you can't ask for better
this is an old school rpg, with battles in turns, with lots of characters (they should be nine, if i'm not mistaking...) an enormous world to travel in, loads of enemies to defeat and lots of charismatich characters.
the story is similar to the one of pretty much all the others breath of fire: you're ryu, a ranger, you've lost your memory but you're the last of your clan, the dragon clan. that means you can turn in a dragon. yes, it is cool.
besides the story, which if it doesn't seem brand new (but remember it is a snes game, so it sure was at the time), what makes this game unique are the characters, and the way the (breathtaking) story is told. the characters are just good for look and for their personality. you are sure going to laugh on rand and his mother... the game scores another two points for the city and the longevity. you'll actually build your own town, with a carpentier, a bar, and everything a town needs. the game is pretty long (as a good rpg is supposed to be), but it is full of extra stuff to do.
now, let's talk about the bad: sometimes you can't do anything but wonder around and ask people that you already asked. it's pretty frustrating, but not as much as it is when there are some bosses in a row, or there is a real long session against enemies. in those cases to run away is unrewarding, cuz they don't escape right off, but up to the second, third or even fourth try. at that point you might as well have fought against the enemies, or you may already be dead... i mean, training session are kind of real long, real boring and sometimes pretty frustrating for the low exps you get from some enemies (that, no need to say it, are also tough and stubborn). if you play it on computer it is an easily solved problem (it actually doesn't even exist, because for the button of fast forward). also some battles are boring and meaningless (even the developpers saw it and tried to "fix" it with the automatic battle command).
ah, i just saw one thing i need to explain: learning curve more than 4 hours:
you'll learn how to use the commands without any kind of problem just as soon as you'll turn on the game. but for every character you have a special command, and that won't be as immediate for everyone of them. it took me sometimes before i could do some good fishing, or take some fruit down the trees, or learn where to dig in order to get somewhere. with this special command thing the game gains in both longevity and creativity.
in the end, what are you waiting for? just get this game and play it play it play it play it!!!!!!!