Jesus, I knew Sakaguchi's mother died but burned alive in her home?! That is horrific. I can't even imagine something like that. Bless that man for continuing to work on this series so many love, even when he was at his lowest point. They would have understood. Anyone would.

I like how that one guy's professional business picture has him smoking a cigarette. Such different times compared to today

was so surprised to see how small this channel is, the quality is way above what you'd expect for such a small channel

as i continue to watch these videos one after the next, it fills my heart with SO MUCH joy seeing another person who truly understands and realizes what they're looking at.. besides pokemon, i dont think another game series has EVER done so much for my life, as much as final fantasy and its family of games. i've played and replayed the FF series for so many years and learned everything i could so i'll see things nobody else sees and then Andrew releases a video upon his playthrough and goes into EVERY. SINGLE. DETAIL. giving credit and shining the spotlight on everybody involved. its a beautiful compilated deep dive into the history of the people creating this series and the company at large, the gaming world at the time, and the climate of ideas being tossed around to create the next big thing. bravo my brother, you have stunned me yet again with this one, and i cannot wait to see the later videos where you're playing 6, and 9. the work it takes to compile so much information into one video, the editing, and the way it loops music in the background, i dont even realize i've been watching for an hour by the time it ends.. i'm hooked from the beginning and stay invested the whole way through! easily one of my favorite content creators in the platform right now and you deserve waaaaaaaaayy more views and recognition for this level of insanely good material... bravo mate, another one for the record books, hopefully I can boost my patreon subscription higher soon

I'm in awe... these retrospectives are so well done. Huge respect to you Andrew for all the work and time you've put into this series. It really shows.

This is fantastic. Truly. I played FF3 on the DS but it was the Pixel Remaster that is the true experience for me. Beating it was fun. I also had no idea that Sakaguchi's mom died while FF3 was in development. I have to wonder if it had an effect on Sakaguchi while FF7 was being made.

This is what KZfaq was made for. Researching, editing, writing on a professional level. Cannot be more pleased

A clarification about the 3D remake's job adjustment period: the stat penalties for switching jobs are fairly paltry. The reason new classes feel terrible is because of how much job level is tied to a character's power. For physical damage classes, job level increases accuracy, and therefore number of hits. For mages, job level drastically improves spellcasting power. Jobs level based on number of actions taken, even the Guard command, not by exp, which can lead to a feeling of new classes just not being very good because you need to grind their job level to at least 20, often taking upwards of 100 or more commands in battle in other words, before the class could be considered competent in any way. Whether or not you think that's a good system is up to the player, but the job adjustment period is maligned for reasons not based in any objective understanding of the game's mechanics, especially since 6-10 battles should realistically only take 5 minutes maximum anyway

I never bothered with any of the pixel remasters, but I did play both the 8-bit version of III and the 3D Remake. I didn't find the 3D version very difficult personally and found that it had a lot of charm. I also quite enjoyed the music. I like it for what it is : )

Are you planning on doing every mainline game in the series? These are so well done man. Definitely some of the best coverage of these early games I’ve seen.

the way you weave Sakaguchi's personal life into your narrative is brave and brilliant.

So much hard work that goes into these videos and they turn out absolutely amazing!! So incredibly captivating. Can't wait for the SNES, and *especially*, PS1 era.

You can hear that in the Pixel remaster, Umatsu is just feeling the music.

I love the running gag in this video of Saylor either being dead, or getting killed immediately before being healed. I hope it was intentional.

What an incredible video, an incredible retrospective, and an incredible analysis of everything this has to offer! Narrative, mechanics, music, everything! Absolutely amazing work my friend!

Another incredible dive. Really looking forward to FFIV, which was my introduction to not just Final Fantasy, but RPGs in general.

I absolutely love your videos of Final Fantasy! I have played one through three and after beating each one I watch your retrospective. your video has given birth to a deeper love to this series that I wouldn't have been able to have if it wasn't for your videos. I really enjoy and find it interesting to hear about the behind the scenes, the deeper meaning in the games story and design, and and all the ins and outs that you go into in your videos. I truly appreciate all your hard work that you put into your retrospectives. It truly is a work of love and it shines through in each video. Just as hope shines through even the greatest of despair. I raise my sword in honor of you, final fantasy, video games, art, life, and love and I hope you continue to work on videos in this series as my journey now takes me to Final Fantasy 4.

