Final Fantasy III

 DS
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 259 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 196 out of 259
  2. Mixed: 51 out of 259
  3. Negative: 12 out of 259
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  1. Joeking
    Apr 19, 2007
    10
    Pure brilliance. The job-leveling system is a bit odd at first, but I couldn't stop playing as I really wanted to get to the next job set. By far the best rpg I've played so far on the DS.
  2. 6xdandangp
    Dec 29, 2012
    5
    A remake of an incredible JRPG for the NES. However, a number of gameplay changes caused the game to lose its charm. Battles are way too slow compared to the NES version and the weak hardware of the DS results in frame rate problems.
  3. WillyG.
    Jan 19, 2008
    4
    Man its terrible compared to all the modern FF games. Theres almost no character development, no plot twists, extremely predictable storyline(not to mention extremely cliched and old). Im glad the new FF games are so much better. Also, you can only save on the world map, which is terrible at the end of the game when you have to go up in a tower for 3 hours. The final boss is very hard so Man its terrible compared to all the modern FF games. Theres almost no character development, no plot twists, extremely predictable storyline(not to mention extremely cliched and old). Im glad the new FF games are so much better. Also, you can only save on the world map, which is terrible at the end of the game when you have to go up in a tower for 3 hours. The final boss is very hard so if you lose you have to repeat those 3 hours again and hope that you do better the next time. I was getting ready to destroy my DS at this point. I recommend that if you REALLY REALLY want a handheld FF game, then you should get it, or if you have never played a different FF game before like 7 8 9 10 you might like this. Otherwise its a pretty terrible game.… Expand
  4. MarkS.
    Dec 26, 2006
    1
    I'm going to go ahead and give this game a 1 rating... Mainly because this isn't really a novel idea for a game (especially not for an rpg) and the ridiculous gayophile following of any Final Fantasy game, from people who don't have any real point or purpose to their lives.
  5. Alex
    Aug 31, 2010
    9
    Square pull it off once again with the DS remake of Final Fantasy III. An RPG that wasn't originally released in US and UK has now been remade into a 2-million-selling must-have for a wide audience. Perfect for the DS, this single-player old school RPG has a plot expected of a 20 year old game; 4 "chosen" orphans who go out on a mission when instructed by crystals to cave the world.Square pull it off once again with the DS remake of Final Fantasy III. An RPG that wasn't originally released in US and UK has now been remade into a 2-million-selling must-have for a wide audience. Perfect for the DS, this single-player old school RPG has a plot expected of a 20 year old game; 4 "chosen" orphans who go out on a mission when instructed by crystals to cave the world. Simple, effective, fun.
    The game in itself has been described by many as too difficult for the casual gamer. I for one found it easy, but this may be due to the fact that I use the levelling system (the more battles you win, the stronger your characters become) and level up as much as possible before entering, for example, a new cave, or a new part of the landscape where monsters (who appear in "random battles", which occur while on the world map) may be tougher than in previous locations. This is a key feature in the game; if you do not level up enough, you will suffer and have increased difficulty progressing. Online features (such as mailing other players whose individual game codes you have collected) allow opportunities for side quests, of which there is many. This adds some extra hours onto the end of the game.
    The game has a low age rating. There is no explicit language or scenes, but the violence which occurs with swords and other weapons could become a problem amongst younger players, earning the game a PEGI 12+ age rating.
    The game includes about 25 solid hours of gameplay, and if one wishes, an extra 5 hours minimum of side quests. The dungeons aren't too long, and advancing doesn't take too much time, although increasing levels for ease of progression may become a chore, as enemies can be quite repetitive. There is often a case of tapping the A button repeatedly for as many battles as it takes to level up enough to be able to defeat the next boss. Boss fights can be hard, although the final boss was a disappointment, and at a character level that wasn't too drastic, I found the final boss relatively easy, defeating it about 5 minutes in on my first try. One can save at any point on the world map, as long as you are not in a battle or a conversation. There are also places in dungeons (often appropriately placed just before boss battles) where you can save the game and heal up your characters, which is often a point where you may find your self relaxing, knowing that you can retry a boss battle without having to go through the entire dungeon again. There is also a "Quicksave" feature; you can do this in any dungeon or town, which literally pauses the game, while you turn the DS off.
