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  • Ys III on the PC Engine CD

    Post-Stream Review by NeoKakarot

    NeoKakarot is a fanatic of JRPGs, anime, and DOTA with an especially soft spot for games by Nihon Falcom. You can follow Neo’s work via YouTube or Patreon.

    Video Review

    Writes Neo:

    Ys III: Wanderers From Ys is a strange game for the Ys series.

    It’s a sidescroller action game the only of it’s kind for Ys.

    I ignored this game for many years, but recently I played through it on my stream.

    In this video I go over why I didn’t play Ys III initially, why I played it, highlights of my stream for the game, what I think of Ys III and then also just some dumb comedy sprinkled in.

    The video is below, so check it out!

    Stream VOD

    Wrote Neo last week in a community post on his YouTube channel:

    As for Falcom stuff if something comes along which sparks me to make a video I will make it . . . and I’m going to start a PC Engine version playthrough of Ys III pretty soon here.

    Soon afterward, in another community post, Neo wrote:

    So in the previous post I said I was gonna play the PC Engine version of Ys III and indeed I did.

    The playthrough of the game was finished in under 6 hours and it was some very fun old school fashion side scroller action!

    I don’t know why it took me so long to play it but I’m glad I did!

    For players who wish to check out the stream VOD of the complete playthrough, see below.

    So, what do you think? Have you played Ys III? If so, which version of Ys III do you like the most?

    This post has been viewed 15 time(s).

  • Which Final Fantasy Should I Play First?

    A Guide for Series Newcomers

    For clymax’s projects, click here.
    This piece reflects the personal opinion of clymax only. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the FFV Central community or of any of its members.

    It can be daunting to know where to start as a newcomer to the series in this day and age.

    Enter ports, re-releases, and mods into the fray, only complicating matters further.

    This post covers the series up to Final Fantasy X. Entries beyond Final Fantasy X can be the subject of a future post.

    Banner credit: Genki_JPN on Twitter.

    Where Should You Start?

    With the following recommendations in hand, a new player can jump in with the very first entry in the series, Final Fantasy, before taking on the rest of the series in release order.

    If open-world chest rando is not desired as a mod theme, a new player can instead start with Final Fantasy III on the PSP before taking on subsequent entries in release order. This skips both Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II.

    EntryVersionModMod Theme
    INESHeadwind+Open-World Chest Rando*
    IIFCUpwind+Open-World Chest Rando*
    IIIPSP (3D Remake)——
    IVSNESUltima PlusExpansion
    VSFCWhirlwind+New Modes Galore
    VISFCT-EditionExpansion
    VIIPSXComprehensive ATB EnhancementATB
    VIIIRemastered——
    IXPSXComprehensive ATB EnhancementATB
    XHD Remaster——

    + The post author is also the hack author, so take the recommendation with a grain of salt. Also, these are private mods only available via an event or via Game Jolt.
    * Only if a heavily modernized and more chaotic version is desired. A loose patch may be available to turn off chest rando: place a help request in our Discord for assistance.

    So, what do you think? Which entry and version would you recommend newcomers start with? Would you recommend a mod? Comment below, or check us out on Discord.

    This post has been viewed 52 time(s).

  • Indie Spotlight: Dualia

    The Indie RPG that Began as a Romhack of Final Fantasy VI

    ppml is an indie dev and hacker best known for Final Fantasy Jobs, a comprehensive hack of Final Fantasy VI. This post is by ppml with minor edits by clymax for publication.

    I wanted to share a brief introduction to Dualia, the RPG I’m developing.

    It originally began as a Final Fantasy VI ROM hack, but due to the project’s ambitious scope, I ultimately decided to abandon the hack and instead build a full game from the ground up.

    What is Dualia?

    Dualia is an indie RPG inspired by classics like Final Fantasy and Bravely Default.

    In development for over three years, it features 18 playable characters—each with their own story, motivations, and ideology—facing a looming catastrophe.

    Your choices will shape the fate of the party and the world itself.

    Narrative Focus

    The story offers multiple perspectives within a conflict between allied nations that can’t agree on how to confront a greater threat.

    Roles shift over time, and some characters may even change sides.

    Character & Combat

    Each hero is based on a distinct profession with a unique combat style.

    Elemental weaknesses also affect your party, triggering status effects tied to personality—such as “rebellion” or “loss of faith.”

    Decision & Battle Systems

    The game branches based on decisions made throughout the story.

    The battle system allows players to store or spend turns, centered around the Crystal—granting extra turns, reviving allies, and evolving into powerful summons.

    More Info

    Languages: English & Spanish

    Platform: Steam

    Release: Late 2027

    Twitter/X: https://x.com/DualiaRPG

    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DualiaRPG

    Demo: Menu Interface

    This post has been viewed 40 time(s).

  • Eight Thematic Mod Types Explored

    For NES and SNES

    For clymax’s projects, click here.

    This post explores eight types of mods for Nintendo consoles spanning the third and fourth generations of game consoles.

    Note that external mods aren’t covered in this post. Examples include randomizer websites, achievement sets, HD texture packs, widescreen mods, Archipelago integrations, and Lua scripts.

    Comparison Chart

    See the Legend table further below for type descriptions.

    RankTypeSystem(s)Modder(s)
    1ConversionNES to SNESinfidelity
    2ConversionNES to SNESRumbleminze
    3TranslationNES, SNESGideon Zhi
    4Super Acceleration 1 (SA1)SNESVitor Viela
    5FastROMSNESkandowontu
    6MSU-1SNESCubear
    7Save/LoadSNESBillyTime! Games
    8Save/LoadNES8-bit fan
    9Self-RandoNES, SNESclymax
    10LevelingNES, SNESclymax

    Legend

    RankTypeDescription
    1ConversionPorting a game from one system to another
    2TranslationTranslating a game from Japanese to another language
    3Super Acceleration 1 (SA1)Improving performance by retargeting certain operations to run on an acceleration chip
    4FastROMImproving performance by activating a higher speed of ROM access
    5MSU-1Adding support for CD-quality audio
    6Save/LoadAdding support for save files
    7Self-RandoAdding an internal randomizer
    8LevelingAdding a leveling system

    So, what do you think? Do you know of a mod type that should be added to or removed from the list? Which listed mod type is your favorite? Comment below, or come check us out on Discord.

    This post has been viewed 42 time(s).