/vr/ - Retro Games

>>9024884
Absolute fucking trash, the music is overproduced shit, the graphics are somehow worse than the GBA ports and to rub it in that they could have remastered them properly they have gorgeous backgrounds. Also the fact that they made the old iOS(PSP) ports unplayable makes them completely unredeemable. The price is ludicrous as well. Anyone who supports these shitty remasters deserves these tyrannical gaming companies feeding them constant shit.

>>9024884
i like em ok enough

>>9025143
And he's single ladies

>>9025163
>they hated him because he told the truth

haven’t played ‘em but I’m guessing they’re shit

III is the only worthwhile one, for obvious reasons.
Anyone have "the image?"

On a technical level, I'd say they're excellent remakes. They're not definitive versions, but they're not terrible either.
1-3 are a good mix of original and updated systems, while 4-6 are basically just bugfixes, if you can even call it that since they're rewritten from scratch in a new engine. Graphics and audio are a personal opinion that's different for everyone so I won't mention them.
Of the six, III benefits the most from the collection.

>>9024884
Good for PCfriends that despise consolefaggotry.

>>9024884
Best pixel remasters I've personally witnessed. The pixel-remastering abilities displayed throughout can't be understated: no pixel is left unremastered; if you go like "idk I liked the older master better" you're obviously a poser and naysayer who just can't see how the pixels are better now. I just can't imagine anybody looking at these pixels and thinking they could use more or better remasterization

>>9025196
You guessed correctly, the only good part about them is the background graphics and they took out those shitty bonus dungeons in the iOS ports, everything else is worse. They were aiming for having the charm of the NES versions while having some of the graphics comparable to early ps3 games but ended up with this weird blend of old and newer graphics that makes it extremely unappealing and inconsistent (reminds me of that meme where there is a picture of a horse where half of it is a shitty stick figure and the other half is photo realistic). Despite their gameplay flaws the GBA/iOS ports are far superior.

Is the framerate skipping/shearing/stuttering in the scrolling backgrounds fixed?

SE has never made a good remaster, ever. They always fuck something up. Even FF12, which was literally just a port with increased resolution and some minor gameplay changes and should have been impossible to fuck up... even that had horribly cropped cutscenes.

>>9025143
I share this belief entirely but I am not sure if I'm just wearing nostalgia goggles.

>>9025236
w-what image

>>9025236
...This one?

>>9027927
No, not FFIII. The Pixel Remaster one.

Is there a list of recommended versions of each game? Including like fan translations and whatnot
similar to pic related

>>9027889
Literally start up FF5 on an SNES emulator and look at it side by side. What is the point of a "remaster" that looks and sounds worse?

>>9028334
Expecting Final Fantasy fans to come together and decide on a definitive set, that's cute. You're on /vr/ so the answer's the originals.
But I'll humor you with my pics.
FFI+II: WonderSwan Color. It's updated enough and has needed bugfixes while retaining the core gameplay with cool chiptunes and quick load transitions.
FFIII: Pixel Remaster. It takes the qol improvements of the DS versions included restoring enemies unused in the Famicom original, but doesn't keep any of the baggage of that version, win-win.
FFIV: This one's unique since there's no "best" version. The most "complete" one is PSP however, though the DS version also isn't too bad for once. If the graphics put you off, just play original or a version based on it. The version to avoid is "FFII" and theoretically versions based on it (thanks romhacks).
FFV: Most peeps would say Advance. I'd say the audio and localization suck and you're better off with the SNES original.
FFVI: SNES. Specifically you want the retranslated one (though I heard ROSE is good too): https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/4619/
Basically the Super NES/Famicom games are still fine to this day, but the NES/Famicom trilogy have better versions out there and there aren't a lot of purists who'd argue otherwise.

>>9028372
huh, thanks
How does the GBA version measure up to the Wonderswan version of Dawn of Souls?

>>9024884
I only played FF1 but I thought it was okay. PSX is still king for its sheer customization and higher quality sprites, though. FF3 is probably the game that most benefits from these, as the 3D version is really different. Nice to have something closer to the Famicom original.
>>9025143
>>9027889
Hating the music of these remasters is definitely wearing the nostalgia goggles (or nostalgia headphones, in this case). Overproduced? Because it's actually orchestrated? Come on.
>>9028334
It's hard to put together an objective list because the earlier games had a lot of changes between versions. Like FF1 NES and FF1 GBA have a completely different magic system which totally changes how it plays. And to make it more complicated you have the issue of differing translations, like the 10 different attempts at translating FF6. I would just look up the game you're interested in and go with what sounds best to you.
>>9028374
GBA version has a completely different magic & item system, it's way easier than the Wonderswan version.

>>9028334
All you have to do is disregard everything after FF9 because it's all shit. Do not play ports because they suck.

