‘Final Fantasy I-VI Bundle’ Pixel Remaster Switch Review – SwitchArcade Special – TouchArcade
Wow, six Ultimate Fantasy video games launched on the Nintendo Change and PlayStation 4 final week! They’ll be acquainted sights to any cell and PC avid gamers for essentially the most half, as they’re the identical Pixel Remaster releases that hit these platforms however with just a few extras thrown on prime. I’ve already reviewed every of the video games of their cell kinds earlier than, after all. However I’ll by no means, ever skip an opportunity to speak about these video games, so right here I’m with a overview of the Change variations. Right here’s how this one goes to go, buddies: I’m going to provide you brief critiques of every recreation, every with their very own rating, after which a little bit bit in regards to the bundle as a complete together with a rating for the bundle. Let’s go!
Ultimate Fantasy ($11.99)
The unique Ultimate Fantasy holds up surprisingly properly for an RPG of its classic. Granted, a part of that comes from the enhancements and tweaks Sq. Enix has revamped the course of so many reissues, however the bulk of its enduring enchantment comes from the stable basis of the unique recreation. The plot is kind of minimal, and it typically feels such as you’re simply bouncing from one Dungeons & Dragons marketing campaign spotlight to the following, however the tempo is sweet and issues escalate at a pleasant price. Every of the battles with one of many 4 Fiends feels appopriately epic, the category improve from Bahamut remains to be nice, and Chaos stays a difficult and thrilling ultimate boss.
Ultimate Fantasy has at all times made for a just-right stage of straightforward retro RPG expertise, and this Pixel Remaster makes for the smoothest journey but. The upgraded visuals, unbelievable organized soundtrack, and diverse gameplay tweaks seen within the cell model are all current and welcome, however it’s the brand new Increase modifiers that actually make this Change model sing. Now you can make the sport as a lot or as little of a problem as you want, lastly permitting gamers to tailor their Ultimate Fantasy quest as they see match. Whether or not it’s for problem runs or a fast tour, the Pixel Remaster of Ultimate Fantasy is a superb selection. The stuttering scrolling and nonetheless not-great font are the one actual issues holding it again from being its finest
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
(Click on for Cellular Model Overview)
Ultimate Fantasy II ($11.99)
Ultimate Fantasy II is commonly described because the black sheep of the franchise, even when it’s not thought-about the one one lately. I’ve some private affection for the sport, however I additionally acknowledge that it’s a ball of many good and less-good concepts that presents a bit extra roughage than most would love of their RPGs. The unusual leveling system, uncommon dungeon design that leans on ridiculous monster closets, and wildly unbalanced issue can solely be tweaked a lot with out utterly ripping up the ground boards on the sport. And these Pixel Remasters aren’t actually about that, so this model is simply as a lot the odd duck because it at all times was.
Nonetheless, I believe there’s something right here for the extra adventurous gamers. A number of the established tropes of the Ultimate Fantasy collection debuted right here. The story is a little bit quaint by trendy requirements, however using precise characters for get together members was uncommon for its time and it helps this title stand out among the many unique 8-bit trio. The Increase choices right here can’t change the character of the sport as a lot they’ll within the others, however you may make the expertise considerably much less awkward should you use them proper. Simply remember that on this recreation numerous your parameters depend upon placing within the work, so operating round with encounters off can put you in an actual pinch in the long term.
Though I like Ultimate Fantasy II for primarily laying down the foundations of the SaGa collection, I’ve to confess that it’s most likely the one I’d least suggest of the six Pixel Remasters. It’s the one you play if you’d like one thing a little bit completely different, however you actually need to have an open thoughts and an appreciation for experimentation to essentially get essentially the most out of it. Sadly, it additionally suffers from the identical stutter in its scrolling as the opposite video games on this set.
SwitchArcade Rating: 3.5/5
(Click on for Cellular Model Overview)
Ultimate Fantasy III ($17.99)
After I reviewed the cell variations of the Pixel Remasters, I known as Ultimate Fantasy III essentially the most thrilling of the bunch, and I stand by that. We’ve had so many good variations of the opposite video games within the collection earlier than, however Western gamers didn’t have a very devoted model of this installment till the Pixel Remasters. The 3D model is de facto its personal factor in so some ways, and I can’t say I desire it. What we get with Ultimate Fantasy III Pixel Remaster is an up to date model of the unique 8-bit recreation, one which doesn’t utterly discard the entire concepts of that 3D remake however is extra excited by constructing on the supply with out massively altering it. It’s actually one of the best ways to play the sport.
