After recent posts from the company, fans are hoping that Square Enix is teasing a Final Fantasy 9 remake. If everything goes as planned, fans will finally get what they want after the brand-new website and some social media teasers. Only time will tell if the game gets revealed soon, but fans are hoping something new is done with these characters.
It would be easy to say “just copy Final Fantasy 7 Remake,” since this ongoing trilogy has plenty of fans. However, many have been critical about the changes made with these games, as many hoped for a straightforward remake and got something more self-aware instead. Should we get a remake of Zidanne’s adventure, it shouldn’t completely follow the 7 Remake blueprint.
That’s not to say the Final Fantasy 9 remake shouldn’t learn from Square’s previous efforts; they need to cherry-pick which ones. Luckily, we’re here to decide what this potential new game should take and ignore from Cloud’s recent adventures.
Should: The unserious tone
Gamers were worried when they first saw Final Fantasy 7 Remake, as they felt Square Enix would try too hard to make it a serious game. Luckily, that wasn’t the case at all, and they were able to balance out some goofy humor with serious moments. After all, it’s not Final Fantasy 7 if Cloud doesn’t wear a dress to try and save Tifa.
While the sense of humor doesn’t have to be similar, Final Fantasy 9’s remake shouldn’t worry about being goofy. The original game had plenty of serious and silly moments, most of which should remain. Balance is key, and we hope that Square Enix gets it right if they remake this classic.
Shouldn’t: Real-time combat
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+ 2The real-time combat of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is good. Mixing the action with turn-based abilities created a unique system that fans loved using. However, with turn-based combat making a comeback and fans somewhat tired of Square Enix’s focus on action RPGs, it might be best if Zidanne’s adventure did something else for fighting.
Because this will be a new game, we don’t expect Final Fantasy 9 to bring the Active Time Battle system back. It will be interesting to see if they learn something from Persona or Like a Dragon: Yakuza to make the combat more interesting. Only time will tell, but Square Enix might want to do something different.
Should: Focus on side characters
click to enlarge + 2One of the best aspects of Final Fantasy 7 Remake was its willingness to flesh out the side characters. Fans learned more about Jessie, Biggs, Wedge, and the other residents of Midgar. While some of these stories came from fetch quests and basic requests, getting to know these characters was still fun.
Naturally, this should remain in a potential Final Fantasy 9 remake. It would be great if Zidanne’s Tantalus gang had more time to shine since they leave the story after the first act. Fans would also love to spend more time with Beatrix and Lani, who could have used better arcs in the original game.
Shouldn’t: Meta story
Many fans thought Final Fantasy 7 Remake jumped the shark when those Whisper creatures were revealed. They were a spiritual presence introduced to ensure nothing strayed from the original game’s plot. While some fans appreciate how it differentiates Remake from its source material, others thought it was self-masturbatory.
Although the differences in the story aren’t horrible, it might be best if the Final Fantasy 9 remake remains a straightforward retelling. Younger fans are starting to prefer more earnest stories instead of self-aware plots that know what they are. If this remake has to make changes, we hope there isn’t some storyline that brings these Whispers back.
So that’s everything we think the Final Fantasy 9 remake should learn from the 7 trilogy. It will be interesting to see what Square Enix does when they finally unveil their plans for this entry.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Features and Final Fantasy IX page.