GBA version had better hit rates on most characters except black belt if i recall.. They really upped the thief's damage capability early on.

In the GBA version, however... magic is more Fixed/smaller range and not like the NES.

Fire won't vary from 10-40 with a level 1 black mage... iirc it hits for about 31-33 most of the time and it strengthens with caster stats.

This makes a certain 100-400damage spell later on alot more useful on GBA than it was for me on the playstation version....

But melee is upgraded in general on the GBA, so yes I can see your point.