Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster General Discussion

[Vivi-Gamer]

Seeming as this collection is coming to console soon, I thought it would be good to have a dedicated topic to these revisions of the classics.

It seems they have at least addressed the text of the origial Steam release. I'm still not sure if I prefer the presenation of FFVI over the SNES/PS1 version. But I'm glad they're making the Collection available on modern Systems - Hoping XBOX will follow...

Who managed to get one of the Physical releases? Not sure if S-E plan to release more at a later date but I grabbed one on a whim during breakfast that morning.

I've still yet to play FF2 & FF3... I'm not sure If I am convinced that the PR vesions beat the PSP & DS versions for me but at least we have a more accessible version of FF5!

Trophies for each game will also be a big incentive!

 

[Bambi]

I managed to snag a collectors edition for ps4. I'm looking forward to playing all tje games again, though i never really enjoyed 5, and i couldn't get past the first 30 min of 2 before rage quitting, so will see how i get on with that one in particular. I cant wait for it to arrive!

 

[Vivi-Gamer]

Good job on securing one! I was interested in the CE but my wallet disagreed with me in the end

The trophies have been revealed! Apparently they're the same set which appears on the Steam release. Each entry has a seperate Platinum Trophy too. I used to collect every FF Platinum until Thre re-release of FF9 came along with it saddist requests like the 1000 Skipping Rope Challenge *Sighs* Still I may go for some of these.

Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Trophy Sets:

• I
• II
• III
• IV
• V
• VI

 

[Belle T]

I would really like a physical release. I'm not a big fan of the pixel remasters on an aesthetic level, but there are some entries I have yet to play fully (such as FFV, and definitely most of the pre-SNES entries) that I would like to experience, but I don't think I have the time or patience for some of their eccentricities in playing their original versions.

 

[Vivi-Gamer]

I agree, the sprites have purposefully been made to look more pixelatd - Well when you compare FFVI with the SNES original. Also the colour pallet does look a little off to me. I still prefer the PSP versions of 1,2 & 4.

Odd tip - I've noticed playing pixelated games can look rough on HDTV's, When I played Sonic Mania I actually went to the TV settings and turned the Sharpness to 0 & it was less of an eye-sore! I've looked at the images on the PS Store & tried this and it is much more barable!

My order has been sent! Incase anyone is interested this is what the Avatars are that you get with pre-order:

The games are available on the PS Store but yikes!

Those prices are painful! Luckily S-E does put sales on their digital content a lot, so it really would be worth holding out on these. You can get a complete Bundle for £64.99. I had to bit my tongue while purchasing the Physical Edition for that price but for a digital version that is insane! Esecially when you look at other compilations in the past like The Megadrive Collection which has 40+ titles for a much more reasonable RRP.

 

[Belle T]

That's another reason I've held off on the pixel remasters. I understand they are... well, remasters, so on the one hand, it's fair to charge more than your typical retro game for them. But at the same time, I'm not thrilled to be paying that kind of money for a game that is 30 years or older.

I agree, the sprites have purposefully been made to look more pixelatd - Well when you compare FFVI with the SNES original. Also the colour pallet does look a little off to me. I still prefer the PSP versions of 1,2 & 4.

In addition to that--and mind you, I'm not sure exactly how I would fix this--the upscaled background textures and artwork kind of make the games look more generic, as though they were using default backgrounds from RPG Maker VX Ace or something like that. Granted, that's not entirely their fault. The compression doesn't look great on modern televisions, obviously, but it did manage to help the assets feel like they all belong together in a similar manner to how Super Mario 64 took advantage of the N64's technical limitations by using compression to hide the fact that much of the textures were comprised of stock photography and photorealistic samples. When those textures are scaled up properly, it looks tonally off. It's a similar feeling when I see the renewed background art for the fight sequences and the like in the pixel remasters. The art and the characters look disconnected. It also makes the tiling and repeating assets really stand out in ways that it doesn't on their original consoles.