    There is replay value in the form of Job systems and online-triggered side quests. The job system is a feature of the game where you choose what kind of skills you want each of your characters to gain with progress. These include general fighters, mages, ninjas, etc., all of which have different and vital abilities.
    The game is easily controlled with the D-pad. I didn't at any point find myself wishing the touch screen had more use, which is admirable. It is easy to control, and you will quickly become accustomed to navigating through menus, the world map and the battle system.
    Graphics are amazing; characters are distinctly different, and appearance changes with your choice of Job. The environment is amazing also, and while not realistic, the system makes full use of the DS' technicality and the developers have produced a graphics system which has been used in other successful games since. Computer animation is up to par and the colourful cartoon-esque world is perfect for DS and Final Fantasy.
    There is no voice acting; one of the biggest disappointments of the game. On the other hand, a masterful soundtrack and appropriate sound effects live up to Final Fantasy standards.
    CGI scenes are just the same graphically, but from different angles and close-ups. The amazing CGI scene which starts on the main menu is astounding. Realistic (for the DS) and just something every game needs; a perfect start-up video to give a taste of the entire game.
    This game is greatly under-rated. Every aspect seems perfect, and the Square team have really done a great job, as is evident with 2 million sales. At the moment it is listed as the DS' 32nd best selling game. The game has been a success; over 1,000 games have been released for the DS and only around 60 have been million-sellers.
    9/10. Why? Although being a brilliant and worthwhile game, and it is a remake so there is little expectancy for this, there is nothing new; nothing to make the player feel they are experiencing something no other game has done before.    … Expand
  6. Tubie
    Oct 23, 2010
    6
    Not the best port, yes they updated the graphics and all but the game could have a received a better treatment. I guess some games don't translate well into modern graphics.
  7. OwtDaft
    Jul 28, 2018
    4
    + Was the only way to play the game in Britain.
    - Huge fan of Final Fantasy but this game doesn't hold up very well.
    - Biggest flaw is it's difficulty spikes and it's requirement for large amounts of grinding.
    - The characters have a'lot of customisation but they also have little personality.
  8. KeithW.
    Nov 20, 2006
    9
    An excellent game in the series, and a fresh taste of what america missed all these years.
  9. CheneyD.
    Nov 30, 2006
    10
    I have no idea why this game didn't get better scores. It is probably the best FF remake I have ever played, it's perfect for the DS, and is incredibly fun. Maybe the reviewers thought it was too hard or forgot to level up or something. The story isn't shakespeare but it's better than FFX.
  10. Giorgio
    Jan 6, 2007
    9
    Hey! A Final Fantasy game that's actually difficult? Sounds good to me. The mechanics may be old, but they still work and are well repaid by the incredible number of different battle strategies: many jobs, many party assets, a whole lot of different approaches to battle. Doesn't get a 10 for the weak storyline, but the gameplay and the graphics are more than enough for a GREAT game.
  11. AndyR.
    Feb 6, 2007
    9
    The less than excellent reviews simply don't get it. This is meant to be more of a remastering than a remake of the original -- and what it has done, is done brilliantly. The musical score has been improved and expanded and graphically, the DS has seldom looked better. The game is centered around a job/class system that, if effective teams are built, greatly minimizes any grinding The less than excellent reviews simply don't get it. This is meant to be more of a remastering than a remake of the original -- and what it has done, is done brilliantly. The musical score has been improved and expanded and graphically, the DS has seldom looked better. The game is centered around a job/class system that, if effective teams are built, greatly minimizes any grinding you'll have to do. My first time through the game, I did all the side quests I could find and I never had to grind -- it did take three attempts on the final boss, though. (And what a final boss this is -- keep in mind they made her easier this time around.) The story does have some major holes and searching for crystals was old even when FF III was originally released over a decade ago. Still, this adds to the old school charm. Nothing this epic has appeared on the DS before.… Expand
  12. FortheDiehardRPGfans
    Nov 25, 2006
    8
    Seriously this game is on par with all the final fantasy's up to 7 (never played 8 or 9). Same gameplay mechanics same great music, Awesome stories. Its great Turn Based action. Its a great Game but may turn people off who are more into the active time battles featured in today's rpgs's.
