Final Fantasy III | A Complete History and Retrospective

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Final Fantasy III is a pretty special game. Featuring an advanced Job system and Summons, it rounded out the 8-bit era in fascinating style. This video documents its story, from conception all the way through to release.
00:00 Introduction
01:42 Chapter One [The Setup]
11:49 Chapter Two [The Development]
35:30 Chapter Three [The Launch]
46:13 Chapter Four [The Legacy]
58:04 Outro
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[@FinalFantasyUnion]

If you'd like to support the creation of these long-form documentaries, you can find out more information here: www.patreon.com/ffunion

[@zakirstocks9514]

You guys should try doing *The Complete History of Final Fantasy IV!*

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Thank you for another awesome retrospective!!

[@WolfCyphr]

Please keep this up. Most retrospectives of games from other creators are just elongated reviews. This is a proper history lesson. If I may, I would love this format for a FFV. I hear that was when FF finally exploded in Japan, and if true I'm curious of its impact in Japan in the 90s.

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

MrHappy is also doing those for the previous games.

[@captainhakob814]

​@@fernandozavaletabustos205liem triforce does really good old school retrospectives.

[@JustAnotherGamerUS]

THIS. SOO MUCH!

[@robwaters8848]

​@@captainhakob814 Also kingk!!! He does incredible Zelda retrospectives.

[@LunarWingCloud]

Final Fantasy III is far and away fhe most underrated game in the series to me. Barely anyone talks about it, and yet it's a solid game start to finish and some peak retro RPG goodness

[@BB-te8tc]

This documentary really gave a lot of context to the whimsy of the game's world. I remember playing it for the first time and being surprised how early you get the (first!) airship, how there's multiple world maps, etc. It's got a really charming, imaginative, almost childlike essence to it, and knowing the designers were like "let's push the NES to its limits and go nuts!" certainly explains a lot.

[@OrphanOfDarkness]

It didn't come out in the west for such a long time so most people totally missed it

[@twelfthknight]

That they arrived so quickly on the Job System - which one way or another would define the franchise as a whole - is remarkable. You have AAA games today with years of development and millions sunk into them that don't have the same level of thought put to into their core mechanics.

[@georgehouliaras7239]

The Onion Knight is a real knight for protecting Terra in Dissidia. Also he helped in killing Chaos!

[@ManaRawk]

Onion Knight in Dissidia was one of my favorite characters in both the story and gameplay.

[@ZoraTheExplora]

Tbf the onion knight could solo the franchise.

[@VanitasSentiment13]

​@@ZoraTheExplora I would love for an FF spin off to feature the Onion Knight class again. Hell I'll even take another main line

[@gspeedy619]

​@@ZoraTheExploraI'd say Bartz would instead

[@blitzbattalion959]

Still my headcanon that luneth is onion knight but that's just me

[@tronixchl2004]

My Final Fantasy journey started on 2009-2010 (i almost cant remember now) with a hacked PSP and Final Fantasy III, i swear on my life i'll finish every main line Final Fantasy someday

[@DapperFatCat]

Where FF IV is my all-time favorite Final Fantasy, there is no way that wonderful game could exist without FF III doing what it did. This game was absolutely astounding at the time and it is still such a compelling story. So pumped to see the Complete History of FF IV when you're able to do it. You lot are amazing.

[@matthagen67]

The original FFIII on Famicom is, to be honest, the first Final Fantasy that is still fun to play even now. Both games that came before it didn't age well... unless we're talking about their remakes/remasters. FFIII is the kind of game I wish I played as a kid. If I had nostalgia for it, it would probably be one of my favorite games of all time.

[@purplecrab4049]

I cannot and will not understate my love for FF 3. It was my first and while 14 may hold the crown 3 brung me into the franchise with Luneth, Arc, Refia and Ingus who are characters I love

[@Cloud971]

What a good coincidence, i'm currently playing the Pixel Remaster version of this game for the first time. 🙂

[@ZX-Gear]

Can't wait to grind for the Sage and Ninja job classes. I am at FFII at the Pixel Remaster.

[@DonCactuar]

Another wonderful video. Love this series. As someone said in the comments, I highly praise the historical context that is included in these retrospectives.

[@mjbuffalo716]

Maybe because it was locked away from the English market for so long, but III holds such a huge spot in my heart and still sits somewhere in my top 5 favorites. Easily my favorite game from the DS

[@bobjoemac1]

Started with 4 (2 on the snes) when I was a child, played them all as they came out. Eventually getting around to playing through FF1 and trying 2 on the ps1 release. But 3 was always such a mystery that I tried a Rom and couldn't get into it then the DS version...which I couldn't get into... and now I'm about to try out the Pixel remaster. But it was super interesting to hear the history of the one final fantasy that has always been a mystery to me. Very excited for 4 as it was my first in the series and it still remains one of my favorites.