Looking forward to your next retrospective on my first (and favorite) FF; Final Fantasy IV.

I love these retrospectives, incredibly detailed and I love the backstory provided. I will disagree on the note of the 3D remake, however. Even coming off of playing Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy IX, I was in awe that such a beautifully presented and well-fleshed out RPG with a job system similar to what I experienced in Final Fantasy Tactics was possible on a handheld. I agree the game is super grindy, but I take that and enjoy the game regardless.

I always liked the yin-yang symbolism of how light and darkness are presented in this game. But there's one element of the story that still leaves me wondering. Namely, on multiple occasions an event called "the flood of light" is mentioned. I saw some reviewers on KZfaq interpreting it as the same entity as the Cloud of Darkness, just growing in power and attacking Earth at a different point in time. Whereas I have always seen it as a different creature of the Void - more like CofD's light equivalent, but not CofD itself.

YESSSS NEW VIDEO ESSAY

that final fantasy 4 video can't come soon enough, brilliant analysis. Regretting my decision to go with the ds version but I've climbed my way out of the curve and it's starting to be fun. I abuse items and the boss fights being really difficult is fun, the dungeons are engaging and I like the mechanic where you need to tilt the camera to see hidden items and switch! The story, I've just beaten Hein, I was really sad when Deicht died and shocked at how much of a proto Zach he was.

If I could bring Hironobu Sakaguchi's mother back to life, I would. He needs a hug big time.

Only wish these could be seen by more people

These FF videos have been exceptional, in the literal sense of the word, and I'm so glad you've made them. Genuinely some of the best videos I've seen on KZfaq - very much looking forward to future instalments.

Absolutely amazing video. Can’t wait to see more like this one.

Such a beautifully written and preformed video essay on a final fantasy 3 retrospective. This is a fantastic piece of work and I sincerely hope you continue all the way to 15!

Your retrospectives are so well-made and entertaining to watch. Thanks for these! Clearly, you deserve a lot more views and subs!

I'm slowly working through your videos as I finish each game in the pixel remaster collection and I really love all the attention to detail, development information and changes from version to version that is detailed. Keep up the great work

FFIII was the first one I played as a kid, around the age of 10. Back then I would find myself at a dead end very early, because I never really understood the job system. The stats and benefits weren't really that transparent. They didn't even have a mini description like in FFI. Coming back to it at an adult age however, it was an absolute blast.

i cant beleve i am 2 mounths late but still i love these videos. i am so glad more pople are icking up on this channel. while i havnt played 1-3 i have plans to an these vides have deffedently help me with that. but yeah i cant wait for the future and eventully the games after the final fantasy games

This is great! Keep up the great work man

loved all 3 final fantasy videos so far! just binged them all over the past 2 days, easy subscription!

Great retrospective. Keep em coming.

Excellent video, keep up the good work my dude, subbed

What a fantastic retrospective! Thank you for this great work!

I'm making my way through FF3 DS at the moment and knowing the Invincible is on its way fills me with joy. The fantasy of having a flying home is just that strong.

Absolutely fascinating hearing the 3D version described as overly difficult. Maybe it came from experience with chemist in V, but as soon as I unlocked Scholar I found the game to be so easy, only Pixel II has beaten it for "easiest FF title"

Appreciating the deep dives!

Playing through the pixel remaster now. I’m hooked hard

Yet another great FF retrospective!! As someone whose only FFIII history is the 3D remake, I will say this video has me wanting to go play the pixel remaster and maybe never look back at the 3DR ;)

Fantastically informative video, keep up the good work!!

These retrospectives are fantastic, you have a new fan.

I came across these retrospectives when I decided to finally play FF via the pixel remasters for PS4 about a month ago. I've watched each one several times, there's a certain soothing quality to these videos, it's clear you put a lot of effort into this production and you care a lot about the source material. Currently playing FFIII after getting the platinum trophies for I & II. Much looking forward to your FFVI video. Cheers

Just got the pixel remaster and have been watching each retrospective thank you so much for this.

