Final Fantasy VI Advance (GBA) > Reviews (3)

INTRODUCTION

Final Fantasy VI is a JRPG(Japanese Role-Playing Game) published initially for the SNES console back in 1994. It was immediately acclaimed as a game with an excellent storyline and a moltitude of fully characterized characters, which led it to become one of the most popular chapters of the whole Final Fantasy saga.
The 16-bit graphic fully exploited the potential of the SNES console, although it is now highly outdated by next-generation consoles: a newer version of the game had been made for Play Station One, but it is just a direct port(identical to the original, not a remake) with the addition of some movies in 3D.

This version which I played was the new remake for the Game Boy Advance, Final Fantasy VI Advance precisely known, that in addition to a slight improvement in graphics and sound, also includes some additional bonuses(new bosses, espers and dungeons).

PLOT

As for the plot, this is mainly based around the various characters and, although there is not one that can be regarded as the "protagonist", a girl called Terra can be definitely considered as the main character, around which the plot will focus throughout the first half of the game. At the beginning of the game, in fact, the first character that will show up as a girl with special powers who has forgotten her past, and during the entire game will find hself with the player, and make the acquaintance of many other characters such as Locke , Edgar, Sabin, Celes, etc., while the 'purpose' real is to avoid a second War of the Magi avoiding the empire controlled by the evil Kefka Gesthal and can implement his plans. There will be twists and funny moments, but also sad and melancholy scenes.

GAMEPLAY

As for the gameplay and, in particular, the combat system, we find the classic ATB (Active Time Battle) typical of most of the Final Fantasy: To do any move you have to wait until the bar is full of a character (the rate depends on the statistics of the character), then open the menu and you are free to choose a command. The monsters will attack you while you wait for the bar fills up and even when it is full, but not as you choose a spell or ability an object (unless you choose this option from the main menu).

The invocations in this chapter called Espers, there will be particularly useful in battle because you can only use one per character, once for battle. However, besides having a role in the plot, these are very useful for the enhancement of the characters: in fact, when we assign an Esper to a character, this will trigger a bonus to a statistic at each level the character up (every time the character salt level, for example if you assigned the espers Ifrit will get a bonus Strength +1); also enable these people to learn powerful spells, otherwise used only by a few characters.

MUSIC

Of all the Final Fantasy, the sixth chapter is probably the one with the music collection more uniform: all the tracks are wonderful, there isn't a single one which is just good, and the themes of each character are probably among the best.

That of the protagonist, Terra, which is also the World's Map Theme (which he feels the world map, while traveling the main game), is a cut above all others, both in orchestrated the piano. Then there is the coprotagonist, the Celes' Theme, which is the soundtrack to the most touching scenes, such us the Opera scene where the music is the most important component. Note also the theme music shared by brothers Edgar and Sabin, also called Figaro Castle's theme, and that of another castle again, that warrior of Doma and its principal, the Cyan's Theme.
But the pieces are worth mentioning would be many others, deserves a special mention to the theme of the antagonist, which has the simple name of Kefka, and that looks like a ballad in perfect line with the characteristic "clown" of the character, in contrast But with the music of the final battle against the same, Dancing Mad, lasting twelve minutes, epic and at times disturbing.

MAIN CHARACTERS

Terra Bradford

is a mysterious girl initially controlled by the empire because they can use the Magic: getting in touch with a frozen Esper, it will react and she will be found, without memory, in the town of Narshe where he will meet the adventurer Locke, that the convinced to join the Resistance. Terra is a thoughtful girl who always asks you to do what is right or not, but it is also the only hope for the rebels to defeat the empire Gesthal due to its magical nature and his enigmatic relationship with the Esper.

Locke Cole is an adventurer, or as he likes to call himself a 'treasure hunter'. Goes on a rampage when called a thief, you will discover during the game that has had a difficult past and now is looking for an important treasure it needs to help a friend. He's very protective to Terra and even more, then, to Celes.

