https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QArzEmej73A

Final Fantasy III is another game that suffered from Nintendo’s slow marketing in North America. Released in Japan in 1990, it was never released on this side of the Pacific until its DS version in the early 2000s. This is a shame because, despite suffering from the “curse of the odd Final Fantasy”, i.e. a weak storyline, the game had very impressive graphics and music. This review will be about Nobuo Uematsu’s masterpiece.

Prelude

The classic introduction just keeps getting better. Here, the harp sounds more realistic and the notes are played more fluidly. The “echo” from the Final Fantasy 2 Prelude is incorporated better; however it cuts too short at the end of the loop (compared to FF 2). That will change in Final Fantasy IV.

Crystal Cave

What you hear inside a cave with a crystal (note: the track is taken directly from the game; you can hear the team falling during its first mission). The theme seems inspired from the Prelude with the harp intro. The rest of the theme’s main beat has a very strange arrangement while the background beat sounds like a guitar. The track is good, but the arrangements are odd.

Battle 1 and Fanfare

The classical battle theme gets more upbeat and interesting. The core of the loop is introduced with an interesting drum arrangement, while the main beat has good trumpets to it. The victory fanfare finally sounds triumphant as it should, at least for the introduction. The drum from the main loop seems to be out of place, but the rest flows better than in FF 2.

Crystal Room

When you reach the end of the cave. Yet another inspiration from the Prelude, but it is good that the theme is distinct (unlike Final Fantasy IV and V). However, the track sounds too… dramatic for a crystal that has not shattered; it would have been perfect for V.

Opening Theme

The best rendition of the Final Fantasy theme to date. The introduction sounds a little too quiet, but once it is over the theme sounds more epic, with the notes being played more clearly than in Final Fantasy I.

My Hometown

The heroes’ native town. The 8-bit track in the background can get annoying, but the flute in the main beat has a nice nostalgic beat, while the background guitar helps building the nostalgia factor.

Eternal Wind

The main overworld theme. It is the most epic so far; the guitar intro (and background beat) adds a touch I have never heard in other FF games, while the main flute makes the game sound like a very grand and epic adventure. And it loops for over a minute without getting repetitive!

Jinn the Fire

When you enter a ruined/ cursed / abandoned place. The introduction of the loop sounds very mysterious, while the core simply helps building around the curse that is floating on the town. It was very appropriate for the first village, where everyone was a ghost.

Dungeon

The most common dungeon theme. While I preferred the one in FF 2, the arrangements here are still appropriate for a dungeon: mysterious, dark and with lots of traps. Both the main beat and the background one blend it perfectly.

Return of the Warrior

You hear this track after you complete your mission and save whoever you were supposed to. FINALLY a triumphant theme as it should be. The main trumpet is loud (but easy to hear) while the cymbals in the background make everything grander.

Way to the Top

The mountain theme. While you hear it only once, it is the best mountain theme until Final Fantasy VI. It sounds like a very epic hike up a very tall mountain. The intro to the loop then becomes the background beat, and blends in perfectly.

Cute Little Tonzas

What you hear in this miniaturized village. The joyful beat is perfect for this midget village; the guitar in the background helps a lot, but also the 8-bit track for once.

Shrine of Nept

Self-explanatory. The arrangements are quite dramatic for such a minor dungeon. They are quite good; the main trumpet is excellent while the 8-bit track helps making the loop go smoothly. It is just that it would have been better for a later dungeon.

Sailing Enterprise

Your boat theme. FF I had it better in terms of epicness. Do not get me wrong; the track is good. However it does not sound like a boat ride like Dragon Warrior III and IV.

Living Forest

The brief track you hear when you enter the “clue” forest leading to Tonzas. I never cared for it; it sounds like a curse of some sort and could have even been proper for Jinn the Fire. I just skip it.

Time Remains

The title is strange, but the track is proper for the context, i.e. the village where you learn all sorts of things about your world. The main beat’s guitar makes for a good relaxing rhythm, while the 8-bit track helps adding a touch of mystery that improves the track.

Chocobos

The first complete loop of the famous yellow bird. It is much more upbeat than in FF 2 and will surely make you smile. However I thought that the intro to the loop (repeated all the time) was a little clumsy; Final Fantasy VIII had it better by starting the repeating loop directly with the main track.

Big Chocobo

Uematsu apparently learns quickly from his mistakes. The loop is short but at least he did not repeat the loud introduction. Otherwise the arrangements in this track show the opposition between the bird you ride and the one that carries your unneeded objects.

Tower of Owen

This very dark and mysterious theme is perfect of a tower. The “wind” introduction sets the tone right while the rest of the loop (with an instrument I can not describe) almost makes it look like a zombie tower.

Veggies of Greasal

A theme perfect for a farming village. It reminds me of Harvest in FF V. Yet another track where the 8-bit beat helps making everything stand together.

Castle of Hain

Another perfectly dark and mysterious theme. The guitar in the background has just the right tempo while the winds in the main track almost make the theme sound one of anguish.

