Unfortunately a corrupt save has set me back several hours on this one and I just don't want to do it again. Not a bad game in all, but feels like a huge step back after V, which has probably the most ambitious and fleshed out plot and cast of all the games up to this point (and even comparable to the major modern installments in the franchise). VI feels empty in many ways by comparison; long stretches with no forward momentum on the thin main plot, far less party chat dialogue, and only a couple characters that feel like more than very simple tropes.

The most noteworthy element of the game is the updated class system, which takes longer than expected to get access too, but does offer lots of customization, and massive injection of abilities over all the previous installments. This does kind of encourage a lot of grinding, of which it already feels like the game has a fair share of in a series that is known for it, but the freedom and potential for super versatile characters is neat nonetheless.

Visually the game is pretty in line with the previous DS remasters, though the quality of sprites feels closer to V's improvements over IV's. However, whether it's partly in the choice of remastering, or just a matter of the songs themselves, I found the score to be one of the least effective in the franchise. It felt like there was far less variety, and that many of the songs had a hollow vibe, like sparse sounds in empty spaces. It's kind of uncanny, and combined with my issues with the plot, really sealed this vaguely unfinished feeling I took from the game as a whole. I can only say I found it marginally more enjoyable (or perhaps just less frustrating) than IV.