Having now played both versions, I actually appreciate how all the characters start separately in FFIII 3D, since you get to play around with the freelancer more and it’s also pretty much the only part that got a serious revamp in terms of story.

Don’t know if this counts as a retcon, but I absolutely love the additional scene with Golbez’s childhood at the end of FFIV 3D. At this point any version that doesn’t have it feels incredibly hollow.