Breath of Fire III

"A classic series breaths life into the next-generation of consoles."

Having played and thoroughly enjoyed the first two Breath of Fire games, I couldn't wait to see what Capcom did with the third installment on a next generation console. Just imagining Capcom's artist hard at work developing new spells as programmers carefully mapped out a new world was enough to get me excited without having any knowledge of the actual game. Slowly screenshots and game play information began trickling out and my excitement for the game grew. I waited a long time for this game to reach my hands- at times it almost seemed as if the game would never come out as it was delayed several times before finally making its way to retailers. Now reviewing it almost a year and a half later, I find myself carefully weighing the differences between how I felt when it first came out and what I feel for it now, especially in light of role playing games like Final Fantasy VIII and Grandia.

If you've ever played either Breath of Fire or Breath of Fire II on the Super Nintendo, the story for Breath of Fire III should be somewhat familiar to you- You play Ryu, a young boy who was discovered as an infant during a mining operation and thought to be a monster. Ryu is caught, imprisoned in a cage and loaded onto a train. However, during transportation the cage falls and he finds his freedom in a forest that is unknown to him. Alone and without even clothing on his back, he is attacked by strange creatures that very nearly spell the end of him. It is then that two mysterious figures appear and rescue Ryu. Orphans themselves, Rei and Teepo (Ryu's saviors) decide to raise the young boy they saved, teaching them everything they know. Growing close over time, the young men cause all sorts of trouble in their town; stealing, robbing, and generally wreaking havoc. This is where your adventure begins as you take control of Ryu at the threshold of becoming a strong young man who must discover his past- a past with ties to the mysterious race of beings known only as the Dragon Clan... Granted the story isn't much different than the previous two Breath of Fire games (each Breath of Fire is essentially the same story with a fresh perspective thrown in), it still remains a unique story from other titles of this genre.

Graphically the first thing you'll notice about Breath of Fire III is its somewhat dated look. While very detailed and colorful, this game is just a step up from the previous installments. While it can be said with certainty that this game could never be ported to the Super Nintendo, the slightly primitive look of it may turn a few people away. This traditional look is but a cover for an incredibly well animated role playing game. The spell effects and dragon transformations are stunning, taking the all-too-familiar hand-drawn look to incredible new heights. You can also rotate the map around to look behind things that might be blocking your perspective, a feature that very few RPGs use and fewer still use with this degree of effectiveness. All the game's character, major or minor, have a distinct look that makes them easily identifiable which in turn really brings the world of Breath of Fire III to life. This title may not have the same sophisticated look as Final Fantasy VIII but its simpler roots have a much warmer feel to them.

While I didn't exactly have high hopes for Breath of Fire III's sound, I still came away somewhat disappointed. Were this any other company (except Square of course), the music and audio effects would have been more than pleasing, but this is Capcom and I've come to expect more from them. The music is nice and fits the game well, but still remains remarkably unmemorable once you've shut the game off. The sound effects are equally as inadequate and equally forgettable as well. Maybe I'm judging this game a little too harshly, but we've all seen what this company can do and as consumers should expect nothing less from such a noted talented group of designers and programmers. In a nutshell Breath of Fire III's audio is not bad, but it's not up to Capcom's usual high standards either.

Following a more traditional approach to the interface, Breath of Fire III employs the familiar cross-command system. All of the main actions you would perform are laid out in a cross and you simply push the digital pad in that direction to select it. Menus are fairly simple to use and easy to read, though some of the new options may confuse rookie gamers. Some of the more interesting features of this title include a Dragon Gene system that allows you to combine up to three dragons to create a hybrid. You can then add your favorite combinations to a list for quick access during battle. Another new feature is the Master-Apprentice system. Throughout the game, you will come across people known as Masters. If you complete whatever task they ask of you, you can become their apprentice. As you study under them, you will learn new skills, higher attributes, or better insight. Yet another interesting aspect of Breath of Fire III's game play involves fishing. Catching fish becomes an intragal part of the game, as you'll have to trade the fish you've caught for rare items. There are many more things to do in Breath of Fire III aside from fighting enemies and leveling up, but I'll leave them for you to discover on your own.

Even though Breath of Fire III won't please those people who need outrageous 3D graphics or full-blown audio melt-down to satisfy them, there's no denying that this role playing game is one of the most ingeniously designed games ever. You actual feel like you are in the game as you experience the entire life of your main character rather than just a small portion of it. And unlike most RPGs, your tasks and goals change as your character's life changes. Best of all, there are so many things to do aside from just battling and completing tasks you get to experience Breath of Fire III's world to the fullest. Even the simplest of things like fishing helps to break up typical RPG monotony and give you relief from the action. It's a shame that some of the bigger companies haven't tried to copy this formula from Capcom- we just might have more A-List role playing games to choose from.

I've already mentioned many of the innovative tasks you can do in Breath of Fire III above, which, by definition, can be described as bonuses since these are the types of extras that most role playing games do not have. As far as hidden things go, I have discovered a few rare weapons, items, and armor as well as powerful gene combinations and solitary Masters from which you learn mysterious new attacks. I have yet to find an alternate ending or hidden characters, but I'm sure there's much more to this title than meets the eye. With all these things to do and uncover, you're almost certain to be playing this game for a long, long time. Now I wonder if any of the World Warriors appear in this game...

Not one of the greatest RPGs ever created, but Breath of Fire III is damn close. It has everything you could ask for in a game and more. If you like your role-playing games traditional with more than just a nod at old school style, this title is for you. Capcom has worked their magic yet again.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/10/09

Game Release: Breath of Fire III (US, 04/30/98)