  13. [Anonymous]
    Nov 27, 2006
    10
    Totally worth the PRICE! A great storyline and fun enough to milk out all the little details Spent 45 hours on my game so far and planning to spend alot more.
  14. CharaelH.
    Nov 20, 2006
    10
    I loved this game. I'd recommend it to for a good hand held game for a good game on the go or just playing when you get bored. But it's still good for playing it whenever.
  15. CecilH.
    Jan 14, 2007
    6
    Disappointing, but true RPG fans should play this game at least once through. The most frustrating aspect of this game is the lack of save points; you can only save when traveling from area to area. Also a bit overpriced for a 40 hour game. I was not able to beat the game due to a glitch in my copy- it kept jamming right before I fought the final boss.
  16. StevenC.
    May 13, 2007
    8
    The job system is a great plus in this game, its very enjoyable to be able to pick out a team of classes exactly how you want and utilize there strengths within battles - you can pretty much field any team you like (of course, having a healer of some sort is near essential, and some job classes perform better and give advantages in certain fights / areas). The jobs seem nicely balanced The job system is a great plus in this game, its very enjoyable to be able to pick out a team of classes exactly how you want and utilize there strengths within battles - you can pretty much field any team you like (of course, having a healer of some sort is near essential, and some job classes perform better and give advantages in certain fights / areas). The jobs seem nicely balanced out (I hear they have been tuned since the original game) and you'll most likely develop favourite jobs for specific characters. The Graphics are very nice for the DS - from the limited ammount of games i've played its by far the best looking. Summoning magic is especially great looking, but the battle sequences in general for the most part really gives some oomph and makes you feel like you're actually doing/taking some damage. The world map is nice, although it can at times look a bit bland. The game is not without its problems, although for the most part they are minor; the storyline is average, and sometimes even the instructions for where you have to go next are a bit vague. The lack of saving can be a problem - especially when it comes to the final encounter where you'll be catapulted back quite some time if you wipe. For all the time bar that though it was no real problem for me, as quicksaving allows you to stop at anypoint bar combat. The battles CAN drag, but only in the small fights where you're trying to go as quick as possible. The boss fights can be fairly lengthy and rightfully so. All in all a very enjoyable game. -1 for the minor niggles, -1 because its just over to soon, but i'm already replaying it just to try those jobs i didnt have a go with last time. Worth the money, another great FF game.… Expand
  17. KLS.
    May 30, 2007
    9
    Class system is innovative and lets you experiment i.e. choose different jobs at any time w/o too much of a penalty. Lands and missions are vast but don't feel overwhelming, and each give enough satisfaction (reward) upon completion. Graphics are good for the DS. Hard to find any fault in this game it's in my top5 of all time. If you like RPG's it's a must have title.
  18. SteveW.
    Jul 22, 2007
    6
    Not as good as I expected. The graphics are impressive but the game is tedious and has a horrible story. I understand that it was a remake of an old final fantasy however it gets boring. If you really really like final fantasy games...then give it a try, but if you are new to the series i would start somewhere else.
  19. ChristineW.
    Sep 16, 2007
    9
    It's more difficult than most FF games which is a good thing. I love the graphics and the opening before the game start is so pretty looking! It's extremely easy to die in this game and Phoenix Downs are limited, making the game harder. I hate that you can't save at all in dungeons though. I was at the last boss and I died. I nearly pulled my hair out!
