The remastering of one of the most beloved titles in the Final Fantasy saga, titled Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, will be released on September 30 for PC and consoles, offering a new opportunity for fans and new players to enjoy this classic. However, the development process has been a true challenge, as there were no original data or source code of the game, which forced the developers to rebuild it from scratch.
It’s hard to remake a game when you have to do it from scratch
Kazutoyo Maehiro, project director, explained in a recent interview that, due to common practices at the time, the data of the original game was overwritten every time it was localized for a new language. This fact meant that the team had to analyze different existing versions of the title and, at times, play the original game to intuitively capture its essence. Maehiro emphasized that “each challenge stemmed from this lack of master data, which contrasts with current standards of video game preservation.”
The remastered version will include a modern user interface, full voice acting, dialogues added by the original writer and director Yasumi Matsuno, autosaves, and adjustable battle speed. For those who prefer the classic aesthetic, there will be a mode that maintains the original graphics but revokes several of the new features implemented.
The balance between attracting new players and satisfying fans of the original game has been a priority. Maehiro commented that, while some believe that remasters should not go overboard, the team considers it essential to offer both an accessible enhanced version and an option that resembles more closely the game that millions of fans adored at its original launch.
With its expected arrival in September, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles promises to be a renewed experience that pays homage to its legacy.
