Final Fantasy III is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) in 1990 for the Family Computer (released internationally as the Nintendo Entertainment System) as a part of the Final Fantasy series. Final Fantasy III is the first numbered Final Fantasy game to feature the job-change system, and was one of the largest role-playing games created for Nintendo's console.
The plot of the game involves four orphaned youths who come across a crystal, which grants them a portion of its power, then instructs them to go forth and restore balance to the world. Shocked but heartened, the four inform their adoptive family of their mission and set out to explore and bring back balance to the world.
An enhanced remake of the game, updated with 3D visuals designed to stay true to the original, was released for the Nintendo DS portable game system on August 24, 2006 in Japan and on November 14, 2006 in North America and in PAL regions on May 4, 2007. This remake is the only iteration of the game to be released internationally. There had been earlier plans to remake the game for Bandai's WonderSwan Color handheld (as had been done with the first two installments and the fourth game), but the game faced several delays and was eventually cancelled after the premature death of the platform.
Gameplay[]
The gameplay of Final Fantasy III combines elements of the first two Final Fantasy games with new features. The turn-based combat system remains in place from the first two games, but hit points are now shown on top of the target when attacked or healed, rather than captioned as in the original versions of the previous two games. Auto-targeting for physical attacks after a friendly or enemy unit is killed is also featured for the first time.
The experience point system featured in Final Fantasy makes a return following its absence from Final Fantasy II. A class system is also featured; however, unlike in Final Fantasy I, where the player chooses each character's class alignment at the start of the game, and Final Fantasy II, where there are no specific classes, Final Fantasy III introduces the "job system" for which the series would become famous. Jobs themselves are basically interchangeable classes: In the original version of the game, all four characters start out as "Onion Knights," but before long the player is given the option to have them switch to a variety of other classes. Final Fantasy III is the first game in the series to feature special battle commands such as "Steal" or "Jump," each of which is associated with a particular job ("Steal" being the Thief's specialty, while "Jump" is the Dragoon's forte). It is also the first game in the series to feature summoned creatures and their "Summon" skill.
Several classes were altered (such as additional abilities) in the Nintendo DS version to improve balance.
Story[]
One day, an earthquake opens up a previously hidden cavern in Altar Cave near the village of Ur on the floating continent. Four orphaned youths under the care of Topapa, the village elder, go exploring and come across a crystal of light. The crystal grants them a portion of its power, and instructs them to go forth and restore balance to the world. Not knowing what to make of the crystal's pronouncements, but nonetheless recognizing the importance of its words, the four inform their adoptive family of their mission and set out to explore an overworld outside the area in which they were brought up to bring back balance to the world.
Characters[]
The Famicom version generates four Onion Kid characters.
The Nintendo DS version introduces four playable characters:
- Luneth, an orphan from Ur
- Arc, a friend of Luneth
- Refia, a blacksmith's adopted daugther
- Ingus, knight of Castle Sasune
Setting[]
The world of Final Fantasy III is known as the Floating Continent.
- Ur, [role of location]
- Kazus, [role of location]
- Canaan, [role of location
Box Art[]
