. The RPG is now available on the iOS App Store for the somewhat prodigious price of $15.99 -- fairly high for an iPhone game, sure, but fairly low for a DS game. (That's how we're choosing to look at it, glass-half-full thinkers as we are.) If your sorrowfully slim bank account is preventing you from grabbing Square's latest, you might be pleased to learn that most of its catalog of iOS titles (and art gallery apps?) has been discounted until March 31. Check out the list of price cuts after the jump, right below the trailer for the new Final Fantasy 3 port! Man, it's getting crowded down there.
iPhone Final Fantasy III is based on the DS version
Final Fantasy III on iPhone isn't based on the Famicom original, according to Famitsu magazine. Instead, it's a remake of the polygonal DS remake from 2006. The magazine reports (via Andriasang) that the iPhone version will have undergone significant re-remaking when it's released in Japan next month. The graphics will be in high resolution, the sound will be updated, and the monster viewer will be reformatted for ease of use. No images of the new version are available yet; however, with the magazine issue out today, we can expect to see official screenshots on Famitsu.com within a couple of days. This makes the iPhone, in our opinion, the weirdest place for Final Fantasy games, since it houses Final Fantasy I and II, which are based on the PSP versions, and soon the DS-originated Final Fantasy III. If you just downloaded them all from the App Store without knowing any of the history, you'd be baffled as to why they looked so different. Update: A post on the European Square Enix Members site reveals that FF3 is due on the App Store in Europe this March, as well.
Square Enix bringing Final Fantasy III to iPhone
Japanese manga magazine V-Jump recently outed Square Enix's plans to dominate the iPhone App Store's RPG offerings, coming in the form of two major titles set to launch this year in Japan. The first we already knew: Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, which is (still!) due out sometime this Spring. The other is an iOS-friendly version of Final Fantasy III -- which is to say, the NES game which only just came stateside on the Nintendo DS in 2006, and not Final Fantasy VI, which came to the U.S. under the title Final Fantasy III, which will never stop being confusing. V-Jump didn't share any details on when the game would arrive, or if it would be ported stateside; though Square Enix has a pretty good track record for bringing their games to the U.S. hastily. It's unclear which version of the game we'll get, though: The original NES title? The cancelled WonderSwan version? The 3D-modeled DS version? The 2D fighting game featuring NBA superstars? Oh, wait. Scratch that. We confused Final Fantasy III with Shaq-Fu again.
FFIII: Not ridiculously expensive for once
If you made a point of not picking up Final Fantasy 3 DS after seeing its redonkulous $40 tag when it first hit stores a year ago, you'll be happy to hear that the 3D remake's price has been slashed in half with an Onion Sword! Already, Amazon and GameStop/EB are selling Final Fantasy 3 for $19.99. Even if you already have the game, it's so cheap now, you won't mind buying it again (provided that you aren't still broke from buying it the first time)!
First look at Final Fantasy IV 3D remake [Update 1]
Japanese magazine Shonen Jump has unveiled the first screenshots of Square Enix's Final Fantasy IV 3D remake, confirming rumors about its development that've been circulating since yesterday. The preview shows a sampling of combat and Cecil wandering through a populated town. Run past the post break for the scanned page and a smug look from Shonen Jump's pirate guy.With FFIV released for the GBA around late 2005 and FFIII remade for the DS just last November, are you starting to tire from all of Square Enix's rehashes like we are? We won't deny that the 3D engine looks great, but do we have to revisit every single Final Fantasy adventure with it, especially when an updated version of this particular game already came out less than two years ago? And for the love of all that is good and holy, why haven't Secret of Mana or Chrono Trigger made it on the list of games to be remade yet?
Comparing Square Enix's Japanese and US boxart
In a recent interview with 1UP, Square Enix's marketing communications manager gave us some insight on the process behind adapting Chocobo Tales' packaging for the US. We happen to prefer the Japanese version's modest artwork over North America's chaotic cover, but we understand that the company had a younger audience to appeal to and a different message it needed to convey. We've collected DS covers from Square Enix's Japanese and US releases after the post break for you to compare and decide which one you like best. To its credit, the company hasn't completely mangled its DS boxarts so far (The same can't be said about Nintendo's bastardization of Hotel Dusk's cover). How do you feel about Children of Mana's simplified design? Does Final Fantasy 3's stripped packaging appeal to your western tastes? And do you agree with 1UP that publishers have been doing a better job with dressing their products?
