Akitoshi Kawazu
Production began in 1990, following the completion of the previous game. At the time, developer Square had started production on two parallel projects; the third Game Boy "SaGa" title, and a Super Famicom entry titled "Romancing SaGa" begun at the request of the console's manufacturer Nintendo. Series creator Akitoshi Kawazu was completely occupied with developing "Romancing SaGa", making "Final Fantasy Legend III" the only series title he was not involved in. Production was given by Kawazu to a newly-founded Square studio in Osaka, with Chihiro Fujioka producing the game. The world used design elements and motifs from science fiction, traditional fantasy, and referenced Norse mythology. The design of the "Talon", called the "Stethros" in Japanese, was based on the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter. The game's title included the term "Final Chapter", as Kawazu was at the time intending to end the "SaGa" series and brand. These plans changed and the "SaGa" series continued, leaving Kawazu confused in retrospect about his choice of the title.