The Final Fantasy series has put players in the driver's seat of some of the most compelling adventures the industry has to offer. Over 35 years, the series has introduced loveable characters, detestable villains, and engrossing worlds throughout its 15 mainline games and beyond. This is something Square Enix hopes to continue doing with the upcoming Final Fantasy XVI.
Square Enix isn't afraid to revisit past games of the series. Much like Resident Evil 4, Street Fighter II, and more recently The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Final Fantasy games are ported and remastered for the latest consoles and devices. Lately, Square Enix has taken to remaking mainline games starting with Final Fantasy III, which hadn't been released outside of Japan before the remake. Since then, Square Enix has remade Final Fantasy IV for the Nintendo DS and is currently progressing through the Final Fantasy VII: Remake, which spans multiple games. Consequently, fans are eagerly awaiting what game Square Enix will remake next. While some games would benefit from a full-scale remake, others are better off left alone.
10 Should Be Remade: Final Fantasy II Could No Longer Be The Worst
Ask a Final Fantasy fan what game in the series is the worst and Final Fantasy II will be the most common answer. FFII is so widely considered the worst game in the series, fans who haven't played it still confidently say it's terrible. However, FFII does have some good things going for it, such as the game's characters and stories, which would certainly benefit from a remake.
Most of the disdain for the game comes from its approach to leveling, which often encourages players to kill off their own party members to get stronger. However, a similar approach to leveling was implemented in the beloved Skyrim. A remake could revamp the leveling system with lessons learned from the original release and take cues from Skyrim. If done right, FFII could have one of the best comeback stories in video game history.
9 Shouldn't Be Remade: Final Fantasy IX Has Aged Much Better Than Its PS1 Siblings
No game ages perfectly, especially when it comes to the early days of 3D visuals. That's one of the biggest flaws when attempting to create realistic character models – something that looks better will come around and make previous games look worse. This is mostly the case with the original PlayStation Final Fantasy titles.
After pursuing realism and science fiction elements with Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII, Square Enix took a step back with Final Fantasy IX. FFIX has more cartoony/cel-shaded visuals, which have aged surprisingly well. The game's battle system and story are still among the best in the series. Even now, FFIX is an extremely easy recommendation that's better off being left alone.
8 Should Be Remade: Final Fantasy V Is An Overlooked Gem
Many Final Fantasy games have their passionate fandoms – for better and for worse. A lot of discussions are centered around those popular games. However, one mainline game that's often ignored or overlooked is Final Fantasy V. This isn't because FFV is bad. In fact, it's not uncommon to see FFV high on a fan's list of favorites among those who've played it. Yet, FFV has a difficult time finding a place in Final Fantasy discourse. For the most part, this is due to the game not releasing outside of Japan until the late-1990s. Therefore, a remake would finally bring the often-overshadowed FFV into the spotlight.
7 Shouldn't Be Remade: A Remaster Of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Would Suffice
One of the most requested remasters of a Final Fantasy game is the beloved PlayStation Portable FFVII prequel Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. Crisis Core tells and expands upon many of the events that predated the original FFVII. The story centers around Zack Fair – a close friend of Cloud's – as he pursues his dream of becoming a First Class Soldier.
One of the biggest reasons Crisis Core hasn't been remastered is because of the character Genesis, whose design is based on Japanese rock artist Gackt (who also voices the character). This makes it a legal nightmare to sift through. These issues could be fixed by a remaster, redesign, and recasting. However, with the FFVII Remake in progress, Zack's story might be worth integrating into the greater remake.
6 Should Be Remade: Final Fantasy VI Deserves Even More Love
FFVI is one of the most beloved games, and not just within the series, but the genre as a whole. FFVI is frequently at the top of "best Final Fantasy game" lists, which makes FFVI a prime choice for a remake. Similar to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, FFVI is often overshadowed by its more popular 3D successor, which can lead to clashes within the fandom.
One of the biggest stopping points for modern players to give FFVI a chance is the 2D visuals. A remake could rectify that and ensure that one of the best stories in gaming is more appealing to modern players. FFVI certainly deserves more love. It's right to be the center of attention is long overdue.
5 Shouldn't Be Remade: Final Fantasy X Should Be Left Alone In General
Another beloved Final Fantasy game that may get a remake look is Final Fantasy X. FFX is one of the biggest introductory games for fans, and many fans point to it as the reason they fell in love with the series. FFX was so popular, it became the first mainline game to receive a direct sequel in Final Fantasy X-2.
With FFX-2 and Final Fantasy X-Will audio drama, signs point toward a Final Fantasy X-3 on the cards. This has left the overarching canon of the FFX series in a messy place, which has disappointed many fans. It's easy to understand why they want their beloved game to be left alone: so no more damage can be done.
4 Should Be Remade: Final Fantasy VIII Can Continue To Win Fans Over
No Final Fantasy game has a bigger love/hate reputation than Final Fantasy VIII. Similar to FFV, FFVIII was sandwiched between two more beloved games. Unlike FFV, FFVIII built up a reputation for being a low point in the series. Many fans were not a fan of the game's approach to leveling, which has led players to purposely stay at low levels. This can easily create overpowered builds that make the game a breeze.
FFVIII recently received a remaster, and many players gave the game a first or second chance. This allowed players to reevaluate how they feel about the game with many already won over. A remake of FFVIII could continue to win fans over, especially if some of the game's issues are fixed.
3 Shouldn't Be Remade: It's Better To Focus On A Final Fantasy Tactics Sequel
When Octopath Traveler was revealed, many fans saw this as an opportunity to remake older 2D games with its fantastic visual style. This desire was revved up with the reveal of Project Triangle Strategy, which realizes many wishes of Final Fantasy Tactics fans.
While a remake of FFT in this style would be fantastic, the original game and the enhanced War of the Lions version are amazing as they are. Consequently, a sequel or successor to FFT would be a better route. To revive the FFT series, it may be better the look forward. However, a remastered collection of the previous FFT games would certainly be welcomed.
2 Should Be Remade: Final Fantasy XI's Reboot Deserves A Second Chance
Final Fantasy XI is the only entry on this list that already had a remake in the works. FFXI was the series' first venture of the MMORPG, and a reboot was on the way for mobile devices. However, it was quietly canceled, leaving players to wonder what could've been. It shouldn't have been that way.
FFXI is a difficult game to get started on, and many of the game's systems and mechanics are better in the more accessible Final Fantasy XIV. A remake could allow players to give it a shot while also coexisting with FFXIV. It deserves to be played, and a remake would be the best way to introduce players to Vana'diel.
1 Shouldn't Be Remade: Original Final Fantasy Represents A Humble Beginning
A remake of Final Fantasy I would certainly make sense. After all, it's the original and oldest in the series. That said, should the original game be remade? Probably not. The original game is light on its story and the party members are more avatars than characters. And although a remake would expand on the story and the characters, it might take away from the original's charms and what it represents. Also, remaking the original without turning it into a completely different game would be difficult, not to mention the fact that Strangers of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins draws on many of the elements of the original, making a remake redundant.