Edgar Roni Figaro is the king of Figaro Castle and the town of South Figaro, but secretly allied with the empire in favor of the Resistance, is a sympathetic character and mature, who loves women and he tries with virtually all ('as long as breathe '), but we will not talk much about his past. He has a twin brother, Sabin, who on the death of his father left the castle in search of freedom.

Sabin Roni Figaro is the twin brother of King Edgar, but unlike her he left the castle of Figaro at the death of his father leaving his inheritance. He learned martial arts, thanks to guidance of Duncan, and will join the group on the mountain Koltso after the alleged assassination of the latter part of his son Vargas.

Celes Chere is a soldier of the empire, as the Earth is able to use magic. But, unlike the latter, the powers of the Celes were implanted in an artificial way by Imperial scientists. After discovering the insane Kefka plans, decide to rebel but will be imprisoned and later freed by Locke.

Shadow is a murderess of which not much is known. It always goes around with his trusty dog, Interceptor, and to gain money would be willing to do anything, even to cut the throat of his own mother. The only clues to his past that will seek out during the game are some of his strange nightmares ...

Interceptor also is strangely close to the little Relm with whom it seems to have a mysterious connection.

Cyan is a knight of the castle of Doma, who has a sort of phobia to machines and will die before his eyes, his wife and son at the hands of Kefka. Will seek revenge, but not be able to find peace for what happened to their loved ones, and so his skills as a swordsman will suffer.

Gau is a wild child, who lives in close contact with nature and with the monsters of the Veldt, so he learned to imitate the techniques. About his past do not know much, but then Sabin discovers the identity of the father, who unfortunately has gone mad and left in the Veldt Gau believing a monster. Gau's mother died soon after birth.

Setzer Gabbiani is a gambler, full risk-loving adventurer, as well as the owner of the only aereonave the world: the BlackJack. After discovering his intentions to kidnap Mary, an actress very much like Opera Celes, Locke comes to mind to play it for him to be able to ask Setzer can use to cross the aereonave imperial territory.

Strago Magus is an expert on old perky Blue Magic Grandfather of RELM, lives with her Thamas and is a descendant of the ancient Magi of the past, so his knowledge of magic and the Espers are of immense utility. As a young man in attempted several times to defeat a monster named Hidon, but without success, his granddaughter will find a way to push Contin to hunt him down.

Relm Arrowny is Strago's granddaughter, she is only 10 years old but is already very mature for her age. It has a strong passion for painting, so that is even able to paint the various monsters come to life then making his plans to attack the enemy. It will create a strange friendship with Mad Max's dog, Shadow, who is fond of her immediately, and vice versa.

Mog is one of the nice moogles who help Locke to save Terra in the mines of Narshe at the beginning of the game. It 'not possible to have him as a member of the party later in the game, its class is a mix between that of the dragon, the dancer and the geomancer.

Umaru is a Yeti who lives in a cave in Narshe, not very sociable and does not communicate much, but it seems that Mog is in control of (in fact you do not join the group unless you have first saved the Moogle). His specialty is in battle ... run the other party members wearing their opponents!

Gogo is the most strange and mysterious of all the characters from FFVI. Do not force yourself to understand what his history, nor even who or what it is. Its sex is unknown, and there is not even sure it's human. However, it is useful for a character Mima his ability that allows him to copy the last action performed by a character.

Kefka Palazzo, finally, is the main antagonist of the game and one of the most cruel ever created by the Final Fantasy: this character is dressed as a clown, with ways of doing things sometimes funny(even if its funniest are only in the American/EU translation, while not present in the original Japanese), and a diabolical laugh that will haunt the players throughout their adventure.

It 'also without a doubt the one who, among all the evil in the world of Final Fantasy, will be able to get closer to its goal, in laying the world at his feet and create ruin and despair everywhere before being finally defeated.

CONCLUSION

Final Fantasy VI is simply a masterpiece. There are few games, even nowadays, dealing with such serious topics(suicide, the discovery of a not stereotyped feeling of love, and so on...) and founding them in a work of almost twenty years ago is really a pleasure. The opera scene is by far one of the most beautiful videolutiche sequences which makes Final Fantasy VI a historical treasure.