The release of Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster has many thinking about revisiting the older games in the iconic franchise. Currently, the first three games in the series are available on Steam and mobile, with FFIV, FFV and FFVI expected to arrive later this year. Those who have already jumped in have quickly noticed one major change: these games have had their difficulty lowered. This change is obvious, as FFI, FFII and FFIII are known for being long, challenging games.
However, this is not necessarily a bad change. For instance, in the first game, players will level up quicker and gain more Gil than usual, which drastically cuts down on the amount of grinding necessary to power up party members or earn enough currency to purchase equipment and spells. Additionally, the remaster adds permanent mini-maps that show the locations of treasure chests and entrances and exits within dungeons. The games even have diagonal movement now, which allows players to spend less time walking from location to location and reduces the number of random encounters they have to deal with.
These changes are perfect for games like Final Fantasy. The originals are slow-paced and marked by boring periods of grinding, which can put off both new players and series veterans who just want to revisit a classic. The Pixel Remaster games feel like streamlined versions with a far lower barrier for entry, celebrating the franchise’s origins without the frustration. Making these games more accessible by removing some of the roadblocks to progression is a good thing. Modern RPGs typically involve far less grinding and obscure mechanics, and these remasters respect those trends.
The Final Fantasy II remaster features a restructured stat leveling system that doesn’t punish players for experimenting with different builds. Similarly, the Final Fantasy III remaster’s Job system no longer requires Capacity Points, nor does it penalize the player for changing Jobs with a Job Adjustment Phase. These changes allow players to progress without having to worry about micromanaging their party and encouraging them to try new things without penalty.
Purists will likely be disappointed with the decisions made to make the games more accessible, but having a version that encourages new players to give the older games a try is not a bad thing. Being able to dip into a game like Final Fantasy and make significant progress in a short amount of time — potentially on the go, no less — is a satisfying feeling, especially when gaming time is limited by the myriad commitments of real life.
What will be interesting to see is if the next three Final Fantasy titles scheduled for Pixel Remaster releases receive the same treatment. The entire NES and SNES era of Final Fantasy is known for its high difficulty. Final Fantasy IV especially is notorious for having roadblock bosses and dungeons that feel like marathons. There are far more diehard fans of these titles, so there may be more backlash if the games feel easier, despite the original difficulty still being playable thanks to the game’s various ports on multiple platforms.
On the whole, the Pixel Remaster games have gotten a lukewarm reception so far. However, this seems to have less to do with the games themselves and more about publisher Square Enix’s odd decision to forgo a traditional console release and a universally disliked font choice. Still, while some players will disapprove of the balance changes, many more will appreciate these classics becoming shorter, more accessible experiences that still capture their magic. Though they have their flaws, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games sustain these games’ identities while eliminating the drudgery of the originals.
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