Final Fantasy XIV version 6.0 of Dawn Moon's End adds cute bunny clans to the new map "Sea of Sighs". Rabbit Clan first appeared in the 1991 role-playing game Final Fantasy IV, if you are an adventurer who has just seen Bunny Rabbit Clan and want to play the original Final Fantasy IV game and see what they look like back then, what method can you use to play the old game on this SFC platform?
The bunny clan that appears in "The End of the Dawn Moon" is the cute bearer in this new version
If you are a nostalgic game console enthusiast, just have a working SFC or GBA, or the PS3 at home can still be turned on, playing Final Fantasy 4 on these old machines is of course a good choice, but new players are in trouble, let them find a good old game console is really difficult. The 3D version of Final Fantasy 4, which was later ported to the DS platform, was naturally not bad, but the exquisite pixel art of the initial 16-bit console became a less delicate 3D picture, and the low polygon and somewhat rough textures were difficult to match the style of the original. Although the game is still that game, it always feels like something is missing when playing.
What is the ultimate and best answer to this question? Maybe it was Square Enix ("SE") that launched a pixel-based replica of Final Fantasy IV last September. While retaining the original style of the SFC, the pixel reproduction has repainted the original art materials and modernized the music, adding monster illustrations, music and illustration appreciation, as well as more convenient automatic combat functions and a clearer and easier UI system. This new version of Final Fantasy 4, which is easily available on Steam and mobile platforms, not only has a high-definition display adaptation, but also supports Chinese. For new players who want to reach out to older games from 30 years ago, there is no better option than this.
The UI of the pixel replica of Final Fantasy IV has been hd-defined
In fact, SE not only refurbished the first 6 Final Fantasy games with Pixel Remaster, but also intends to bring more classic RPGs from the 1990s to life. The HD-2D technology, which was successfully validated on the Switch game Traveler, will be used to remake the classics of the JRPG, Dragon Quest 3 and LIVE A LIVE. The plan seems to involve more titles, and there will be many similar games in the future in the form of HD-2D with players.
It seems that the remake and re-enactment of these old games seems to have suddenly arrived, but why? Which games will be refurbished as a result? What do these remakes and iterations really mean for new and existing players?
From transplant to fork
Before the advent of HD remakes and replicas, it wasn't impossible to play these SFC classics on a more modern platform. The games were later re-released, of course, and the Virtual Console series offered on the 3DS and Wii U platforms was an official emulator, and PS versions of the games were also available in PS3 and PSV stores. A few hundred yen can buy an old game that can be played, which sounds good, which is why many nostalgic players recommend the official simulator - because of the original.
Unfortunately, time has passed, and the above platforms are no longer the popular modern generation. Old machines are a problem to maintain, and they are in danger of shutting down online stores at any time. Switch's online membership bonus service offers old games, but it is quite limited, and rarely includes such RPGs. What's more, the official emulator faithfully simulates the original, but also includes a 4-to-3 display ratio, more cumbersome operations, and unscheduled combat difficulty and frequency of wild encounters. These elements may not have been a disadvantage in the past, and today they may be a roadblock for new players to try early.
The Wii U platform eShop has entered the countdown to stop service, and a large number of old games will not be available after that
If you want to play the older Generation Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest on more commonly used modern platforms, you usually need a port version. Ported versions of some old games can be found on PC, Switch and mobile platforms, which retain the game material of the original SFC, while adjusting many inconveniences in the original version, for example, in the PC port version of Chrono Trigger, when entering the player's name, you can use a faster modern input method to display the adaptation of 16 to 9 or other widescreen ratios, you can switch the pixel style and the paint style screen at any time, and the battle part can be automatically accelerated. Breakpoint archiving can also be made at any time.
Compared with the original official simulator, the port version is more convenient to play, but the refurbished UI and system are always a bit out of place with the original screen, and there is a sense of "renovated, but not completely renovated".
The ported version of Key to Timeless has finally fixed some compatibility issues after pushing a new patch this year
How to make it easy for new players to get started with the classic RPG of the 90s, the pixel replica of the first 6 "Final Fantasy" is a good example. Compared with the ported version, the pixel reproduction of Final Fantasy has taken a step forward, in addition to making adjustments in terms of system and ease of use, it has also repainted the art resources in the original work, and corrected many details while retaining the overall visual style. In particular, Final Fantasy 3 has never had a 2D repainted version, so the pixel reproduction version has made many long-awaited veteran players quite excited. While the new elements of the 3D version are just as good, Final Fantasy 3 is also difficult to leave in terms of delicate pixels.
Although we often praise how beautiful the 16-bit game screen in the SFC era is, we have to admit that the game art at that time had certain limitations in terms of color number due to functional limitations. The characters and scenes after the reproduction are more uniform, and the expression of pixel colors and shadows is also more skilled, so that the original design breaks free from the chain of functional limitations and achieves a truly ideal state.
The Pixel Replica of Final Fantasy VI also added opera singing segments that could not be realized in the original version, and added 3D scene performances to some scenes. What could be more satisfying in the game than to see a Saris rooftop singing segment with lyrics and camera transitions?
