The Final Fantasy 9 remake sounds disastrous, but it can prove that something important to modern video games

This post contains spoilers for Final Fantasy VII remakes, Final Fantasy VII rebirth and Final Fantasy IX.

recent rumor Spinning remake Final Fantasy IXI couldn't help feeling a little anxious. A lot of my hesitation stems from the fact that Square Enix has released a remake of the original Final Fantasy IX, which can be played on modern hardware, for those of us who like it, and also for making it accessible to players who want to experience it for the first time. But the bigger factor is the Square Enix pair Final Fantasy VII Remake Trilogyand the game industry believes the overall remake.

Game saving is a hot topic in the game world today. According to the Video Game History Foundation, about 87% of all video games before 2010 were “End of extinction,” which means that today only about 13% of video games are easily accessible. This is a risk for many video games that may be lost over time and cannot recover them.

This is not to say that the company is not consciously retaining some of its more popular titles. Capcom has offered some of the most popular titles from its existential crisis in recent years from its popular remake and reissue.,,,,, Ace Attorney and Mega Man franchise. Konami has released its popular metal gear line, and Square Enix has released many wonderful remakes of its Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy franchise.

Another approach we see companies taking when revisiting classic games is the “remake” route, which is for updating controls, visuals, and even for modern audiences, visuals, and even story rhythms. Resident Evil 2,,,,, Silent Hill 2,,,,, Devil's souland Dead corners All are examples of this. In its original form, these games are considered the greatest games of all time – and it makes sense that the studio would rather re-examine these experiences with new lenses than try to perfectly imitate what already exists. But while these overhauls are often considered a great success, sometimes elements that make the original title so good are lost in the adaptation. This is certainly the case with Square Enix and its Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy, which doesn't involve updating the original game much, but rather reimagining it more as a new experience that uses Final Fantasy VII as a benchmark.

That's why Square Enix's prospect of remakes Final Fantasy IX from scratch, rather than trying to keep it as close to the original vision as possible, it gave me a pause.

When Square Enix finally announced a remake of Final Fantasy VII, there was both celebration and hesitation. Will you turn? Is the original story still the same? Is this a game? Ultimately, we get all these answers through the ongoing trilogy, which includes real-time action combat and major changes in important story moments, such as turning the Final Fantasy VII remake into a backdoor sequel to the original Final Fantasy VII. Worse, the Final Fantasy VII we get is no substitute for the original experience no matter how you look at it.

This leads to speculation on a potential remake of Final Fantasy IX. Since the modern Final Fantasy IX already exists, it is reasonable to think that Square Enix will be more ambitious in its remake plan for its title, similar to the Final Fantasy 7 remake. So, will this be another reinterpretation? Will Square Enix sacrifice the charm and quirks of the original version to satisfy the taste of a modern audience? Final Fantasy IX is a famous tribute to the older era of Final Fantasy games, and its art directives and gameplay work reflect this. Final Fantasy IX features pre-rendered backgrounds that bring Gaia’s world to life, memories of storybook illustrations and a great contribution to the more fantastic world of the game. I can't help but ask if some of the charms of the world of Final Fantasy IX would be lost if I wanted to replace the 3D environment in the remake.

I also wonder if Final Fantasy IX remakes will lead to a change in the story, for example in a VII remake – I wonder if moments like Mog or Vivi are at risk of being rewritten or losing the impact. One of the reasons Final Fantasy IX places so much emphasis on it is because many people think it is the pinnacle of storytelling in the Final Fantasy series. Re-made it from scratch is possible to introduce creative changes to change the way we experience the story. Take the example of how Square Enix handles Aerith's death in Final Fantasy VII, an iconic moment that is one of the most well-known images in the game, including Sephiroth driving the Masamune through his beloved party members. In Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, this moment is diluted into the conspiracy, the fusion of dream sequences and time until it is unrecognizable, chaotic and less impactful.

Is there a world where Square Enix once again sacrifices the ATB combat system of classic Final Fantasy games including IX to provide fans of the Final Fantasy XVI or Final Fantasy VII Remake with more action-packed gameplay? The ATB battle system encourages players to make tactical decisions and think about their own twists – In the Final Fantasy VII remake, players can usually smash attack commands in most encounters and usually rely on abilities only, while in combat and boss encounters later in the game. And, while VII feels more natural to the pivot of real-time action due to its futuristic environment, Final Fantasy Environment IX and overall identity are embedded with the use of the classic ATB system. These game changes may also continue to moments like Sword Fight Open, which, like Shinra Parade, may be shortened to a quick event.

Final Fantasy IX is not a perfect game because some of its ideas aren't fully formed. For example, Trance is a replacement for the extreme interrupt system seen by Final Fantasy IX in Final Fantasy VII, and when party members suffer a lot of damage, they can transform into a stronger form. While it is not always mechanically reasonable, Trance conveys the character's willingness to enhance the sense of anger and survive in dangerous battles, increasing the overall charm of the game. To streamline and lose part of its identity in the process, removing codec calls from the Metal Gear Solid game is the same: later entries actually do.

Another aspect that may change is Zidane himself. Beloved, he does have some problematic personality traits, namely his femininity and overly gentle behavior towards garnets. But it is because of this that his actions, character arc and growth are significant throughout the story and bringing his death and back to Garnet is one of the most heart-warming moments in the entire series. If his personality is updated to show him more positively, this may have less impact and change the overall view of the ending moment of the game.

Is it possible that my fears are unfounded, and the XI remake can avoid the trap of the VII remake trilogy and capture the charm of the original game perfectly? perhaps. Does the existence of the new, reinterpreted Final Fantasy IX negate the original existence? Of course not. But then again, if this new version of the game is a game touted as the final game, but it lacks the reason that makes the original game so special, then isn't some magic missing?

It is important to look back and experience the game in its purest form. This is a step in the right direction when companies take care of these beloved titles and make them accessible. Square Enix does this by releasing the modern gaming hardware for Final Fantasy IX. But when companies decide to reshape their beloved titles unnecessarily for modernity, their overall perception does make these titles dangerous—even if the source material is unshakable. When you dilute your ideas and designs to a model that is “one piece of size for everyone”, something is lost and under the same name as the classic of perception. Final Fantasy IX is a masterpiece of storytelling, gaming and design, and marks the highest point of the series. If it does receive a remake, I just hope Square Enix carefully remembers what makes it so special in the first place.