Remaining Fantasy Ways – The Ivalice Chronicles remakes one of many best techniques video games of all-time, including to it quality-of-life updates, a brand new visible model, full VO, and extra. When it was revealed in June, I used to be thrilled – it is not the simplest recreation to legally play today, a problem emphasised by Sq. Enix famously shedding the sport’s supply code after rewriting over it when bringing the sport to the West after its Japanese launch. However I wasn’t essentially thrilled about a few of the modifications.
The largest change is the brand new visible model, which, whereas devoted to the unique pixel artwork in a means, would not maintain a candle to stated authentic artwork. I had all the time dreamed of an HD-2D remake of Ways, and the reveal of The Ivalice Chronicles in June killed that dream.
After taking part in the sport for about an hour in Cologne, Germany, throughout Gamescom 2025, I am nonetheless left wishing this was an HD-2D remake – I simply do not assume the brand new visible model does a lot for me. You may, thankfully, swap to the unique visible model of the sport, however not and not using a main caveat: the fashionable upgrades, high quality of life modifications, totally voiced characters, and up to date UI are a part of the improved model of Ways, or in different phrases, the visually redone model of Ways. The brand new cutscene model is unimaginable, although.
I am nonetheless not bought on the totally voiced characters, both. They sound nice at occasions… and never so nice at different occasions. I am going to admit: I like Ways and have imagined completely different characters in my head and maybe my dissatisfaction stems from VO not matching what’s all the time performed in my head. That stated, I hope the solid grows on me extra within the full launch.
The remainder of The Ivalice Chronicles, nonetheless, is unimaginable, and that is largely as a result of Sq. Enix has made some good quality-of-life modifications to an already unbelievable recreation. The in need of it’s that The Ivalice Chronicles performs amazingly (at the least within the hour I checked out) and that is as a result of it is the Ways you recognize and love.
Fight feels nice, and navigating the battlefield, planning strikes, and fixing the assorted encounters, which really feel like mini-puzzles to determine, is sweet enjoyable. New options embrace a “tactical view” that makes scouting the battlefield simpler, a neater approach to verify flip order, fast-forward choices (just like Sq. Enix’s different remastered Remaining Fantasy releases like Remaining Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age), auto-save in battles (a real lifesaver), and extra. It is not laborious to see how these options will improve the sport after one hour of making an attempt them out, they usually mean you can higher focus your time and efforts into issues just like the job system, occasion technique, and extra.
Sq. Enix says The Ivalice Chronicles consists of extra conversations and dialogue, however I did not discover something revelatory – a con of only one hour with a recreation, little question. That stated, I am barely anxious in regards to the new dialogue as Ways options a wonderful story. Does it want extra dialogue? Want is a robust phrase, but when what’s new can match what’s already there, then I am all for it.
After its reveal in June, The Ivalice Chronicles shot up excessive on my checklist of most anticipated video games launching in 2025. After taking part in an hour of the sport, it is nonetheless excessive up on that checklist. Although I am not bought on the brand new visuals and VO, I can not deny how thrilling it’s to have a brand new excuse to leap into one of many style’s finest.
Remaining Fantasy Ways – The Ivalice Chronicles launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Collection X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Swap 2, Swap, and PC on September 30.