There are some parts that definitely look better, such as the minecart ride in FFVI. But I think it's a worse looking product overall. That's not even getting into the music... which is actually all fine, but it stands out much more in a way that I don't think necessarily services the game. Though, from the trailer, it appears that you can switch to the originals? So it's probably not a big issue.

 

[Vivi-Gamer]

I believe you can Switch the OST for the originals, which is always appreciated!

I played the GBA version of Final Fantasy V last year on Emulator (I own the Game Boxed) & it looked great. There is something about the PR versions to where they character models aren't as distinctive from the backgrounds. It could be due to them having a more expansaive colour set. I foudn this comparison and when yuo compare the SNES version of VI to the PR version you can see a lot of the detail is very muted in comparison.

Also, having the luxury of the PSP versions of 1,2 & 4 these can't help but seem to be a downgrade.
PSP:

PIXEL REMASTER:

NES:

Also, upon seeing each versions battle screen, I can't help but feel the framing in the PR version feels too zoomed out - I guess this is to keep the character models the same zise as they appear in the open-world scetions. I watched further comparisons and felt the same way:

 

[Belle T]

Yeah, the pixel remaster sprites look like someone put them in a washing machine on the wrong setting and washed their colors out. It would be nice if they would allow you to change graphical styles as well. I know that would be difficult to implement, but the remake of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap accomplished it.

 

[Galadín]

I know that what I'm saying here would be a lot for SE to invest into for games that are over 30 years old. But looking at the comparisons you have there Vivi-Gamer I'm personally a little disappointed that what we're getting with the Pixel Remaster isn't better in any size, shape or form from the PSP version, which is a little shocking. I think I would be much more excited if the games were recreated at least to a level that would match what they're doing for Octopath Traveller II, although, like I said, I acknowledge this would be a much bigger investment development wise than a remaster would take. Having that style of mobility around the towns and dungeons would be incredible though and would give players precisely what they could never have experienced from NES - PSP days and would really justify the release on modern consoles and systems without compromising so much on nostalgia.

 

[Vivi-Gamer]

A very valid point - They even recently did a 2D-HD makeover of one of their lesser known games Live-A-LiveWhich looks great:

We get plenty of HD Ports/Remasters of 3D games these days, I really do see the 2D-HD template as the equivalent for 2D Upgrades. The games with that style look fantasic and I would love to see more under-go such treatment.

The PSP ports are stunning, they also did similiar work to Star Ocean 1 & 2 and FF Tactics also. The problem is time was getting on and the mobile markey was increasing so when it come to working on 5 & 6 we got iOS version instead... which didn't fare well at all! (The characters have a Playmobile look to them...)

I see they got some of the previous staff members who worked on the original games to work on the sprites for this release and they have gone out of their way to make some of the mosnter designs closer to the amano sketches. Overall I feel fine about the PR release, they decent retro infused versions and I am glad they fixed the font but most of all that a year or two down the line when they're more reasonably priced the series will be mroe accessible.

I'm most interested to see how FF3 fares, I haven't played any version of the game and appreciate that there is now a decent 2D version out there now.

 

[Belle T]

To give the pixel remasters some credit, at least they don't look like the mobile versions.

I always forget how dreadful those looked.

 

[Ayatai]

My opinion I still enjoy the games despite everyone's hate on the color palatte. Yes I do agree they could have put more work into that but still they are playable just the same. I actually prefer these over the mobile versions that came out before this, and my sister just bought the collection when they came out as well.

I will have to say that in my opinion that instead of just rereleasing the original and just mainly remastering them, I feel they should do full remakes similar to the style of FF7 Remake, where the characters would have more fleshed out designs and i feel they could even add even more to the story and possible more side quests on top of all that, especially with these early games.

 

[Bambi]

So its a pretty darn nice collectors edition even if it did cost me 250 quid

I've gone through 1 and finally finished 2 and am playing through 3 currently. I still dont love the "levelling" in 2, but i did quite enjoy the story desite all the to-ing and fro-ing to the same town every 5 min. Im looking forward to getting stuck into 4 as i really enjoy that one. But yeah overall really pleased with it so far despite the hefty price tag!