Wow Andrew, great work. Keep it up!

Amazing review, subbed

Parts of the Boundless Ocean song remind me of Heartful Tears you hear in Final Fantasy Legend 1 and 2. Very similar if you listen to them back-to-back.

I recently decided to play through all the ff series since I never played 1-6. I have been watching all these videos after beating them to get a better understanding of the games as a whole. You are doing a great job and thank you for your work.

I haven't played the pixel remaster yet... but I did play the DS version when it was new, and I can't say I recall the bosses being a painful slog, as you describe it. I do recall issues, though, in the dungeons you had to cast mini on yourself where enemies would just one-shot party members, and so I found myself running from every battle. Though I also did have a lot of spare time, I'll admit, to devote to mindless grinding. Also I think because I got used to the idea of the four onion kids being actual characters, shallow as they are, it feels like a step backwards to me to go play a game where they're blank slates like FF1.

This series is amazing! So much insight

For a three week span of time, thirteen years ago, I played this came straight through while levelling up every job. The ending gave me a peaceful mindset, moreso than the first. It is a gem. I guess the point of games of this era was to play them on their terms, rather than mine.

Not sure if you'll see this Andrew, but thank you very very much for this video mentioning what Ishii had in mind for the concept behind the Dark Knight/Warmage of this. It actually led to me finding more info on the other job designs that served a valuable source for expanding the information on the job's page on FFWiki! Your series has been reviving my love for looking more into the nitty gritty for a lot of the old design concepts for these titles. Thanks a lot! :3

I LOVE YOUR CONTENT!!

Good Videos. Very well made; and with FFIV being my personal favorite i very much look forward to your next Retrospective.

FF III's difficulty is not so punishing that you can't go through the game with any jobs you want. In the 3ds remake for example I ran scholar as my healer by utilizing its bonus item potency. Did the whole game with this, and a geomancer, no ninjas, no sages etc. The only boss in the entire game that is too difficult for such strategies is the cloud of darkness which is very upsetting.

Thank you for this video.

After being stonewalled by the punishing 3D version as a child, I came here after beating the pixel remaster just yesterday! Maybe one of my favorite final fantasy games now

Deserves way more views!

incredible content, earned yourself a sub

Great video, but looking at your footage of the 3D remake, I can see why you think that version is so hard as you claim. Not trying to come off as a jerk but you need your healers to heal and not use their weak weapons to attack. Even if all party members are at full HP, you would still use a healing spell since the turn order is somewhat random. A boss might go first and use a multi hit attack.

I tried it on nes fan translated and got miffed at the shrink and dark knight dungeons and again in the 3d version just trying to level up the characters. The pixel remaster though was exactly what I wanted and I loved it. I thought the pixel remasters 1-3 were fantastic with enough quality of life changes to improve the gameplay at the cost of difficulty though as someone with kids; I'm perfectly fine with that. Only complaint is the bonus content left out but I'll take it.

Picking one of the best themes in FF as part of the intro 🎉

I find it hard to believe that Nasir still has a job, after locking code behind a cypher that completely changed the entire point of the last third of FF2. He'd have been fired and replaced once the roms got shipped for cart pressing, if I was in charge.

Dudes great. Subscribed. 👍👍👍👍

Played a fan translation rom in the early to mid aughts. Was the 2nch or 3rd ff I had played. That was a good experience, right until the end gauntlet, when you are mainly continuing just to get it over with.

The reflection of the onion knight was done that way because of VRAM limitations.

Decht == Zach Fair Aria == Aerith Gainsborough? Am I going crazy?

Great work on these videos! ❤ can’t wait for ff6!

