Good news arrived for longtime Final Fantasy fans. The Pixel Remaster Collection, a compilation of the first six games in the series for the Switch, will see a second release. As these titles laid the foundation for one of the biggest JRPG franchises in history, Square made the right choice in answering the fans’ demands.
However, this collection itself lies at the heart of another controversy within gaming: preservation. With so many older titles being lost, Square has taken the time to ensure that the games that made their flagship franchise what it is don’t suffer the same fate. Here is a breakdown of the biggest takeaways from this release.
Final Fantasy Returns to the Switch
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According to Nintendo Life, the Pixel Remaster Collection for Final Fantasy was rereleased for the Nintendo Switch. This version will be known as the “Anniversary Edition” and will come with a collection of stickers as a bonus. This second run for the game came after the commercial success of the original led to a demand from fans. This collection’s release coincides with their ongoing Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy.
Square also made the collection available online, where fans can pre-order the physical edition. This time, the collection will also be available at other brick-and-mortar retailers throughout European and North American markets. Square plans to release the compilation on October 8th for $74.99. The original version was released in April last year for the Switch and PS4. Finally, the digital games are on sale individually until August 15th, so one should act fast to capitalize on this deal.
The Pixel Remaster Collection
The Pixel Remaster is a collection of the first six Final Fantasy games. These original games released for the NES and SNES laid the foundation for these classic series. These games range from the original title that saved Square from bankruptcy to the acclaimed Final Fantasy VI, a steampunk epic that gave one of the most profound villains in gaming. Interestingly, Final Fantasy III and IV received 3D remakes in the past, yet fans widely derided them.
Additionally, these games have beautifully remastered sound and pixel art. While not at the same grade as the ingenious Octopath Traveler, the graphics are still impressive takes on the original sprites. The games also come with smaller quality-of-life improvements for the decades-old titles. Many of these titles were also released individually on Steam and iOS for those looking to experience them.
The State of Game Preservation
While this collection is a gift to fans, it is just one of many entries in the struggle to preserve older video games. With the continual cycle between console generations, games from these devices become much scarcer as time passes. Only so many games have seen proper remakes and re-releases, while others have fallen into obscurity. One of the larger examples includes Atlus’ library of many older Shin Megami Tensei games overshadowed by Persona.
Digital storefronts such as Steam and the Epic Games Store have been vital in preserving older games. However, many other games remain trapped on discontinued consoles. This has also led to exorbitant prices for older physical copies from vintage stores and online distributors. Due to these factors, many gamers were forced to turn to piracy to preserve many of these games, creating a massive ethical and legal debate that rages to this day. The Pixel Remaster Collection serves as an example of how companies can take a step forward to preserve their own libraries.
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