GBA is ridiculously easy, but it's a very fun game and well-made game. I've beaten it a few times, but have yet to get past the Ice Cave in the NES version.

I do think it's a hard game, and does require some grinding to even make it in a couple dungeons. But it's still incredibly awesome and I recommend checking out when you have some free time for a game.

Quote Originally Posted by Wolf Kanno View Post
It's harder and probably one of the hardest entries in the series with you watching your whole party get wiped often. Grinding helps but not as much as later games. The title is very resource based with trying to make decisions about using precious items or spell charges to survive longer, running from battle to preserve said resources, and whether you are brave enough to really try to explore every nook and cranny of a dungeon for rare and powerful loot with a very real chance of dying and having to redo the entire dungeon. If you get easily frustrated about failing and having to redo sections of a game, then the NES/Famicom version is not for you.

I just finished a playthrough of the NES version (probably the hardest version thanks to all the bugs) and I pretty much had to relearn all the basics again about playing old school RPGs like save often and actually using the run command. Also it's not about spamming the Healing Staff, the later dungeons sometimes involve spamming the Healing Staff and your three Healing Helms every other round just so you can keep everyone alive.
This must've been an epic playthrough. Did you emulate or go authentic? What was the final play clock at?