Breath of Fire

"A Breath You Will Enjoy Taking."

Breath of Fire is a game I know I wanted for a very long time. I finally got it, and I have to say I didn't like it much at first. It's not like most RPG's you have experienced before. While it has some of those RPG elements, you have a very different feel as well. This game grows on you, and is really a classic by Capcom. I've heard some people say this is the best RPG they have ever played, and I have heard some people it's the worst. In my humble opinion, I found it one of the most solid RPG's to date, and my personal favorite of the series. It's a true classic, and one of the best buys on the Super Nintendo.

Graphics:9/10

I think the graphics in this game are masterfully down. Each character has a great aura surrounding them, and each one is very different. This game is full of bright colors, and interesting towns that keep the magic flowing the whole game. The random battles have a great camera angle, and most of the enemies have great looks to them. Unfortunately, all we get to see is the backs of our main characters. I would have liked it better to see more faces. Overall though a very solid effort and I think these are wonderful graphics.

Sound:10/10

Beautiful work done in this game. It's just like Square and Capcom to have great music included in all of their products. Breath of Fire is certainly no exception. Excellent battle music, great town music, and new sounds around every corner. Even midway through the game the battle music changes to keep things fresh. I have to say this sound was well done, and is one of the best things included in this game. Titles like this wouldn't be the same without great audio behind their backs.

Gameplay:8/10

This is a role playing game. You take on the dragon warrior of Ryu who is traveling the world is search of his kidnapped sister. You meet several allies who join Ryu along for his quest against the Dark Dragons. You get weapons, armor, items along the way to make yourself stronger. You fight enemies that can empower you, and you also can gain dragon changing abilities late in the game. You will love Ryu's ability to turn into dragons because it is a sight to see. Most of his companions have the magic ability as well. Your health meter in battles is shown by a colored bar, and gets drawn down the more you get hit. This is a very lengthy game, and you really get into it the longer you play. There are a few things I didn't like about the gameplay. One thing is I don't like the fact you can't carry too many items. I like to have a lot of items and this game restricts you from that. Another thing is that you have no way of knowing how much experience you have left to gaining a level. It always keeps you guessing and I would rather know how much I need to level up. That's about the only two things I didn't like about the gameplay. The rest is extremely solid.

Story:10/10

There is a war between the light dragons, and dark dragons starting. The Hero's sister is kidnapped, and he is on his way to save her. This is about all I can say without giving away the story, but it is a good one which you will soon realize while playing it. Saving your sister isn't the only thing you will be trying to do. You will also team up with others and perform various tasks around the world. Everything is fresh and new, and the tasks are very fun. You will enjoy the story, and appreciate it more when it all unfolds at the end.

Challenge:9/10

This is a very challenging RPG. You really need to gain many levels in order to survive. As I stated previously, it's a surprise when you gain a level so that makes things a lot more difficult. The game is also a pretty lengthy one indeed. I think this game will take you around the 40-50 hour mark to complete. It has many things to do, and many things to tackle. It's a fun challenge so that is a positive thing!

Replay:9/10

This is a very fun game to play again and again. The story seems as good each time through, and it's always fun to do many things you did before. It just always stays new and fresh. Some RPG's don't have that feeling the second and third times through but this one really does. If you play this game once and like it, I think you will be playing it again at a later date.

Buy/Rent:Buy

If you are a big RPG fan I strongly suggest you purchase this title. It is sure to bring you many fun hours until you complete it. If you are not an RPG fan, that I suggest you try renting it to see what you think. I really don't think it's a first time game for new RPG players so a rent would be for the best. It's a very strong title and I recommend it all the way. It would be a steal for $50 dollars or under.

Overall:9/10

I enjoyed myself my whole way through this game. It's fun, full of great times, and is still one of the best RPG's available on the Super Nintendo. The story is captivating, the characters are interesting, and there is many challenges to keep you playing over and over again. I suggest picking up Breath of Fire if you are an RPG fan or not. It's one of the more stellar titles available and it will give you lots of great times. Pick up Breath of Fire today, and enjoy having one of the greatest RPG's around.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/16/01, Updated 08/04/02