So I finished the PR FF3 this past weekend, and I have to say it's been my favourite out of the three so far!!! The music blew me away, Eternal Wind is one of my favourite game tracks of all time. It made me realise that FF2 was a bit of a misstep, seeing just how great a FF can be. The story was dripped in nicely and appropriately fantasy based again, I enjoyed the surprises along the way. The difficulty was fine, but I enjoy grinding and grind throughout the game to avoid being overwhelmed. I wasn't sure what the job system was going in, I expected some kind of mini game. I was surprised to find out it was just a name for changeable classes. Very cool. I picked the Warrior, White, Red and Black mages, and I wanted to stick with these throughout the game, so I didn't change to any of the others, until I realised later on that some of them are just outright upgrades. It would have been better if they actually upgraded those classes, like in FF1, rather than presenting them as new jobs. So my Red Mage, falling behind in power became the Evoker, then the Summoner. I fell in love watching the summons, they're very fun, then finally changed the Sage that can do everything, including summon. I had a lot of fun with the changing of classes, and would enjoy playing it again one day this time going with different classes, I'll save that for my 3D playthrough. I absolutely adored finding out that the continent was floating, and that there was more to the world. The vast open ocean had such an alien feeling to it, then to find I brought the land back struck me with awe with how much more there was to do. The themes of growing up, accepting help, sacrifice and hope all hit home. There is definitely a deeper feeling to this game. I had a lot of fun completing it over the weekend! I too would highly recommended FF3 to anybody who likes the 2D Final Fantasies. What a great ride. A true squeal to the original, fixing the missteps of FF2. Thankyou for another great video recap. I await your IV review.

You made me care about FFIII. That's an amazing feat!

Hope to see FF4-16 retrospect soon lol. Keep up the great work! Seriously though, FF4 for now would be appreciated 👍

Another outstanding retrospective - hope to see FF4 in the future

These are excellent. I can't wait to see the rest. Final Fantasy 4 is probably my favorite game of the SNES generation just because of sentimental reasons and 6 is an all around better game in most respects and is probably my second favorite over all. I'm really looking forward to these two. 5, on the other hand really angered me when they took my only healer for story reasons right before a boss fight and brick walled my progress. I haven't gone back to it yet. I also love 14 and have a frankly embarrassing amount of hours in it. I love the story, the lore, the world crafting and the love from the developers that you can feel in every aspect of the game so I am looking forward to that retrospective (is it a retrospective if the game is still current? I don't know. Probably best not to mess with the formula).

This is one of the two mainline FF games I want to give another shot. I played the PSP version and between the load times and lot of what you said it was kind of a not so awesome experience.

Really looking forward to the next 3 game retrospectives! Ff6 is my favorite

yess!!!

i took forever to watch this due to just bad brain-- really appreciate what a great and thorough video this is, as someone who played the hell out of 3 back in the late 90s via a partial translation; really appreciate the hate for the 3d soundtrack (and that version in general, bleh) and love for the pixel remaster's version. this soundtrack really is one of uematsu's finest and some of the finest chiptune on the nes imo, and the pixel remaster's soundtrack is beautiful love 3 so much

Wait I thought Final Fantasy VII was inspired by Sakuguchi's Life.

Great video. Funny enough my first RPG was Final Fantasy Legend that I got with the Gameboy for Xmas '90. I love the first 6 games.

Very cool

1:10:34 And Tactics! The one that used it the best~

The remake was my First final fsntasy and one of the First rpgs that i played , that forseken Tower , when that cloud bastard died i felt true bliss

I'm sorry, the beavers were supposed to be MOOGLES??? This changes everything!

I actualy used the bard till the final fight in the pixel remaster. Their healing ability is insane if you level them high enough

I love the spite when talking about FF2 chocobo theme. Anyways great video! Love form brazil!

Ff14 did a great service basically retelling ff3's story so newer people or people who dont want to play ff3 can learn about the story

i cant wait till you get to ff6, very nice job. Keep up the great work!

I am proud on leveling my cast to lv99 on the nes emulator on my PS1. Though didnt know Onion Knight was OP.

