Summary
Square Enix has taken an incredibly ambitious approach to remaking Final Fantasy 7. Instead of just updating the visuals, tweaking the gameplay, adding in some quality-of-life improvements, and calling it a day, the developers have completely re-imagined the game. Final Fantasy 7 Remake offers an entire overhaul of the original’s design, battle system, and certain narrative elements, over multiple installments.
All of this begs the question: what other classic RPGs deserve a remake in the same vein as Final Fantasy 7? Many older genre entries are swimming in ambition and great ideas, but could really benefit from having a comprehensive rebuild for modern gaming systems, with those hypothetical remakes potentially even being split across multiple entries. Here are some great examples.
7Final Fantasy 9
A Final Fantasy Fan Favourite Deserving Of Another Chance To Shine
This list wouldn’t be complete without another Final Fantasy game, and what better entry to push forward for a remake than a fellow original PlayStation alumni.Final Fantasy 9was the culmination of the dream that Hironobu Sakaguchi began on the Famicom, and remains one of the most beloved games in the series.
The vibrant world of Gaia demands a re-imagining in high-definition, and while the original game was already large enough to warrant being printed across four discs, a multi-entry remake would allow its colorful story and characters to breathe even more. It would be fascinating to see more of the aftermath of such emotional moments as the attack on Alexandria, or dive deeper into Zidane’s feelings on learning of his true origins. The classic turn-based battle system of the game is fondly remembered, too, but it does have its detractors for its very slow pace (even on the ‘fastest’ setting). It would be interesting to see what Square Enix could do to expand on and improve these factors if allowed a second go at this timeless game.
6Wild Arms
A Wild Card For A Remake
One of the benefits of a Final Fantasy 7-esque remake is that it allows the developers to fully expand on the world and setting of the original game. The world of Filgaia in Wild Arms is already one of thebest settings in JRPGs, seamlessly blending together steampunk and more historical aesthetics and making it prime material for a remake. Titles don’t need to be the biggest and most iconic blockbusters to warrant a remake, after all. A cult favorite like Wild Arms would truly appreciate another opportunity on contemporary systems.
Thankfully, the story and gameplay of Wild Arms would also be a great fit for a full-scale remake. The adventures of the Dream Chasers could be made even more gripping, and the battle system adapted to lean more into the character-specific moves that made the original so engaging.
5Terranigma
A Slick Action RPG Ripe For A Remake
Part of the reason the name Terranigma doesn’t get mentioned as much around RPG circles is that this 16-bit game only ever released in Japan and Europe. It’s truly a shame that more people haven’t played this classic from Quintet, as it is arguably one of the most underrated action RPGs ever released.
As such, it would be a worthy candidate for a big budget remake. The original was a top-down game that still managed to utilize verticality and dynamic movement to enhance its fast-paced battle system. It was a very creative approach to working around the limitations of the Super Nintendo, and could become a new favorite among genre fans if given the chance.
4Phantasy Star
Returning To The Algo System Would Be A Blast
The adventures of Alis Landale and her party on the Master System may seem fairly outdated by today’s standards, but it’s important to remember that the original Phantasy Star was a technical powerhouse for its time. This planet-hopping space odyssey featured some of the most advanced visuals and gameplay that 8-bit gamers had ever experienced in the late 1980s, and it would be wonderful to see Sega try and replicate that on current systems.
Naturally, as Phantasy Star was an early JRPG, the story and characters could also benefit from more fleshing out in a remake. If nothing else, a remake would give Sega a good excuse to return to the classic Phantasy Star series after seemingly leaving it forgotten for the past three decades.
3Dragon Quest 4
A Multi-Character Epic Ready For An Epic Return
Dragon Quest4 is unique in the series for splitting its first half across multiple chapters, each focusing on different characters, before bringing all the heroes together Avengers-style for one big adventure in the second act. It was a narrative structure that was wholly unique back on the NES, and subsequently reappeared in other games likeLive A LiveandOctopath Traveler.
Now, imagine Dragon Quest 4, but withDragon Quest 11’s visuals, battle system, and larger scale, and it’s easy to start salivating over how great this remake could be. In truth, if Dragon Quest 4 were to ever be remade again, it would probably get the HD-2D treatment. That would be a sight to behold too, but it’d be equally impressive to see just how far Square Enix could push this classic game. Perhaps more ofthe series' classic job classescould be explored too.
2Grandia 2
Ready To Make A Grand Return
Grandia 2 is a beloved JRPG from Game Arts that originally dazzled gamers back on the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2. Its mix of complex characters, rich world-building, and an all-time great battle system meant that it garnered quite the following, even if it never quite rose to the heights of its competitors.
There’s no reason all those qualities couldn’t be made even better by remaking Grandia 2 from the ground up. The gameplay and story could remain largely the same, with elements like the dungeon design being tweaked and refined so Grandia 2 can finally get the recognition it deserves as the great game it truly is. It could truly be a definitive version of the title.
1Suikoden 2
A Fully-3D Take On This Tale Would Be A Treat Indeed
Suikoden2 has all the ingredients of a fantastic RPG. A super-large party, a memorable villain, world-building that is interesting without being overbearing, and a timeless story about friendship, courage and fate that gamers still reminisce over to this day.
While Suikoden 2 is getting a remake in its classic sprite-based form, a story of this scope could easily be adapted to a full 3D remake as well. No matter how Konami may plan to use all those ingredients, the end result is sure to be delicious. This title was innovative in many respects, including the variety in the types of battles players could engage in. Its massive battles, in particular, would be true spectacles in this form, akin toDynasty Warriorsencounters.
