old school graphics vs modern graphics.

[Razberry Knight]

I constantly see a variation of fans hating certain remakes but enjoying others. It bothers me to no extent.

Example: some fans have no opinion on the graphics of dawn of souls on psp, ffIV-VI advance on gba, while enjoying the 3D remake of FFIII and FFIV on DS, while hating the updated sprites of FF dimensions and FFV when their no different from dawn of souls, or the advance series.

And then they ask for a FFVI remake (and not the level of previous FFIII and FFIV. No, they ask for FFX to FFXIII level graphics) more than VII despite VII had updated graphics in its sequels/prequels.

I just dont understand it at all.....i mean yes, the sprites are iconic (i think even moreso now, because of DISSIDIA's icon gallery) and updating these graphics. But why hate updated sprites but love the quirky 3D remakes?

Personally, i dont like the 3D remake of FFIII, yes the plot was expanded to make it focused more on characters. Still the chance to experience the original never came up in western shores (and i refuse to use hacked version). So thats disapointing. FFIV i dont have a strong as hate as the original version was available. But looking at them bothers me. Mainly cuz the original designs of yoshitaka amano are lost within the polygons.

Then their are the updated graphics, such as FF dimensions (from the original feature phone) and FFV, FFI + II aswell. This is the one that bothers me the most.

You get to enjoy the original 2D style but more updated. I think what bothers me more is the fact that the same people hating these versions while prefering the 3D remakes.

Then there are the the HD remake, yes, im only referring to ffX in this case. Hating on the tiny differences.

I just dont get it....can someone explain this? I feel like the graphics hating seems genuine while some of it sounds like their covering hate for the actual idea.

 

[The Welsh Paddy]

With FF games, I've always prefered all the quirky 2d and 3d sprites. My favourite character designs in the FF series are those of FFIX. When it came to FF remakes, sequels/spin-offs etcetera, I just hated the designs Nomura came up with. He would just morph them into generic JRPG characters.

A few years back, I remember being super excited about the idea of a FFVII remake just for the sake of being able to explore this huge world but with more enhanced and realistic graphics. Now, if I want that, I'll just play Skyrim or some other recent open world games. I mean, while the visuals are fantastic, I wouldn't really want that so much for a remake.

In general, graphics has never been so much an issue with me in games. There are many benefits of having really good graphics, but in a lot of cases I really don't see it as a necessity.

 

[Linnaete]

Example: some fans have no opinion on the graphics of dawn of souls on psp, ffIV-VI advance on gba, while enjoying the 3D remake of FFIII and FFIV on DS, while hating the updated sprites of FF dimensions and FFV when their no different from dawn of souls, or the advance series.

"[N]o different" from the GBA ports of the games?

VS

and

VS the high-def PSP sprites for FFI and FFII:

As the PSP versions have shown, you can update sprites while retaining their original semblances. They clearly haven't done that for the mobile FFV and FF Dimensions, and the new ones look oddly plasticine, while lacking much of the sharp detail available in the PSP sprites. I'd go as far as to say that the new updated sprites in FFV look out of place within the game. There is a huge chasm of difference between the sprites.

But it's not so terrible that it ruins the game, obviously, but it is still a legitimate "what have they done?" because this sprite style is relatively unappealing compared to the alternative.

And you mean "they're", right? "Their" is possessive and doesn't mean "they are".

And then they ask for a FFVI remake (and not the level of previous FFIII and FFIV. No, they ask for FFX to FFXIII level graphics)

That's news to me. As far as I know of, everyone I've seen who favours a FFVI remake would want something similar to the FFIII and FFIV that you seem to deplore, for the 3DS.

Then there are the the HD remake, yes, im only referring to ffX in this case. Hating on the tiny differences.

Who is? Where are you seeing the hate? I've only seen small murmurings of disapproval from a minority for the changes made with Tidus's face to make him look sort of less like Meg Ryan, but that's hardly "hate". It's a strong word, you know.

Mainly cuz the original designs of yoshitaka amano are lost within the polygons.

