The Final Fantasy series is one of the staples of the video game medium for a very good reason. SquareSoft's (and eventually Square Enix's) RPG franchise is truly beloved, with a mixture of accessible gameplay and stories that contain truly emotional gut-punches. The early games in the franchise have not always been the easiest to play in modern day, which is why Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is such a great opportunity.
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster takes the first six Final Fantasy games from the NES and SNES and gives them the remake treatment, upgrading the graphics while maintaining a pixel look across all six games. First released for PC and mobile devices in 2022, the games had a bit of a mixed reception from fans, but Square Enix has made additional improvements for this Nintendo Switch release. The games are available as a package or to purchase separately, meaning that those who have a special place for one of the titles can pick and choose which titles they want.
These quality of life changes in Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster are genuinely impressive, with a visual upgrade that is very apparent in the NES games and a little more subtle in the SNES titles. However, those changes from the original release of Pixel Remaster on PC and mobile are particularly appreciated. There's the option here, for instance, to change the updated font that was subject to an awful lot of complaints to something a little less jarring for the pixel aesthetic.
Even moreso than the visuals, the real success of Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is in its rearrangements of the original game scores. These rearrangements are more dynamic, orchestral, and add a depth and tone that adds a lot of atmosphere and adventure to each game. Those who prefer the original workings are still kept happy, however, as players can choose to go back to the traditional soundtracks with a click of a button.
The other big change to be noted is the way that Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster gives the player wider control over the gameplay experience. Users can turn on an experience multiplier of up to four times the XP, and do the same for earning Gil from battles. This is a very good option for those after the nostalgia of playing an old game they loved with a smoother, grind-free experience. Turning on the two-times multiplier leads to a much more fluid time, while the four-times multiplier takes it a little too far for anyone other than those looking to really breeze through the game in question.
There are also some smaller improvements that make Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster more engaging than the original releases. One such example is that in the earlier games, if an enemy dies before another character attacks the subsequent attacks would miss, but now they automatically shift over to another enemy. These kind of tweaks make the games a lot more accessible, in small but noticeable ways.
Of course, with reworkings of six titles some are going to naturally be better games than others, hence why it's easy to rank the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games from worst to best. It's painful to say, but although the NES games are an integral part of video game history they do feel more bare bones in the modern day. Nonetheless, upping the experience and Gil modifiers and breezing through them does allow players to play through a series of games that helped shape the way that RPGs have looked in the decades since.
Meanwhile, there are two true jewels here that are considered must-plays in whatever form they take: Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy VI. These titles hold up extremely well in a contemporary setting, with Final Fantasy VI considered a great JRPG for beginners, thanks to their remarkable stories and compelling characters. They remain a whole lot of fun, and the Pixel Remaster treatment is possibly the easiest way for new players to get to grips with them.
Overall, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is a wonderful selection of remakes of some hugely important games. Although the games to vary in quality - mainly due to their age and how much games developed over the course of their release - there's something magical about going back to even the earliest Final Fantasy game. And with Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, it's possibly the easiest way to do so.
Source: FINAL FANTASY/YouTube
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is out now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and mobile devices. Screen Rant was provided with a Switch download code for the purposes of this review.