• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Final Fantasy VI expansion/remake: Potential future?

With all the anticipation/rumors/theories/hopes about Square-Enix paving way for a possible Final Fantasy VII PS3 remake, could SE have older avenues in mind?
Even though the debate can go on for pages around here regarding if a FFVII remake is even necessary, there's no doubt that the PS3 tech demo got those juices flowing for many of us.

Final Fantasy VI really stepped the cinematic nature of FF up a few notches, thanks in part to a much more important design/directing role from Yoshinori Kitase. It was also an important step for FF really beginning to establish itself as an RPG willing to take chances with plot, themes, and design. FF had always mixed sci-fi and traditional, Western fantasy, despite what some of the misguided 'old schoolers' might say, but FFVI took it from just a basic mix to a style really all it's own. Steampunk meets Renaissance meets Swords and Sorcery meets Sci-fi.
What other entry in the FF series' technologically limited 8-16bit day roots is better suited for a new coat of 'high-presentation' paint?

I bring this up because I remember when Advent Children was first shown (TGS '03, I believe), Kitase and Nomura were grilled with questions- mostly about FFVII, of course. "Is it a game?" "Will there be a FFVII remake?" "Is Advent Children paving the way for a game?"
One of the things Kitase mentioned was the whole team of developers/designers (Division 1, maybe other divisions as well) weighed in on what they'd like to do. As we can see now, obviously FFVII was the primary choice, but I recall him mentioning FFVI being very popular among the developers/designers. It was another game that many of them wanted to revisit/expand. I believe the interviewer asked if we might ever see more FFVI, to which the respond was along the lines of "you never know."

FFVI is getting a release for the GBA in the coming months, and SE has hired popular manga artists to make promotional works for it. It also seems there's quite the excitement for the game to be available for the handheld market, resurrecting a lot of interest for the game.
Could we see a FFVI remake down the line? Could Division 1 agree with some of you here and decide that a FFVII remake might just be a waste of resources right now, but FFVI leads a lot more creative desire for re-exploration? It's hart to tell... and it seems the company is air-tight as far as future plans. I'd rather see Kitase and Division 1 focus on FFXIII development, but somewhere down the road perhaps that desire from those developers/designers to go back to FFVI will become a legitimate project?

Lets hope FFVI GBA sells really well, reminding SE that FFVI is still very much a significant fan favorite, worthy of a more cinematic rebirth... or would that be a bad thing? Should FFVI be left as it is? I'm sure both points of view will speak up. :D

ffvi_amano_640.jpg
 
Let them add an extra dungeon to the GBA version of FF6 (like they've done with all the GBA remakes) and LEAVE IT AT THAT. I think we've all learned a harsh enough lesson with all the FF7 spin-offs in the last 12 months.
 
I believe FF3(VI) should be left as it is. It is holy.

But Square-Enix is remaking the Famicom version of Final Fantasy 3.
It will be for DS and in 3D!
 
Why remake 2D games? The game still looks good and is still enjoyable I don't see why they should bother making it in 3D or adding anything. Make new games we already have the old ones.
 
FF6 was Square last good FF.

I think small nintendo carts they canot write and write and write crap story. and forgot to evolve gameplay. gameplay is devolve after they take out overworld map for Ps2 gen!

japrpg need a new face paint. not remakes! anime boyz story is repeat and rewash to the point i know what is next.

i think FF12 can be good.
 
FF6 was the best in the series, yea.

I want a total remake, ala Resident Evil REmake.

Maaaaan, that would be amazing.
Then do Chrono Trigger.
 
as much as I love FFVI, I'd rather see something new and have them leave well enough alone. However, if they decided to do it, I'll have to admit I'd buy it.
 
Might not be the place to ask, but: does FFXII have an overworld? Pleeeease don't be linear like FFX
 
ffvi_amano_640.jpg

if SE does a remake with this type of art, I'll be the best game ever.
 
No. I don't trust Kitase and co. to do a FFVI remake justice. FFVI was released well over a decade ago, with Kitase at the helm, but he's gotten the George Lucas syndrome: he's lost his touch, and can now only make good things bad, the only exception being FFVII, in that that was making a bad thing worse.

However, if they decide to do an FFVI remake, it absolutely, positively, must stay true to the franchise. FFVI was a very Victorian game - the art direction, the characters, etc. It must stay true to Yoshitaka Amano's art, and Nomura can't have any input beyond what he had in FFVI. I wouldn't even let him redesign his own characters he made for FFVI; he proved in KHII he can't even do Setzer anymore. I would want the game to look pretty much spot on with the FMV provided in Final Fantasy Anthology for PS.

In conclusion...this shouldn't be made. Not by Square. They've fallen FAR too low to attempt to resurrect the pinnacle of Final Fantasy.