Battle 2

The very first boss battle theme for Final Fantasy! The intro has the right beat to introduce a more important fight while the drums set the right upbeat tempo.

The Requiem

The game over theme? I never died in this game so I can not tell. But if it is, its sadness is appropriate.

Go above the Clouds

Your first airship theme. THAT is a good theme for an airship, much better than FF 1. There is once again a nice use of guitar, while the main track sounds very joyful and epic. Even the 8-bit track was done well.

Boundless Ocean

When you first enter the “real world.” The rhythm is slow and quiet, perfect for a world which consists mostly of water (at first). The flute is perfect for that feeling; but the 8-bit track is actually what makes the theme so great and relaxing

Elia, Maiden of Water

You first meet her in an abandoned ship in the “water world.” Her theme is reminiscent of Boundless Ocean, with long, slow tones. This time however, the main flute is what make the theme so sweet. But the 8-bit track is also done very well.

Town of Water

The village where you wake up after your adventure in the Temple of Water. Once again, the idea of boundless oceans is reflected here. But it is the third in a row; it is getting repetitive. I usually skip it.

Let's Play the Piano, Let's Play the Piano Again, Swift Twist

All three tracks are a progression of your “talents” to play the piano. It first starts with a clumsy playing of Beethoven’s Für Elise (with a womp womp fail sound), followed by a short and more upbeat track (with applause!) and a fairly elaborate one where everyone in the room dances. It was a nice addition of entertainment.

Good Ol’ Fellows

This is the theme of a group of four men pretending to be the heroes. They do help you in your quest but get stopped by… goblins! Anyway their theme is perfect for their goofiness, being light-hearted and joyful.

In Covert Town

The town of Dark Knights, Conjurers, Summoners, etc. It has a very mysterious rhythm, reflective of the people in the town. The end of the loop reminds me of Magician Tower in FF 2, helping to add to the mystery in the track.

Salonia

The very militaristic theme of a town at war with itself. It strangely does not have drum like the Imperial Theme, but the guitar used conveys the militaristic feeling of this huge kingdom perfectly.

Deep under the Water

Your submarine theme. Like Boundless Ocean, the 8-bit track is what helps making the theme appropriate for water. The main track is still very good, although it does not sound as mysterious and grand as its inspiration.

Beneath the Horizon

The dungeon where you fight to get Odin. This is yet another good, mysterious theme. Once again, the guitar in the background is excellent while the main track adds the perfect level of mystery. The 8-bit track also helps blending the loop together.

Let me Know the Truth

This is where you learn about the final boss and why he turned bad. Naming it “Time Remains” would have been good too since time is always short to save the world in RPGs. But whatever the title, the track does sound like something important is / is going to happen soon. The notes are stuck together but in a coherent way,

Lute of Noah

A very brief track when you hear minstrels talking about legends that may help you in your quest. It does sound like a lute (it is 8-bit, remember) and conveys a sense of mythology very well.

Good Morning

I can not remember where we can hear this upbeat track. It apparently did not catch my attention when I played the game. Moving on…

The Invincible

Your armored, flying fortress. The winds in the intro sound a little clumsy and the background beat it to upbeat in comparison, but the rest of the track both carries a feeling of flying and invincibility – that ship can fire at your enemies from time to time. The winds of the core sound epic, and the 8-bit track is a good addition.

Forbidden Land Eureka

While the theme in itself sounds good, it does not fit the feel of this hidden, “forbidden” place where you can get the best weapons and jobs. It is too upbeat and joyful (the DS version carried the feeling much better), with heavy guitar and strange wind arrangements.

The Crystal Tower

The arrangements are certainly better than Castle Pandemonium in FF 2. However, it still sounds out-of-place for the first part of a final dungeon; it is too happy. It would almost be appropriate for Return of the Warrior, especially for the guitar.

The Dark Crystals

THAT is more appropriate for a final dungeon. The guitar in the background sounds dark, the winds in the main track play long, slow notes in the first part while they get more upbeat in the second part of the loop to match the guitar.

This Is the Last Battle

The theme includes the “intro” when you are talking to the final boss. It was incorporated very well, accelerating more and more and sounding very mysterious. The core of the theme starts with arrangements I can not describe but that are perfect for a final battle (with lots of drums too). The rest of the theme, probably because of technological limitations, does not sound as epic as FF 2, but sounds good nonetheless.

The Everlasting World

The concluding theme. It starts with a crescendo, followed by a mix of flute and guitar that sound very solemn. After that part the theme bursts in joy with the Invincible theme in a more upbeat and high-pitch version (I did not like that latter part, not with 8-bit instruments). The last part is an accelerated version of the Prelude mixed with heavy drums. I just skip the whole thing.

Final diagnosis: you should definitely try this game. Many of the tracks inspired Final Fantasy IV (Lute of Noah, the Prelude, Big Chocobo), so it is always interesting to check where it comes from.