Breath of Fire
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Description
Since the early '90s, the Breath of Fire series has been a staple on both the Super Nintendo and Sony PlayStation systems. This version for the Game Boy Advance is a perfect handheld port of the original Super Nintendo game that started it all.
The story is standard, but solid, fare--you are Ryu, a member of the White Dragon clan, and your task is to save the world from the Black Dragon clan. In times past, the two clans were actually one clan, but split in a horrendous war due to an evil and meddling goddess. While the White clan has maintained peace since then, the Black clan hasn't. Get the drift?
While the story is fairly black and white (pardon the pun), the gameplay itself is where the game shines. Each character has unique skills and abilities that unlock special areas of the game. For example, Ryu can fish if he finds a fishing pole. Later in the game, he can transform into a dragon during battle. Another character can walk through forests unimpeded and shoot animals for food. What's neat about this system is that as you gain companions with different skills, you can go back to earlier parts of the game to unlock areas that are only accessible via their skills. This adds to the replay value and depth of the game.
The battle system is the standard turn-based, random-encounter biscuits and gravy that most console gamers have come to expect. While not as engrossing as, say, Golden Sun's battle system, the shape-shifting at higher levels adds some enjoyment while fighting the ubiquitous nasties. Two added feature for the GBA version are automatic fighting, which is good for when you don't want to go through all the motions of turn-based combat, and an ability to swap items with a friend's version of the game through the separately sold link cable.
The graphics and sound are decent, but largely unimproved from the original SNES version, so they will seem dated. However, if you are into 16-bit, 2-D role-playing games, you'll find that the graphics look good on the GBA's screen. The sound is a faithful reproduction, but can sound tinny at times. --Bryan Karsh
Pros:
- Fun skill system that allows you to unlock hidden areas in the game
- Link option to trade items with friends
- Auto fighting option for those endless battles
- A nice story and a huge world to explore
- Too many random battles
- Graphics are dated
- Sound is a little tinny
Other Details
- Brand: Capcom U.S.a. Inc.
- EAN: 0013388280049
- ESRBAgeRating: Everyone
- Label: Capcom USA
- Manufacturer: Capcom USA
- NumberOfItems: 1
- Platform: Game Boy Advance
- ReleaseDate: 2001-12-12
- UPC: 013388280049
- Package Dimensions: 5.00 in x 5.00 in x 1.00 in; 12.06 lb
Customer Reviews
hate
I bought this game and couldnt wait to play it when I first got my GBA, but then I kept getting stuck in the same place and had no patience and then when I saved it didnt show and I had to keep starting over,uggh maybe that just my game but man im staying away from breath of fire and most roleplaying games (no patience). The only thing I liked was the graphics, but if you have great patience go ahead and buy, be my guest.
Very engaging RPG
Final Fantasy aside, Breath of Fire is one of the longest-running RPG series around, and the handheld version of the first adventure gets decent treatment. Yet despite the re-appearance of the game's fresh visuals and unique play aspects, the lifeless narrative doesn't provide the immersive experience that you'd expect. Originally released by Square on the Super NES in 1994, Breath of Fire arrives on the Game Boy Advance with enhanced cinemas, but otherwise remains unchanged. You play as Ryu, a lone hero who can also transform into a variety of powerful dragons. During the course of Ryu's quest, various characters join your party, each with their own personal demons and diversions that involve the entire team. An RPG's lifeblood is a strong story, but BoF's narrative is remarkably uninvolving. You'll spend a lot of time engaging in mundane tasks-"talk to A, then B, then A again, and then C"-and navigating a series of seemingly endless mazes. Even the turn-based battles lack flair, except for the boss battles. Be prepared to spend a lot of time with this one, but a new Dash feature speeds you through the game and saves batteries. BoF delivers a tight visual and audio package. Colorful sprites fill the screen with arresting colors and special effects, while the soundtrack provides decent music accompanied by muted sound effects. Workmanlike controls feature easy menu navigation and responsive character movement. On the whole, Breath of Fire is an enjoyable RPG that easily kills spare time. Just don't expect a thoroughly involving adventure on the same level as later games in the series.
Faithful Rendition of a Tired, Flawed Game
Firstly, I've played a lot of RPG's over the years, and own every game in the Breath of Fire series as well... but you'd think that if Capcom was going to re-release an old copy of a game (which had glaring flaws so bad in spots it practically defined what NOT to do for the entire RPG genre,) they'd have at least fixed them (as in Square's classic FFIV; which they remade the RIGHT way with the Chronicals re-release).
You'll see no such thing here. The graphics appear horribly dated in the world and town/dungeon map screens, although the isometric battles look surprisingly good, and include a fair ammount of animation. That's where everything goes downhill, however. The music is boring and repetative for the most part, the storyline isn't anything terribly new (especially since they've made three sequels with practically the same storyline; even including the two SAME main characters in every 'remake,') and the translation is shoddy at best.
That said, is this a bad game? Not entirely. It does have a few redeeming values, such as being one of the first pioneers in the video-game roleplaying genre, or being able put an entire audience of insomniacs to sleep for a good long while. It's just not a GOOD game either.
As for gameplay - the combat system is superb... except for the minor details that you tend to die quite often (ESPECIALLY during boss battles,) and since save points are quite the rarity, you are often sent all the way back to your last play session. While the skills and transormation system is really something new, the impossible boss fights, every third step random encounters and repetative music make it a chore to play through.
As for the gameplay... try to imagine going from town to town, seeing the ONE major important person in town, going into a dungeon, dying, dying again, finally beating it, returning to town to talk to aforementioned important person and having him or her tell you, "Good job. The next town is to the north." Repeat this for the entire duration of the game. Enough said.
Unless you're a die-hard fan of the BoF series or you LOVE doing the same thing over and over again, (may I suggest 'Hoshigami' for the Playstation? Yes, THAT repetative, pass on this game. 'Classic' is not synonomous to 'Great,' and this game is a picture-perfect definer of this.
Why join ryu
The only flaw i could find with the characters, is that they have NO reason to join you.
A Good Pick-Up
This is a good game, the graphics are a little outdated, and the sound repetitive, but the gameplay is unmatched. The spells are truly amazing,and the bosses are challenging. I you like RPG's, and got a GBA, I suggest Breath of Fire as a pick-up title.Take my advice, this is a game really easy to play, but hard to master.