Oh, and that art is awesome.
 
I wouldn't mind if they did touch-ups to the game like they did with FFIV GBA.

ff64-6.gif

I thought this was the Final Fantasy game Square was going to make for the N64, but later abandoned. I could have sworn this picture was in Nintendo Power many years ago.

*Edit: Nevermind I went and check the source, yet is it is.
 
Out of all the FF games, the only ones that could really warrant sequels got them. FFVII and FFX. Granted, most of the FFVII reasoning was money, but hey, FFVIII was a better seller and didn't get a sequel yet.
 
RevenantKioku said:
Out of all the FF games, the only ones that could really warrant sequels got them. FFVII and FFX. Granted, most of the FFVII reasoning was money, but hey, FFVIII was a better seller and didn't get a sequel yet.

It only sold slightly better than FFVII in Japan. Not in the US, though.
 
I like FF VI a lot, but a full-on remake seems silly. It would take a lot of resources and, really, what's to be gained? The game's plenty fun as it is! It's not that I'm so much of a purist that I couldn't stand to see the game with better graphics, it's just that I'd rather see those resources used on a NEW game than on something I've already played many times.

I think adding a few new areas or quests to the GBA version (as I assume will happen) is a good upgrade, but that's sufficient.
 
Strangely, even though I'm all for an FFVII remake, and I loved FFVI, I'm not for this...Maybe some added stuff in the GBA version, but don't go ruining my childhood by redoing FFVI...
 
MadFuzzy said:
Let them add an extra dungeon to the GBA version of FF6 (like they've done with all the GBA remakes) and LEAVE IT AT THAT. I think we've all learned a harsh enough lesson with all the FF7 spin-offs in the last 12 months.
In all fairness, absolutely none of those remakes were what fans actually wanted most--a current-gen remake of the original game.
 
I haven't trusted Square enough since 1995 (AKA the time of Chrono Trigger) to touch FFVI again. That game is in my top five ever and I'm already bothered enough just knowing that they're going to change the spell names in the GBA version so that purists can have their nonsensical literal translation--Thunder spells shouldn't hurt enemies unless they have sensitive ears or something, and the Blizzard spells look absolutely nothing like blizzards, but sure do resemble ice--and just worrying that they'll get rid of some of Woolsey's better material (e.g. "son of a submariner"), never mind a full-on sequel.

They'd probably completely butcher the story or ruin my good memories of the original game in some other fashion, like Shadow
somehow surviving the ending
and going on a quest ala Vincent in Crisis Core, or Terra and Celes and Relm going on a magical anime girl quest eight years in the future so Relm is older, or so on.
And you know, I'd probably buy the stupid game if it was made and got anything resembling decent reviews; it's just that I don't want to see them even take the risk of ruining a masterpiece. They don't have the necessary skill.
 
MadFuzzy said:
Let them add an extra dungeon to the GBA version of FF6 (like they've done with all the GBA remakes) and LEAVE IT AT THAT. I think we've all learned a harsh enough lesson with all the FF7 spin-offs in the last 12 months.

Eh, none of those extra dungeons have been worth it. They've added nothing to the story, just more random battles. I want new things added before the end of the game!
 
suaveric said:
Eh, none of those extra dungeons have been worth it. They've added nothing to the story, just more random battles. I want new things added before the end of the game!
Like uh...what?
These bonus dungeons have been great, what the hell are you exactly looking for?
 
suaveric said:
Eh, none of those extra dungeons have been worth it. They've added nothing to the story, just more random battles. I want new things added before the end of the game!
To FF6's credit, at least it has either the best or second best battle system of the first six games (depending on how much a person liked FF5), so the extra dungeon shouldn't feel nearly as much of a chore as in FFI, II, and IV, where character abilities were non-existent, non-existent, and barely existent, respectively.
 
Fact of Life:

SE needs to bring FFV, FFVI, CT, SoM and SD3 to the GBA.

As for an FFVI remake, I think that they should just stick with an improved FFVI on the GBA - maybe fix Terra's hair? And Terra's name?
 
Jiggy37 said:
To FF6's credit, at least it has either the best or second best battle system of the first six games (depending on how much a person liked FF5), so the extra dungeon shouldn't feel nearly as much of a chore as in FFI, II, and IV, where character abilities were non-existent, non-existent, and barely existent, respectively.

FFIII and FFV both trump FFVI. The character abilities in VI ranged from terrible to not too useful, and once the Esper system kicked into full gear, well, yeah. I was glad the Materia system fixed a lot of the broken aspects of the Esper one, cause it was kinda nice.
 
Once the Esper system kicked into full gear, it was about how fast you could learn Ultima for all your characters.

Ultima is as bad as KOTR.
 
