Breath of Fire

 Game Boy Advance
  • Publisher: Capcom
  • Release Date: Dec 13, 2001
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 30
  3. Negative: 6 out of 30
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  1. Cloud73
    Aug 16, 2013
    6
    Summary: The game is massive, and the sprites are actually pretty to look at, but the gameplay itself can get extremely tedious. I enjoyed the world, and tried imagining the character interactions because they were all well drawn out, but the dialogue itself is laughably bad. Use extreme discretion before deciding to play this game, because the nostalgia of it can be better than theSummary: The game is massive, and the sprites are actually pretty to look at, but the gameplay itself can get extremely tedious. I enjoyed the world, and tried imagining the character interactions because they were all well drawn out, but the dialogue itself is laughably bad. Use extreme discretion before deciding to play this game, because the nostalgia of it can be better than the experience.
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    I should say that I recently beat this game, but not on the GBA. I remembered playing it when I was a child of around 7 or 8, so I came back to the game on an emulator for the SNES. Let me tell you right now: do not play this game on the GBA.

    The game is far too slow, and far too bad at conveyance, for you to waste your hours trying to figure out what to do and to slog through the innumerable random encounters that the game tosses out in your way. I love the artwork, the feeling of empowerment in transforming characters into beasts and dragons, but this game takes some hard, pressing work to really beat. If you're going to try to get through this whole monstrosity, then I sincerely suggest using an emulator, because at least with an emulator you can fast forward on the gameplay.

    I should mention, though, that the music is some of my favorite in any game. Perhaps that's just nostalgia speaking again, though. Take from it what you want.

    I dock one point for the game being very poor at the conveyance of directions and objectives, and one more point for the bad dialogue. I dock a third point for the slog made from the random encounters, and the last point is for the rather contrived storyline. Use your discretion.    … Expand
  2. SuperSourSauce
    Nov 1, 2017
    4
    People you meet in towns offer zero dialogue to the adventure. "How's the weather?" There's just nothing interesting that ever happens. Writing in this game is seriously poor, and the pacing and balance is also whacked.

    A rocky start for my favorite RPG series.
  3. VendonJura
    Sep 27, 2018
    10
    Breath of Fire 1 was on my 4th favourite Breath of Fire game. It was also one of the best rpg games to this time. Just wish to play it again as an HD Remastered version on PS4 or PC
  4. Jonnyblond77
    Dec 16, 2019
    9
    I can only imagine the joy this brought to people who played this game back in the day. This is one of the older type of JRPGs that have the random encounter enemies every 10 to 15 seconds of moving on the map or in a dungeon but it’s all good because they do that not to slow down progression. It’s to level your characters up to the point where they try attacking you and you dodge theirI can only imagine the joy this brought to people who played this game back in the day. This is one of the older type of JRPGs that have the random encounter enemies every 10 to 15 seconds of moving on the map or in a dungeon but it’s all good because they do that not to slow down progression. It’s to level your characters up to the point where they try attacking you and you dodge their attempts then you hit them with one hit and they are dust in the wind. I like that sort of style because it’s just cool to see how your character is getting more and more powerful to the point where your unstoppable. I never got a chance back in the day to play the breath of fire series because I don’t think my local movie and game rental shop had this in their selection even though they had other square soft games. Most times these games age very badly because all the old school ways of playing these games refined them and took the tedium out of them. So even if this was easy to download the rom and play it...I would have just said screw it. But when I bought my Nintendo switch and did their online service..I was just trying games out that I never played before. So I finally fired up breath of fire and wow..talk about missing out on such a fun game. Like I said..it’s old school but done so well. All in all, in the end you should give it a try if your just sitting around with nothing else going on. This isn’t the type of game where you only want to do it in short bursts or expect the story or gameplay to be fast and hook you immediately..I’m telling you..I have the attention span of a woman and this game captured me into its world...I loved it.… Expand
  5. KennyC.
    Jan 17, 2003
    9
    Great game, but there arent any tutorials, so you need to learn quick.
  6. ConaxR.
    Sep 27, 2003
    9
    The game is pretty cool but it needs a less aggressive text.
  7. bigj0420
    Oct 11, 2018
    3
    The game starts off very good I thought but about half-way it gets confusing and boring with stupid characters and a guessing game on what to do next, not recommended.
  8. DantasVGabriel
    May 10, 2021
    4
    Eu joguei a a versão do GBA e a do Snes como não tem a versão do snes nesse site(que é a que eu finalizei) irei falar da versão do GBA que é praticamente o mesmo jogo, só que com pontos negativos comparado ao snes, além de ter pontos que me incomoda bastante da versão do snes, mesmo havendo várias coisas interessantes pra época, a história desse jogo é fraca, com poucas linhas de diálogos,Eu joguei a a versão do GBA e a do Snes como não tem a versão do snes nesse site(que é a que eu finalizei) irei falar da versão do GBA que é praticamente o mesmo jogo, só que com pontos negativos comparado ao snes, além de ter pontos que me incomoda bastante da versão do snes, mesmo havendo várias coisas interessantes pra época, a história desse jogo é fraca, com poucas linhas de diálogos, repetição de cenários exageradas além de ter uma dificuldade Mal balanceada, por eu ainda ter jogado a versão do Snes que é a melhor em trilha sonora e gráfico, perderá mais agluns pontos da minha nota essa versão do gba, A versão do Snes é 6 e essa do GBA é 4, só n é menos por causa da melhoria do menu em relação a versão do Snes.… Expand
  9. Darkspawn677
    May 17, 2022
    10
    Breath of fire is awesome nina should a mage with a wand not a sword also a healer and ryu should be a manakete or more of a dragon boy
  10. Yojimbo2015
    May 5, 2023
    8
    Pretty much a straight port of the SNES original but that's no bad thing. Good old fashioned adventuring that isn't brimming with originality but what it does, it does well.
  11. IntellectDevour
    May 29, 2023
    2
    Boring overworld, sluggish, repetitive combat, abysmal level design within the first 20 minutes, just all around a chore to play. And most of the music is mad up of 10 second songs that loop endlessly.

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2001
10
#10 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2001
5
#5 Most Shared Game Boy Advance Game of 2001

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Gamestyle
    90
    One of the finest RPGs to appear on any format. Though bettered by latter incarnations of the series, the original remains both innovative and a pure joy to play.
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  2. Game Over Online
    85
    It's a well-polished RPG that plays out well on the GBA and is none too frustrating.
    Read full review
  3. Nintendojo
    82
    A mediocre RPG experience including great side quests such as fishing, hunting, and collecting non-mandatory playable characters and items that make this a truly deep and enjoyable package.
    Read full review
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