So you're saying the sprites embody that Amano look? I don't see how. I think of long limbs, very slim necks and jaws, and corpse-white skin when the guy's name is brought up. I'd say his iconic design language was just as lost in the pre-FFVII sprites. Have you ever noticed how different the sprites look compared to the Amano portrait art in say, FFV, for example?

You get to enjoy the original 2D style but more updated. I think what bothers me more is the fact that the same people hating these versions while prefering the 3D remakes.

Well, I don't speak for everyone, but I'm personally rather indifferent to the chibi-stumpy-feet 3D polygon models of the FFIII and FFIV remakes. The appeal of 3D remakes of the 8 and the 16-bit games is more down to the novelty of seeing a game, its world and nearly all its content you've undoubtedly played already be radically revamped in a new version. And plus there's the small part of me who wouldn't mind seeing the Opera scene in 3D, but I'm no longer shouting from the rooftops for a FFVI remake.

 

[Razberry Knight]

The differences appear minor to me in both psp and ffv. Because A) the sprites are just way too short. I can agree the head looks odd, but only on one character. Oddly dimensions doesnt have that problem. The quirky 3D sprites i hate because they ruin amano's original design. For example: cloud of darkness. All the enemies have been chibified. Its not the "portrait" but the style. Another example is terra's portrait.

 

[SiderealPassing]

Completely agree with the OP. I'm not bothered by there being a remake of FFIII but I would have liked to have a chance to play the original.

I generally prefer PS1 or earlier graphics if I had to pick. I don't really care that much but NES/SNES/PS1 graphics have a more nostalgic Final Fantasy feel than later titles. FFX was the last title in the series that really felt like Final Fantasy and part of that was due to the not-quite-slick looking characters. Either way, this is all nitpicking and I don't care much about graphics.

I don't think remakes are necessarily a bad thing in video games. Wild Arms Alter Code F, for example, was a great remake of the original. If FFVII was remade and was at least faithful to the story, I'd have no problem with it. It would especially be cool to see a less muddy translated version that could clear up some confusing parts in the plot. My only beef I'd have with a remake is if the developers pulled a George Lucas and stamped the original out of existence.

Also, there's a difference between a remake and a remaster. I think it's obnoxious for people to have a problem with, say, the PS1 compilations of NES/SNES Final Fantasy games or some of the PSP/DS remasters. I don't see why anyone would have a problem with a few tweaks and updates as long as they're generally the same games.

 

[cooky560]

I still prefer to play the originals of games, because I feel the graphics and sounds are part of the feel of the game.

I am a person who dislikes the PSX version of VI, mostly because it runs so damn slow. (The FMV is a bit annoying too) rather than minor changes to the design.

The GBA version of VI is just strange because the script has been ENTIRELY CHANGED

 

[Squigsquasher]

As something of a graphics whore I do like HD full 3D graphics. 1 thing that was undeniably great about FFXIII, for example, was the absolutely stunning visuals. The idea of playing FFVII with XIII level graphics makes me giddy. Just imagine how cool Jenova, for example, would look with the power of the WiiU or even the PS4.

That said, I do like traditional 2D sprites, although I prefer 16 bit SNES/GBA graphics to 8 bit NES/GB graphics.

I wonder how well a Final Fantasy game done in 3D, but with cel-shaded graphics, like in Okami or Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker would work. I have a soft spot for cel shading, and I think it would strike a balance between the classic cartoony graphics of the old games and the realistic 3D graphics of the newer games.

 

[L]

i don't know why people care so much about graphics in the first place

graphics are important, just like the soundtrack, but they definitely don't make the game

 

[Fantasy_Dragon]

I think graphics play a huge part, more so than other games, in an RPG. It's all about story and atmosphere, and newer graphics far represent the world. Say, FFX is beautiful and really captures the heart and soul of Spira. But if it were on the PS1 or in sprites, it wouldn't have the same breathtaking and unique feel of the world. Though I do love sprite-games, it just depends on the genre mainly, and then the atmosphere of the game itself. (For example, the first game doesn't have too much of an impressive world or identity.)