Final Fantasy III Update
New details on the DS version of Final Fantasy III.
by Anoop Gantayat
October 27, 2005 - Square Enix is in full revival mode for the Final Fantasy series, with Game Boy Advance getting updated versions of all entries from parts I to VI... except for part III. The honor of being the first system to ever get a re-release/remake of Final Fantasy III is the DS, and Square Enix is rising up to the opportunity with a massive update, complete with 3D visuals and new gameplay elements.
Interviewed in the latest issue of Famitsu, producer Hiromichi Tanaka reveals that work on the DS title has been tough. In comparison, work on FFIV, FFV and FFVI for the Game Boy Advance, all of which are being ported over from the Super Nintendo with a few improvements, has been much easier.
The big news since the remake's announcement has been the switch to 3D visuals. Although it was made for the Famicom, Tanaka believes that the original FFIII was a technical marvel for its time, and when originally considering a port to a portable system some years back, Square Enix found it difficult to move all the technology and content over. Time passed, and the 3 color visuals of the NES title grew too dated to consider a direct port, and so we're seeing a 3D version.
But we're not getting a true 3D environment with the title. While in the fields or town, you can't rotate the camera, as the game uses what Tanaka refers to as "pseudo-3D" for these areas. You can, however, zoom in and out. It seems that you'll be able to rotate the camera while in buildings, though.
Outside of 3D, the game will also be using many of the DS's unique features. It's possible to play the game from start to finish using just the touch pen, for instance. The game will make use of the dual screen setup for a number of features, although Tanaka isn't talking specifics just yet. Also planned are wireless features. While the main game is a single player RPG and thus won't be compatible with multiplayer play, Square Enix is considering implementing some bonus features.
Gameplay changes are also being kept under wraps for now. Tanaka is hoping to balance the various jobs you can have as part of the job system, and also make it so that jobs such as the Viking that weren't popular back in the original will be used more frequently in this version. While discussing game systems, Tanaka also points to the more personable characters that have greater ties to the various game scenarios. This should be a big improvement over the original's story telling.
While screens and details have slowly been trickling out for Final Fantasy III, Tanaka's comments suggests that the game is still a ways off from final Japanese release. Expect to hear more from the game some time in 2006.
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