  20. ScottW
    Feb 27, 2008
    9
    The negative reviews of this game really goes to show how gamers are being spoonfed and led by the hand in games these days. The lack of save points added a bit more excitement for me...every battle was crucial, one wrong move and you're in deep trouble. Although being beaten by the final boss aafter slugging it in the tower for 3-4 hours is a hard pill to swallow...Regardless, The negative reviews of this game really goes to show how gamers are being spoonfed and led by the hand in games these days. The lack of save points added a bit more excitement for me...every battle was crucial, one wrong move and you're in deep trouble. Although being beaten by the final boss aafter slugging it in the tower for 3-4 hours is a hard pill to swallow...Regardless, it's nice to see an RPG that properly challenges the gamer. It's looking and sounding beautiful on the DS now. Brilliant remaster.… Expand
  21. DrewF.
    Nov 16, 2006
    8
    Flashback to an era where your hand wasn't held for the entire duration of a quest. Where the levels of enemies are NOT all relative to your own. This an oldschool Final Fantasy RPG from eras past. You will wonder into areas you're not ready for yet, you will have to level grind or you WILL die. I'm loving it. Graphics are somewhere in between Final Fantasy VII and Final Flashback to an era where your hand wasn't held for the entire duration of a quest. Where the levels of enemies are NOT all relative to your own. This an oldschool Final Fantasy RPG from eras past. You will wonder into areas you're not ready for yet, you will have to level grind or you WILL die. I'm loving it. Graphics are somewhere in between Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy IX, and are among the best that the DS has to offer. Overall, a solid offering from Square.… Expand
  22. DevinM.
    Nov 19, 2006
    9
    Truly an impressive remake. How to begin a review of a game like this, which brings such a great style of game play back to life while still feeling fresh? I suppose I should start with the presentation. Presentation/Graphics: Wow, what to say about this game? In terms of what the DS is capable of, and what its been seen to do, this game in a tribute to the power of the DS. From the Truly an impressive remake. How to begin a review of a game like this, which brings such a great style of game play back to life while still feeling fresh? I suppose I should start with the presentation. Presentation/Graphics: Wow, what to say about this game? In terms of what the DS is capable of, and what its been seen to do, this game in a tribute to the power of the DS. From the opening cut scene to the in game action the game never ceases to amaze. The graphics are similar to what you found in Final Fantasy VII, but with more detail in the models,though not on the scale of a game like FFVIII or more recent role-playing games on other systems. In terms of screen layout and positioning, the game does a fine job. All the action takes place on the lower screen, including menus. When entering a menu the game play screen (on which the characters appear) switches the the top screen and the menu moves to the bottom, allowing for touch screen control. In addition, while on the world map, a complete world map (sin town positions prior to finding them) appears on the top screen with a flashing arrow representing your location and direction, making for easy navigation around the world. All in all the system works nicely,though the time it takes to switch menus can be somewhat annoying if you are in a hurry, but this doesn't really hurt to much. Gameplay This game is truely a blast from the past. To often in games today the actions and battles are made excessivly fast with no consideration for stratagy. This is not the case with Final Fantasy III. The main hook to the game is the extensive job class system. Each character has a "Character Level" and a "Job Level." The character level stays constant throughout all jobs you choose to play, making it possible to move around jobs without losing your ability to move through the game. However, each job also has its own level which helps determine the power of your job. This level is indepentent by job and requires a bit of work to achieve the max potential. In addition, there is an adjustment period between switching jobs, during which your character will not gain exp to the job. The battle system in similar to most Final Fantasy games of its original era, using a "Front and Rear" set up for the player's party, adjustable on the fly, which determines various damage throughout combat. There is an extensive amount of grinding needed to make it through the game with realitive ease, but the joy of actually preforming this act helps the time fly quickly. The storyline moves fast and flows well, which helps keep the game interesting. To