Final Fantasy VI Advance

I recently played Final Fantasy VI (GBA version) on the DS.

I loved this game when it first came out. I remember getting a SNES for my birthday, but not having any games until Christmas when I asked for Final Fantasy III (as it was called in the US... not that I knew that at the time.) When I finally got it, I remember talking to a friend later on in the night about how I had played all day and was already half way through.

I hadn't played the game in over ten years, but before then I played it through many times. Well, this time it was just as awesome. But rather than just gloat, I'll mention some things I like about it:

• The characters have real depth and it matters who is in your party in most situations as they react differently.
• The characters have unique battle personas for most of the game, due to their useful special commands; although sadly this degrades a little bit in the end game when magic is essential for everything.
• The world is interesting with many connections that you don't need to notice unless you care to look. For example, the woman in love with the fallen soldier in Mobliz or Shadow's dreams in the World of Ruin.
• The final battle is very unique with multiple parties and different tiers with different status effect carry overs.
• The Opera Scene (and portions of the remake and a live version with the New Japan Philharmonic---definitely watch the live version and after the original.)
• Speaking of that scene, the music is amazing.
• Imp
• The multiple party dungeon system is neat, but see below.
• The split-up at the beginning of the game is very neat as well.

However, there are something I don't like (and unfortunately not many games have got them right either):

• In the end game, it feels like any party is just as good as another because of magic.
• The multiple party dungeons are tedious when characters aren't equally leveled and the only way to get them there is to grind, which sucks.
• Gau, Mog, Relm, and Strago's special commands are very cool when you think about them but are very hard to use well. Gau in particular requires a PhD to use well.
• You can play the entire game and never see a desperation attack. (Before I read the FAQs, I had played the game three or four times and only seen them twice.)

I will report again when I play this game in another few years.