Ultimate Fantasy III is loads like Dragon Quest IV in that whereas taking part in it through its remakes you would possibly surprise what all of the fuss is about till you bear in mind it initially got here out on a system designed to play a imply recreation of Donkey Kong. You’ll be able to really feel it constructing on the story-focused method that Ultimate Fantasy II took whereas additionally making an attempt to name again to the primary recreation’s extra open mechanics, and the end result is among the masterpieces of the NES library. It might sound humble at first, however it simply retains rising and rising as you play. I’m undecided the trick dungeons work out in addition to the designers supposed, however they at the very least add a little bit spice.
I’m not going to sit down right here and let you know that Ultimate Fantasy III is one of the best recreation of all of those Pixel Remasters, as a result of it isn’t. However it must be the one in all most curiosity to those that have performed the wheels off the remainder of the collection, as a result of it’s the latest expertise of the bunch for many Western gamers. The design carries itself impressively for a recreation of its classic, with numerous mechanics to be taught and grasp. The story can be fairly mysterious and pleasurable. The uneven scrolling hurts it a little bit, however solely a little bit.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4/5
(Click on for Cellular Model Overview)
Ultimate Fantasy IV ($17.99)
Properly, right here’s one of many massive ones. Ultimate Fantasy IV comes up loads when individuals are itemizing their favourite video games within the collection, and it’s not exhausting to see why. Melodramatic although it could be, this recreation’s story is wealthy in memorable characters and conditions that make for a satisfying curler coaster journey. Whereas it tosses away numerous the customizability of the earlier recreation, the gameplay isn’t any much less compelling. Certainly, the truth that the designers know precisely what sort of get together you’re going to have at any given time permits them to tailor the challenges in such a method that this recreation might certainly have essentially the most pleasurable issue curve of the whole franchise.
That mentioned, one of many predominant options of this explicit model is the flexibility to tweak that issue curve by messing with the expertise and gil positive aspects. You may also flip encounters on and off as you want, in case you simply really feel like attending to the following story level. Simply watch out you don’t depart your self underleveled to the purpose that you simply gained’t be capable of beat the enemies round you, as a result of there are undoubtedly locations the place you may get your self a little bit caught. Broadly talking, I’d suggest leaving these Boosts alone for this recreation. However hey, do what you’ll. It’s time irrespective of the way you slice it, and should you’re new to the collection it’s an exquisite introduction.
Ultimate Fantasy IV is among the most steadily reissued video games within the collection, however it’s no thriller as to why. In some ways, that is like an introductory course to every little thing Ultimate Fantasy. A dramatic story with nice characters, a wide range of expertise and skills to mess around with, some massive nasty villains to combat, and an enormous world filled with bizarre and fascinating places to discover. It’s exceedingly doubtless you’ve performed this recreation already, however I positive wouldn’t blame you for taking one other spin with this model. A disgrace in regards to the judder within the scrolling, however it’s not sufficient to spoil this get together.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4.5/5
(Click on for Cellular Model Overview)
Ultimate Fantasy V ($17.99)
Sure, Shaun is right here to bang the drum about Ultimate Fantasy V once more. This can be a fantastic recreation that at all times wants extra consideration, and doubtless essentially the most replayable recreation within the collection. Aside from the stutter within the scrolling, that is finest model of the sport but. As with Ultimate Fantasy 1, the modifiers make an enormous distinction right here. This has at all times been a recreation that benefitted significantly from the participant with the ability to set their very own stage of problem, and with the ability to tweak expertise, gil, and ABP positive aspects as you see match solely feeds additional into that. When mixed with the extraordinarily versatile job system, you get one of the crucial enjoyable video games within the collection to poke at.
Since I’ve received the soapbox, I do wish to tackle one thing I see come up loads about this recreation. Specifically, the story. This recreation is sandwiched between the corny however beloved fourth entry within the collection and the completely excellent story of Ultimate Fantasy VI, and its extra mechanics-focused method appears to guide folks to assume it doesn’t have a narrative value mentioning. I disagree. This recreation options one of many smallest playable casts within the collection, and it does so in service of drilling down on that tight group and the way they match into the world. It’s a narrative in regards to the failures of 1 era and the next passing of accountability to the following. This was the primary recreation within the collection that Kitase labored on, and his theater background exhibits in how lots of the scenes are framed. Give it an opportunity and I believe you’ll heat as much as it.
