Summary
- Final Fantasy's roots lie in the wildly successful Final Fantasy 7, sparking a reimagined 3D adventure.
- Forgotten gems like Mystic Quest and Tactics hold potential for 3D remakes and modern adaptations.
- Revenant Wings and Ring of Fates offer unique gameplay worth revisiting through console remakes.
Final Fantasy is one of Square Enix’s most lucrative properties. It wasn’t always a cash cow, but eventually, it became a huge deal with the advent of Final Fantasy 7. That may be the most popular game in the series, and it has received a remake. Well, two of the three parts have been finished to this point, as it is an ambitious project.
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Final Fantasy is over 30 years old with plenty of games and just a smidgen of anime adaptations as well.
There have been smaller remakes and remasters in the series, like Final Fantasy 4 on the DS. Most of the bigger games have received remasters at least, but these other, more forgotten games haven’t been touched. Let’s check out which Final Fantasy entries are most deserving of a remake, from spinoffs to mainline games.
6 Final Fantasy
Where It All Began
Final Fantasy (1987)
- Released
- December 18, 1987
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System, PC, PS1, PS4, PSP, WonderSwan, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Android, iOS
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Adventure
- Metacritic Score: 79 (GBA)
Final Fantasy has been remade and re-released more times than one can count. The GBA version might be the pinnacle, but all versions after the original NES release have been great. However, there is a reason Square Enix could, and should, remake the first game as a full 3D adventure. In 2022, the Job-heavy Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin was released, which was a collaboration between Team Ninja and Square Enix.
It was advertised as a reimagining of the first game, but the surprise at the end revealed it to be a prequel leading up to the events of Final Fantasy. It would make sense for Team Ninja to then remake the game fully as a 3D action adventure with less of an emphasis on Soulslike gameplay.
5 Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
A Truly Forgotten Gem
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
- Metacritic Score: N/A
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest has a bizarre history. This happened a few times in the 90s, where a Japanese franchise would get a more Western-themed entry. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest was first released in North America on the SNES. In Japan it is known as Final Fantasy USA: Mystic Quest and they wouldn’t get it until a year later.
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The franchise has done away with this idea recently, but Final Fantasy games used to feature secret characters that were very challenging to unlock.
As another example, Super Mario USA is the Japanese name of Super Mario Bros. 2. In the PAL region, the Final Fantasy name was dropped completely, and it’s just called Mystic Quest Legend. It’s a shame, because it has all the trappings of a classic Final Fantasy entry. It has killer music, crystals, and turn-based combat. It may be forgotten to time now, but it definitely needs a reappraisal.
4 Final Fantasy Tactics
The First Strategy-Inspired Spinoff
Final Fantasy Tactics
- Released
- June 20, 1997
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original)
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
- Metacritic Score: 88 (PS1)
Final Fantasy Tactics gave fans another reason to love the PS1 besides Final Fantasy 7. It was the first spinoff to introduce tactical grid-based combat, and it was wildly challenging too. It still might be the hardest game in the Final Fantasy series.
Difficulty aside, what made the game great was its dramatic story, packed with adult themes, and the Job system. It became an instant classic among fans and even got a few sequels on Nintendo portables. Final Fantasy Tactics received a PSP port later, but besides a few extras and some nicely drawn cutscenes, it has never truly been remade. It hasn’t even been made available on a console for over a decade, and that’s the true crime here.
3 Dirge Of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7
Vincent’s Big Breakout
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7
- Released
- August 15, 2006
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action RPG
- Metacritic Score: 57 (PS2)
Square Enix is seemingly going all out on remaking the Final Fantasy 7 universe, and not just the main game. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7, the Zack prequel, got more of a remaster than a remake in 2022, but it was a start. The Yuffie DLC of Final Fantasy 7 Remake introduced Deepground, which is the organization found in Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7.
That’s why it makes sense for Square Enix to remake it, besides giving Vincent a better run-and-gun action game. Technically, there is also Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis, which is remaking bits of the whole franchise as turn-based RPGs chapter by chapter. It’s an interesting move for the mobile market, but it’s also not exactly what fans of Dirge of Cerberus want.
2 Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings
An RTS For The Series
Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings
- Released
- November 20, 2007
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo DS
- Developer
- Think & Feel, Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, JRPG
- Metacritic Score: 81 (DS)
Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings is the only big entry in the series to get the RTS treatment. There have been RTS-like mini-games in levels like Fort Condor in Final Fantasy 7 Remake though. Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings was a sequel to the original PS2 title and saw Vaan and Penelo joining Balthier and Fran on sky pirate adventures.
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Along the way, they unlock the ability to summon monsters to fight battles for them. It proved to be a good idea, and it got good reviews despite the small screen size of the DS. A bigger screen via a console remake would improve some of the problems fans had with Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings’ visual real estate.
1 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring Of Fates
An Improved Multiplayer Sequel
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring Of Fates
- Released
- March 11, 2008
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Metacritic Score: 77 (DS)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles was the first co-op focused experience in the franchise. It was released for the GameCube, and it had a unique multiplayer setup via Link Cables. The sequel, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates, was less of a hassle to set up because it just used the DS’ internal infrastructure for multiplayer.
It was an improved concept with less of an emphasis on being bogged down by Miasma. Character customization was more robust and the action felt tighter too. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles got a remaster in 2020, and now it is high time Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates got the same treatment. Maybe it could even be bundled with the third game, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time.