>>9028417
Cool, thanks
I guess I just won't over think it too much

Wtf do they change things for no reason at all?
I understand having to redraw everything for HD but why wasn't the old pixel art good enough to keep?

>>9028429
The pixel artist for these remakes is the same one for the original SNES releases. She said that they couldn't use the original sprites because they were designed for CRTs and had to remake them to look good on modern screens.
I disagree with that but there's the given reason

>>9028594
Look at the purple hair for FF5, on the SNES it has a lot of black inside to show outline the hairstyle. On a CRT that would probably blur well but without that it looks kind of clunky, so they decreased it and showed the hair outlines with primarily shades of purple in the new version. Makes sense to me. Also the chin rounds out better, etc.

>>9028859
I get the logic but I think they should've used something that's higher quality to really lean in on the qualities of LCD, like the PSP sprites. The pixel remaster still has a chunky pixel look to it even if it's smoother than the OG art. I actually don't mind the PR art, just feels like an odd decision especially since these games have been available on LCDs for over a decade now.

>>9024884
Inexcusable they left out all the bonus content from prior ports. As it stands they're a halfassed in-between of being "authentic" and "definitive remasters"
>>9025163
>resident pussy slayer on a taiwanese flipbook sub-forum about games old enough to drink is here to remind everyone he's a level headed adult who does in fact get his dick wet unlike his fellow anons.

>>9028909
>the PSP sprites
Gross.

It burnnnnns

>>9028429
They made everything look to bright. It looks like dogshit compared to the originals. What the fuck were they thinking?

>>9029349
The PSP sprites are by far the best.

>>9027889
You aren’t, they do that weird thing that modern indie devs do where they try to mix modern graphics with old graphics and come up with a very retarded aesthetic. Either make it completely retro or completely modern, this mixing makes the retro parts seem very forced and out of place.

>>9028417
The music is very try hardy and compressed to hell and back, the various swells and subtleties of the melodies are lost to some sperg thinking he is Beethoven and trying to rewrite already classic material. Some of the songs aren’t horribly butchered but most are. The raucous drums and trashy nurock guitars take the masterpiece level soundtracks of FF1/4/6 and make them sound generic and hollow. The UI menu sounds are cancerous and the beauty of the recreated landscapes and battle backgrounds and magic effects show a glimpse of what great games these could have been if squenix wasn’t so incompetent.

Anyone who hasn’t played FF1-6 should avoid these remasters at all costs, play the PSP versions of FF1/2, the NES version of 3 and the GBA versions of 4-6. The Pixel Remasters offer only a fraction of the experience that these ports do, if you play them on the PR versions, not only are you wasting money you are also getting an inferior experience.

>>9028417
>Hating the music of these remasters is definitely wearing the nostalgia goggles
It actually makes total sense because the original music was designed for the chipset, not to be orchestrated.

>>9030485
>and the GBA versions of 4-6
Why these and not SNES?

>>9030509
tech is slightly better (animations/osts), honestly the SNES is almost as good but I personally prefer the GBA versions (nostalgia).

>>9030485
>>9030506
"Raucous drums" and "trashy nurock" is what fits FF best, man. Uematsu's biggest influences was prog rock and it's pretty close to the kind of music he would've made if he wasn't constrained by time + budget + old hardware, see The Black Mages. If it sounds "generic and hollow" then that's because FF itself feels like that, being one of the most copied series out there. I prefer the PS1 remixes myself because I'm a sucker for synth but this is just a case where technical limitations disguised the series' intended style.

>>9030485
I have never seen a post this full of bad taste. Most of the soundtrack is butchered? Most of the soundtrack is fantastic aside from some sections that were added to very few songs of FF6. I'm not saying the PR is the way to go but the soundtracks are absolutely on point and probably the best part of whole thing.
And the fact that you're recommending the GBA versions of 4-6 because "tech is slightly better (animations/osts)" means you legit do not have a goddamn clue what you're talking about. At least you admit you're a child with nostalgia goggles for the worst versions of the games. Animations? They're the same as the SNES versions, bar some censorship. OSTs? Actually butchered by the GBA's inferior hardware.

I don't have too much of a problem with the PR OST (outside of that -damn- horn sound being in every battle theme making them sound samey), but I don't like how the tracks loop anymore. I'm no music theorist so I'm not sure I'm getting the point across, but where many songs originally looped to the beginning, there's now a reinstrumentation, making the tracks themselves longer. Also they totally redid portions of the music that were perfectly fine for years, like the extension of II's overworld theme that's been around since the WSC/PSX ver.

New music arrangements would be win/win if they had a classic music option like FF4 PSP does. But they don't, so its a negative.

>>9031003
This (even III PSP had it). The OG PR trailer was misleading by starting off with 8-bit music. Give people their options dammit.

