Final Fantasy III Finally Available On Nintendo DS

There was but one Final Fantasy game that was never localized outside of Japan... until now. Final Fantasy III, the old NES (Famicom) classic released in 1990 has been brought back to life by Square Enix, in a 3D remake for the Nintendo DS handheld system. This was the first Final Fantasy game to sell over a million units in Japan, and now it has the chance to reach that performance once more, as Square has just released the DS remake in North America this week.

"Until now, Final Fantasy III has seen no remakes or appearances on other platforms since its original release on the Nintendo Entertainment System in April 1990", said Hiromichi Tanaka, Director and Executive Producer for Final Fantasy III. "Due to the game's age, a direct port might seem a bit dated, but now Final Fantasy III has been made anew on the sensational Nintendo DS platform, including new graphics in 3D, rebalanced jobs, and brand-new characterization for the four young heroes, who are now more dynamic than ever. As the only game in the Final Fantasy series that had not previously been localized, we are very pleased to finally bring Final Fantasy III across the ocean to players in North America. We hope that not only Final Fantasy fans, but a wide variety of players in North America enjoy the new Final Fantasy III."

Final Fantasy III takes players into the next generation of handheld RPGs by delivering an experience that takes full advantage of the Nintendo DS hardware. With an innovative interface that utilizes the DS touch screen along with the advanced Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection capabilities, Final Fantasy III presents an entirely new take on the only Final Fantasy never localized for North America. Users can also experience the title that introduced the popular moogles, summons, and the dynamic job system, which have become some of the most recognized elements of Final Fantasy, and experience them on the road, in the outdoors or in the comfort of their living rooms.

The game bears no age restrictions, of course, and it's priced at $39.99 in the US. More information about Final Fantasy III can be found on the official FF3 website. For the time being, there is no solid date set for the European release.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)