Final Fantasy VI

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,244 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Final Fantasy VI Game Cover
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FINAL FANTASY VI first debuted in 1994 as the sixth instalment in the iconic FINAL FANTASY series. Innovations included the ability to play all the main characters as the game's protagonist, and to this day, its epic story intertwining each of their fates is still highly rated and wildly popular. With plenty of abilities available and the magicite system for controlling spells/summoning, players…

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Wii
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,244 reviews
story508 positive mentions
stability84 negative mentions
  • Incredible story with deep character development and emotional moments.
  • Great soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Engaging gameplay with a variety of characters and unique abilities.
  • Poorly designed user interface that feels clunky and is not optimized for PC.
  • Character sprites look awkward and clash with the overall art style.
  • Frequent bugs and glitches, including issues with saving and game crashes.
  • story1,124 mentions

    The story of Final Fantasy VI is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and innovative narrative structure, featuring a large ensemble cast with rich character development. Many players appreciate the darker themes and mature storytelling, particularly the complex villain Kefka, while the game's ability to intertwine character arcs with gameplay mechanics is noted as a significant strength. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and the sheer number of characters, the overall consensus is that the story remains compelling and impactful, even decades after its original release.

    • “The story is just amazing.”
    • “The way this game can withstand such a big world with a lot of quests to go through and even change itself as you progress was and still is pretty innovative for a game that came out in the 90s.”
    • “Yes it can be campy at times but it tells a very mature and dark story of purpose and isolation.”
    • “Boring story.”
    • “The plot kind of falls off a cliff halfway through the game.”
    • “I won't spoil anything, but since my expectations with this game's story was sky high, the disappointment was big.”
  • graphics932 mentions

    The graphics of the latest version of Final Fantasy VI have received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the updated art style, which they feel clashes with the game's original aesthetic. While some appreciate the enhancements and find the new visuals charming, others criticize them as muddy and inconsistent, arguing that they detract from the nostalgic experience of the classic game. Mod support is frequently recommended to restore or improve the graphics, indicating a desire among players for a more faithful representation of the original sprites.

    • “Just beat my first Final Fantasy game, and I can see why they hold such a special place in people's hearts. The music is beautiful, the graphics and characters have so much charm in them, the story doesn't shy away from going to dark places despite its graphics. At the end of this game, it has carved itself a special place in my memory.”
    • “I love the overall redesign; the graphics are wonderful to look at.”
    • “The updated graphics make the experience very enjoyable.”
    • “I don't like the art style or the user interface.”
    • “The way this version ruins the game's art style is insulting.”
    • “The graphics aren't great, they're pixels, but the story and the characters are what makes the game.”
  • music696 mentions

    The music in Final Fantasy VI is widely praised as one of the best soundtracks in video game history, composed by the legendary Nobuo Uematsu. Reviewers highlight its emotional depth, memorable themes, and the ability to enhance the game's storytelling, with many expressing nostalgia for the original SNES tracks. While some note issues with certain ports affecting the music's quality, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack remains a standout feature, often described as timeless and iconic.

    • “The music in this game is arguably the best in the series and perhaps the best game soundtrack period.”
    • “The story is amazing, the music, everything.”
    • “The music, as is usual for the final fantasy franchise, is also fantastic.”
    • “It is a shame there's no *ideal* port of ff6 that has both the visuals and music of the original with the improved translation and writing of later ports.”
    • “I have read some reviews that the music for the final battle is also messed up.”
    • “I was willing to look past most of the drawbacks to try to beat it at least once but about halfway through (during some particularly important scenes) the music switched so jarringly that it completely broke any semblance of immersion and I just didn't want to play any more.”
  • gameplay388 mentions

    The gameplay of Final Fantasy VI is characterized by its classic turn-based Active Time Battle (ATB) system, offering a mix of strategic depth and character variety, with each character possessing unique mechanics that enhance combat. While the game provides a rich narrative and engaging mechanics, some players find the frequent random encounters and certain boss battles frustrating, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay. Overall, despite some criticisms regarding the mobile port's interface and occasional clunkiness, the gameplay remains enjoyable and rewarding, appealing to both newcomers and veterans of the JRPG genre.

