Plenty of video game franchises have been around for so long that they’re almost synonymous with the medium at this point. That is certainly true for Square Enix’s iconic Final Fantasy series. Final Fantasy has been at the forefront of the RPG genre since the 1980s and now, nearly 35 years after its debut, it’s still highly celebrated.
Final Fantasy isn’t averse to change and there have been major developments throughout the series’ growth. At the same time, there’s a popular trend to deliver remasters of classic video games so that they can be appreciated by modern audiences. The announcement of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series embraces this idea but applies it in a very different way.
10 It Will Include The First Six Final Fantasy Games
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster details have been selective, but the biggest announcement is that the first six entries in the Final Fantasy series will receive this remastered treatment. The trailer that teases this upcoming line of games emphasizes the pivotal journeys from the Final Fantasy series and how these original games bridge gaps in the franchise. There are some growing pains in the earliest Final Fantasy titles, but they also contain some of the series’ most rewarding experiences, like Final Fantasy IV and VI. It’s exciting that all of these games are getting this treatment rather than just the first few to test the waters.
9 It’s Only Available On Mobile And Steam
An unusual addendum to Square’s announcement of these new Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster packages is that they’ll be exclusively available on mobile platforms and Steam for the PC. There’s been more of an emphasis on the Steam marketplace and some select Final Fantasy entries have made their way over there in the past. Additionally, the mobile market is considerably larger in Japan, so this decision isn’t entirely unwarranted. It’s still a bit of a disappointment that these console classics won’t be available to play on home consoles, at least at this point.
8 Graphically, They’re Completely Remade From The Ground Up
It’s interesting to watch trends shift in the video game industry and how there’s been a resurgence in retro-style games and pixel perfection as opposed to glossy 3D graphics. The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games are true remasters that graphically recreate these classic titles from basically scratch, but they strive to develop a unified pixel style instead of a more modern look.
Revised versions of the early Final Fantasy games have been released, but Pixel Remaster still puts together a new package rather than reusing old assets.
7 The Games Are Released Individually, Not As A Collection
Collections that package together a number of older games have become quite common, especially when remasters are involved. Gamers have become somewhat spoiled by this approach that provides an almost overwhelming level of content. A lot of work has gone into all six of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster titles, which is perhaps why they’re all being released separately and not in a bundle. This gives the audience control over which remastered games they’d want to play. Finer details, such as price points for the individual releases and if a possible collection is planned down the road, have yet to be clarified.
6 It Will Feature Basic Quality Of Life Additions
There’s a fine line to toe when it comes to respecting the mechanics of retro games and offering modern improvements that represent how games are currently played. The Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters strive to recreate the original experiences, but there will still be minor perks to make the early titles less punishing. A fast-forward button is available to speed through the slower animations. More importantly, more maps will be present, like mini-maps for the dungeons and a world map for the overworld, better representing the structure of PlayStation era Final Fantasy titles.
5 They’re Based On The Original Games, Not The Remakes
There’s so much appreciation for the original Final Fantasy games that they’ve been ported and re-released across multiple platforms in many different ways. This means that certain titles, like Final Fantasy III and IV, have multiple versions.
Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters are modeled off of the original games, and while they may use details and environments that are reminiscent of certain remakes, they’re still meant to represent new versions of the original Final Fantasy games. This detail may seem benign, but these differences are dealbreakers for certain Final Fantasy purists.
4 There Will Be Slightly Enhanced And More Modern Controls
Video games have evolved in certain basic ways that it’s easy to forget how simplistic certain titles from the 1980s and early ‘90s can be. In terms of gameplay, the early Final Fantasy titles easily push the RPG genre forward and pack a ton into a game, but there are certain control nuances that just can’t be accomplished with the older hardware. For instance, the trailer for Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters indicates that characters can move diagonally, which wasn’t doable in the original Final Fantasy games.
3 The Art Style Is Slightly Different From The Final Fantasy Artbooks
The Final Fantasy series is so prolific that there are plenty of games and supplemental materials that document the franchise’s progress and alternate takes on certain design concepts. Titles like Final Fantasy: Record Keeper present new pixel versions of characters and the exhaustive Final Fantasy DOT Artbook also showcases new pixel art. The new pixel models in the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games seem to reference these DOT Artbook designs in some cases, but are still original models that haven’t been used in games. The DOT Artbook makes for a fascinating comparison point.
2 The Games Should Be Released Throughout 2021 And 2022
There haven’t been many schedule specifics beyond how the Pixel Remasters will be individual releases. Presumably, Square wouldn’t show off this package if something wasn’t close to completion, so it’s likely that the first entries of the Pixel Remaster series will drop before the end of 2021, with the rest of the installments carrying out through the new year. This is purely speculation, but it’s a schedule that seems feasible and fits with the rest of Square’s plans for 2022. It’s also possible that more than one game will drop at once, but nothing is confirmed yet.
1 The Pixel Remaster Series Will Likely End With Final Fantasy VI
The current plan for the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series is to release new versions of the first six entries in the mainline Final Fantasy franchise. This seems like a reasonable point for this experiment to end as retro pixel versions of the PS-era Final Fantasy games seem antithetical to this project. However, it’s certainly not impossible and there are other side story games, like Final Fantasy Tactics, that could join the Pixel Remaster series in the future. Sales numbers will ultimately be the determining factor here, but audiences shouldn’t expect more Pixel Remaster releases beyond these initial six.
About The Author