wrap it up, the game has its quirks (i.e. Grinding, ect) which may turn off the casual gamer, but wont bug any rpg fan. Music: Nobuo Uematsu. Enough said right there to please any long time fan of Final Fantasy. For the casual gamer, however, this may require some explination. Nobuo Uematsu is a world renound composer who is best known for his work in the Final Fantasy series. The music is wonderful to say the least. However, as wonderful as the music is, the game has a sub standard sound effect selection. It makes due, but it could have been better. Extra: The game also includes a nifty email system called Mog Net which can be used to send messages between two owners of Final Fantasy III via the internet. This requires the users to exchange friend codes (as with all NWC games) and is only mildly entertaining. Its novelty will soon wear off. Conclusion: This game is a wonderful remake, not because of itss faithfulness to the original, but rather because of its faithfulness to the series. This game truely embodies the spirit of Final Fantasy and helps show new gamers what gaming used to be.… Expand
  23. Ralph
    Dec 16, 2006
    7
    Odd balance between remaining true to the original and sacrifices for updated game graphics. Due to what I can only assume were hardware limitations, you're limited to only encounter up to three enemies per battle. Monsters and jobs were heavily rebalanced. Fights now progress at a snail's pace. While I'm glad this game was brought back, I wish Square-Enix would stop Odd balance between remaining true to the original and sacrifices for updated game graphics. Due to what I can only assume were hardware limitations, you're limited to only encounter up to three enemies per battle. Monsters and jobs were heavily rebalanced. Fights now progress at a snail's pace. While I'm glad this game was brought back, I wish Square-Enix would stop tinkering with core game mechanics in its remakes. Why use the Fat Chocobo when you have infinite inventory space?… Expand
  24. JeremyS
    Aug 21, 2009
    7
    First and foremost, this is a Famicom game with a graphical overhaul. Besides this and a small tweaking to the story to accommodate some difficulty curve, very little else has been changed. Rightfully so the game is extremely difficult, and some of the time completely unfair. The final boss/dungeon is excruciatingly hard, but my lord when you have defeated the Cloud of Darkness you will First and foremost, this is a Famicom game with a graphical overhaul. Besides this and a small tweaking to the story to accommodate some difficulty curve, very little else has been changed. Rightfully so the game is extremely difficult, and some of the time completely unfair. The final boss/dungeon is excruciatingly hard, but my lord when you have defeated the Cloud of Darkness you will raise your fist in victory and sing Hallelujah! The reward of beating this game is what makes it worth the purchase (It is now a budget title at $19.99) However, If you are not completely compelled to get from start to finish, this game may not be for you. You have been warned.… Expand
  25. JakeS.
    Nov 25, 2006
    10
    Despite its flaws which you can read about above, the game is absolutely fantastic in actual play. If you want a great RPG then this is a must have.
  26. Luigibarqs
    Jan 4, 2011
    9
    The old school masterpiece Final Fantasy III finally gets localized and was it worth the wait? Yes!
    Modern fans might be put off by its classic mechanics and rough difficulty spike but if things like that don't bother you, what will be found is a deep and rewarding nostalgic RPG with a good challenge.
    The music and graphics are modernized but still have the intended classic feel which is    The old school masterpiece Final Fantasy III finally gets localized and was it worth the wait? Yes!
    Modern fans might be put off by its classic mechanics and rough difficulty spike but if things like that don't bother you, what will be found is a deep and rewarding nostalgic RPG with a good challenge.
    The music and graphics are modernized but still have the intended classic feel which is always nice for a remake. The story although hasn't aged well over the years is still pretty interesting and even if it is rather predictable and the main characters who where not explained all too well in the original are given interesting personalities and are fleshed out in a great manner over the course of the storyline and you get a real sense of what each of them is going through. Any fan of Final Fantasy or fans of old school RPGs from the late 1980s to early 1990s should definitely take a look at this great title.    … Expand
  27. Caestus
    Mar 4, 2013
    9
    Never played the original but really like the remake. The graphics and characters are lovely, the battle system is good with a job system, that succeds.
