Breath of Fire III

"Breath Of Fire III is controversial for what reasons again?."

Breath Of Fire III: The Tragic RPG?

For ages I have been aching to write a review for one of the most contempted games in RPG history (until Final Fantasy X-2 was sadly released that is). So I got back in touch with a friend that I never really had anything in common with other than we both had RPG's. He was one who hated Breath Of Fire III and we developed into a full blown argument of why it's good and bad. On my way out of his home, tirading curses in my rant at him, he threw the game at the back of my head and hollered "Well you f***king take the worthless piece of s**t then!". And after he slammed the door, I did. And phoned him to ask him if he was ready to make an apology to me (and the game, but he compromised no further).

The fanbase of the Breath Of Fire series has always been more subdued than the general press it receives. My first encounter with the game was an import (my last chance to ever agree or disagree with the hype). Once I played it, I had mixed feelings but my utmost sympathy travelled out to the game under the heavy gunfire that was being shot at it from angry gamers. The experience of Breath Of Fire III is not exactly a bad one albeit with a few typical things scattered about but not an adventure that forces you into submission to like the game. There is no cutting edge or star quality about it. But some games just get under your skin and stay there. Like relationships.

But, I decided once I retrieved the game from an angry fan, I wasn't going to let it be in vain (especially if he phoned to ask for it back). So I played it like it was my last. My previous statement would have been that Breath Of Fire IV was superior but after running through the game one time, I counted the things I expected to be bad (because I thought they were the bad when I first played them) and this time, I never let them deter the actual good things about the game. It resulted in me enjoying the game even more and appreciating the things more. So here I am, a reformed sympathiser to a fan.

Ryu, his halloween costume and the girl with the short term memory

We all know that whatever is thrown at us in a Breath Of Fire plot, the main things such as Ryu and his dragon counterpart with the Princess Nina (avec wings) will always be implemented. This is the first and biggest flaw as it always renders the storyline of any Breath Of Fire game to be largely predictable and tedious. And yet we come to the main problem of this plot.

Ryu starts off as a dragon being carted off to the depths of the mine where he rebels and breaks out, transforming into his human self once again, he is alone and unconscious in the woods. The brave and cunning thieves Rei and Teepo find him and nurse him back to health. When he awakes, he joins their gang and they set about stealing from their village, where they are reviled to becoming unlikely heroes after dealing a local monster.

The reversal is rewarding, and they find no longer have to steal but instead perform deeds for people. One of them is to break into the castle to warn the governor off from taking too much taxes from the villagers. Ryu, Teepo and Rei beat up the governor but the repercussions are severe. Their hideout is burned and they are attacked by two goons. Ryu is then split up from them and makes a journey to find them - meeting Nina in the process.

Already hampered, the plot is never spontaneous or even exciting but rather comfortable and cosy. Now after playing the head grinding adventures of Final Fantasy, playing this game wasn't so bad in terms of plot - while there is no dynamical events, the characters, who are boringly placed, are greatly developed. You'll play Ryu as a kid to an adult in the game which is good as it recommends changes to each of the characters.

For those who prefer a lukewarm adventure, Breath Of Fire III won't offend you but I can understand the lynching the game deserves for it's lack of meaty, juicy and emotional innovating plot. In that case, it is a let down (but not for me). What Capcom should have realised is that to play Ryu, is like controlling a duracell rabbit because there is no peep or emotion from him at all. And to further gunfire, Nina, the main heroine, is the stereotypical Princess (which translates as half of the bother Ryu will go through). Shall we wait forever to come across a female lead with no dead weight wrapped around her neck.

The hard puzzles should be more linear.

Being that the storyline is mellow, sometimes you'll find little in Breath Of Fire III to do aside from fight in random battles, but there is some suprise. It goes into the brave territory to include puzzles, hard ones. Some may describe the gameplay as uninspiring and basically no fun. There are times in certain dungeons where the gameplay reaches the point of being triesomely repetitive and linear.

The battle system is conventional. It is set up in the layout of the Final Fantasy series yet not so complex. You can attack or use the skills and magic you learn. You learn these by the masters who will teach you (the masters being several characters in the game). Some of the skills are quite useful, and will give the characters battle use an individuality.

Challenging as demolishing a box of chocolates in five minutes, Breath Of Fire III does conform somthing of a mixed bag of results in difficulty. You have your puzzles, which will boggle your brains and freeze them. The battles can be a deterrence when they occur that one too many times before you are to head into a boss fight. And believe me, some of the boss fights are really hard. So hand in hand, Breath Of Fire III is challenging enough romp to compete with the rivals.

The controls are no sweat either. The movement is easy, and it isn't difficult to move around in dungeons and the world map (then again, there never really is). The best thing about the gameplay that overwhelmingly compliments the graphics is the rotation camera that stops the angle from being sloppy and annoying. Without this, the game would have been just unbearable.

