Breath of Fire

Overall, Breath of Fire is one of the finest RPGs to appear on any format. Though bettered by latter incarnations of the series, the original remains both innovative and a pure joy to play. While not the most difficult game in the world to beat, it offers up a sturdy challenge - and when games are this long, you don't really need a Final Fantasy VIII-style level of hardcore 'comfort', do you? This title has charm, humour and an epic storyline to round it off, and if you tire of the adventuring you can even opt for fishing. How many other games can boast that? A brilliant game guaranteed to get you hooked (no pun intended).

Breath of Fire may not be as large as some other RPGs and as with the last few SquareSoft games, the manual includes a rudimentary walk-through, which makes it seem even shorter. However, it packs an awful lot of adventure into the space it has. It will do fine --- at least until Final Fantasy III comes along.

If you were looking for a classic RPG to keep you busy before any of Square's titles hit the GBA platform, this is it. It's a well-polished RPG that plays out well on the GBA and is none too frustrating. But for newcomers, it certainly isn't as accessible or captivating as the Baldur's Gate franchise. The story, though great for its time, is not as deep as the great epics like Torment or Fallout. As such, Breath of Fire fills a unique void. With the instant save, it's easy to jump in, level up and conquer a few areas before jumping back out. Perhaps this is what the developers were aiming for and if it is, they certainly succeeded.

Breath of Fire es un juego para probar, no tan sólo por ser el primero de una saga de culto, sino porque además tiene suficientes argumentos como para enganchar a los amantes del género. Un juego de rol con sabor a clásico, algo que sin embargo también puede echar para atrás a los jugones que ven las batallas por turnos como algo prehistórico.

The folks at Square (Final Fantasy, Secret of Mana) know a good game when they see it. They did RPG fans a great favor by buying this game from Capcom of Japan and bringing it to the States. Even if you are not a big fan of these kinds of more deliberately-paced strategy games (as I am), you'll still get hooked on this one! This game has hours of play involved and just when you think you've played it completely, something new pops up! Excellent graphics and sound (the music is a nice touch) make this a winner.

The 16-bit port floodgates have been open since the launch of the Game Boy Advance, but Breath of Fire is the first role-playing game to squeeze through. Originally a joint SNES venture between Square Soft and Capcom, this is the tale of a boy who could transform into a dragon, and the misfit companions he meets along the way.

I enjoyed this game, but I also happen to enjoy many RPGs of varying style. If you are looking for the best RPG on the GBA, then this is probably not it. If, on the other hand, you find this game for a bargain or you are looking for an 'old school' RPG, then this one may be for you. It also sparked a series of RPGs, so if you have interest in the Breath of Fire series, then I suggest you see where it all started. :) But as always, we encourage you to only play games that fall in line with your convictions; if magic or polytheism are offensive to you in a game, then you may want to avoid this one.

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.

Well as usual this has a lot about being the ?chosen? to change the earth forever. Thats really the basic theme to the bof series. Now the game is rated for nudity however i wasn't able to play it enough to actually get to that particular scene or ability or whatever spot in the game. But I will rank this a c- for appropriateness.

Since its June launch, the Game Boy Advance has slowly been developing its identity as a gaming platform. While the system is capable of truly impressive 3D visuals for a handheld, the 2D games that have come out for it make a strong case for the GBA becoming the spiritual progeny of the legendary SNES. Capcom's recent conversion of the classic SNES RPG Breath of Fire lends credence to that label. A pixel-perfect translation of the SNES game with a link cable feature and some graphical tweaks thrown in for good measure, Breath of Fire is an engaging piece of work that's worth checking out.

I would like to make it clear: I really, really hate random battles. Yes, I realize that it's an important part of the Japanese RPG design and it's grown to be accepted among fans of the genre...but it's a real drag walking barely two steps before a fight suddenly breaks out in the adventure. And in Breath of Fire, I've never played an RPG that had as many random battles as this one. I was thanking the game designers for offering the Mrbl3 item for cheap in the shops...when you activate this element, you're temporarily "immune" to random battles. Stock up on this whenever you see it in the shops. It'll save your insanity.

A classic reborn, Breath of Fire is a great addition to the role-playing ranks of the GBA's library. While not quite as technically impressive as Golden Sun, it's still a worthwhile adventure. Fans of the genre will definitely want to revisit this palm-sized port over.

Breath of Fire is generic RPG fare. Is it good? Yes, but far from deserving of the accolades bestowed upon it by rabid franchise fans. I guess it's fun for a while, losing some steam when the boredom and insipidness of fetch questing kicks in. It's decent for an RPG, but nothing spectacular.

Breath of Fire has its quirks, but it is still an overall good game, especially if you enjoy most roleplaying games. If you are relatively new to the genre, a game like Final Fantasy 2 may suit your tastes better.

La note sanctionne surtout le fait que Capcom s'est contenté d'un simple portage pour cette mouture GBA. Les inconditionnels de RPG et les adeptes de la saga BOF trouveront tout de même là un titre très prenant, simple et efficace, qui vous scotche littéralement de bout en bout. Une bonne alternative à Golden Sun, en attendant un véritable Breath of Fire Advance.

As long as you're not expecting a Secret of Mana-beater, you'll have a gay old time with Breath of Fire. The intriguing battle sequences and the multitude of things to do will keep most role-playing fans busy for days. Two questions: Why did Capcom pass this up and release the dreadful Wizardry V instead? And where's Mana II?

Breath of Fire isn't going to blow you away. The title is a standard RPG across the board, but is a decent ride if you have time for it.

Overall, I can honestly see why Capcom didn't feel the need to change much in this port, but the use of the old script is simply lazy. On the other hand, no matter what way you look at it, Breath of Fire is an incredibly solid game, and one that feels right at home on the GBA. Arguably the best of the series, it's nice to be able to experience it again, though most of the people playing it will be doing so for the first time.

If all this sounds somewhat bland, it's because you've seen such elements before. Even the storyline is nondescript and average. If Breath of Fire waned to make a name for itself, it should have tried for more interesting enemies, different battle screens or butt-kicking graphics. Instead, we get something vaguely familiar, a forgettable game with barely enough Breath to last.

Breath of Fire's solid gameplay hasn't changed since its SNES days, but the extra save feature and new glitz livens it up a little. Still, if you already have this game for Super Nintendo, this updated version might not be worth your while.

Breath of Fire for the Game Boy Advance could have been something special had Capcom invested some more effort into the project. The creators have laid the foundation for a great game, but a lot of their ideas have been wasted. As it stands, BoF is nothing more than an average RPG that might satisfy people who enjoy Nintendo’s portable and have already consumed the rest of the GBA’s small but quality line-up of role-playing titles.

The quest is a relatively long one. For those not previously initiated to BoF, the quest can take you between twenty to forty hours to complete, easily dwarfing the handheld RPG standard. The addition of link cable support is, in general, a positive thing. However, not enough was done with it, and BoF cannot even compete with the lackluster Golden Sun multiplayer arena. By linking two GBAs, each with a BoF game pak loaded, you will simply be allowed to trade items back and forth. It would have benefited greatly by including special, random items and equipment in each game pak. Since everything will eventually become available to you throughout your adventures, the ability to trade items with friends is not necessary.

Even if you like classically-styled RPGs, this one is average at best, and only if you toggle the turbo-speed key on your emulator. There wasn’t much going for this one back when it came out, and it certainly hasn’t improved with time. It may not be a terrible game, but I wouldn’t really suggest checking it out past the first few minutes. You’ll get the idea from there.

All in all, Breath of Fire is a nice try, but Capcom could do better. Towards the end, I even found myself asking, "Am I almost done yet?"