Wait a second. People actually use spells other than Cure in Final Fantasy games? o_O
Attack magic has been irrelevant at least since FFV as far as I'm concerned... Anything you can kill with magic users can be killed with fighters, and either cheaper (due to not needing Ethers) or faster (due to not needing to Rasp/Osmose your MP back).
 
Jiggy37 said:
Wait a second. People actually use spells other than Cure in Final Fantasy games? o_O
Attack magic has been irrelevant at least since FFV as far as I'm concerned... Anything you can kill with magic users can be killed with fighters, and either cheaper (due to not needing Ethers) or faster (due to not needing to Rasp/Osmose your MP back).

Uh, yeah. You're totally wrong on that, by the way.
 
RevenantKioku said:
Uh, yeah. You're totally wrong on that, by the way.
He's not far off actually, I almost never use attack magic. Only on the few and far between elemental enemies that physical attacks aren't effective against.
 
Tabris said:
Once the Esper system kicked into full gear, it was about how fast you could learn Ultima for all your characters.

Ultima is as bad as KOTR.

Ha ha, no. Ultima doesn't appear in FFVI until well into the game. And by then, you really don't need it.
 
FFIV, FFV, and FFVI

Will all likley be remade on the Nintendo DS in the same fashion that FFIII DS currently is.

Provided FFIII DS sells like gangbusters ... which it most likley will.

Didn't Square say they'll put the original version of FFIII on FFIII DS for those who want the classic version too? They could do that with a FFVI remake too.
 
Himuro said:
If Kefka came back in the body of say...ultros, Jolly would you think we would be overreacting if we thought it was a shit plot twist?

why would that happen in the first place? If you are referencing DoC, then I think your example is a tad exaggerated and evident of your overblown, hatred based bias of these FFVII projects. You know, I'm not much different from you though, Himuro- I'm just on the opposite side of the spectrum. I'm willing to give these a chance... and I'll decide for myself if they are just disasterous embarrassments on the original work.

But with that in mind:

Sure, I imagine there is some milking involved with these FFVII projects, but Kitase and Nojima have been saying since 1997 that there was a lot more they wanted to do with FFVII's story and more places it needed to go. That was where the whole "it's unfinished" concern came from, although for some reason fanboys seemed to interpret that as "no Aeris resurrection = unfinished". Although from 1997 until 2002, the idea of a direct FF sequel was unheard of.
Kitase and Nojima are just getting a chance to finish something they couldn't in 1997. Is it for the better? Truthfully, FFVII could and would exist just fine without them- but who cares? If you are interested in them, you buy them and play them. If not, fuck 'em, ignore them, don't give Square your money. It's crystal clear that many, many people are interested- that's why Advent Children and Dirge are selling millions of units. Writing all of these people off as 'suckers' or 'idiots', as believe it or not some do, is depressingly ignorant. I guess some people have a hard time realizing other people don't treat these games like untouchable holy works, but as works of entertainment, which they are. Frankly I'm not surprised most people go the one-sided route of thinking its simply 'milking' with no desire or passion from the creators involved. It's just worth noting that the idea for 'more to FFVII's story' wasn't just formed on a whim once they saw FFX-2 was successful. Again, this is evident by comments made as far back as 1997.

I'd prefer not for this to turn into yet another FFVII bitchfest, so back to FFVI:

Duderz said:
No. I don't trust Kitase and co. to do a FFVI remake justice. FFVI was released well over a decade ago, with Kitase at the helm, but he's gotten the George Lucas syndrome: he's lost his touch, and can now only make good things bad, the only exception being FFVII, in that that was making a bad thing worse.

However, if they decide to do an FFVI remake, it absolutely, positively, must stay true to the franchise. FFVI was a very Victorian game - the art direction, the characters, etc. It must stay true to Yoshitaka Amano's art, and Nomura can't have any input beyond what he had in FFVI. I wouldn't even let him redesign his own characters he made for FFVI; he proved in KHII he can't even do Setzer anymore. I would want the game to look pretty much spot on with the FMV provided in Final Fantasy Anthology for PS.

In conclusion...this shouldn't be made. Not by Square. They've fallen FAR too low to attempt to resurrect the pinnacle of Final Fantasy.

Oh, and that art is awesome.

I completely agree with you on a FFVI remake having to stay true to Amano's brilliant style for it. You are right on there.
I will say I couldn't disagree with you more that Kitase has 'lost his touch', makes good things bad, and/or gotten the Lucas syndrome. In my opinion, Kitase is still doing a great job- keep in mind, FFX was the last original game he really had full control over. FFX-2 was a pet project for Nojima and him, kind of an opportunity to have fun for a change- same with Dirge. With KH1 and 2 he just oversaw things, probably keeping Nomura in check- same with Advent Children. Even though Advent, Before Crisis, Dirge (and the upcoming Crisis Core) are all stories that he wanted to tell, he's not taking the same active, mind-numbingly tiring approach he does with the main FF games, like VI, VII, VIII, and X. Even though opinions on FFX strongly vary around here, it's hard to deny it's a strong game in PS2's overall line-up, not a flop, disaster, or 'downfall' by any means.