  28. BasilZero
    Oct 27, 2018
    9
    Game: Final Fantasy III
    Genre: RPG
    Developer: Squareenix Publisher: Squareenix System: Nintendo DS (DS) Year of Release: 2006 Length of Playthrough: 35 Hours Total Score: 86/100 Value Score: 8.6/10 • Story: 9/10 • Characters: 8/10 • GamePlay: 8/10 • Graphics: 7/10 • Sound: 9/10 • Music: 10/10 • Length: 8/10 • Replay Value: 8/10 • Player Value: 9/10 Pros +3D Remake    Game: Final Fantasy III
    Genre: RPG
    Developer: Squareenix
    Publisher: Squareenix
    System: Nintendo DS (DS)
    Year of Release: 2006
    Length of Playthrough: 35 Hours

    Total Score: 86/100
    Value Score: 8.6/10

    • Story: 9/10
    • Characters: 8/10
    • GamePlay: 8/10
    • Graphics: 7/10
    • Sound: 9/10
    • Music: 10/10
    • Length: 8/10
    • Replay Value: 8/10
    • Player Value: 9/10

    Pros
    +3D Remake of the NES FF3
    +New protagonist characters with each their own backstory
    +New Jobs/classes and balancing
    +New Bosses and secret battles
    +Online system to trade letters
    +Ability to do a interruption save (temporary save) to turn off the game in return will allow player to load the temporary save file once after reloading the game

    Cons
    -Online system is defunct now and impossible to fight secret bosses unless you use cheat codes
    -Final dungeon has no way to save permanently    … Expand
  29. Kirisoul
    Feb 23, 2012
    7
    Final Fantasy III
    Average User Score: 7.6
    7 It's not bad, but not astounding. Final Fantasy is known for having very high production values, but this remake for the DS isn't quite up to speed it seems. Honestly, if only uses 1 screen for most of the game, and no attempts to update the classic but ancient JRPG formula have been made. This makes it somewhat repetitive at times and may turn    Final Fantasy III
    Average User Score: 7.6
    7
    It's not bad, but not astounding. Final Fantasy is known for having very high production values, but this remake for the DS isn't quite up to speed it seems. Honestly, if only uses 1 screen for most of the game, and no attempts to update the classic but ancient JRPG formula have been made. This makes it somewhat repetitive at times and may turn newcomers off, as and even the best tactician will probably have to grind to get through this game. Still despite all this, FFIII uses a lot of creative and fun concepts in its gameplay, the shining example of this being the job system. This system alone brings unlimited strategic depth to your combat team, almost like pokemon. To sum it up, this game is a remake, but the graphics (which are still bad) are basically the only thing that has been modernized, and it can feel like a very monotonous game at times. Nevertheless, RPG fans will find this game decent, and it still has that FF atmosphere we all know and love.    … Expand
  30. chronoT
    Sep 5, 2012
    7
    This game is hard for me to review because personally it isn't my favorite but I still know how important it is. Final Fantasy 3 is really for the die hard FF player only, the game is seriously challenging and very time consuming for a SNES title. I have to be honest, for its' time this game was extremely well written and pretty much brought FF to life (NES didn't have as much attention).This game is hard for me to review because personally it isn't my favorite but I still know how important it is. Final Fantasy 3 is really for the die hard FF player only, the game is seriously challenging and very time consuming for a SNES title. I have to be honest, for its' time this game was extremely well written and pretty much brought FF to life (NES didn't have as much attention). I don't think the graphics are on par with Chrono Trigger and the battles are pretty generic, with little to no animation. With that being said, if your up for the challenge this game presents it, especially the end!!!… Expand
  31. GoombaJMR
    Jan 12, 2014
    7
    A solid game that is a bit slow paced in the beginning. I highly recommend this to all FF and Donjon Crawling fans :D...the difficulty is also very high, which is something that people like me enjoy

    Gameplay: 7/10
    Story: 8/10
    Music: 8/10
    Presentation: 7.5/10
    Length: 7.5/10
    Overall: 7.5/10
  32. HeroinePandora
    Sep 29, 2013
    8
    This game, while light on story just kept pulling me forward with the fun of it. The job system is excellent and you can really make it work for your style, although most people use a traditional team in the end. The strange thing about my experience was that I accidentally beat it. I was playing through this to pass time until another game's release, and I didn't realize I had went past aThis game, while light on story just kept pulling me forward with the fun of it. The job system is excellent and you can really make it work for your style, although most people use a traditional team in the end. The strange thing about my experience was that I accidentally beat it. I was playing through this to pass time until another game's release, and I didn't realize I had went past a point of no return, with no save points anywhere. So, I decided to just keep playing until I died. I beat every mini boss and the final boss instead. So, I guess it was a good oops.