Whereas I’ll admit this overview is considerably influenced by my inseparable experiences with this recreation in its numerous incarnations through the years, I can guarantee you there’s a cause why I’m going again to Ultimate Fantasy V as typically as I do. After I say that this Pixel Remaster is the best strategy to play this excellent recreation, I hope that historical past provides to the burden of the assertion. When you’ve got performed this recreation earlier than you most likely don’t want an excuse to replay it, however right here it’s anyway. And should you haven’t? Hop to it.
SwitchArcade Rating: 5/5
(Click on for Cellular Model Overview)
Ultimate Fantasy VI ($17.99)
Generally I’m undecided, with regards to video games from my youth, the place my nostalgia ends and the precise high quality of video games begins. I’ve wrestled with that always with Ultimate Fantasy VI. After I first performed it, I assumed it was one of many biggest video games I had ever performed. Perhaps even one of many most interesting items of fiction I had ever consumed. As I received older, I pulled away from that. Perhaps it wasn’t that nice? Perhaps my youthful thoughts put it up on too excessive of a pedestal? I believe which will have subsequently led to me knocking it down too many pegs for some time. I nonetheless don’t know precisely the place it must be positioned within the final canon, however I’m at the very least positive of this: Ultimate Fantasy VI is nice. Perhaps the best within the collection. It has every little thing you want in an RPG.
Nice characters? Sure. An enthralling plot? You wager. Fascinating mechanics for individuals who wish to dig in? Perhaps not as many as Ultimate Fantasy V, however it’s no slouch. There are some sensational set items, one of many nastiest villains round, and a wide selection of real makes an attempt at emotional depth. That is all backed by superb pixel artwork that’s solely additional enhanced on this model, and a drop-dead dazzling soundtrack that serves as Nobuo Uematsu’s magnum opus. This is RPGs. This is video video games. Are there issues to not like in right here? Positive, however none of them are all that main. Slightly stuttering is a small worth to pay to see the brand new HD-2D tackle the opera scene full with actual vocals. Frankly, this recreation deserves a full-scale remake sometime, however within the absence of that I’m glad to have this.
If you happen to’re sufficient in Ultimate Fantasy to be studying a mega-review of the primary six video games within the collection, you don’t want me to let you know that Ultimate Fantasy VI is nice. You’re most likely solely questioning about this Pixel Remaster, and in that respect I can say that it’s one other effective strategy to play this basic. Swings and roundabouts, and I don’t know that the Increase modifiers are actually your good friend right here, however even when it doesn’t beat the unique in each method, it one-ups it in sufficient ways in which followers of the sport will wish to test it out. And should you’re coming in new? Put together your self to expertise one of many the reason why Ultimate Fantasy will by no means be ultimate.
SwitchArcade Rating: 5/5
(Click on for Cellular Model Overview)
Ultimate Fantasy I-VI Bundle ($74.99)
And in order that brings us right here. I’ve hit the drum typically sufficient on the largest downside with these Pixel Remaster releases: the stutter within the scrolling. I’m undecided why it’s right here, however it’s annoying. It didn’t trouble me as a lot within the cell variations as a result of I used to be taking part in on a smaller display, however even bumped up the scale of the Change show it’s loads more durable to disregard. A few of you’ll discover it to be a deal-breaker, and I suppose I wouldn’t be capable of blame you for that. For me, it wasn’t. Equally, the brand new pixel font doesn’t actually repair the scale downside with the unique Pixel Remaster font. It will likely be a deal-breaker for some, however it wasn’t for me. I’m additionally okay with the pricing right here. You get numerous recreation to your buck.
I can recover from all of that as a result of the enhancements listed below are so nice. I like the extra detailed but devoted pixel artwork. The brand new soundtracks are superb and I believe it’s cool that you may swap again to the basic tunes on the fly if you’d like. The modifiers are literal game-changers for a few of these video games, permitting you to avoid grinding and even make the video games tougher should you desire. I additionally actually love how the brand new look and sound actually ties these six video games collectively. The remakes on this collection have been in every single place stylistically, and whereas there are parts of earlier remakes I wouldn’t have minded seeing carried into these variations, I’m simply comfortable to have a one-stop-shop I can level to for folks asking me how you can play these video games.
The Ultimate Fantasy Pixel Remaster collection isn’t an unqualified success. Some technical issues and the persevering with font tomfoolery maintain this set of video games again from being all it may have been. Nonetheless, the enhancements listed below are smart and well-implemented, and whereas I’m undecided these are the definitive variations of every recreation, they’re definitely going to be definitive sufficient for many. Wanting holding a menagerie of consoles and handhelds at your facet, there’s actually no higher strategy to take pleasure in these all-time classics. A hearty advice to followers and newcomers alike.
SwitchArcade Rating: 4.5/5
