Over the last console generation, Square Enix has been on a roll with remakes and remasters, bringing old games from their collection onto current platforms. Even titles that didn’t get an official English release initially, such as “Live A Live”, have found new life. Now, it seems that the beloved series is also getting this treatment, which means a modern update for one of the underappreciated entries in the franchise is imminent.
Currently, Square Enix is deeply engaged in the creation of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, sparking numerous speculations about a potential remake of Final Fantasy 9. Upon completion and release of these projects, it’s anticipated that Final Fantasy VII will follow suit for a remake. However, there’s another game in the series that deserves an update even more.
Final Fantasy V Is the Forgotten Middle-Child of the SNES Trilogy
Bartz Stood In Cecil & Terra’s Shadows
Back in the day, I was one of those lucky gamers who got to enjoy the North American releases of Final Fantasy IV and VI. But poor ol’ me, I missed out on Final Fantasy V when it first launched. You see, unlike its siblings, this game never got an English localization back then. It was a real gem within the franchise, but unfortunately, it remained hidden from many of us North American gamers. Even though the localizations and censorship issues were present in IV and VI, at least we had the chance to play them. If only I could’ve been part of the crew who played V when it was new…
Unfortunately, Final Fantasy V (FFV) didn’t garner much attention compared to other games in the series, such as Final Fantasy IV (FFI) among Japanese players and Final Fantasy VI (FFVI) among North American fans. It lacked the initial impact that Cecil’s adventure had, and it wasn’t as technically advanced as its successor, which tested the capabilities of the SNES to its fullest in terms of content.
Initially, numerous gamers from Europe and North America came across Final Fantasy V through an unofficial fan translation mod. At that time, there was no official localization of FFV until 1999 when it appeared on the PS1 within the Final Fantasy Anthology. However, this version had slower performance since it was released on a CD-ROM instead of a cartridge.
The English version of “Final Fantasy V Advance” that was considered satisfactory didn’t become available until 2006. This version not only matched its predecessors but also enhanced visuals and translations, offered more post-game material like fresh jobs and a challenging superboss. Despite being a strong adaptation, it had less impact on fans due to its handheld release, particularly outside Japan. Fortunately, it’s now more accessible than ever thanks to the “Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster” series, which has made it compatible with modern systems. However, it’s worth noting that this version doesn’t include all the additional content from the Game Boy Advance release.
What Makes Final Fantasy V’s Story So Special?
FFV Tells a Tale of Two Worlds Brought Together As One
In many ways, Final Fantasy V revisits themes found in its predecessor. Four powerful elemental orbs are dwindling, and it’s up to an eclectic team of adventurers, each with intriguing pasts, to restore them and save the realm. The fate of the world is entrusted to Bartz, a man thrust into adventure; Lenna, a princess seeking her lost companion; Galuf, an amnesiac elder whose battle prowess suggests a hidden history; and Faris, a sea-faring pirate who must relinquish her crew duties to assume the heroic role.
What people may not grasp is that there are other realms in peril, as Final Fantasy V unfolds a narrative about the interwoven destinies of two worlds, each under threat by a malevolent force intent on annihilating both existences. Heroes hailing from these parallel universes must collaborate to thwart Exdeath, the villain who aims to eradicate all existence. This game is often overlooked and yet it’s truly exceptional.
In a more accessible manner: The narrative of Final Fantasy V boasts some incredibly impactful moments, even including one of the most memorable deaths in the series. However, these emotional scenes were not fully appreciated due to the limited visual capabilities at the time. A complete remake of Final Fantasy V could effectively convey its story and characters’ depth, especially with added voice acting for the dialogue.
Above all, the visuals have the potential to breathe life into Yoshitaka Amano’s incredible artwork for the characters. The SNES was unable to replicate his extraordinary designs for characters such as Bartz and Faris, instead offering them the most commonplace sprites. Even the Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster falls short in capturing this game world as it was intended.
Final Fantasy V holds immense promise, but it’s confined by the constraints of 16-bit technology. A remake on par with the grand scale of Final Fantasy VII‘s makeover is long overdue. Such a remake should enlarge the game’s world and allow its characters to truly come alive, something they couldn’t achieve on the Super Nintendo system.
Final Fantasy V Uses the Job System Perfectly
It Has Some of the Best Gameplay in the Final Fantasy Series
Final Fantasy and its third installment shared a job system, but due to the constraints of the NES hardware, it was somewhat limited. With the arrival of Final Fantasy V, there was an opportunity to refine this system and make it more powerful than ever before. In Final Fantasy V, the player’s party gradually acquired jobs as they progressed through the game. Elevating these jobs in battle granted new skills, while mastering them enabled these skills to be used across different jobs, offering the player the exciting prospect of blending and customizing abilities.
Throughout the game, the player accumulates four distinct characters, and the objective is to construct a harmonious party that skillfully combines these unique abilities to ensure coverage in key areas such as attack, defense, and support. In the original Super Famicom version of the game, there were numerous overpowered combinations that emerged, one particularly infamous example being the blend of Spellblade, Dual Wield, and Rapid Fire commands, which resulted in eight strong strikes – a sequence referenced by Bartz’s ultimate move in Dissidia.
The unique challenge run for Final Fantasy V is called Four Job Fiesta. In this particular gameplay style, players are restricted to using only four jobs chosen at random throughout the game. This constraint narrows their options significantly and encourages them to adopt strategies they might not use during regular gameplay, offering an unexpected and challenging experience.
A remake could not only modernize the current lineup of jobs but also expand it significantly. For instance, games such as “Final Fantasy XI,” “Final Fantasy XIV,” and “Final Fantasy Tactics” have enriched the series with numerous character classes. Introducing roles like the Reaper, Dark Knight, Gunbreaker, or Pictomancer would further enhance the combat system, making it even more diverse and engaging.
We Need to See the End of Gilgamesh’s Story
A Final Fantasy V Remake Could Give Fans a Rematch
What’s unfortunate about Final Fantasy V is that it introduced one of the franchise’s most beloved recurring elements, but its fame primarily stemmed from appearances in other titles. The character Gilgamesh, a time-traveler who moves between Final Fantasy worlds and attempts to acquire powerful warriors’ weapons, first appeared in Final Fantasy V. At the end of the game, he was swallowed by an Interdimensional Rift, implying his ability to traverse realities.
In his subsequent adventures, Gilgamesh traverses various universes, acquiring weapons and encountering adversaries on his journey. The intrigue among fans lies in the conclusion of this narrative: Will Gilgamesh find himself swallowed by a monster, or will he make it back home? Although Dissidia 012 brought Bartz and Gilgamesh together, they have no recollection of that encounter, implying their rematch is yet to take place, much to the disappointment of fans eager to witness it.
If Final Fantasy V is ever remade, it ought to conclude Gilgamesh’s narrative or provide a plausible ending. In a post-credits sequence, Gilgamesh could return home and confront Bartz once more, this time being more prepared, showcasing the unique abilities he acquired from all the heroes who previously defeated him. This would mark the culmination of a story that has spanned over three decades.
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2025-06-04 18:52