[@NotTheWheel]

FF3 is definitely one of my favorites any FF that explores a job system generally are with exception for 4, 6, and 9 which I also like very much.

[@isayasbashiri5371]

You already started with the best track from FFIII OST

[@Edowin-jz2sj]

To this day, this is the only main line FF game that I still haven't played, though I intend to now that the Pixel Remaster has been released. I was extremely upset and frustrated when the Nintendo DS version released for two main reasons: 1. I have a very difficult time playing any video games on small screens including mobile and handheld due to eye strain. Past handheld games had been playable on full sized TVs through officially released accessories (Gameboy, GBA, PSP), but the DS never offered one. 2. The changes to the game. I loved the 16 bit conversion that had been done for FFI and FFII on the PS1 and GBA as the games were otherwise mostly the same, but it looked like FFIII had been much more drastically changed from the original and I didn't care for the 3D art style that was used for this or the DS version of FFIV. I'm very glad to see that this game finally got something of a faithful release for consoles and I'm looking forward to playing it once I get caught up on my gaming backlog.

[@andrewhudson7108]

That thumbnail with the FFRK avatars breaks my heart. Hopefully (though probably not) they’ll make a Final Fantasy Record Keeper Offline the same way there’s Mega Man X Dive Offline

[@davidnakayama8671]

Fabulous documentary! It's astounding the level of detail you've been able to include here.

[@Ashgar225]

I thought Job Adjustment Phase was a remake only thing from the 3D version. The original required you to use a variable number of Capacity points, but still used the physical/magical and lawful/chaotic thing to determine how much you needed.

[@FinalFantasyUnion]

No, you're absolutely correct. Frustrating mistake on our part - thanks for highlighting. ~Darryl

[@andrew_stamps]

Yeah, i was thinking the same thing, i was wondering if maybe this was a planned mechanic that got scrapped as there no evidence for it in the mechanics of the original game.

[@Beryllahawk]

Absolutely loving this series, especially as it lets me learn even more about why FFXIV is so damn great. I hadn't a clue that the Crystal Tower was from FFIII. Yeah, I could have gone and read about that, perhaps but - this video is MUCH more fun!!

[@di_avo]

Excellent! Thank you again for this! Only problem I have now is which version to check out.

[@kaspauf06]

Another amazing video, thank you FFU!

[@plewlonehitknown4812]

And then the 4th entry hits... Damn... There was so much passion to realize a "final fantasy"! Thanx for your work. FF 4 was and will be forever my favourite game of the franchise. I truly realized what this is when I got my Playstation 1. FF 7 was great, but when I bought the remake of the 4th Piece(Anthology released in Europe) I knew that there was more backstory than I thought. What a great game the Final Fantasy 4 entry was. I even think I learned valuable lessons for life from this f****n' great piece of art.

[@ethanleach1252]

Amazing job!! Loved watching this

[@Darkjedi1019]

Fantastic video. Your channel is one of my favorites. All of your videos are excellently made, and you can feel the passion that you have for this franchise. Can't wait for the history of Final Fantasy 4.

[@BB-te8tc]

Just felt like saying that I appreciate that you used RPGClassics for some of the job system screenshots. I recognize that blue webpage background anywhere. :D

[@Karlach_]

Loved the documentary and I learned a lot. Thank you!

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Thank you for another awesome retrospective!!

[@vicenarian340]

I love this series, please keep it going!

[@groge511]

Love these videos. Keep up the good work ❤

[@austineaves739]

I love your vids. Your voice is so soothing and your knowledge is impeccable and interesting ❤

[@graduator14]

Another fantastic video!

[@Gregoroth_Durai]

Amazing. Bravo y'all!

[@myopinions]

I truly love your complete history series and can't wait to get to FFIX 😊

[@eliotwildermann]

Fantastic video as usual ffunion team 👏 😊

[@BlueTurn]

Really love these videos wonderful documentary love seeing video game history like this.

[@Magging_KFP]

Thank you for Making an in depth retrospective video of my favorite FF game of all time!

[@FinalFantasyUnion]

You're most welcome, glad you enjoyed it!

[@ogedeh]

I had to wait until emulation and then translations before I could play 2 and 3, I wish I could've played them when I was younger

[@epicDiggs]

My favourite game in the series tied with FFIV. Best soundtrack

[@ArcadeTheatre]

Not sure if it was a joke or an error, but there is some footage and images from FF6 in this video. Either way, amazing documentary.

[@calvinthurston1441]

Top notch content! Now I gotta play the game!

