When the slow triumph of the Final Fantasy theme swells during the finale, I can’t help but reflect upon the masterful bookend composing this first iteration. The Warriors of Light embark upon a basic objective – rescuing a princess from a dastardly villain -- only to dispense with that not even twenty minutes later, as the story diverts into a winding tale of airships, earth-rot, and time-loops. This subversion endures all the way up until the very end, melting the barrier between player and avatar via elucidative narration. In an era where 8-bit overworlds meant to convey larger-than-life scale with their pixelated dioramas, Final Fantasy embraces its Dungeons and Dragons-inspired identity by validating our interactivity – everything from the DIY headcanons birthed by our young brains to the hard-won strategic victories over Chaos’ forces given direct agency as a living, breathing game character.
In this modern-day Pixel Remaster, it’s a message I imagine that’ll echo most with younger players and gaming historians dipping their feet into gaming’s most illustrious RPG, and I’m not saying that because the formative years of hard-as-nails difficulty and the inviting canvas of sprite graphics are no longer the standard. It’s difficult to criticize a project stitched with such reverence towards its progenitor -- in particular, I am utterly seduced by the beautiful music score – yet not matter how much goodwill this Pixel Remaster bestows, I’m left walking away asking this: when did Final Fantasy become so easy?
As indicated by the rating, I’m not so quick to dismiss this remaster. Yet while this was probably inevitable -- as a grown man, I ain’t turning down autosave when I don’t have time for losing hours of grinding and prep from a Zombie ambush – everything is an absolute cakewalk right until the final boss fight: an inexplicable escalation into double-digit HP, cure-all magic, and party-wiping spells. It’s an imbalance at odds with the game’s class system, reaping little vindication for the set-ups and strategies so carefully considered from any one party formation. Some blame the retroactive functionality of our party’s tools (series staples Hi-Potions and Phoenix Downs hadn’t existed in the original); others, the buffs bestowed upon certain classes (the White Mage’s Life Magic originally didn’t work in battle). I’m sure the ardent Final Fantasy scholar can point out other things.
Whatever the case, we’re left on autopilot throughout the duration of Square-Enix’s formative adventure, and it’s a real shame given the apparent quality of everything else. The localized script is granted as much gravitas and character as the confines of 8-bit primitivism could possibly grant, and the fusion of precise pixelation married to modern effects is a sight to behold, not the least in the sparkling waters bobbling within the assortment of cozy hamlets offering sanctuary. Some have made no secret of their distaste for these graphical remasters; be it battle screen estate or the infamous “stuttering” defect – I confess to possessing a blind eye for the latter – yet I remain enthralled with their juxtaposition to the rearranged soundtrack: an authentic symphony illustrating the full breadth of medieval fantasy. (Derelict Keep being its most breathtaking example -- an ambient soundscape featuring melancholic strings, with the occasional whisper of a tambourine keeping us alert in the murky depths.)
Is this the definitive Final Fantasy? With the decades’ worth of remakes and ports, the cynical fan has been known to proclaim there is no such thing – too many variables in graphical and audio preference, convenience, content, localized scripts, and difficulty, they say, have made such a distinction impossible for any entry, and the Pixel Remasters are now but another side of the argument. To place my stake in the game: as an audiovisual experience, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is the finest of vintage wine, instilling enough enthusiasm for the sequels. (Final Fantasy VI!) As a defanged classic, it’s not particularly ideal, but it’s hardly the worst option for an aspiring traveler to don the mantle of Warrior of Light. Pack your boots, fulfill your destiny, and soak yourself into that sweet, sweet yesteryear-flavored blend of nostalgia. Just don’t expect to be challenged.
In this modern-day Pixel Remaster, it’s a message I imagine that’ll echo most with younger players and gaming historians dipping their feet into gaming’s most illustrious RPG, and I’m not saying that because the formative years of hard-as-nails difficulty and the inviting canvas of sprite graphics are no longer the standard. It’s difficult to criticize a project stitched with such reverence towards its progenitor -- in particular, I am utterly seduced by the beautiful music score – yet not matter how much goodwill this Pixel Remaster bestows, I’m left walking away asking this: when did Final Fantasy become so easy?
As indicated by the rating, I’m not so quick to dismiss this remaster. Yet while this was probably inevitable -- as a grown man, I ain’t turning down autosave when I don’t have time for losing hours of grinding and prep from a Zombie ambush – everything is an absolute cakewalk right until the final boss fight: an inexplicable escalation into double-digit HP, cure-all magic, and party-wiping spells. It’s an imbalance at odds with the game’s class system, reaping little vindication for the set-ups and strategies so carefully considered from any one party formation. Some blame the retroactive functionality of our party’s tools (series staples Hi-Potions and Phoenix Downs hadn’t existed in the original); others, the buffs bestowed upon certain classes (the White Mage’s Life Magic originally didn’t work in battle). I’m sure the ardent Final Fantasy scholar can point out other things.
Whatever the case, we’re left on autopilot throughout the duration of Square-Enix’s formative adventure, and it’s a real shame given the apparent quality of everything else. The localized script is granted as much gravitas and character as the confines of 8-bit primitivism could possibly grant, and the fusion of precise pixelation married to modern effects is a sight to behold, not the least in the sparkling waters bobbling within the assortment of cozy hamlets offering sanctuary. Some have made no secret of their distaste for these graphical remasters; be it battle screen estate or the infamous “stuttering” defect – I confess to possessing a blind eye for the latter – yet I remain enthralled with their juxtaposition to the rearranged soundtrack: an authentic symphony illustrating the full breadth of medieval fantasy. (Derelict Keep being its most breathtaking example -- an ambient soundscape featuring melancholic strings, with the occasional whisper of a tambourine keeping us alert in the murky depths.)
Is this the definitive Final Fantasy? With the decades’ worth of remakes and ports, the cynical fan has been known to proclaim there is no such thing – too many variables in graphical and audio preference, convenience, content, localized scripts, and difficulty, they say, have made such a distinction impossible for any entry, and the Pixel Remasters are now but another side of the argument. To place my stake in the game: as an audiovisual experience, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is the finest of vintage wine, instilling enough enthusiasm for the sequels. (Final Fantasy VI!) As a defanged classic, it’s not particularly ideal, but it’s hardly the worst option for an aspiring traveler to don the mantle of Warrior of Light. Pack your boots, fulfill your destiny, and soak yourself into that sweet, sweet yesteryear-flavored blend of nostalgia. Just don’t expect to be challenged.