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I highly recommend this hack, even if, and especially if, you are not a fan of the MLP franchise. There are enough changes to the game that make it worth a playthrough. For one, the addition of new spells–specifically Tier 2 and Tier 3 water, wind, and poison spells–makes for new and different strategies. (You do lose handy spells such as Drain and Quick, though.)

For the characters, you will now have to choose in the early game whether to use Locke's character to Steal or use Tools because he has taken on that ability from Edgar. Do you want to level up early on with Terra and Locke by using the Autocrossbow? Do you want to steal all kinds of useful items and armor early on by using Steal? Now, each turn you will be faced with that choice. When you get Edgar, you will also need to think about using Magic instead of pummeling, confusing, or poisoning enemies with his tools. Thankfully, later in the game, Locke picks up an entirely new weapon, the Bazooka, that is like a souped-up Autocrossbow. It's sick.

OK, so I have been using the characters' FFVI names for clarity's sake and because that's how I still think of them, but I do want to give credit for the casting (as it were) with some of the other characters. In the show just as in the original game, there is a character who has a distinctive way of speaking and who also dislikes technology. What a great choice to cast Applejack as Cyan! She even has a fitting line of dialogue when the dancer in Nikeah flirts with her. I also enjoyed how Shadow's character is not programmed to leave randomly. Instead, there are key events where she will depart, so it is easier to prepare for them. The character also has a newly composed theme song instead of the swaggering, hypnotic theme you are used to hearing for Thamasa's resident assassin. There's also different music playing in the "Beginner's Classroom" in Narshe as well.

Oh, and there are two new superbosses in the World of Ruin and an incredibly difficult battle in the Colosseum against the game's comedic recurring villain. These are in addition to the 8 dragon battles throughout the World of Ruin that feature new AI for you to problem-solve. Plus, just before you battle Kefka for the final time, you can warp out of his tower and fight an insanely tough (resurrected?) Emperor Gestahl.

All that said, I was not a fan of the non-Berserked Gau and Mog. When I play with these characters, I am used to a set-it-and-forget-it battle plan. Having to rethink their actions each turn gets tiresome. It is helpful that Mog no longer stumbles, though. The lack of a persistent Runic for Celes is also annoying. If you want to absorb a spell, you better hope it hits before her next turn comes up or else it will be wasted. Come to think of it, this ability wasn't super useful in the original game aside from the TunnelArmor battle anyway.

My only other gripe is with the lack of level-up bonuses for Espers. It was a crucial part of the original game, especially when you had taught a character all the spells you wanted them to know. Instead–and this is another key difference from the original game–you have relics, weapons, and armor that teach spells and / or have status effects. Even if you are used to obtaining a certain item at a set scene in the game, it is necessary to check it in the menu to see whether it can teach a spell you might not otherwise be able to access at that point. Plus, the learning rates stack, which makes for faster spell learning. So, there is a worthwhile trade-off for the lack of level-up bonuses for Espers.

There are still more changes to enumerate, but I think you get the idea. This is a thoughtful and clever adaptation of the core game and it has all of the Quality of Life fixes from most other hacks as well. (More frequent Desperation Attacks are always welcome.) Don't let the MLP association hold you back–if you've played FFVI before, the story is just about the same and the gameplay is altered enough to make it rewarding and engaging.