Final Fantasy Legend III (GB)

Final Fantasy Legend III (or SaGa 3: Jikuu no Hasha in Japan) is a remarkable role-playing game (RPG) for the Game Boy system, serving as the final installment in the Final Fantasy Legend trilogy. The game plunges players into a time-traveling and dimension-hopping adventure to avert a catastrophic event threatening the universe.

The narrative revolves around a group of young heroes who must journey through different timelines to find a solution to the mysterious disappearance of water from their world. A key feature of the game is its time-travel element, allowing players to visit the past, present, and future, with each era presenting unique challenges and secrets to uncover.

The gameplay in Final Fantasy Legend III retains many characteristics of the SaGa series, yet introduces significant improvements. The combat system remains classic Turn-Based, where players select actions for each character in their party. A notable addition is that character stats (Status) increases are now based on the usage of specific skills and attributes, rather than purely random increments like in previous titles, offering a better sense of control.

The character progression system is one of its most unique aspects. Players can have different character types: Human, Mutant, Robot, and Monster. Each type evolves differently:

• Human and Robot characters primarily improve their stats through equipping weapons and armor.
• Mutant characters randomly develop new skills and spells during combat.
• Monster characters can transform into various other monsters by consuming meat dropped by defeated foes. Each new monster form comes with its own set of abilities and stats. This flexibility encourages players to experiment and customize their party for different tactical approaches.

Exploration of the vast world is a crucial part of the game. Players navigate their party across an overworld map, exploring towns, dungeons, and interacting with non-player characters (NPCs) to gather information, accept quests, and purchase equipment. Dungeons often feature simple puzzles or hidden paths to discover.

Despite the Game Boy's graphical limitations, the game effectively conveys the diversity of environments and character designs. The game's music is also highly praised, with memorable melodies contributing to the epic atmosphere of the adventure.

In summary, Final Fantasy Legend III is a deep RPG with a unique character development system, engaging time-travel mechanics, and challenging Turn-Based strategic gameplay, solidifying its place as a classic Game Boy experience.