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• FINAL FANTASY III
In October of 1994, Final Fantasy VI was released in the US for the SNES with the name Final Fantasy 3. Why? Previously, Squaresoft had only released Final Fantasy 1 and 4 in the US. They released Final Fantasy 4 as Final Fantasy 2, since the original Final Fantasy 2 and 3 for NES were never released here. Final Fantasy VI is known as one of the greatest RPGs ever made. It has touched the hearts of many RPG fans. Here's the game list (excluding 7 and above) to make the US/Jap naming more clear:
Japanese name Final Fantasy (NES) |
US released (90's) Final Fantasy (NES) |
US released (early/mid 2000's) Final Fantasy Origins, as Final Fantasy (PSX) |
The price tag for Final Fantasy 3 (SNES) in the US was $80! Yep, it's true. Other Squaresoft RPGs had the same price. Regular SNES games went for $50.
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• FINAL FANTASY ANTHOLOGY
In September of 1999, the Final Fantasy Anthology was released for the Sony Playstation, which is a bundle of Final Fantasy 5 and Final Fantasy VI. Both games are just direct ports from the SNES versions. CGI animation sequences have been added to the beginning and ending of both games. Final Fantasy VI includes some bonus material: a gallery of CGI images and a database of enemy, boss and esper information. The only drawback of the Final Fantasy Anthology is that it uses a form of emulation in order for you to play these SNES games on the PSX, which causes the games to run slower than usual. There are also some inaccuracies in the sound emulation. In Europe their Final Fantasy Anthology only came with Final Fantasy 4 and Final Fantasy 5. Their PSX Final Fantasy VI was released separately and rather late around 2003-ish. Anyway, if you want to see these pictures and movies from the Final Fantasy Anthology, I have them over in my Final Fantasy Anthology section.
• FINAL FANTASY VI FAN RETRANSLATION
In May of 2004, the Final Fantasy VI Retranslation was released for SNES emulation on your home computer. This was an unofficial project by fans for fans. These fans are a translation group known as RPGOne Translations. As it's name says, it's a retranslation of Final Fantasy VI. The US release censored many things and was heavily Americanized. This retranslation gives us a chance to experience a true English translation of the game. It's a patch for the Japanese version Final Fantasy VI. Both can be found in the Downloads section. I talk more about this retranslation further down.
• FINAL FANTASY VI ADVANCE
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After the release of Final Fantasy IV Advance & Final Fantasy V Advance, in February of 2007 Square-Enix also brought over Final Fantasy VI Advance. It's pretty much a direct port except for a few new features. There are four new espers: Leviathan, Gilgamesh, Gigantuar, and Diablos. A new dungeon called Dragon's Den and a place called Soul Shrine where you can fight monsters endlessly. There are three new spells: Flood, Valor, and Gravija. There's a beastiary and music screen. The script has been changed to be more true to the Japanese version. Not only is the game still censored, they censored it even more than the SNES release! Geez. For example, when Shadow says "slit his momma's throat for a nickel", he now says "he would kill his best friend for the right price." Its colors, menus, soundtrack, and sound effects have been modified to fit GBA's hardware. Finally, devote fans of the game can play a portable version of Final Fantasy VI. Heh, even though the modified sound is so nasty.
In an age long since past, a time that we can only imagine, mysterious people were said to hold the power of magic in their souls. All kinds of magic spells of healing and spells of destruction. So amazing was their power that they dominated the known world. No one contested their right to rule. The years pasted peacefully. People worked the land, raised their families and lived their lives contentedly. But as the years ambled by, those in power began to bicker. First, they quarreled over minor issues, but as their hunger for power grew, so did their fights. As the magic-wielders quietly chose sides in the growing dispute, they began to work on weapons of destruction. Those weapons evolved by way of magic into a frightening group of beasts known as espers. The coming of the espers was the beginning of the end. Battle lines were drawn, and the masters of magic faced off. The contentious forces pitted esper against esper in battles that tested magic and violently ripped the world apart. Caught in the middle of power struggle were the people. The fighting first crept then raced across the country, leaving burned buildings and devastated families in it's wake. Soon, the entire land lay blackened and smoldering, the grim result of a power struggle gone mad. Finally, with espers destroyed and the people slaughtered, three of the magi looked on the devastation caused by their petty jealousies--and their magic. They realized that magic was too powerful, too dangerous. So they used the last of their energy to summon all magic, then they retreated to a remote cave and turned themselves into stone, sealing magic away with them forever. As the three magi hoped, magic disappeared from the world, and the great war, which became known as the War of the Magi, faded into history. Few people spoke of magic, and espers were only mentioned in legends that many claimed where fictional. 
