Summary
Squaresoft’sFinal Fantasy 8is widely considered one of the bestFinal Fantasygames ever made — and that is saying something, as it followed what is nigh-universally accepted as the absolute best installment in the franchise,Final Fantasy 7. Having garnered critical acclaim upon release,Final Fantasy 8remains one that longtime fans often revisit to remind themselves of the glory days ofFinal Fantasy, and was even deemed popular enough to receive a remaster in 2019.
AsFinal Fantasy 7has now not only been remastered but entirely remade, it’s worth considering which otherFinal Fantasygames deserve the remake treatment, andFinal Fantasy 8is undoubtedly one of them. Just as it has with theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy, it would take many years of intensive work to do a complete remake ofFinal Fantasy 8, but it would likely be welcomed by veteran fans and newcomers alike, along with potentially bringing a host of new features to the game that weren’t present in the original.
Why Final Fantasy 8 Deserves the Remake Treatment
Final Fantasy 8’s Story Is a Story Worth Being Told Through a Remake
Final Fantasy 8is considered by many to have one ofthe best stories of theFinal Fantasyseries. This is primarily due to the heartwarming romance between its protagonist Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly, as well as the many twists and turns that occur as its plot unfolds. In light of that, aFinal Fantasy 8remake would tell the story in a way the original couldn’t, just as theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy is proving to accomplish.
A Final Fantasy 8 Remake Would Give the Characters Voices
AsFinal Fantasy 8was released around the time voice acting in video games was achieving prominence, some fans had hoped it might feature voice-overs for the characters. Unfortunately, just like every installment prior, its characters lacked voices. In fact, voice-overs weren’t implemented into aFinal Fantasygame until the release ofFinal Fantasy 10, making it one of the series' most iconic entries.Final Fantasy 8originally wound up receiving a bit of criticism for its lack of voice-overs, so giving it the remake treatment would remedy that and bring its characters to life in an unprecedented way.
Final Fantasy 8’s Massive Map Would Make Its Remake Fit Right in With the Competition
Final Fantasy 8doesn’t havethe largest map in theFinal Fantasyfranchise, but it has one of the largest of its era. AfterFinal Fantasy 8, arguably no map size compared to it until the release ofFinal Fantasy 12(not countingFinal Fantasy 11, which was an MMO). As the modern gaming industry continues to claim “bigger can be better” with titles likeThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, aFinal Fantasy 8remake would allow it to fit right in with the competition and provide players with a sprawling world to explore on foot, by airship, or via car.
A Final Fantasy 8 Remake Could Reinvent the Original’s Iconic Soundtrack
Every veteranFinal Fantasyfan knows the name Nobuo Uematsu, as he is responsible for composing the soundtracks for most of the series' games, and that includesFinal Fantasy 8. While each soundtrack has its merits — especiallyFinal Fantasy 7’s —Final Fantasy 8’s soundtrackis iconic and widely considered one of the franchise’s best. As such, aFinal Fantasy 8remake would be worth it, simply because of how it would take the game’s soundtrack to new heights.
There are even more reasonsFinal Fantasy 8deserves the remake treatment like its predecessorFinal Fantasy 7, but the most obvious reasons lie in what a remake would do for its memorable characters, compelling story, massive explorable map, and iconic soundtrack. Despite the years and exhaustive work it would take to accomplish, aFinal Fantasy 8remake would undoubtedly be worth it.
Final Fantasy 8
WHERE TO PLAY
It is a time of war.The Republic of Galbadia, under the influence of the sorceress Edea, mobilizes its great armies against the other nations of the world.Squall and other members of SeeD, an elite mercenary force, join hands with Rinoa, a resistance fighter, to fight against Galbadia’s tyrannical rule and to prevent Edea from fulfilling her ultimate goal.
