Stare Square Enix to Remake Final Fantasy
As the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy prepares to reach its conclusion next year, the entire franchise is buzzing with anticipation. Fans are already eager to know what epic adventure awaits them next, and when asked about future titles, the industry has pointed toward some of the most ambitious projects in gaming history.
One of the biggest questions on the table involves finding the perfect title for a modern glow-up. While many classic entries are considered, the path to achieving a truly successful remake requires serious planning. Naoki Yoshida, known for his meticulous work, has suggested that ambitious remakes often necessitate multiple installments, emphasizing that some projects demand more than one game to pull off successfully.
The focus of this discussion naturally turns to titans like Final Fantasy 6, alongside the expansive worlds of Final Fantasy 8 and 9. While these games are undoubtedly beloved classics, Yoshida notes that tackling them would be a mammoth undertaking, requiring significantly more than just a single remake.
These classic titles possess an incredible scope. Final Fantasy 6, in particular, is staggering—featuring over a dozen protagonists, massive battles, and some of the deepest worldbuilding the series has ever offered. It is a testament to its scale that it managed to fit onto an SNES cartridge.
Similarly, Final Fantasy 8 and 9 combine vast content with intricate gameplay systems, making them considerable timesinks of pure gaming material. The challenge in recreating this scale today is amplified by modern hardware and evolving audience tastes.
Creating a game of such immense size requires not just creativity, but an incredibly talented and stable team—a factor that makes the success of projects like the Final Fantasy 7 trilogy particularly noteworthy, as many developers remain committed through sequels.
However, if Square Enix were to decide on a remake for its beloved SNES classic, there is a perfect aesthetic format available: HD-2D. This style masterfully merges nostalgic two-dimensional pixel art with modern 3D environments, lighting, and effects.
This artistic direction has already proven successful in other titles like Octopath Traveler, offering an eye-catching adventure that feels both deeply nostalgic and strikingly modern. Reimagining a Final Fantasy game in this style would deliver the best of both worlds: a revitalized classic for long-time fans and a compelling introduction for newcomers.
The potential for this visual approach is particularly compelling for Final Fantasy 6, which is widely regarded as one of the franchise’s greatest achievements. Many observers suggest that this nostalgic visual treatment could make the classic even more accessible and exciting than ever before.