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates opening video
We can't fault Square Enix for milking Final Fantasy 3 DS' graphics engine -- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates, the latest DS title to use the engine, looks fantastic in motion.A new video of the multiplayer RPG's opening cutscene has been posted, parading the game's character and environment models. The movie clip is a little on the boring side if you can't follow the Japanese dialogue, but it shows off a feature we didn't see in the original GameCube game: full voice acting. Check past the post break to watch the video.
Peep these sweet Final Fantasy III figurines
For all of you that got a real kick out of the game, these figurines here might be right up your alley. With a total of seven available (with three of them pictured, natch), we imagine many a cubicle area or home desk could be spruced up (or even defended from ne'er-do-wells) by these awesome figurines. Play-Asia supposedly sells them, but they're currently sold out with no signs of replenished stock coming. Anyone want to get their hands on these?
Final Fantasy III slated for spring 2007 in Europe
While we, in the states, have been enjoying the game for quite some time (several years less than Japanese gamers, though), European gamers have been waiting on their turn to take part in a fantasy most final, and now we finally have a window of time in which the game will release to the region. While we wish we could have received a more concrete release date, one involving a day and month, we're glad to have at least some idea of when to expect the game.
Metareview - Final Fantasy III (DS)
At long last, the true Final Fantasy III finally localized for our precious consumption. But don't be fooled by the cutesy characters, they don't make 'em like this no more: Game Informer (80/100) - "[This is an old-school adventure, with all of the pitfalls and payoffs that entails ... Providing you're the type of person who doesn't have any trouble going back and playing 8-bit games, Final Final III [sic] is an excellent handheld homage to a bygone era." IGN (78/100) - "For any unassuming casual gamer out there, be warned, as Final Fantasy III hits hard and plays like the demanding days of old. We're talking tons of random battles (every five or so steps in some cases), inns that don't revive dead characters, and instant death battles that don't hesitate to kill unsuspecting explorers that feel the need to wander too far from the 'strongly recommended' path the game delivers ... Either you need this game or you don't. Plain and simple." Games Radar (70/100) - "[Tons] of uphill struggles and unaccommodating features [make] the experience borderline miserable at times. But for some of us, the Fantasy followers and old-style gamers, it's nice to sneak in such a guilty pleasure in between all the over-produced RPGs that hold your hand every step of the way." Current overall average: 77/100 (8 reviews)
Final Fantasy III battle footage takes to the sea
With less than a week until Final Fantasy III releases to US gamers, our excitement cannot get any higher. We're serious, we already broke one of our excite-o-meters just trying to measure our excitement. As such, the embedded video of some serious scrapping on the high seas manages to increase our interest in the game that much more. We suggest you check it out, after the break.
Final Fantasy III US site launch
The US site for a little game called Final Fantasy III recently launched and It's chock full of information on the game. While we might have ruined the surprise you undoubtedly would have been overcome with should we had neglected our duties of ruining everything for you, we feel you're better off having known all the information we presented before this site launch. And remember, we know best. Penchants to go on nonsensical rants aside, the US site features a prologue section, along with character biographies detailing the many characters in the game, as well as a breakdown on the game's story and job system.
Final Fantasy III coming to America on Nov. 14
Square Enix finally set a street date on the North American release of the anticipated DS remake, Final Fantasy III. Slated to hit store shelves on Nov. 14, FFIII is a touched-up version of the game that many old-school U.S. gamers never knew -- our FFIII was really the Japanese version of FFVI.The game will take advantage of the DS' Wi-Fi capabilities allowing players to "communicate with others and uncover hidden dungeons, quests, and items using a Wi-Fi connection."
A plethora of FFIII videos
Games are Fun points the way to six new videos for the upcoming DS version of Final Fantasy III. While the videos are a bit on the short side, they do give you a solid sense of how you'll be revisiting this classic world. You can either watch the YouTube movies after the break or check out the direct links here: Scene after first boss battle Battle Town Town & world map Job editor (lets you change jobs and shows your character) World map, dungeon, and battle