    Art: 8
    Music: 7
    Story: 6
    Gameplay: 8    … Expand
  33. BenjamiNook
    Aug 11, 2015
    5
    It might just be because I got Bravely Default at the same time, but this is kinda disappointing. There's nothing that makes it terrible, but particularly when compared to the other 3, actually 6, it just doesn't have that thing that makes me want to play it for more than about 2 minutes. I could only recommend it to hardcore FF fans, who probably already have it. To summarize, if you haveIt might just be because I got Bravely Default at the same time, but this is kinda disappointing. There's nothing that makes it terrible, but particularly when compared to the other 3, actually 6, it just doesn't have that thing that makes me want to play it for more than about 2 minutes. I could only recommend it to hardcore FF fans, who probably already have it. To summarize, if you have a 3DS, Bravely Default is better, and for DS, I'd actually recommend that Chocobo spin-off. I'm sorry internet, I liked that game.… Expand
  34. XV_
    Feb 3, 2020
    8
    My first hours with FF III were so fast that I almost didn't felt them, but once you go more deeply into the story, this game can feel at times like a chore.

    As far as narrative goes, the story is kind of similar to the one in Final Fantasy I but with more story-driven main characters, they're no blank slates this time, although they're not that interesting, they're ok, and for the most    My first hours with FF III were so fast that I almost didn't felt them, but once you go more deeply into the story, this game can feel at times like a chore.

    As far as narrative goes, the story is kind of similar to the one in Final Fantasy I but with more story-driven main characters, they're no blank slates this time, although they're not that interesting, they're ok, and for the most part, the story it's good, taking a nice turn near the end, not that memorable but good, it also seems to serve as some inspiration for FF XIV's Shadowbringers.

    The best part although is its turn-based gameplay, it has a nice rhythm, never too hard but never too easy, at least till you arrive at the final dungeon where the curve has a big spike and you require to do a lot of grinding or take a gamble and lose hours worth of exp, because you can't save indoors or in dungeons, this is unforgivable since this being a remake it doesn't make sense to be this punishing and also it can't be a technical limitation, or maybe it does who knows, this is not a problem in other dungeons since they're not that big, so if you die, you'll only lose like 20 min or so. Speaking of dungeons, it has a lot of boss fights and a lot of them are great and offer a good challenge, although be prepared for some dying.

    A mixed thing about the gameplay and the new addition to the series is its job system, you can assign different jobs to any character you like and raise their job level (you have a level gauge for the base character and a level gauge for their selected job), this can be fun, but it seems that a lot of jobs are clearly better than others so it's more like you'll be switching jobs when they're available to you, not because you like them but because they're better, the problem is that the best jobs are available near the end so you have to start their new job from zero and do a lot of grinding, if only every job was available from the start this mechanic wouldn't feel so punishing.

    Visually the game looks pretty nice, although I don't prefer to have the super stylish and cool designs of **** Amano and have the cute and anime like 3D models, once you forget that discrepancy you'll do fine, the music is also great, I loved so much the overworld theme, in fact, there are several musical cues that reminded me of Shadowbringers, so I was pleasantly surprised.

    All in all, there are certain issues to call this game as a better version than its predecessors, it is certainly a good time around, the story and gameplay may be a little generic by today standards but still they're pretty solid, so is easily to recommend to everyone, just be mindful of the last section of the game that has a stiff curve.    … Expand
  35. vodkaffee
    Dec 12, 2019
    8
    Loved the original Famicom game, the remake blew my mind, so many things added, charcters had personalities, the job system vas changed a bit but is still great, the music is from my favorite on the series.
    I loved they manteined the use of magic by uses and not changed it to a MP system like they did with FF1&2; played on PC, smartphone, DS, OUYA, Famicom emulator, absolutely love this    Loved the original Famicom game, the remake blew my mind, so many things added, charcters had personalities, the job system vas changed a bit but is still great, the music is from my favorite on the series.
