Breath of Fire III
First 3D entry in the Breath of Fire series.
Breath of Fire III is a role-playing game from Capcom, released for the PlayStation as part of the Breath of Fire series. It launched in Japan on September 11, 1997, and arrived in North America and Europe the following year. This entry marked the franchise’s first use of three-dimensional graphics and voice acting. Critical reception was mostly positive, though the jazz-influenced score by composers Yoshino Aoki and Akari Kaida received mixed-to-positive reviews, with some critics finding it distinctive and others less impressed. The game sold approximately 679,000 copies in Japan alone, with combined US sales not publicly confirmed.
The story unfolds in a fantasy world where humans coexist with anthropomorphic creatures. It follows Ryu, the last survivor of the Brood—a race capable of transforming into powerful dragons—as he searches for answers about his people and tries to reunite with his surrogate family. His journey spans from childhood into adulthood, and he is joined by several companions. On August 25, 2005, a port was released for the PlayStation Portable in Japan, with a European release following on February 3, 2006. Capcom later announced on January 27, 2016, that the game would be re-released as a downloadable title in the United States through the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation Vita, PSTV, and compatible PSP hardware.
**Gameplay**
Breath of Fire III is a traditional console role-playing game where players complete story-driven objectives and battle enemies across various fantasy environments. The view is isometric and overhead, with a camera that can be rotated around the main character and tilted up or down to see past obstacles. Each character has a unique special ability used to solve puzzles, destroy objects, or reach hidden areas. The game uses 3D graphics for scenery and objects but retains 2D sprites for characters.
New features include the Master System, which lets playable characters apprentice under non-player characters called masters to learn skills and influence their stats. The Fairy Village allows players to guide the growth of a small faerie town, unlocking special items, mini-games, and a sound test. On the world map, players can set up camp to restore health and talk to party members. Fishing returns with an expanded interface and a point system that tracks caught fish and their sizes.
Battles occur randomly in
- Developer
- Capcom
- Publisher
- Capcom
- Platform
- PlayStation (original); PlayStation Portable (port)
- Release Date (Japan)
- September 11, 1997
- Release Date (North America/Europe)
- 1998
- Genre
- Role-playing video game
- Sales (Japan and US)
- Approximately 679,000 copies in Japan alone; US sales not publicly confirmed
Lore & Background
Breath of Fire III is a traditional console role-playing game that requires the player to accomplish story-based objectives while battling enemy creatures in a number of fantasy environments. Presented from an overhead isometric viewpoint, the player may rotate the game's camera in any direction around the central character, as well as tilt it up or down to see over or under impeding objects. The game uses three-dimensional graphics for scenery, buildings, and other objects, while still retaining two-dimensional sprites for characters. The story takes place in a fantasy world where humans live alongside anthropomorphic creatures, and centers on Ryu, the last of The Brood (a race of people who can transform into powerful dragons), as he searches the world to uncover the mystery of his people and reunite with his surrogate family.
Reader's Guide
Breath of Fire III is significant as the first game in the Breath of Fire series to adopt three-dimensional graphics and voice acting, marking a technological shift for the franchise. Critics generally remarked that the game lacks innovation but is highly engaging due to the craftsmanship and attention to detail in both the story and gameplay. It introduced new features to the series, including the Master System, which allows characters to apprentice under non-player characters to learn skills and influence statistics, and the Fairy Village, which lets players influence the growth of a small town of faeries for special items or mini-games. The game sold more than 679,000 copies in Japan and the United States. It was ported to the PlayStation Portable in Japan on August 25, 2005, and in Europe on February 3, 2006. On January 27, 2016, Capcom announced that Breath of Fire III would be re-released as a download in the US in February through the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation Vita, PSTV, and other PSP hardware compatible devices.
Did You Know?
- Breath of Fire III is the first game in the franchise to feature three-dimensional graphics and voice acting.
- The jazz-inspired soundtrack by Yoshino Aoki and Akari Kaida was widely derided as being both inappropriate to the atmosphere and unmemorable.
- The game sold more than 679,000 copies in Japan and the United States.
- It was ported to the PlayStation Portable in Japan on August 25, 2005, and in Europe on February 3, 2006.
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