Final Fantasy III

One of the all-time best RPGs!

By this point, I'm sure most of you are wondering what Final Fantasy III is. It is a Super Nintendo game, an RPG (Role Playing Game) that can take up to 100 hours to complete. You have a total of fourteeen characters (The Light Warriors) that you control in various four member "parties." Each Light Warrior has different abilities. I will now tell you a little about each one.

	This is Terra Branford, our heroine. She is half human, half Esper, so she can use magic, an all but forgotten art. We first meet her in the beginning as a soldier (against her will) for the evil Empire. As the story progresses, there is a lot of self-discovery for her, as well for the others in the party. Later in the game, she can morph into a magical being that can fight with more power than any other.
	This is Locke Cole, a thief. ("Hey! That's Treasure Hunter!!") Oh, all right, Treasure Hunter. He is a member of the Returners, a secret organization whose goal is to end the reign of the evil empire. Locke has a dark past, involving a girl named Rachel. He falls head over heels in love with Celes Chere, another member of the group. He can steal objects from enemies in battle, making him a valuable member in any party. Want more? Play the game!
	This is Edgar Roni Figaro. He is the king of the kingdom of Figaro. Edgar is also a master of machinery, and fights using the many machines he invents. His brother, Sabin, should be ruling the kingdom with him, but read Sabin's description to find out why he isn't. When Edgar is leading the party, all item shops in castle Figaro offer him goods at half price. Quite a deal for being royalty!
	This is Sabin Rene Figaro. He is the younger brother of Edgar, but chose freedom over the duties of a king. He left the castle to pursue martial arts training. Sabin can use his many skills- called "Blitzes"- to defeat almost any foe or even heal your party. A valuable addition, that costs very little in terms of armor or healing draughts.
	This is Celes Chere, a former general of the empire. When she realized how evil the empire was, she was labled a traitor and sentanced to death. Luckily, Locke came along at just the right time and rescued her from the soldiers. Celes and Locke are, consequently, in love. Infused with magic power when she was a child, Celes is almost as accomplished as Terra.
	This is Shadow. His real name is presumed to be Clyde Arrowny (though this is never stated outright) because the dreams he has when he was in your party suggest that he had a child in Thamasa, where Relm was born. It also suggests that he left that child behind, like Relm was. He can use the throw command to throw ninja skeans and throwing stars. He leaves your party often, so don't equip him with stuff you want to keep.
	This is Cyan Garamonde. He is the last knight of Doma, the rest having been killed when Kefka poisoned the water. Cyan is driven by revenge, because his wife Elaine and his son Owain were killed when that happened. He has the ability to learn sword techniques, which can decimate the enemy. Along with his smattering "thee"s and "thou"s in his conversation, this makes him a well-rounded character for a beginner.
	This is Gau. He is a child that was raised by wild animals on the Veldt. Thus, he has learned to fight like the wild animals. His strength extends far beyond his years, so he fights only with his hands. This saves cash at the weapon shops. Gau needs time to mature as a warrior, though, so make sure you fight with him on the Veldt for a while before making him a regular character.
	This is Setzer Gabbiani. Besides being the cutest character, he is also the coolest. Setzer is a gambler, and an airship pilot. He and his friend Daryl (ME!!) were both lovers of airships. When mine, the Falcon, crashed, his life became rather meaningless. He gambled incessently, and tried to pick up chicks at the opera house- literally! He uses throwing attacks, throwing cards, darts, etc. He does need to gain levels before usage, so make sure you build up his magic power before taking him into serious battle.
	This is Mog. He's a street-smart, fast-talking, SLAM-dancing moogle! Even though he looks like a cute little teddy-bear, his attacks make him a deadly addition to the Light Warriors. You meet him in the caves of Narshe, in fact, he is one of the eleven moogles that help Locke protect Terra in the beginning of the game. Mog can use an attack called "Dance" where he uses mystical dances like the Water Rondo or the Dusk Requiem to defeat enemies. Mog is powerful from the get-go, so include him in your party the moment you get him!
	This is Strago Magus. He is one of the last Mage warriors. Strago is the adoptive grandfather of Relm Arrowny. He loves her like his own daughter and would (and did) risk his life for hers. He can use magical attacks called "Lore." He learns this from the many magical monsters you may meet. When Strago firsts joins you, you take him through a firey house, so spend a few minutes fighting the bombs inside (at least until he learns Ice2)
	This is Relm Arrowny. She is the abandoned daughter of Shadow, though this is never stated outright. Anybody with half a brain and the luck to see Shadow's dreams can figure this out. She is an accomplished artist- in fact her paintings come to life and fight enemies. Her adoptive grandfather, Strago, has trouble sometimes with her independant will and free-spirit, but they still care for each other immensly. Relm is a weakling, so build up her levels before fighting with her.
	This is Gogo. No one knows much about Gogo- Is it a man? A woman? Do we REALLY want to ask? No matter what he/she/it is, Gogo has a remarkable ability. This master of the simulcrum can copy ANY of the light warrior's techniques! By going to Gogo's status screen, you can change the battle menu settings to any of the special abilities that the other warriors can do. You only get Gogo at the end of the world, and as an optional character. Gogo is a eccentric but good member to any party.
	Ok. You are now extremely afraid at this huge mound of fur. Don't worry- it's only Umaro! This sasquatch is a slave to Mog, even though he could probably squash the little moogle with one blow. Umaro lives in the caves behind Narshe, and must be defeated before he will join your party. He is another of those optional characters, but he can be quite valuable. He cannot be equipped, except if you happen to find a bone club. Then, he will be more powerful than ever. The only relics that are of great use to him are the Rage ring and the Blizzard orb. Bring Umaro along only if you're looking for a good time!