Regarding the remake, a disagree with a few of your points. The primary one is how the only difference you mentioned regarding the jobs is the Sage and Ninja being nerfed. A lot of the jobs were buffed across the board, some getting new mechanics and others simply getting expanded weapon sets. That's probably the biggest advantage the remake has for me. Even the Pixel Remaster, while carrying over some of the job abilities sometimes changed them to remove downsides from them or change how the work in ways that remove the flavor (sure selecting songs from a menu instead of switching harps mid-battle is intuitive and user friendly, but also more boring). The story is also one I disagree with, but requires the big picture to be seen. In the original, Xande is kind of an odd villain: He's not seen until the final moments and most of the events in the game are a crapshoot whether they were actually caused by him or were just side effects of his actions. The remake recontextualizes Xande and repositions him as something of a red herring while also concretely establishing that his main goal was to regain his immortality by stopping time. Tying in the Floating Continent's creation to him also adds to his impact as it means that the FC has been cut off for thousands of years. Lastly, the remake characters' origin seems to have been an attempt at giving more of a personal tie to Xande in the vein of most other FF protagonists, but it never manifests even outside of III, so I dunno about that. And speaking of the protagonists, you're not wrong in them being flat characters, but some context is required to explain why: In the game's code are unused text strings. These contain a lot of cut/extended scenes which showcase the protagonists' personalities clearly: Luneth is well-meaning, but reckless, casual and brash to the point of insulting people. Arc is smart, but is not only a coward and childish but resentful of those traits to the point of acting out. Refia is caring, but has a short-temper in regards to the boys (and Desch)'s shenanigans. Ingus is the cool and collected one, but has his own insecurities and his serious nature sometimes puts him at odds with the others. There are hint of these traits in the final game, but they're so rare and come-and-go so easily that you probably won't think to much of it when they do reassert themselves. This actually builds on your "they couldn't decide how faithful to be" point since they axed those scenes and, as a result, overcorrected. It's the Penelo problem all over again. Lastly, on music. A lot of tracks were done better in the Pixel Remaster, but there are some that I prefer the remake's take on them (the instruments in "Let Me Know The Truth"/Doga and Unei, the more mournful "Boundless Ocean", the incorporation of chiptune into the final battle theme just as some examples). These points probably won't change your mind on the remake (it is grindy, only slightly defendable by that version originally being portable) but to say that the only reason to prefer the remake is because you like difficulty or hate sprites is a bit disingenuous in my opinion.

As someone whose favorite FF is FF5, I really wish I had had the chance to play 3 back in the day. I'll have to pick up the Pixel Remaster one of these days, it sounds like a blast.

Wow that message about pressing on when all hope seems lost, finding that smallest speck of light... that is the plot of Endwalker. I never knew that originally came from FF3.

FFIII on DS was the first FF Game ive played, since back then i only had nintendo consoles,so while it's not on My top 5 FF games, i still have a soft spot for it, it's part of the first stage into My Journey of rpgs, and for that i'm thankful

FF3 was great when i played the Famicom version emulated with a translation patch prior to the 3D releases, and i especially loved just how huge the world seemed. I haven't played any of the Pixel Remaster FF titles, but i do look forward to playing them when i have more time, especially FF3-6.

This remains the only Mainline Final Fantasy I have never finished. I didn't play it until much later on a PSP port, and while I could respect how this game started so many things about the series that would define it, none of them really worked in this game. The class system is pretty useless. The story, even when imported in the port, is weaker than the previous games. The gameplay itself wasn't interesting. I finally stopped when I realized I had to go through hours of the final dungeon without the ability to save. But this is still an amazing video. I have really enjoyed these deep dives into the games. I've watched plenty before and yours always reveals a number of new facts. Thank you.

Looking forward to seeing an FFIV retrospective

I always thought the Onion Knight job was OP.

I am surprised you didn't mentiondoga and une's theme in the music section. Best track in the game. Maybe the series.

I just fought the cloud of darkness for the first time. I wasted all of my sheriken or however you say it so I was just doing the damage damage heal technique. I was doing good but I got out of rhythm when I used an elixir and I got swept by the particle beam 😅

Just finished watching retrospectives for 5 and 4, except for some pronunciation issues with Japanese, I'm quite impressed, looking forward to retrospective for 6, my favorite in the series. I'm curious are you going to go through all the main series?