8 Final Fantasy Titles That Should Get the HD-2D Treatment

The HD-2D style was first used for Octopath Traveler. This game showcased the potential of this new graphical style, and it later went on to be used for future Octpath Traveler games and Triangle Strategy. After that, Square Enix used this graphical style on games like The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales.

Despite this style being very popular, Square Enix has taken many years to apply it to any of the Final Fantasy games. With Final Fantasy Resonance being released, I thought it would be nice to take a look back at previous games to see which ones Square should think about applying the HD-2D aesthetic. There are many Final Fantasy titles to choose from, but these deserve the treatment.

8

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

A Strange Art Style

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is an interesting game where you attack enemies to the beat of famous Final Fantasy scores. While the game is fun, it has a rather strange art style that combines chibi animation with 3D effects. Oh, and some parts are just cutscenes from other games, like the battle between Cloud and Sephiroth.

I was a big fan of the Theatrhythm games when they were released. Keeping with the rhythm was fun, and hearing all the music that I grew up listening to in games was a great nostalgia trip.

However, I think the art style needs a bit of a rework, and it would be cool to see Square Enix combine some of the more flat aspects of the game’s art style, such as the rhythm bars, and place them atop an HD-2D backdrop.

7

Sword of Mana

Final Fantasy Adventure

Sword of Mana was originally released in 1991, and the name was changed for overseas marketing to Final Fantasy Adventure in the US and Mystic Quest in Europe. A remake with the proper title was released in the US in 2003 for the Game Boy Advance. However, I am counting it for this list, as it does share aspects of the Final Fantasy series and shared the name once upon a time, even if it was only for select audiences.

Sword of Mana received a remake in 2016 titled Adventures of Mana. During this time, the pixelated art style was replaced with a modern three-dimensional one, and it never really sat right with me.

Instead of feeling like a grand adventure, the new art style made the game feel more like a children’s tale, and some of the textures just didn’t look great. It would be wonderful to see Square go back and turn this game into an HD-2D masterpiece, as it would give the series the facelift it deserves.

6

Final Fantasy VI

Often Overlooked

Final Fantasy VI is often one of the most neglected titles in the mainline series. Many point out the amazing leap that Final Fantasy VII took with its three-dimensional graphics, but Final Fantasy VI was taking a step toward that HD-2D art style.

The game features many beautiful landscapes with some three-dimensional feel to them, but it was limited by the technology of its time, with it being released in 1994 on the SNES. The game was later released on the PlayStation, but at that point, Final Fantasy VII was released, and Final Fantasy VI was soon forgotten.

Pixel Remaster did a great job showcasing how beautiful 2D art styles can be, but I think Square should take it a step further and release this title as a full HD-2D remake.

5

World of Final Fantasy

A New Style

World of Final Fantasy is one of the more bizarre titles that acts as a collection of Final Fantasy nostalgia, while at the same time operating as somewhat of a monster-catching game. The game centers around Lann and Reynn, who must regain their memories by befriending various Final Fantasy characters.

Throughout the game, they tame monsters and use them in battle. The game is somewhat trippy, giving you the ability to grow and shrink, but it is still a great title that deserves some attention.

While World of Final Fantasy is beautiful, it would be cool to see it get the HD-2D treatment, giving it more of an old-school style while keeping the more modern aspects of the game.

4

Final Fantasy Dimensions

Mobile HD-2D

Final Fantasy Dimensions was an episodic game released on mobile devices in 2010, and it featured a return to the job system along with a more two-dimensional art style. Each episode, players would control a team of five characters, with the characters changing each episode.

It was an interesting experience that I took a small part in but lost interest. The game was never a mainstream hit, but it does have a small cult following.

Since it was never very popular, it is a good excuse to retry the series on console but with an updated style. Transition it to the HD-2D style, create a more compelling episodic narrative, and release it worldwide. It might just save Final Fantasy Dimensions.

3

Final Fantasy Tactics

Redefine the Series

Final Fantasy Tactics is a beautiful real-time strategy game that many still love to this day. Since its original release, it has seen multiple sequels and releases with updated graphics.

The series, however, has always been marked by these blocky maps and textures that just don’t compare to the mainline Final Fantasy series. However, the team did a great job remaking the original title in Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicals.

Despite this, it would be cool to see the series take a new direction and start using the HD-2D aesthetic, as it would make the games more beautiful, and they could go back to the more pixelated look that fans love.

2

Crystal Defenders

Tower Defense

Do you even remember Crystal Guardians or Crystal Defenders? The games were released between 2008 and 2009, and have since been forgotten by many. This is mostly because they weren’t very good, and they didn’t stand out like many other games in the franchise.

For those who don’t know, the Crystal Guardians games were tower defense titles. In them, you’d place various Final Fantasy characters along a path, upgrade them, and hope they could defend the path from monsters.

The games were basic, but the series could make a huge comeback with the HD-2D style. Give these games a full re-release with this graphical style, make the gameplay better, and see what happens. If anything, they could make great mobile titles.

1

Final Fantasy

The Original

The original Final Fantasy title holds a special place in many peoples’ hearts, as it is the first game in the series, and the start of something magical. Many look back on the game with fond memories of playing it on the NES.

Don’t get me wrong, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster did a great job breathing new life into the original Final Fantasy game, but it still had that old aesthetic. I am someone who believes that this game deserves a full remake, and a full remake in the HD-2D style would preserve the traditional look of the game, but make it look so much better.

Just imagine how beautiful the castles, fields, forests, and more would look in the modern style instead of the flat graphics that define it to this day.