This piece comprises spoilers for Final Fantasy VII Remake, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Final Fantasy IX.
With current rumors swirling a few remake of Final Fantasy IX, I can’t assist however really feel a bit anxious. A lot of my hesitation stems from the truth that Sq. Enix has already launched a remaster of the unique Final Fantasy IX that’s playable on trendy {hardware}, completely preserving it for these of us who find it irresistible whereas additionally making it accessible for gamers who need to expertise it for the primary time. An even larger issue, nonetheless, is Sq. Enix’s therapy of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, and the way in which the gaming trade views remakes as an entire.
Sport preservation is a scorching matter on the planet of gaming proper now. Based on the Video Sport Historical past Basis, roughly 87% of all video video games from earlier than 2010 are “critically endangered,” that means solely about 13% of these video video games are readily accessible right now. That’s plenty of video video games which can be susceptible to being misplaced to time with no strategy to recuperate them.
That’s to not say that firms aren’t making a acutely aware effort to protect a few of their extra common titles although. In recent times, Capcom has delivered well-received remasters and re-releases of a few of its most beloved titles from its Resident Evil, Ace Legal professional, and Mega Man franchises. Konami has launched a a lot wanted Steel Gear assortment, and Sq. Enix has launched quite a few great remasters of its Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy franchises.
One other technique we’re seeing firms take when revisiting traditional titles is the “remake” route, which sees firms remaking titles for the sake of updating controls, visuals, and even story beats for contemporary audiences. Resident Evil 2, Silent Hill 2, Demon’s Souls, and Useless Area are all nice examples of this. Of their authentic kind, these video games are thought of to be a few of the biggest of all time–it is sensible that studios would moderately re-examine these experiences via a brand new lens moderately than try to completely emulate what already exists. But whereas these overhauls are sometimes thought of resounding successes, generally components that make the unique titles so nice get misplaced in adaptation. That is actually the case with Sq. Enix and its Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, which its much less about updating the unique recreation and extra about reimagining it into a brand new expertise completely utilizing Final Fantasy VII as a baseline.
That is exactly why the prospect of Sq. Enix remaking Final Fantasy IX from the bottom up, moderately than making an attempt to protect it as near the unique imaginative and prescient as attainable, provides me pause.
When Sq. Enix lastly introduced the remake of Final Fantasy VII, there was each celebration and hesitation. Would it not be turn-based? Would it not stay true to the story beats of the unique story? Would it not be a single recreation? We ultimately obtained all of these solutions with an ongoing trilogy that options real-time motion fight and vital modifications to vital story moments, like turning Final Fantasy VII Remake right into a backdoor sequel to the unique Final Fantasy VII. For higher and worse, the Final Fantasy VII we’re getting isn’t any alternative for the unique expertise, regardless of the way you take a look at it.
Which results in hypothesis about Final Fantasy IX’s potential remake. Since a contemporary remaster of Final Fantasy IX already exists, it stands to purpose that Sq. Enix could be a tad extra bold in its remake plans for the title, much like Final Fantasy 7 Remake. So, will this be one other reinterpretation? Will Sq. Enix sacrifice the unique model’s attraction and quirks for the sake of catering to the style of recent audiences? Final Fantasy IX is famously a tribute to the older period of Final Fantasy video games, and its artwork path and gameplay replicate that. Final Fantasy IX options a few of the most attractive artwork in your complete sequence within the type of pre-rendered backgrounds that convey the world of Gaia to life–backgrounds which can be evocative of storybook illustrations and contribute drastically to the sport’s extra fantastical world. I can’t assist however surprise if a few of the attraction of Final Fantasy IX’s world could be misplaced if it had been to get replaced with 3D environments in a remake.
I additionally surprise if a Final Fantasy IX remake would result in story modifications, equivalent to within the VII Remake–I ponder if moments just like the Mog or Vivi reveals are susceptible to being rewritten, or shedding their affect. One of many causes Final Fantasy IX is held in such excessive regard is as a result of many contemplate it to be the top of storytelling within the Final Fantasy sequence. To remake it from the bottom up is to doubtlessly introduce inventive modifications that may alter the way in which we expertise the story. Take for instance the way in which that Sq. Enix dealt with Aerith’s loss of life in Final Fantasy VII, an iconic second with some of the recognizable photos in gaming, that includes Sephiroth driving masamune proper via the beloved occasion member. This second is diluted in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth into an amalgamation of visions, dream sequences, and time jumps to the purpose that it’s unrecognizable, complicated, and far much less impactful.
Is there a world the place Sq. Enix would as soon as once more sacrifice the ATB battle system of traditional Final Fantasy video games, together with IX, in favor of much more action-heavy gameplay for followers of Final Fantasy XVI or Final Fantasy VII Remake? The ATB battle system inspired gamers to make tactical choices and take into consideration their each turn–In Final Fantasy VII Remake, nonetheless, gamers can usually mash the assault command in most encounters, and infrequently solely depend on talents in late-game fights and boss encounters. And whereas VII’s pivot to real-time motion feels considerably extra pure as a result of its extra futuristic setting, Final Fantasy IX’s fantasy setting and total identification is embedded in its use of the traditional ATB system. These gameplay modifications may additionally carry over to moments such because the sword battle open match, which might be doubtlessly lowered to a quick-time occasion very similar to the Shinra parade was in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
Final Fantasy IX isn’t an ideal recreation, as a number of of its concepts don’t really feel absolutely fashioned. For instance, Trance is Final Fantasy IX’s alternative for the Restrict Break system seen in Final Fantasy VII that permits occasion members to remodel into extra highly effective kinds once they take massive quantities of injury. Regardless of it not all the time being mechanically sound, Trance conveys the sensation of a personality increase anger and the desire to outlive in a harmful battle, including to the sport’s total attraction. It will be equal to eradicating the codec calls from the Steel Gear Strong video games for the sake of streamlining and shedding a bit of its identification within the course of: one thing that later entries did in truth do.
One other facet that might change is Zidane himself. Beloved as he’s, he does have a number of problematic persona traits, specifically his womanizing and overly flirtatious conduct towards Garnet. But it’s due to this that his actions, character arc, and development all through the course of the story imply a lot, and make his perceived loss of life and return to Garnet some of the heartwarming moments in your complete sequence. If his persona is up to date an excessive amount of for the sake of presenting him in a extra optimistic mild, this might have much less of an affect and alter the entire notion of the ending moments of the sport.
Is there an opportunity my fears are unfounded and the XI remake may keep away from the pitfalls of the VII Remake trilogy and completely seize the unique recreation’s attraction? Possibly. Does the existence of a brand new, reinterpreted Final Fantasy IX negate the existence of the unique? After all not. But then once more, if this new model of the sport is the one being touted because the definitive strategy to play, but it lacks what made the unique recreation so particular, is not a little bit of magic misplaced?
It’s vital to have the ability to look again upon the previous and expertise video games of their purest kinds. When firms deal with these beloved titles and make them accessible, it is a step in the fitting path. Sq. Enix has carried out this by releasing Final Fantasy IX for contemporary gaming {hardware}. Nevertheless, when firms resolve to needlessly remake beloved titles for the sake of modernity, they do put the general notion of those titles at risk–even if the supply materials stays unscathed. One thing is misplaced while you dilute concepts and design right into a “one measurement suits all” mannequin and provides it the identical title as a perceived traditional. Final Fantasy IX is a masterpiece in storytelling, gameplay, and design, and marks doubtlessly the best level of the franchise. If it does obtain a remake, I simply hope Sq. Enix takes care to recollect what made it so particular within the first place.