>>9028372
>FFIV: This one's unique since there's no "best" version.
I thought the PS1 was the best version since it's uncensored

>>9031049
It's actually a decent SNES conversion that doesn't suffer from the loading problems like the others, but man the translation is awful, like worse than II US and unpatched J2e: https://legendsoflocalization.com/which-final-fantasy-iv-translation-should-you-play/

>>9028334
an update for DQ1 on that list, the SNES version's translation was recently updated to god-tier, with some bugfixes and translating the missing text strings like when you carry the princess through to the ending

>>9031049
I'd say PSP since it includes The After Years and an interquel chapter
but my favorite is the DS version since it's even more challenging than the SNES version come endgame (seriously, level 99 all characters and you'll still get jobbed sometimes) and the ability to give skillsets to your party makes Gilbert's bard powers actually fucking useful for once, even if he's not there, since the status effects they can inflict affect many monsters for the rest of the game

>>9025236
>>9028329
Oh, that. This must be it.

>>9031368
And the static version which has better quality but lacks the end gag.

>>9025143
>the music is over produced shit
FF4 PR's music was great, FF5 PR's music is... mostly good (horns horns horns), FF6 PR's music is great.
Probably won't bother with the others.

>>9025143
The pixel remaster version of the FF3 theme is such a banger tho

>>9031068
kek, I played PSX first, and I don't remember any of those lines. Genuinely curious enough to consider running through it again.

>>9031409
If you like making fun of FFIV's goofiness especially in its original form, I recommend this (warning: charmingly dated 2000's-isms): http://bastardly.org/power_of_cheese/index.html

>>9031438
>http://bastardly.org/power_of_cheese/index.html
HOLY FUCKING SHIT, ANON.
I was looking for this for ages, I was beginning to think I've had dreamt it.
Thank you so much!

>>9027889
Nope.
Remakes are almost always soulless cash grabs and the Pixel Remasters aren't exceptions.

>>9028372
>You're on /vr/ so the answer's the originals.
This.
>the DS version also isn't too bad for once.
But also very different from the original. And still plenty of evidence of soullessness. Pic related is not a serious problem but it's just an example of the kind of laziness you should expect from a remake, even a decent one like the DS version. The DS version has all kinds of fancy new ability shit but couldn't be assed to implement the enemy front/back row mechanic that was present in the original, so they can just do shit like put a sorceress in the front line of a battle formation with the melee characters in back because it doesn't matter anyway.

Just here to remind people about the fact the old Steam version of FF6 had some damn solid mods that look better than any official attempt at remastering the game

>>9032667
soulless

>>9028334
>Is there a list of recommended versions of each game?
Yes, it's this:
FF1 - NES
FF2 - NES
FF3 - NES
FF4 - SNES
FF5 - SNES
FF6 - SNES
FF7 was the beginning of the downfall of the series so, as such, all later titles should be forgotten.
>>9024884
Uncute and too easy.

>>9032629
There never was a front row/back row for enemies.

>>9033748
Yes there was. Enemies in the rear always took less damage, just like your own party. That is, until the enemies in front were wiped out.

>>9024884
They're okay with a bit of modding.
I still miss the GBA/PSP extra content.

>>9027649
Zodiac Age has the cutscenes cropped?

>>9033734
I wonder which corporation this anonymous poster prefers

>>9035189

Don't be stupid, the problem is 3D not Sony.
FF7 would have been just as hideous and awkward on the N64.

>>9035441
Imagine if we would've gotten 2D FF7.
FF would never have gotten as big as it did and the games might still be soulful.

>>9036239
SNES VII apparently had completely different plans from the PS1 development that it might as well be considered a totally different project altogether, much like how Famicom IV was a different beast from the final SNES one. All SNES VII would've done is delayed the transition to 3D and probably change Chrono Trigger some.

>>9027214
Isn't that a problem caused by uncapping framerates?

>>9035189
What do you mean?

>>9028334
This needs to be updated now that we know Treasures isn't a Monsters game

>>9024884
I played through 1 and am going through 2. What happens if I forget Ultima?

I have the 3D remakes of 3 and 4 on Steam, and the mobile ports of 5 and 6. So for now, I only got 1 and 2 and may get the other PRs later. I think they're well made, and graphically do a good job of representing "how 80s kids saw NES" basically. When they cheat and use advanced visual effects, I don't mind it because I'm not a stickler for NES accuracy.

But the games themselves are rather dull, and I'm just listening to Youtube while hitting random encounters every 10 seconds. They're not bad in a way that makes me want to quit, but I have more appreciation for all the systems Square added to later games. The dungeon layouts are very annoying too, especially in FF2. I had heard this one was bad, but I'm finishing it anyway. Running, quick saves and autosaves are a godsend for all of these.