Many titles in theFinal Fantasyfranchise could benefit greatly from having a remake. The recent release of the series' pixel remasters have shown that there is interest in experiencing olderFinal Fantasytitles on modern platforms with light renditions. Along withSquare Enix’s HD-2D series of RPGsand theFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, fans of the genre have wondered what other game in theFinal Fantasyseries would benefit from a remake. Out of all the games in the series,Final Fantasy 4has some of the most potential to benefit from having another shot at a remake.
An attempt at aFinal Fantasy 4remake has already been made with the 3D remake for the Nintendo DS. Along with the pixel remaster, the port for the PlayStation Portable, and the Game Boy Advance version, there is no shortage of ways to play the game. However,Final Fantasy 4deserves a kind of remake in the same vein asFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, where Square Enix completely revamps the gameplay and the story. Thanks to the success of its pixel remaster as well asFinal Fantasy 14: Endwalker, there are lots of new eyes onFinal Fantasy 4. A new way to play the game would be a good way to capitalize on the renewed interest inFinal Fantasy 4.
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A Final Fantasy 4 Remake Gameplay Could Focus More On Action
Recent titles in theFinal Fantasyseries likeFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeand the upcomingFinal Fantasy 16show that Square Enix is not afraid to experimentwith its RPG series. There is less of an emphasis on a turn-based RPG and more of a focus on action.Final Fantasy 4could benefit from having more of an action focus with minor party-based elements. The central character ofFinal Fantasy 4is Cecil, with other party members entering and exiting at various points in the story. The gameplay should use Cecil as the primary character that the player controls, with other party members being able to act as support.
Cecil’s abilities as a protagonist inFinal Fantasy 4allow him to be an all-rounder. As a paladin, Cecil can act as a tank for the party while also providing support. This could be woven into action-packed gameplay by rushing over to an ally’s side to take damage for them or provide healing. Along with his offensive capabilities, Cecil has what it takes to be at the center of a party-based action game.Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Originhas also shown that co-op could be a possible option for aFinal Fantasy 4remake, with other players being able to take control of available party members.
The icing on the cake for this kind of gameplay would be modifiers to equip to the player’s moveset. Much like howFinal Fantasy 7has materia andFinal Fantasy 6has espers, these allow party members to be customizable to fit different playstyles. Much like other games in the series,Final Fantasy 4has the player collecting different equipment as the game progresses as well as using powerful summons. One thing that aFinal Fantasy 4remake could do is make use of its plot-important crystals. Different crystals that are collected throughout the game could give different elemental abilities or give access to different spells.
Final Fantasy 4’s Story Could Be Improved With A Remake
Final Fantasy 4has one of the most iconic protagonists in the series. Cecil’s story of redemption and his transformation from a dark knight to apaladin was integral to how those archetypes were used for the rest of theFinal Fantasyseries. However, with a story so focused on one character, there are points where the supporting cast falls to the wayside in favor of supporting the protagonist’s journey. Characters like Kain, Rosa, and Rydia remain important to the story but do not have as much agency as Cecil. A reworked story could give these characters thought-out and emotional character arcs.
The benefit of remaking a game from the ground up is that there is a chance to tweak parts of the story.Players saw this done inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, although to varying degrees of success. Many fans agree that it excelled when giving underutilized characters, like the other members of Avalanche, a time to shine in completely new story sections. This same thing could be done to different party members inFinal Fantasy 4. Having the party interact in this way could help people get attached to the characters. Different side stories could also be made to support character development and allow for side characters to get a spotlight. This will have players feel more deeply invested as to what happens to these characters as the story unfolds.
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Expanding The World Of Final Fantasy 4
Seeing how the different locations were interpreted on a larger scale was one of the best parts ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remake.Final Fantasy 4has no shortage of iconic locationsthat would benefit from the same treatment. Much like how Yggdrasil looms in the distance of every location inDragon Quest 11, the Tower of Babil inFinal Fantasy 4would be a spectacle to see on a larger scale and would serve as a reminder of what is to come. Other locations like Mount Ordeals and the Kingdom of Baron could feel much more grandiose if done on this larger scale.
In addition to playing up the importance of existing locations inFinal Fantasy 4, a remake could also serve as an opportunity to expand on the world’s existing lore.Final Fantasy 7had the advantage of having lots of supplemental material to include in its remake. AFinal Fantasy 4remake could pull some details from its sequeland add a lot of new material to add to the world. Giving more lore to the underground dwarves, the Lunarians, and the many kingdoms of the world would make the game feel much more like a fleshed-out fantasy setting.
Many of the games in theFinal Fantasyseries deserve to be reintroduced to modern audiences, even if the precedent ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeputs a lot of pressure about Square Enix. Fans have been asking for remakes of classicFinal Fantasygames for a long time, and there are possibly none more deserving thanFinal Fantasy 4.
Final Fantasy 4 Pixel Remasteris available now for Mobile and PC.