    • “The gameplay is elegant, easy, and addictive.”
    • “This game is a masterpiece, the story is one of the best in the genre, the gameplay always surprises you with different mechanics both for characters and dungeons.”
    • “The gameplay is basically the same as in the previous games and that’s perfectly fine, since it’s a very refined system that becomes rather intuitive after getting into the basics.”
    • “Most of my gameplay consisted of dull battles from random encounters, and the worst part is that I didn't even get to play most of them, since this port has a 'fast forward auto battle' mode as a quality of life improvement.”
    • “When the player falls asleep during gameplay, something is definitely wrong with the game.”
    • “What you end up with is Final Fantasy 6, but with bad gameplay.”
  • stability92 mentions

    The stability of this port has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, including game freezes and character sprite issues. While some users have experienced a relatively smooth experience without major problems, the overall consensus indicates that the game is plagued by technical issues, making it difficult for many to recommend. Despite some improvements over previous versions, the persistent bugs have led to frustration among players.

    • “I experienced no glitches or freezing.”
    • “Game runs great.”
    • “The game works great, runs great, and is worth every penny.”
    • “Final Fantasy VI is the best Final Fantasy game ever made, but this port is crap. It is buggy, it is edited for content, and the translation is much worse than the original.”
    • “So buggy, I can't get past the introductory area without having to hit Alt+F4 to shut the game down hard due to game-breaking bugs making it impossible to do anything at all.”
    • “I put 17 hours into the game only to experience glitches and troubles navigating menus, along with crashes that made the game unplayable.”
  • grinding86 mentions

    The reviews highlight a mixed reception regarding grinding in the game. While some players appreciate the inclusion of a bestiary that adds purpose to grinding and the option for auto-battle to reduce tedium, many others find the grinding aspect tedious and excessive, particularly in the endgame. Overall, the necessity of grinding varies, with some players feeling it enhances character development, while others view it as a chore that detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Another flaw which was still carried over from previous titles is the extremely grindy endgame.”
    • “The combat felt very grindy and just a chore to do.”
    • “This is not fun and engaging; it's a tedious slog through pointless battles that give no experience trying to find all of them.”
  • emotional56 mentions

    Final Fantasy VI is widely recognized for its emotional depth, featuring a diverse cast and a haunting score by Nobuo Uematsu that enhances its impactful storytelling. While some critics argue that the writing can be melodramatic and flawed, many players find the character arcs and side quests to be deeply moving, often leading to heartfelt moments that resonate long after the game ends. Overall, it stands out as a significant entry in the franchise, praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions despite its imperfections.

    • “Each character has a heart-wrenching event, memory, or doubt to overcome and while not everything ends happily - and in any great story it shouldn't - they all break the shackles that are holding them back by the time you face off against Kefka at the end of the world.”
    • “Final Fantasy VI may have the best story of any Final Fantasy game, telling the kind of story that was far deeper and more emotional than almost anything else on consoles at that time.”
    • “It's a charming, emotionally impactful roller coaster ride to a simpler time.”
  • character development38 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the depth and individuality of the 14 playable characters and their side stories, particularly highlighting the main protagonist, Terra. However, others feel that character development can be optional and limited, especially if players choose to rush to the final boss without engaging in side quests. Overall, while many appreciate the character arcs and interactions, some express disappointment in the lack of relationship building and the perceived nostalgia bias affecting the game's reception.

