Much like a film, Final Fantasy VI Advance begins with the telling of a war that nearly destroyed the world 1,000 years ago. Known as the War of the Magi, all magic disappeared in its wake, eventually replaced by technology. Then three armor-clad characters appear, teasing players with hints of witches and other long-lost things. They soon begin trekking through the wilderness, at which point the game's main theme kicks in alongside the opening credits. Easily the most cinematic opening of all the Final Fantasy games released on Game Boy Advance and DS thus far, VI Advance's opening sets it apart from the simple light-hearted stories that came before it.

What follows only further strengthens that divide. Rich in both character development and plot progression, the many facets of VI Advance's story go far beyond a simple excuse to string together dungeons and battles. The game, rich with almost a dozen main characters, focuses on the young Terra as she attempts to reclaim her lost memory and come to terms with her unique magical capabilities plus the implications thereof. Though the setup sounds like cliche, the cast's diversity keeps things feeling fresh.

Such a large cast poses numerous challenges, chiefly involving character development. Yet VI Advance provides an ingenious solution. Various scenarios give characters the time and personality needed to become a central part of the story without slowing down the story. Early in the game, for example, the group of heroes fractures into three groups. Instead of merely following one group, the game instead allows players to go through each scenario, providing both a richer understanding of the overall story and of the involved character or characters.

However, as a Final Fantasy game, VI Advance still retains many of the series' defining qualities. Chief among these traits, the traditional turn-based battle system remains mostly intact, as does the random nature of battle within dungeons and on the overworld map. Forcing the player into battle without warning at uneven intervals still comes across somewhat frustrating, but a less frequent rate of encounters highlights a step in the right direction.

Doing away with the Job System of Final Fantasy V Advance, which requires constant encounters for character customization and growth, Final Fantasy VI Advance utilizes alternative means. Relics replicate the behavior inherent within some of V Advance's jobs, such as stronger characters protecting weaker ones or a faster walking speed. Any character can equip up to two relics, providing a much larger and far less tedious degree of customization. Characters now learn magic based off their equipped items, assigning a greater importance to the strategy of proper equipment.

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