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| via RGR |
Yesterday, Square Enix failed to celebrate the 20th birthday
of what many consider to be the company's crowning achievement in videogame
storytelling - Final Fantasy VI. I made a note of this to some friends who are
game enthusiasts, and a lengthy discussion regarding the current state of JRPGs
followed. Comments such as "Square doesn't care for good games
anymore" and "Square has redeemed itself with Bravely Default"
were tossed around, just as much in jest as in seriousness (we all know it was
thanks to Nintendo that the masterpiece that is Bravely Default made it to US
shores), until I finally volunteered that whatever else was in Square's plate,
they needed to hire the team behind the now cancelled Chrono Resurrection and plan
for a release of the game. It was at this point where my dearest friend wrote
sarcastically "Sure... Because -yet another-
revamp/rework/re-release is exactly what we need."
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| via opcoder |
My friend is clearly against
remakes and re-releases. I assented only to partial agreement with her. I
explained that while it was true that the last thing the JRPG fan community
needs is another re-release of an SNES game with minor modifications, the whole
scene would be revitalized by a full remake of some of the old classics. I
explained that Chrono Trigger tells one of the more interesting stories found
in videogame form, and that if it were re-released with updated assets it would
both pander to a demographic in their late 20s and early 30s - those who grew
up with these games on the SNES - and expose a younger generation to these
classics. I took it even further by saying that Final Fantasy 6, the title
which prompted this discussion, should receive a similar treatment. Should we
get yet another digital re-release of these games? I think not. I'm not even
sure that re-releasing the games with the same assets in HD would be a
positive. In fact, I am openly critical of that horrible Final Fantasy 6 iOS
"remake" that looks more like a cheaply made flash version of the
game. However, I noted, Final Fantasy 6 and Chrono Trigger remade in the
Crystal Engine (of Final Fantasy XIII fame) with a re-recorded soundtrack by
the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra (who have proven themselves magnificent
in recreating Final Fantasy music) and a revamped, or perhaps even completely
new, battle system would hardly be the same as "just another re-release."
My friend replied with a good
point. She said:
"Sorry
not to get on your bandwagon, dear - I hate nostalgia. Rather than
looking to the classics, I'd keep working towards other stories and concepts.
I'll always welcome an HD remastery of an old game, but not -every- classic
needs it. Some are fine as they are. Instead, let's learn from them - from the
aspects that made them as timeless as they are - and apply that to new
adventures."
A second friend, let's call her
Chicken Wing (due to her passion for the food labeled as such) agreed. She
wrote that:
"I
agree. with the current Reboot/remake trend in movies and games, I'd much
rather see new, innovative stuff. It's been quite a while since I've sworn
loyalty to a franchise since yonder final fantasy games. It'd be nice to see
some new stuff that isn't
necessarily indie made but still innovative. I'll cite back to The World Ends
With You. It was a whole new property that was good and innovative. We need
more of it. That being said, I would like legit ports of the classics. I
have chrono trigger for the ds and I for one am happy that it exists. I'd
rather have a good port and new franchises over the same remade games any day."
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| via Carly Matthews-Lynch |
I began crafting a masterful
reply, but it became too extensive (that is "pedantic" for "my rant
became too long"), so rather than engaging them in private conversation, I
thought I would bring the debate out into the public.
