Ah, the memories. For Final Fantasy elitists such as myself, Final Fantasy VI will always be remembered as the greatest of the long running series. It was one of the first SNES to use all 256 colors simultaneously, providing some of the lushest graphics seen on the system. It offered sound and music previously unheard of in the world of 16-bit video games. And most importantly, it told a story that included more characters, and was more complex than any other title before it. Final Fantasy VI was the one of the greatest achievements of the 16-bit era.

Facts and Features:

• Players command a ragged band of heroes in a desperate quest to free the world from the Empire's grasp. With Edgar's tools, Terra's magic, Sabin's fists and the skills of more than a dozen additional characters, the Returners need only one thing to seize victory from the Empire: you.
  
  
• Summon the power of the espers, magical creatures enslaved by the Empire. Enlist several new additions to the roster, like Leviathan, Cactuar and Gilgamesh, to help tackle challenges like the all-new Dragon's Den dungeon.
  
  
• Just because the adventure ends doesn't mean the action has to. Players can study their foes in the Bestiary and then face them all in a continuous battle in the Soul Shrine, or enjoy their favorite songs in the bonus music player.
  
  
• Featuring bonus content, a new translation and a remixed soundtrack, FINAL FANTASY VI ADVANCE is the definitive version of this classic role-playing game.

This will be Square-Enix’s third release of FFVI, after the original SNES version and the PS1 Anthologies compilation. Instead of a straight port though, SE went the extra mile and like the GBA remakes of IV and V, have included new areas, items, weapons and magic to give veterans of the game something extra to look forward to. Every party member (except a certain hidden one) now has a character specific ultimate weapon, and there are several new espers to find. An already long quest will now take 80+ hours if you want to get every item and learn every skill for every party member.

Shrinking down such a massive game for the GBA has taken its toll on the sound. While the music and effects aren’t likely to make blood trickle out of your ear canals, compared to the original source, the music is noticeably compressed and tinny. This is really the only flaw in an otherwise perfect port. The graphics are as amazing as ever, with the clarity of the SP or DS giving the colors vibrancy never seen back in the days of my youth. There is none of the slowdown and graphical glitches seen in the FFIV: A port, and the loading you had to endure on the Anthologies compilation is thankfully only a bitter memory.

The world of FFVI has long forgotten magic, with steam powered technology its greatest accomplishment. The story starts off with two soldiers of the Empire (The recurring cameo of Biggs and Wedge) and a mysterious girl discovering an esper frozen in ice deep in a mine. When the girl comes in to the presence of the esper something very strange happens. Who or what she really is is at the center off an epic tale with ultimately cataclysmic consequences for the world they live in. Without spoiling the story for those of you who have never played the game (Shame on you!) you’ll encounter plenty of characters and places that will be instantly familiar to fans of Final Fantasy. Moogles, chocobos and airships abound, and thankfully are free from any hackneyed mini-games. There are also some of the series’ greatest secret characters and hidden items to be found by dedicated players that will add plenty of replay value to the game.


As good as we remember it.

FFVI is still a traditional turn based RPG with countless random battles. This is either a plus or a negative depending on your particular tastes. I don’t mind random battles myself, so you won’t see me taking any points away from the game for it. Within the menu based battles you will find some interesting variations to the repetitive button pushing you’re used to. Some characters have special abilities that require Street Fighter like d-pad maneuvers. Other times you might be fighting inside steam powered mechs. All of this adds enough variety to keep combat from getting too mind numbing.

By the end of the game, managing your party will take the skills of an accountant and several spread sheets. Having access to so many party members can seem overwhelming, but the payoff is the flexibility and challenge of taking down the final boss with countless combinations. This can make the fight as easy or as difficult as you desire. Sadly, this kind of mix and match party system hasn’t been seen in Final Fantasy in years. Are you listening Square-Enix?

As Good As It Gets
If you’ve never played FFVI, getting this seminal game in portable form is an amazing value. If you have played it before, FFVI: A has enough added material to justify another romp through its incredible world. Nostalgia notwithstanding, FFVI: A is one of the crowning achievements of the series and no fan should skip this treasure of a game.

-- Weston Bass