Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was released to great success. Though it's said to be underperforming, there's no denying its critical acclaim. Now may be the right time for other titles in the franchise to have their own remakes.
Square Enix has been capitalising on major nostalgia, re-releasing and remaking several Final Fantasy titles to attract new and old players.
So, which entries need reimagined versions? Here are the five Final Fantasy games that deserve a remake.
Final Fantasy VI
Released in 1994, Final Fantasy VI received widespread critical acclaim thanks to its graphics, soundtrack, story, characters, setting, and mature themes.
Though it has seen different iterations, such as Final Fantasy VI Advance, the mobile port, and pixel remastered, it has yet to receive a full remake like FFVII.
FFVI is considered one of the greatest video games of all time and is often cited as a watershed title for the role-playing game genre.
But despite its success, its innovative features don’t hold up compared to modern games.
A remake could be just the thing to make modern gamers feel excited about it.
Final Fantasy VIII
Though Final Fantasy VIII was a commercial success, being one of the fastest-selling games of the franchise with $151 million gross on its first day of release in Japan, critics and gamers alike hated its bizarre gameplay choices.
It built on the visual changes that FFVII brought, departing from numerous traditions of the game series.
As its gameplay has become its biggest issue, an FFVII-style remake is probably the only way that it can redeem itself.
Its story and characterisation may stay the same, considering it’s the first FF game to consistently use realistically proportioned characters.
However, its gameplay should be changed to make it less contentious.
So, aside from gaining proper recognition, an FFVIII remake would also help repair its reputation.
Final Fantasy II
Compared to other FF games, Final Fantasy II received little attention.
Fans hated its clunky progression system, making it the least favourite of the franchise despite introducing a new levelling system and featuring actual characters.
With the negative reviews it has received, FFII is the perfect candidate to have a remake to help gain the attention it deserves.
Though its anniversary edition, mobile, and pixel-remastered versions help it garner favour, a remake could help change critics’ minds about this game.
Final Fantasy
The 1987 Final Fantasy was the start of the juggernaut franchise. It was the first instalment, receiving generally positive reviews and spawning many sequels and spin-off titles.
But despite being the first in the series, it has yet to receive a remake.
Sure, it has a prequel called Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, but it excites fans to think of what its remake could look like with modern graphics and gameplay.
So, if the original ever gets the remake treatment, it would help boost its popularity and allow players to experience the one that started it all with fresh eyes.
Final Fantasy IX
One game that fans have been clamouring to see a remake is Final Fantasy IX. Released in 2000, it received critical acclaim and was also commercially successful.
It was also lauded for its excellent story, characters, and gameplay.
However, as the last mainline FF game to be released on PlayStation, a new generation of gamers believes it isn’t up to par with modern games.
Though there are rumours that it will get a remake, nothing has yet materialised.
So, if this finally happens, a modernised FFIX will give it the recognition it deserves.
Which Final Fantasy games do you want to have a remastered version? Share your thoughts and leave your comments below.
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