Final Fantasy 9 Remake Seems More Likely Than Ever, But One Game Can’t Be Forgotten

Highlights

• Final Fantasy 8 needs a remake to address its issues and showcase its strengths like music and gameplay.
• A potential Final Fantasy 9 remake is exciting, but remaking FF8 first is a more constructive move.
• Omitting a FF8 remake could create uncertainty for the future of Final Fantasy remakes since Square Enix would be skipping a classic title.

Final Fantasy is a franchise that has been ruling the JRPG roost for decades. For most, it’s the yardstick upon which all other games in the genre are compared, and the way it has changed and evolved over time has made it a trailblazer since the very beginning. From the near-universally beloved Final Fantasy 6 to the somewhat polarizing Final Fantasy 8, its history is storied, and its influence is massive. Final Fantasy 8 may be controversial, but its lasting impact on the franchise is undeniable.

The recent remake of Final Fantasy 7 has reminded fans of their love of tales and characters of the past. A remake of the ninth mainline outing is not confirmed, but has been rumored for years, and recently an Epic Games Store leak has alluded to its existence. However, while this would be an exciting proposition, there’s one title that Square Enix should give the treatment first, as Final Fantasy 8 needs it a lot more.

Final Fantasy 8 Could Benefit from Change

One of the big talking points of Final Fantasy 7 Remake was its willingness to change the story and bring something new. It wasn’t an exact replica of the story presented in 1997, rather it sat alongside the PlayStation classic, adding to its greatness rather than mimicking it. This meant that both new players and seasoned fans could get something new from the experience as it had vital story beats that were all-new, and thus it wasn’t completely predictable. This is a philosophy that doesn’t have to be unique to Final Fantasy 7 Remake, especially if Square Enix decides to give the same treatment to its immediate follow-up.

A remaster of
Final Fantasy 8
released in September 2019 with new features and polished graphics.

Final Fantasy 8 has more than its fair share of issues, be it the awkward setting and tone, some of the clunky dialogue, and the ‘Junction’ system that dampened the feeling of actual progression. It’s a game that valiantly tries new things, but with most new additions, it missed the mark, enough to ensure that Final Fantasy 9 returned to a more conventional overall product. A remake could be the perfect means to bring forward the things that Final Fantasy 8 does well, like music and the beloved game Triple Triad, while restructuring or replacing the areas in which it falters. Final Fantasy 7 Remake reminded players of that game’s wonder, Final Fantasy 8 Remake could rehabilitate a game that was far more polarizing.

A Potential Final Fantasy 9 Remake is Exciting, But Not Necessary

Final Fantasy 9 may have been overshadowed somewhat on release thanks to it launching so late in the original PlayStation’s life, but over the last 24 years, it has enjoyed renewed adoration and is widely believed to be one of the best Final Fantasy games there is. Its legacy is large, even being ported to PlayStation 4 in 2017 and Switch and Xbox One in 2019, with new people discovering Zidane’s story almost a quarter of a century after it first hit shelves. In truth, a remake of it would be welcome news, but it would have the same reason for existing as Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which is simply to recreate a masterpiece, whereas 8 receiving the treatment feels like a more constructive move.

Omitting Final Fantasy 8 Remake Could Create a Long Term Problem

The public consensus on Final Fantasy 8 may be mixed, but if Square Enix decides not to pursue a remake of it and instead cover 9, it makes the topic of future remakes feel uncertain. If Final Fantasy 8 is not deserving, then it calls into question which games will be remade moving forward. There are obvious candidates, like the aforementioned Final Fantasy 9 as well as SNES classics such as Final Fantasy 4 and 6 (2 and 3 in the West) which are each some of the JRPG genre’s greats.

Final Fantasy 9
returned to a high fantasy setting for the first time since the fifth mainline game, after
6
,
7
, and
8
experimented with modern influences.

Titles like Final Fantasy2, 5, 8, and 12 which aren’t as universally beloved, and perhaps could benefit the most from the remake treatment being omitted would only serve to create a rift between the great and the good. Instead, following up the superb Final Fantasy 7 Remake saga with a new take on the eighth game would keep to the sequence of the series, and could serve to heighten the anticipation for Final Fantasy 9‘s turn. It’s an idea that has worked wonders for Resident Evil, as 3, much like Final Fantasy 8, was sandwiched between two brilliant titles, and was made better by its remake.