Square also doesn't need to 'resurrect the pinnacle of Final Fantasy.' It's still one of the most popular video game series in the world. It's fanbase is still huge. It's still one of the most sought after 'exclusive' series in the console wars. Just watch- if FFXIII was announced multi-platform 3-ways in May, the Xbots and Ndrones would all be collectively jerking each other off while Sonyphiles would be bitching from here to high water. FFXIII is automatically one of the most anticipated PS3 games... and not a damn thing has been shown. You still think Kitase is 'losing his touch'? I recall many people here taking a deep breath of relief that he will be back in charge of another main FF game.
I'm sure you'll disagree, but this is not what is formed from a dying or struggling franchise. :)

Spinning for Kitase? Sure. Anyone that has known me on these kinds of forums for the last few years know I do it very well, but I feel it's still important to mention the guy's importance to the series. Him and his team(s) have inspired me more in the medium than anyone else, so yeah, bring on FFXIII sans ridiculous production problems/lengths that have plagued XII.
 
I think this will end up on the DS, not the GBA. GBA development will probably dry up this year.

Although I suppose Square-Enix could go for a quick cash grab, and release the remaining 2D FF games quickly on the GBA, and then do the DS remakes down the line as well.
 
I wholeheartedly agree that Kitase is important for the Final Fantasy franchise - aside from Tetsuya Nomura, he's the main guy in charge.

However, that still doesn't change my mind in him losing his touch. I absolutely loathed Final Fantasy VII and FFVIII (for reasons we won't get into, it's just another opinion after all), but I also thought FFX was a real well done game that sort of fell flat towards the end.

That said, everything post 2000 for Squaresoft has been extremely lacking in one area or another. I'm afraid that if a FFVI remake were to occur, people like Nomura (nevermind Kitase) would be overseeing the project, and that would be disastrous.

And for the record, I've pretty much lost all interest in FFXIII now that he and Kitase are back. Say what you will about Matsuno, but I think his games are really something special, and that FFXII will be no different.

I'm sure you'll disagree, but this is not what is formed from a dying or struggling franchise.

You're right, Final Fantasy is far from a dying franchise. Final Fantasy really has never been stronger, with Squaresoft creating so many spin-offs that are guaranteed to make them millions. That said, if a FFVI remake were to occur, I feel like it would be made purely to make money - not for the love of the story and characters. And as of late, Square has shown that they do not mind dragging their name and Final Fantasy's name through the mud for the sake of making a quick buck.

Final Fantasy VI should no be a part of that. If the FFIII remake turns out well, let that team handle it.
 
Duderz said:
Ha ha, no. Ultima doesn't appear in FFVI until well into the game. And by then, you really don't need it.

You can get Ultima 2/3rds (when you get Locke) through the game, then all you do is spend every fight "Ultima, Ultima, Ultima, Ultima!" except for the one boss you gotta do "Raise 3 x4, Ultima, Ultima, Ultima"
 
Prince of Space said:
Um, yes. KOTR is the same way, and is an even bigger hassle to get.

In order to get Ultima, you have to make a sacrifice of either getting the best weapon in the game, or getting a relatively worthless Esper that teaches you Ultima. Once equipped, you then learn that spell at a 1X rate, no matter what.

By then, you've already gotten the last "required" character, being Locke, and Tabris is telling me that then it is a race to have every character learn it. Despite practically being done with the game.

Ultima is not game breaking until you do have a lot of characters learn it, which takes a long time. Go up against a Broncheasaur in the Dinosaur Forest to see for yourself.

KOTR, on the other hand, can kill Savior Septhiroth before the chorus starts.
 
Locke is far from the last character. Locke isn't a required character either, only required characters are Celes, Sabin, Edgar and Setzer.

Ultima can kill Kefka in under 3 minutes.
 
...no

No.

FUCK NO.

FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO. FUCK NO.

Nomura and Kitase better say the FUCK AWAY from FFVI.
 
As far as I recall, you get enough characters to make 2 full parties in order to go down the Phoenix Cave and retrieve Locke.

Locke is one of the last characters you need to get.

And KOTR would kill Sephiroth in under 3 minutes if it wasn't so damn long.

EDIT: And jet, both Nomura and Kitase (well, more Kitase) had some involvement in FFVI. Nomura with the monster designs (and Setzer and Shadow), and Kitase was one of the heads of development.
 
I'm pretty sure the same team that does FFIII DS will do the inevitable FFIV/V/VI remakes also, probably using the same engine as well.
 
Top Bottom