    • “One of the best in the series with great story and character development.”
    • “However, there are 14 playable characters, each of which have their own memorable side stories, character development, and personality.”
    • “Wonderful story, great cast of characters with a plethora of character development, and a fantastic battle system with interesting mechanics from each character; not one character is the same.”
    • “It should be noted that character development is somehow optional since post-half the game you can go straight to the final boss.”
    • “The lack of character development and relationship building/interaction is disappointing, but this is still a good way to spend 30+ hours.”
    • “- limited character development”
  • humor36 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its blend of comedy and drama, featuring a cast of interesting and lovable characters that keep players entertained. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter through clever writing and funny situations, particularly noting the character Kefka as a standout for his comedic elements. However, some criticism arises regarding the censorship of certain humorous aspects in remastered versions, which detracts from the original's charm and context.

    • “With a greater array of genuinely funny and developed characters, you will never be short on entertainment and choice of playstyles.”
    • “The game made me laugh often.”
    • “The characters are funny and lovable and the esper system is great; the story will hook you and you will continue playing for hours.”
  • replayability26 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players praise its depth and variety of characters, allowing for different playthroughs, others find limited incentive to replay the main story. Overall, experiences range from highly replayable with numerous character combinations to a more moderate replay value focused on optional content and alternative endings.

    • “Has replayability since there are so many characters you can just use a different mash-up of characters each time around.”
    • “Overall a 9/10 highly replayable experience.”
    • “The game is so replayable.”
    • “[b]replay value:[/b] probably none.”
    • “[*][b][u]replayability[/u][/b]: medium-low.”
    • “[b]● replay value[/b] - there's not much replay value in terms of actually replaying it all, you can and should however look towards optional bosses, and I guess you could go for alternative scenes at the ending.”
  • optimization26 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance with no crashes, others criticize the clunky interface and poor graphical choices that feel more suited for mobile devices than PCs. Some users noted issues like awkward sprite movement and a lack of thoughtful design in menus, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the game runs well on lower-end systems, its optimization for PC leaves much to be desired.

    • “I have almost 100 hours of play time and I have not come across any bugs, so very well optimized.”
    • “The game runs smoothly, the music is still Nobuo Uematsu's original masterpiece, and it's one of the best games ever created.”
    • “No crashing or performance issues, and it is able to run smoothly on a PC that is definitely below average for CPU/memory/video performance (which for a game this old it should).”
    • “The already abysmal mobile interface is ported wholesale to PC with little optimization, with buttons and scroll bars in place of more thoughtful, less obtrusive, less eyesore layouts.”
    • “There is a pause when the sprite changes when I change direction, making moving around in a city map very awkward and stuttering.”
    • “That all said, although the game itself is amazing, this version of FF6 is just above average due to the clunky battle interface that was optimized for mobile devices (not PCs), changed graphical sprites (that feel more at home in a low budget indie game), & text font presentation that seems to be pulled from RPG Maker.”
  • monetization18 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing disappointment over the lack of free upgrades for existing owners and the misleading advertising regarding the game's quality and aspect ratio. While there are no in-game purchases, the overall sentiment suggests that the developers prioritize profit over genuine effort in improving the game, particularly in comparison to other titles in the franchise.

    • “This is 100% a cash grab and not worth the $8 I paid.”
    • “This is a bad representation in quality, and just wanted a cash grab on nostalgia.”
    • “Oh and the store page images are very misleading; they show the game as though it plays in 16:9 aspect ratio but this is definitely not the case. Given how long it has been since release, it won't be updated any time soon. I'm sure that this is a breach of advertising conduct in the UK.”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    Overall, the atmosphere of the game is praised for its steampunk elements, stunning artwork, and impressive soundtrack, contributing to a classic experience. However, some users feel that the new sprites detract from the overall atmosphere, making it feel overly bright and smooth, which diminishes the intended mood.

    • “Great steampunk atmosphere.”
    • “It's still an incredible classic, with amazing atmosphere, wonderful artwork, and an astonishing soundtrack.”
    • “The new sprites really suck, removing all atmosphere and feeling.”
    • “From the first scene, everything is far too bright and smooth, losing any sense of atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Final Fantasy VI

Play time

29hMedian play time
36hAverage play time
35hMain story
61hCompletionist
15-71hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

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