[@bernardschaeffer8000]

Great job Daryl

[@FarelForever]

3:20 pardon me, but isn't this the boxart for the WESTERN FF3? Which is in reality FF6. It has SUPER NINTENDO written on it! 35:44 and that's the american add for FF6 as well

[@aspieatheist6040]

I liked the pixel remastered version of this game. I always felt that this game and its general idea had potential, but I had yet to play a really good version of it. The original Famicom version was very grindy, and you were screwed if you grinded the wrong job class. The DS remake had a failed attempt of a story, and it really got in the way of gameplay more than anything else. The PR version took what was best from the two versions and made a great game.

[@Stequal2]

My favorite game!

[@97ajg]

I cant wait for the rest of the series to get this treatment! These videos are amazing cant wait for ff13

[@u.s.m.c.contra4439]

Looking forward to FF4 video!

[@AerospaceCoot35]

I see that because Luneth still doesn't have a freelancer outfit in Record Keeper and as such has to use the Warrior outfit instead for the thumbnail lol.

[@JackWolf1]

…huh, so that’s where the design for Cloud of Darkness in the XIV Eden Raids comes from…

[@Kevbotty]

Ok, that outro song... kinda slaps in a certain way I can't explain. It's almost nostalgic

[@iamaninsomniac]

3:22 That box art is not the actual III, but is from the North American release of VI, which was retitled to III.

[@Stequal2]

Omg yeeeeees

[@jaykknight2248]

I need to know What all the unused jobs were!!!!

[@shaolinshefgaming400]

They didn't think a summoner could become a dragoon or a ninja, they must've never heard of Sung Jinwoo

[@KrusherMike]

I just want to know where you found that Dreamcast for 75 bucks...

[@gastonalcazar130]

ah.... that history

[@f937r]

Watching this on my Final Fantasy III Amano desk mat.

[@RolandMIA71]

💪

[@zakirstocks9514]

I Absolutely Love *Final Fantasy 3/III!* The Onion Knight traveling around the globe, with his Trusted Companions and Friends, to save the World, from the Destructive Force of the Cloud of Darkness!

[@soraniostaur3839]

really cashing in on everyone searching the Number 3 cause of Persona right now huh?

[@virtualbunksie5117]

Love these videos, but I do dislike the explanation of squares growth yada yada. I want a full timeline of the game now the directors cut.

[@horizonkage]

I feel like history started to get a bit screwy. Jumped right ahead and brought Spirits Within in to it out of time.

[@kingmalcolm9605]

Bro...256kb

[@PlatinumHaro]

I bought this for the ds thinking it was the same as ff3 for snes. I was shocked by how wrong I was, but I fell in love with it. It wasn't until ff 16 did it get dethroned as my favorite FF

[@FinalFantasy8911debater]

Please do the complete history of Final Fantasy VIII next.

[@TheWonkster]

Why on earth would they jump all the way to 8 from 3? Just be patient.

[@FinalFantasy8911debater]

@@TheWonkster I didn't know they were actually going in numerical order. I thought they were just making whatever videos they felt like doing.

[@andrew_stamps]

it just doesn't make sense that ff3 couldn't be made on GBA hardware because of storage limitations. The 16bit-style remakes still used tile-based graphics and sample-based music. Granted the assets would have to be re-created in a way that that couldn't be simply lifted from the original gfx data from the 16-bit titles, the issue of turn of the century ROM space being insufficient is incorrect as FF5 & 6 both would use more dedicated ROM space for assets than FF3 ever could, and both of those games shipped. As for a technical challenge again FF4 was ported and many of ff4's inner mechanics are recycled from FF3 NES and SNES hardware aren't too different. Tbh I think Square just didn't want to dedicate manpower to the recreation of the assets or some other issue. but lack of storage capacity or technical capability never sat well with me.

[@danielpratt237]

In 5 years and 2 months, Square and Enix were able to release Final Fantasy’s 1-4 and Dragon Quests 1-4. 8 games of incredible storytelling, innovation, and influence. Now it’s taking 8 years to release a new entry in the Dragon Quest series.

[@SomniaCE]

Wouldn't it make more sense to call these retrospectives?

[@cronoesify]

The 3D version sucks bros.

[@abethecop1]

Looks like a mobile game kind of

[@reinatycoon3644]

What did you guys delete my comment lol. It is a FACT that FFIII is imbalanced for the last 15% of the game in the magic vs physical department. If the game creators would have given an extra 'hit' to magic spells after every 8 job levels gained like they did for fighter classes or even every 16 or 24 then it would have solved the issue. Yet mage classes only get a damage boost from job level gains after every 32 job level increases. While fighters get a damage hit bonus after every 8 job levels. The best way to play this game is the former earlier Maeson Mix patches.

[@matthagen67]

The original FFIII on Famicom is, to be honest, the first Final Fantasy that is still fun to play even now. Both games that came before it didn't age well... unless we're talking about their remakes/remasters. FFIII is the kind of game I wish I played as a kid. If I had nostalgia for it, it would probably be one of my favorite games of all time.