As time passed, the people lived peacefully, they learned much about machines and studied technology. Centuries later, living with advancements made possible by science, not magic, few believed that magic had ever existed at all. But then there were the espers. Although no one had actually seen the strange beings, rumor about their existence persisted. Was it possible that espers had survived the War of the Magic? During the peaceful time that followed the War of the Magi, a handful of kings ruled small realms with fair and even hands, that the people wanted for nothing. Most were satisfied. But some were not. A few greedy, power-thirsty and disgruntled men emerged with plans to take over the world, bit by bit. The force that was to become known as the Empire was first led by Gestahl, who ruled with an iron fist. His generals were loyal, and the soldiers they trained swore allegiance to the Empire. Dissention was not allowed. The Empire was destined to be an awesome power, for it knew something that others did not. The secret? Espers. Gestahl and his generals had learned that espers did still exist, after all. They had even followed them to a great gate that lead to another world. For all of his planning, Gestahl failed to foresee how his greediest general would one day tragically twist the power of the Empire.
This is my all-time favorite RPG! Always and forever it will be. The recent Final Fantasy games may have better graphics and better everything but they could never beat the storyline
Final Fantasy VI had. The storyline has every major element stories have: heroics, betrayal, love, excitement, humor, sorrow, mystery, friendship and more. Few words can express how this game is, it's just... beautiful. Before I continue I must talk about something else. Many people have a most prized possession. It could be such a thing as a photo or even a pencil. Whatever the most prized possession is, it reminds a person of a time in their life and the happiness they had.
Final Fantasy VI is my most prized possession. I'm obsessed with fantasy stories that have lots of emotion.
Final Fantasy VI brought me a lot of happiness during a difficult time. It seems more to me than a game, it's like a part of me. I can relate things in my life to the situations in the game. It expresses so much emotion; it overwhelms me with feeling. In every way it has. The artistic beauty of this game has such a powerful impact, it leaves me breathless. Always and forever...
Final Fantasy VI will be my favorite.
I remember the days I first played Final Fantasy VI. At first I rented it and got up to the part where you move around Mog and choose the 3 scenarios. I remember how the graphics took my breath away with my first impression. I remember the beauty of its music; the impact of Terra trying to find the right path. It's all so beautiful. It didn't take long for the rental to convince me to purchase the game. My first experiences playing this game all the way through will live forever in my heart. I remember getting so stuck in the Opera House. I remember that the phantom forest and floating island were so hard. What I remember most is Celes' leap off the cliff, and in the background Forever Rachel was playing. Ah, Forever Rachel, that song was my first favorite from the soundtrack. To this day I still find it very beautiful. The song carries so much emotion; every tone reminds me of another Final Fantasy VI memory. Everything about Final Fantasy VI is beautiful, even such a thing as walking across the world map and listening to the theme. Watching the mountains and coast scroll in different directions. Entering a town and listening to the soft and relaxing town theme. The game's exciting moments will be remembered as well. I will never forget the rush of excitement when you save Terra from Narshe's guards, defending Duncan from Kefka's army and escaping the Magitek factory in the rail car. All that will be remembered always by me. And the impact of all the characters' pasts; Gau's rejection of his own father, the bond of two brothers and a kingdom, a magical woman struggling to find some sort of satisfaction to her life, and much more. I will remember all of that. The beauty and wonders of Final Fantasy VI will live forever in my heart.
As mentioned in History, a fan retranslation has been made for
Final Fantasy VI. If you're a fan of the game I *highly* recommend for you to play this retranslation. Since it requires the Japanese version of
Final Fantasy VI, we get to have all the things that were excluded or censored from the US release. For example, we get to see Siren and Scarlet nude. ^.^ We get to battle the Czar Dragon (the king of the dragons) at Kefka's Tower. The job classes of the characters are listed under their names in the status menu. To me the characters feel much more alive than in the US release. The retranslation makes me feel like I'm watching the subtitled version of Sailor Moon Super S after watching the horribly censored and Americanized dubbed version. Aspects of
Final Fantasy VI's storyline suddenly make more sense with all the extra, insightful detail that was cut out from the US release. I think it's interesting to experience the correctly translated names for all the characters, espers, attacks, spells and monsters. Overall, the
Final Fantasy VI Retranslation is absolutely wonderful! But as highly as I view it, others have felt the opposite. Believe it or not, the release of the retranslation had caused a violent stir of outrage within classic gaming communities. To sum things up, some of the more 'hardcore' RPG fans saw the retranslation as an insult to
Final Fantasy VI. They either couldn't handle the differences or they doubted the accuracy of its translation. Anyway, whether you find the
Final Fantasy VI Retranslation to be boring, controversial, or better than the US release, the ultimate point is that it's something different. If you're like me, you've beaten the US release like over 50 times by now. The
Final Fantasy VI Retranslation gives you a chance to play the game like new.
However, if this is your first time playing Final Fantasy VI then I urge you to
first play the official US release. Go to the Downloads section if you wish to give
either version a try.
ShadowZ49's Final Fantasy VI Review - A solid review of the game, covering every aspect; includes scores (out of 10).
Jackie's Final Fantasy VI Review - A solid review of the game, covering every aspect.
LockeJV's Final Fantasy VI Review - A solid review of the game, covering every aspect; includes scores (out of 10).
NeoOtaku's
Final Fantasy VI Review - A solid review of the game, covering every aspect; includes scores (out of 10).
IDooku's Final Fantasy VI Ramblings - He talks about his favorite team, opinions on all the characters, views on certain events in the game and the many wonders of Kefka's giant boner. Don't take his negative thoughts seriously, he's just teasing.