    I loved they manteined the use of magic by uses and not changed it to a MP system like they did with FF1&2; played on PC, smartphone, DS, OUYA, Famicom emulator, absolutely love this game, simple and yet fantastic.    … Expand
  36. agentbinky
    Oct 5, 2020
    5
    One of the weaker entries in the series in my opinion. They tried to give a little personality to the characters by giving them names other than "Onion Kid" but it didn't add much. I guess Ignus was the rebel? Whatever. At least it introduced the excellent "Job System" which came to underpin many of the best FF games ever.
  37. sebastianali
    Aug 10, 2019
    7
    Si bien le doy mas nota que las otras versiones, es solo porque es una DS. Por lo que sus malos gráficos son entendibles (de hecho, son buenos para los estándares de la DS). La historia también es interesante (pobre doga y une sniff...). Pero la dificultad lo mata.
  38. Archvile-UT
    Jul 27, 2021
    4
    Не сказать, что игра плохая, но по сути это сплошной гринд, состоящий из случайных схваток. В принципе самое то для портативных консолей.
    Сюжет чисто для галочки, простенькая картинка. Музыка неплоха, но нужно было додуматься использовать одну боевую мелодию на всю игру, состоящую из одних боев – это «гениально»!
    Задумку с профессиями убивает то, что при переключении между ними даются    Не сказать, что игра плохая, но по сути это сплошной гринд, состоящий из случайных схваток. В принципе самое то для портативных консолей.
    Сюжет чисто для галочки, простенькая картинка. Музыка неплоха, но нужно было додуматься использовать одну боевую мелодию на всю игру, состоящую из одних боев – это «гениально»!
    Задумку с профессиями убивает то, что при переключении между ними даются штрафы, которые снимаются через несколько боёв и каждую профессию нужно долго прокачивать, чтобы от нее была хоть какая-то польза, а различия между профессиями слабые. Итого опять один гринд.
    Еще игра несбалансированная – легко подбираются универсальные атаки, которые эффективны против всех врагов. Только иногда на боссах нужно подумать и использовать специфические навыки.
    Как в это играть без функции автобоя с ускорением я не представляю, но с ней играть можно – простенькие бои все же затягивают. В итоге игру осилил, но растягивая и небольшими порциями - 4/10.    … Expand
  39. Kingdomhear
    Dec 5, 2020
    5
    La trama troppo scontata e i personaggi sono sotto tono...livello di difficoltà bilanciato male in alcuni punti..si poteva fare di meglio
  40. Arfon
    Dec 12, 2020
    9
    Super addictive RPG, i finished it in less than a week. Story is kinda ok, grinding is necessary near the end. The job system was pretty cool. And it looks amazing!!
  41. CloudStrife05
    Aug 24, 2021
    9
    Fun game that was ported to the DS. I would highly recommend it to any FF fan out there.
  42. Yojimbo2015
    Jun 24, 2023
    8
    Enjoyable update of the classic SNES game that contains pretty 3D graphics but keeps the original adventure intact. Very old school in its approach but that's where its appeal lies.
  43. LastResource
    Jan 14, 2023
    10
    worth it and glad to play ti this game again. so much memories and nostalgia within this third game in the series.

Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Best DS Game of 2006
3
#3 Most Discussed DS Game of 2006
6
#6 Most Shared DS Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 45
  3. Negative: 0 out of 45
  1. GameBrink
    88
    An excellent remake that remains very much true to the original game. [JPN Import]
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  2. NintendoWorldReport
    65
    It is only the production values: graphics, music, and pedigree that make this game stand out. At its heart, Final Fantasy III is a dated and mediocre RPG that will only please the most die-hard Final Fantasy fans. [JPN Import]
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  3. 1UP
    80
    Hardcore RPG players may enjoy it more than modern Final Fantasy titles, thanks to its emphasis on skill development and combat. Casual players may find themselves surprised by how addictive simple level-grinding and monster-slaying can be.
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