The 3D scene is combined with pixel-style maps, and the effect is quite good
HD-2D is coming
The pixel replica version of "Final Fantasy" shows the best means of reproduction of the old generation of RPGs under 2D conditions, and the upcoming HD-2D versions of "Dragon Quest 3" and "Time Warrior" can be said to be the maximum upgrade of these old games while retaining the pixel style art.
HD-2D technology first appeared in the Switch game "Misguided Traveler", the game's character and scene mapping in the high-definition pixel style, while the scene using 3D modeling, coupled with a variety of "Unreal" engines under the easier to achieve light and shadow and special effects, constitute a unique set of "2D and beyond 2D" art form. This system was later used in SE's SRPG Triangle Strategy to represent the high and low terrain of wargames.
Traveler of the Wrong Way brings new possibilities to pixel-style games
The gameplay and plot of The Wrong Way Traveler itself is not for everyone to like, but the HD-2D format really surprises players: the original 2D game can also have such a beautiful performance effect! Then, if you use this technology to reproduce the old generation of RPGs, the effect must be very good.
SE also seems to be aware of the potential of HD-2D and has identified "business opportunities" in it. President Yosuke Matsuda personally ordered the production team led by Tomoya Asano, who produced "The Wrong Traveler" and "Triangle Strategy", to vigorously explore SE's classic works and use HD-2D technology to remake old games. The first to get attention was Time Warrior, born in 1994, which put together 7 seemingly unrelated stories to form a wonderful adventure saga. The sales and ratings of "Time Warrior" were not high that year, and it was not so dazzling in the SFC generation where masterpieces were frequent, but it is a good thing for old fans and new players to be revived in this form now.
The HD-2D version of Time Warrior gives new players the opportunity to learn about older titles
HD-2D is certainly not the only way to remake the old game, "Lassa Strikes: Regeneration" did not choose to retain the original pixel style, and "Sacred Sword Legend 3" used a 3D approach to try to restore the atmosphere of the original. However, in terms of current effects, HD-2D is the most remake means to enhance the look and feel while retaining the original design style. There is quite a delicate pixel art in the old game, and if you can't go beyond the original or retain the original style when redrawing, it is easy to compare with the original. In fact, most of the time, the repainted game materials are not as good as the pixel version of the year - such as the HD version of "Reverse Referee" with a mess of hook lines and light and shadow, and it is often complained that the picture is "better to go back to playing the GBA" .
As mentioned above, the HD-2D remake is also the famous masterpiece "Dragon Quest 3" in the "Dragon Quest" series. Yuji Horii, the father of the series, revealed that the first HD-2D choice of the third generation was because he "had more memories" of this work, and if possible in the future, he would continue to produce THE 1st and 2nd generations of HD-2D remakes, and continue the HD-2D "Dragon Quest" into a series. This couldn't be better for the players.
The HD-2D version of Dragon Quest 3 is brighter and has a very different performance than Traveler
Who will be next?
Se, which has mastered the "wealth code" of HD-2D remake, should continue to be produced next, and more golden age JRPGs may have to see the light of day. The follow-up specific games will get the opportunity of HD-2D remake, the SE has not yet announced more news, but players have their own small calculations.
Recently, the game website INSIDE organized a poll to let players choose the "best HD-2D remake of the famous RPG" in their hearts. In the player's choice, both 5th place were "Creation of Heaven and Earth" and "Norse Goddess" ("Goddess Side Figure") released in 1995. The former tells the story of light and darkness, gods and demons, depicting the changing world, suitable for modern remake, while the latter is based on Norse mythology and tells the story of the Valkyrie challenging the gods, and the character's exquisite pixel art can be preserved to the greatest extent possible under HD-2D. Of course, this is only the player's expectation. The "Norse Goddess" series has just released a new 3D work, Valkyrie Elysium, which may not launch an HD-2D remake in the near future.
The Norse Goddess sequel is a standard modern 3D game
Known to players as the "New Generation Cybernetic RPG", the PS game Alien Armor ranked No. 3. The game's own rich worldview has always been praised by players, and the original uses a 3D background and 2D characters in the form of art, which is very suitable for reproduction in HD-2D.
The Second-place Legend of the Sacred Dragon (バハムートラグーン) is about to become more difficult to play due to the closure of the Wii U store, and if it can be re-released in HD-2D, it will not only allow players to enjoy the pixel dragon under modern light and special effects, but also let new players who have not been exposed to it see the legendary "SE Three Evil Girls".
Because of the development cost constraints, the second half of "Alien Armor" is not perfect, which is a long-term regret in the player's heart
With 14% of the vote, it is naturally "Key to Timeless Space", which is often regarded as "the best JRPG in history" in various lists. This game combines the strength of the "Dragon Quest" and "Final Fantasy" development teams, as well as the character design of the manga "Dragon Ball" author Akira Toriyama, which is a dream. Although Steam and mobile platforms have launched a well-playable port, players are looking forward to revisiting it in HD-2D – after all, it's Key to Timeless.
From the perspective of game culture preservation, it makes sense that these golden age legacies of JRPG can be reproduced and reproduced: old players can happily reminisce, and new players can easily get to know each other. Players want to play, manufacturers also have the motivation to launch, I am afraid there is no better relationship. Well, it may only be a matter of time before the players' dreams come true.