I did like the exploration of the world map, dungeons and even the camp where your characters would settle for the night (at any point in the world map you choose) and have dialogue on the current situations, where you can train their techs, change masters and save the game. It gave the game some warmth, or just some tiny token that made the game a tad more appeasing (such as the private actions that were used in Star Ocean)

However, there is the complaints well honoured. The main problem (if there ever was one) is that RPG's are usually littered with the fact that you mainly have to go into a town, find a new purpose to go into dungeon and defeat the boss lingering in the depths there. Now the reason this never becomes anything more than a cliche is because of the opposite that Breath Of Fire III does - and that is to do next to nothing to distract this repetitive piece of gameplay.

Also is the invasion of the puzzles is a little uncalled for and unwanted in this game. Sure, to add something else is commendable, but at least be good at it. The puzzles in this game range from being easy (that you'll kick yourself when you read too much into it) to the really difficult ones that would be best left to be more linear and simple. Aside from this, I personally had no problems with Breath Of Fire III in terms of gameplay.

Combination of popular effects with a brave new step into the modern world

Breath Of Fire III is a little cute, but more attractive RPG that has the infamous 2D sprite character models fixed in with a 3D world. It's a compromise and something that gives Breath Of Fire III a breath of fresh air. The scenery and ambience of the game is splendid and gorgeous all the way through - but it's the main reason for a camera angle. The 3D "world" will basically drive you to rotate the camera a lot to find the best suited. This never becomes a problem but it's something that has to be considered.

The sprites come into play with the character designs being very intriquing with Rei being a tiger orientated man and Garr, the whatever type of thing he is supposed to be. Nina does have the stereotypical Princess Damsel look but Momo is a rather cute and well designed character of the beautiful librarian. Even the generic people are interesting to look at. The variety of colours is uniquely used also.

Enemy designs here are something I would have expected in the character designs. Some of the enemy designs are impressive (the two horse headed karate bosses are special, to say the last) and they are quite consistent but sometimes, it's disappointing because the progress of the game is tipped off with the same enemies with different colours. I didn't like that at all. But counting on the designs in general, there could be a lot worse.

The battle graphics are stunning, marking off the whole department of Breath Of Fire III a good endeavor. At the time the game was made, the brave decision Capcom made to take a first footer into a 3D world is not only bold, but worthy. The graphics are definetly the selling point of the product.

It's rare that any form of RPG music is acceptable in volume terms

Star Ocean: The Second Story, Koudelka, Vandal Hearts, Dark Cloud 2 - The many collection I have ranted on about in past reviews about the terrible music. Unfortunately, Breath Of Fire III cannot escape the clutches and will sit amongst the games on the sub bench. And no, I'm not beginning to think it's just me.

The times you think there should be a melancholy theme, there isn't - really, the battle theme grows on to grate your nerves very rapidly and any other tune will send you over the edge like Kate Winslet in Titanic. Just pray you are in an open environment if someone walks in and hears it (your rep will be soiled forever). Then again, what are you doing with the volume above mute?. Nuff said.

The sound effects, if there is much is applaudable. They best come into play during the battles, in which the weapon slashing is authentic and not so annoying as the music. The small bag of sound effects oustide battle are very tiny but decent all the same. And as much as I tire myself of talking about voice acting, I hoped there would have been but thinking about the translation and the fact that the acting probably wouldn't have been stellar - it's best left forgotten.

Breath Of Fire III does itself no favours whatsoever with the music - sorry - ear drum bashing. It does contend out of the bandwagon of games above to compete for the ultimate prestigious crown of worst music ever. Argh I get goosebumps just thinking the many ways I could destroy Capcom for - right, I'm going to leave it before I jump out of the window.

Always doomed to be missunderstood and forgotten

Breath Of Fire III is not for everyone, it's that simple. You hate it, you love it, you don't mind it. It never once proves anybody wrong or right and just aims to be another RPG instead of a good one. But it's because of that, that I like it so much. It's not the greatest RPG ever made, confessed but Breath Of Fire III is just a comfortable experience that is harmless.

Consisted of puzzle flaws and one major factor of disgusting music, perhaps Breath Of Fire may have been better perceived. It covers great character development and a high challenge that some will indefinetly want to conquer but you have to play Breath Of Fire III to form an opinion - and if you did what I did (use a friend?. No!. Because...I didn't). I mean, if you play the game hating it and then play it again with the flaws noted and in mind and concentrate on the less excruitiating things, then you may find a worthwhile adventure in the game.

A little less cliches would have gave Breath Of Fire III another lifeline, however. I'll end saying that for me, Breath Of Fire III is a winner and the best out of the series that I've played.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/22/04