Breath of Fire (Super NES)
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Even though it's been a decade since Capcom released a new Breath of Fire game, you can still hear people crying out for a proper sequel. The game's fervent cult following would have you believe that the Capcom RPG is as good, if not better than Final Fantasy. Could it be true? We decided to employ time travel to find the answer to that question. We're looking through the pages of Die Hard Game Fan, Nintendo Power, Electronic Gaming Monthly and other classic magazines to find out what they thought of Breath of Fire on the Super NES!
(NOTE: Although we occasionally cut for length, no other edits are made to the review. Defunct Games does not change any of the wording, grammar or punctuation use. Also keep in mind that our score is the average of all critics at the time, not just the sample that is reprinted on this page. If you still have more questions, I recommend you check out the
Review Crew FAQ, where we address the review guidelines, converting scores, magazine covers and more.)
DIE HARD GAME FAN (July 1994)
"It's been a long time since I played an American RPG of this quality. From the story to the graphics to the music, this is a first rate RPG that competes on the highest level. With this game, plus Final Fantasy 3 in their '94 line-up, Square is giving players one of the best RPG years in gaming history. Do not miss this game, it's something special." -Skid
(94% out of 100%)
NINTENDO POWER (July 1994)
"PLUS: Good depth and variety of play due to the many characters in your party. The game isn't as linear as some RPGs such as Final Fantasy II. Lots of exploration without endless battles required for building your levels. MINUS: Limited magic. More fighting than adventure fans might like. Standard story and themes."
(3.8 out of 5)
GAME PLAYERS (February 1995)
"You and your band of adventurers search the land for the seven Goddess Keys that some players find to be too short, but packed with fine features."
(87% out of 100%)
SUPER PLAY #24
"Breath of Fire's fun factor falls somewhere between Lufia and Final Fantasy II. This is a splendid game in itself, and completists won't want to miss out. However, I can't wholeheartedly recommend you spend your hard-earned money on this right now: It's a case of too little, too late. Excellent but you might have a bigger selection of RPGs shortly." -Zy Nicholson
(80% out of 100%)
GAMEPRO (August 1994)
"If all this sounds somewhat bland, it's because you've seen such elements on these pages before. Even the story line is nondescript and average. If Breath of Fire wanted 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." -Lawrence of Arcadia
(3 out of 5)
ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY #61
"The folks at Square 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 make it a winner." -Mike
(9 out of 10)
DIE HARD GAME FAN (July 1994)
"This game is a must buy. This is one of the RPGs I hoped would make it to our shores and its [sic] to see why. The graphics and animation are fantastic for an RPG and the music is great. The story is the best part; it just grabs you and sucks you into its own world. Square does it again!" -K.Lee
(90% out of 100%)
REVIEW CREW AVERAGE: 81% -
Although it went on to spawn a number of well-received sequels, the original Breath of Fire did not manage to win over every magazine. GamePro called the game out for its lackluster story and boring graphics. Nintendo Power had similar complaints, noting that it has it may be too combat-heavy for the average RPG fan. On the other hand, Electronic Gaming Monthly and Die Hard Game Fan loved this old school adventure game. Game Players enjoyed the game, but wondered if it was too short. What did you think of Breath of Fire?
