Which Version of Final Fantasy III Should You Play? - ALL Ports Reviewed & Compared

Addendum info (12.12.22)
The PR versions had various bug fixes and stability improvements. If you still experience stutter, consult fan solutions in the description. The text was only marginally improved via a thinner drop shadow.

Critical hits now have a screen flash, battle to field transition is faster when fleeing, auto-battle won't use the row command anymore, B while flying now puts you back inside the airship, triggers can be used to talk to guest characters, sight & gmonish bread show you info on places you can't go back to, the minimap stays up between screens, and waterfalls were visually tweaked.

I will played NES. I Dont Care

It's very fun to watch these videos after I beat the game. Some friends and I are playing through the series and we have all chosen different versions to play. I have chosen the originals, someone has chosen the GBA+FF3 DS, and the other has chosen the Pixel Remasters. Once we all beat the game, we have a discussion and talk about it. These videos have been handy and allows me to understand what was different for all of us.

Keep up the good work!

The only version of the game that doesn't actively hate the player through its core mechanics is the Pixel Remaster.

Which 3d version would you say is better: the psp or ds version?

I haven’t even watched this video yet I just got passed advertisements. I swear to god if this guy says that FFIII 3-D remake characters lack development, personality, etc. I’ll be pissed. Thats the same cookie cutter comment everyone makes without realizing the developers left them vague on purpose to reflect the simplicity of the Ur orphans . Please don’t be that guy. About to watch. I’ll comment after.

My only gripe with the pixel remaster version is they should have made the boat battle map bigger, the top character literally stands on the edge and it looks funky. They could have made the boat end a little more to the left so everyone is standing on it comfortably

That's a nice Batle theme

tl;dr there's like 3 different games all calling themselves Final Fantasy 3. Either play a romhack of the original that fixes things, the android/steam/psp versions which are all basically the same, or the pixel remaster

Hey! I just beat the final fantasy 3 for the first time just lastnight, I played the pixel remaster and I thought the last gauntlet of bosses was still challenging.but I was there at level 47ish might have been a little early

The super Nintendo version, because that 3 is 6 which is actually a good game :P

I liked the PR version, but it was definitely the weakest of the PR bunch. No story or characters, it periodically tries to force you to change every character in your party to one Job, and the ending dungeon is overly long and exhausting. I think the DS version is the best for its charming visuals, minor attempt at chatacters, and for the Onion Knight sidequest.

Im still confused why the font even on console release are so damn bad. Like damn, give us the one the Japanese version has. Its not damn hard

Glad i watched this. I had only played the DS version, & i didnt realize the others were so different. I recently wanted to replay it after so long, & tried to but apparently the lower screen on my DS no longer works (it registers touch & lights up on some lines but doesnt display picture). Was literally 🤏 this close to getting the pixel remaster on PS5 not knowing it would be so vastly different. I have a PSP somewhere, will try get the 3D on that i think.

I decided to play 3D version as my first Final Fantasy and I loved it...

Until the last part, it was so punishing just out of nowhere that I got scared and I never touched the game again 😂

If you're planning on give FF3 a try, GO FOR THE PIXEL REMASTER.

The original Famicom version was what captivated me to the genre and the series ever since I was 5 years old

Just gonna do Pixel Remaster for 1 - 5 fewer problems. I hate 6.

Of all the pixel remasters I think this one nailed the OST the best. It's the only one that didn't contain arrangements I felt were inferior to previous iterations and contained some I thought were quite inspired.

>they changed the graphics drastically and gave them a completely new style in Final Fantasy 3 on Nintendo DS, PSP, and steam
"Cool."
>they changed the graphics slightly by making sprites and backgrounds higher resolution and removing some of the stark contrasting lines Final Fantasy 5 and 6 on mobile and steam
"THIS IS THE WORST THING I'VE SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE AND THEY COMPLETELY RUINED THE GAME I WILL NEVER RECOVER FROM THIS UTTER AND WHOLESALE DESTRUCTION OF MY CHILDHOO!!!"

was ff3 on english to famicom

I have to say, I'm not planning to play all of them, but I have opened up a bit more to the Pixel Remaster, atleast for FF3.

with ff1,2,4,5,and 6 i feel there are better versions to play. but with 3 the pixal remaster might be it's best version.

the videos for what? you got cut off at the end.

the 3d one hands down the rest are ass

I like the DS version better and wished the pixel remaster kept elements of it.

My biggest annoyance with the Pixel Remasters is the removal of bonus content from the GBA and DS versions. Otherwise they would be THE best versions to play.

The original one is the best.

Maybe the PR is better but the 3D Steam version was pretty boring. The visuals looked clean, but the style, story and setting was toned down for children.
Gameplay was more tedius than engaging. No mini map, no names for locations on the world map. The encounter rate was unimaginable frustrating when you tried to figure out where to go. It had the job system but nothing else. You pick one to get it's special command but for most of the time you still only attack and set it to auto battle. 95% of the combat is literally auto attacking. The encounters where you need specific jobs are in comparison almost non-existent.
Played through FF5 PR before this one and the amount of how much more engaging 5 was than 3, is almost unmeasurable.
Now im scared that FF4 3D is going to suck.

I dunno if this has been said already (probably since this video is a year old) but you can switch equipment mid-battle in the Famicom version as well. I did it a lot through my playthrough on original hardware.

Where is the PSP version?

100% FF3 3D remake won all comparison to other ff3!!

Batle

It was a very informative and helpful video.

I didn't know that FF3 SNES was actually FF6.

Comparing the Famicom to the DS to the pixel remaster... I think that the pixel remaster looks the best while having the most enticing gameplay mechanics.

I've only played the DS version but really enjoyed it. Good art direction, music, job system, etc.

Also, this video needed more Battle Theme 2! (Boss Battle)
One of my favourite 8-bit tracks of all time.

DS and Smart Phone versions seem pretty terrible.

I think I'll go with the Pixel Remaster. Thanks!

I wonder home many people love the first FF but doesn’t like any of the other ones?

Final fantasy v is the version of final fantasy iii you should play

I can’t wait for PR on consoles.

I wouldn't be able to say how good the other games are but I got 3 for mobile and it is quite good.

Haven’t played the Pixel Remaster version but I loved the 3D remake. So good.

Pixel Remaster wins in the soundtrack department hands down, it's gorgeous

Wow, now I’m happy I got the PSP version back then. Can’t wait to play the Pixel Remaster next year finally on console!😆

Hey, uhh... you misspelled Battle theme during the look at the 3D remake. You spelled it as "Batle Theme".

can you get the onion knight on the PC Steam version????

Great videos bro, you earned a subscriptor

FFIII is such an amazing game they can't even fix anything to make a remaster and instead just upgrade graphics and balance stats. Not surprised, though. FFI and II were incredibly broken while III just came and make everything completely enjoyable

You forgot something CRITICAL.

In the NES version, there is a tree in Replito town that you can climb to get to a house roof, where you jump down the chimney to enter.
The 3D and Pixel Remaster versions removed this. Now you just enter behind the house.
Boo