Final Fantasy III: A Crystal Clear Classic Reborn

The original Final Fantasy III never made it to Western shores back in 1990, making the 2006 Nintendo DS remake the first time most of us got to experience this lost chapter of the franchise. Rebuilt from the ground up with full 3D visuals and a reimagined presentation, this isn't just a port — it's a resurrection. Square Enix took a Famicom classic and gave it new life on Nintendo's dual-screen handheld, and the result is a charming, challenging RPG that respects its roots while feeling fresh for a new generation.

Woke: 0.0

This is a straightforward fantasy adventure about four orphaned youths chosen by crystals to restore balance to the world. There's no agenda here, no modern messaging shoehorned into a decades-old story. It's pure, classic JRPG storytelling focused entirely on delivering a fun experience. Exactly what you want.

Gameplay: 8.0

The Job System is the star of the show here, and rightfully so. Final Fantasy III pioneered the class-switching mechanic that would later be refined in Final Fantasy V and Tactics, and it remains deeply satisfying. Experimenting with different party compositions — swapping between Dark Knights, White Mages, Ninjas, and more — keeps combat engaging throughout. The class leveling system adds a layer of investment that rewards commitment to your chosen roles. However, there's one significant frustration that holds this score back: the complete lack of save points inside dungeons. This is a deliberate design holdover from the original Famicom release, not a system limitation, and it's a punishing choice. Losing to a boss after a lengthy dungeon crawl means replaying the entire thing. It incentivizes grinding to over-prepare, which pads the runtime artificially. That said, there's an argument to be made that it forces genuine strategic preparation — you learn boss patterns, optimize your party, and approach encounters with real intentionality. It's old-school difficulty philosophy that won't sit well with everyone, but there's a certain satisfaction in finally conquering a dungeon you've been struggling with.

Story: 6.5

The DS remake attempts to give the four protagonists — Luneth, Arc, Refia, and Ingus — actual personalities, which is more than the original's blank-slate characters offered. It's a welcome addition, but the narrative still feels thin compared to later entries in the series. The crystal-driven plot hits familiar beats: darkness threatens the world, chosen warriors must restore light. It's serviceable and charming in its simplicity, but don't expect the emotional depth of a Final Fantasy VI or VII. For what it is, the story does its job of pushing you forward through varied and interesting locales.

Graphics: 8.5

For a 2006 DS title, Final Fantasy III looks impressive. The chibi-style 3D character models are expressive and full of personality, and the environments are colorful and varied. Square Enix clearly pushed the hardware, delivering cutscenes and spell effects that rival anything else on the system at the time. It holds up well against contemporaries like Dragon Quest IX and Pokémon Diamond/Pearl in terms of visual ambition. The art direction carries a lot of weight here — it's cohesive and appealing throughout.

Audio: 8.0

Nobuo Uematsu's original compositions were rearranged by Tsuyoshi Sekito and Keiji Kawamori for this remake, and the results are solid. The DS sound hardware limits fidelity somewhat, but the melodies shine through. The crystal cave theme, the battle music, and the overworld tracks all carry that unmistakable Final Fantasy charm. It's a good soundtrack that serves the adventure well, even if it doesn't quite reach the iconic heights of some other entries in the series. Within the DS library, it's above average audio work.

Replayability: 7.0

The Job System naturally encourages replays — there are enough classes that you could run entirely different party compositions on a second playthrough and have a meaningfully different experience. The Mognet side content and optional superboss add some post-game incentive as well. However, the lack of mid-dungeon saves makes the prospect of replaying somewhat daunting, and the story doesn't branch or offer meaningful choices. It's replayable, but you'll need to be in the right mindset to tackle those longer dungeons again.

Final Fantasy III on the DS is a faithful and lovingly crafted remake that delivers a classic JRPG experience without compromise. The Job System remains one of the series' best mechanical innovations, and the presentation punches well above its weight for the hardware. The dungeon save issue is a legitimate frustration that will test your patience, but it also rewards perseverance in a way modern games rarely do. If you're a fan of the franchise or classic turn-based RPGs in general, this crystal deserves a spot in your DS collection.