FINAL FANTASY ANTHOLOGY: TWO CLASSIC, GREAT GAMES re-released in one great package!

Review By Strife_Raven
--FINAL FANTASY VI (III)--*****
Section 1: Intro
Section 2: Story
Section 3: Sound and Music
Section 4: Battle System (extensive)
Section 5: Menu
Section 6: Graphics
Section 7: Characters
--FINAL FANTASY V--****
Section 1: Intro
Section 2: Story
Section 3: Sound and Music
Section 4: Battle System
Section 5: Menu
Section 6: Graphics
Section 7: Characters

--FINAL FANTASY VI (III)--*****

SECTION 1 Intro
Final Fantasy VI (III USA) is another great game from SquareSoft. This game was an SNES release and has also been re-released for the PSX in FINAL FANTASY ANTHOLOGY, but still has the original SNES form, just with FMVs in some places as well as some enhanced graphics and sound.

SECTION 2 Story
The storyline for Final Fantasy VI is one of the best I have ever seen! It is one of the most moving and emotional games I have ever played. The villain in the game evokes a lot of hate in you toward him; the deaths of some characters evoke sadness and remorse. The victories and miracles of life evoke happiness, as well as wonder and awe. It also has some great plot-twists. It also has A LOT of side-quests, so that you can get to know the characters better.

SECTION 3 Sound and Music
For an SNES game the sound is GREAT. The villain even has his own laugh (which is really cool I might add)! They also have some voice parts for an opera scene, even though it is only a deep rumbling sound, it is somewhat humorous to see and hear, and it is also cool (I mean come on, it is an SNES game, give them a break). The music, like the story is filled with emotion. There are some upbeat songs, as well as some really saddening ones. Some have a tune of determination and some have a melody of longing. I have to say the music is great.

SECTION 4 Battle System (extensive)
The battle system is pretty easy to understand. You get Espers (summons), also known as Magicite, throughout the game that gives you magical abilities. You equip them to a character, and as you battle with them, you will gain magic points (from certain monsters). These magical points accumulate, and you need a certain amount of magic points to gain a magic ability. Once you have gained the magic you can use it in the Magic menu during a battle. Here is what the screen will look like when you select an Esper you want to equip:

Ramuh----------Learn.Rate-------Skill
Bolt:--------------------x10-----------100%
Bolt 2:-----------------x2--------------10%
Poison:---------------x5---------------30%

Ramuh is the name of the Esper. Bolt, Bolt 2, and Poison are magic abilities you can learn from it, the learn rate is how fast you learn it, and the Skill is the percentage you have learned (Bolt for example is 100% so it has been learned and you can use it).
Each character also has their own abilities, one character, for example, has special sword techniques he can use, while another can absorb magic from a certain sword she has.
Some characters gain more abilities over time, others can enhance their abilities with relics (I will go into relics in the Menu portion of this game), while other characters keep the same abilities throughout the game. Also if you get really low on health, there are certain “Desperation Attacks” that can be achieved. If you are low on health, and you choose the fight command, there is a possibility a desperation attack will be performed. There are two battle modes in the Config Menu (see Section 5) Wait and Active. Wait will “pause” actions of all characters and monsters while you choose your moves, such as the magic spell you are going to cast or item you are going to use. Active continues action while you choose. There are also rows you can put your groups into (see Section 5)

SECTION 5 Menu
The menu is easy to understand, here are the options on the menu screen:

ITEMS: Lets you use items, such as healing and curing items.
SKILLS:
-ESPER: Lets you equip an Esper.
-MAGIC: Lets you use curing magic, shows learned magic,
as well as magic being learned and the percentage
learned.
EQUIP: Lets you equip weapons armor, etc. Some characters
can only use certain things.
RELIC: Lets you equip a relic, which does various things,
such as raise power, or make it so you have no
random battles.
STATUS: Shows commands as they appear in battle, health,
stats such as battle power, speed, etc.
CONFIG: Gives you options such as message speed, the Battle
mode, etc.
SAVE: Lets you save on world map, and at save points.

If you are in the main menu screen (with the character faces) and you use you directional pad to go left, you can change the order of your group and put what row to put them in. Front row lets you do more damage (with weapons) and receive more damage, back row lets you receive less damage and deal less damage (with weapons). The back rows are ideal for magic users.

SECTION 6 Graphics
This game has probably some of the best, if not the best graphics (again for the SNES). The world map (that you walk on) is the most 3D you can get with an SNES game. There are vibrant colors, great battle animations (especially the Espers), and a lot of detail in this game. The PSX version has slightly enhanced graphics, and FMVs which look AWESOME. But even if it didn’t have the great graphics it does, I would still buy it because of the story and music.

SECTION 7 Characters
The characters in this game each have there own unique way of thinking. One has a mysterious past; while another just likes to have fun. One of them believes in honor, integrity, and keeping promises; while the other wants freedom for everyone. The characters also have intricate pasts, the side-quests at the end of the game let you dig into their pasts. It is a really fun and interesting thing to do. It lets you grow closer to the characters you control.

--FINAL FANTASY V--****

SECTION 1 Intro
Although Final Fantasy V was never released in America for the SNES, it is now here on the PSX Console. This is yet another great game from SquareSoft; and just like FFVI, this game also has added FMVs.

SECTION 2 Story
Final Fantasy V has a slightly more linear story then FFVI, but nonetheless is still great. You bump into a lot of characters on your epic quest. A few of these people have some really interesting secrets, it is very interesting to see how different peoples' past intertwine. You also get to travel to another planet, and the secrets that are on that planet are VERY intriguing. The story isn't AS moving as FFVI but still does move you.

SECTION 3 Sound and Music
The sound and music is quite good, although not as good as FFVI (FFVI came out later so it makes sense). The sound is about the same as FFVI except that there is no voice sound.
The music is also emotional, although I think the world music isn't as good as FFVI.

SECTION 4 Battle System
The way you learn magic and abilities in this game is quite unique and easy to understand. It is called the Job System, the Job System lets you choose a Job for your character. Depending on the Job you give him/her, your character can learn certain abilities. Once learned, the character can use the abilities at any time. You can only equip 2 abilities at a time MAX. When you have a Job for your character, one of those is already used up, that is the ability you are learning. When you equip them with no job, they can use any ability they have learned. The jobs also limit the weapons and armaments they can equip. A White Wizard for example can only use staff weapons. You gain more jobs by collecting crystal shards throughout the game.

SECTION 5 Menu
The Menu has 8 options, here they are:
JOB: Lets you equip a job to a character.
ABILITY: Lets you choose the ability/abilities for your
character.
ITEM: Shows the items you have obtained, and lets you use
certain items.
MAGIC: Shows magic the character has learned, and lets you
use healing magic.
EQUIP: Lets you equip armor, weapons, etc.
STATS: Lets you view your characters statistics, such as
strength, speed, etc.
CONF.: Lets you configure battle mode, message speed, etc.
SAVE: Lets you save on world map or at save points.

SECTION 6 Graphics
The graphics in this game are not quite as good as FFVI. However, they seem to get somewhat better more towards the end of the game. The battle animations are quite good, however, the world map is flat, except when you are in the airship. The colors are about the same as FFVI as well.

SECTION 7 Characters
The characters in this game are quite good. They can be humorous at times, serious at other times. A few of them are mysterious, and even seem somewhat torn. One is trying to find the answers of his past. Throughout the game scenes occur showing you more about who the characters are. Overall I think the characters were very nicely done.