An attempt at a Final Fantasy 4 remake has already been made with the 3D remake for the Nintendo DS. Along with the pixel remaster, the port for the PlayStation Portable, and the Game Boy Advance version, there is no shortage of ways to play the game. However, Final Fantasy 4 deserves a kind of remake in the same vein as Final Fantasy 7 Remake, where Square Enix completely revamps the gameplay and the story. Thanks to the success of its pixel remaster as well as Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker, there are lots of new eyes on Final Fantasy 4. A new way to play the game would be a good way to capitalize on the renewed interest in Final Fantasy 4.
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A Final Fantasy 4 Remake Gameplay Could Focus More On Action
Recent titles in the Final Fantasy series like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the upcoming Final Fantasy 16 show that Square Enix is not afraid to experiment with its RPG series. There is less of an emphasis on a turn-based RPG and more of a focus on action. Final Fantasy 4 could benefit from having more of an action focus with minor party-based elements. The central character of Final Fantasy 4 is Cecil, with other party members entering and exiting at various points in the story. The gameplay should use Cecil as the primary character that the player controls, with other party members being able to act as support.
Cecil’s abilities as a protagonist in Final Fantasy 4 allow him to be an all-rounder. As a paladin, Cecil can act as a tank for the party while also providing support. This could be woven into action-packed gameplay by rushing over to an ally’s side to take damage for them or provide healing. Along with his offensive capabilities, Cecil has what it takes to be at the center of a party-based action game. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin has also shown that co-op could be a possible option for a Final Fantasy 4 remake, with other players being able to take control of available party members.
The icing on the cake for this kind of gameplay would be modifiers to equip to the player’s moveset. Much like how Final Fantasy 7 has materia and Final Fantasy 6 has espers, these allow party members to be customizable to fit different playstyles. Much like other games in the series, Final Fantasy 4 has the player collecting different equipment as the game progresses as well as using powerful summons. One thing that a Final Fantasy 4 remake could do is make use of its plot-important crystals. Different crystals that are collected throughout the game could give different elemental abilities or give access to different spells.
Final Fantasy 4’s Story Could Be Improved With A Remake
Final Fantasy 4 has one of the most iconic protagonists in the series. Cecil’s story of redemption and his transformation from a dark knight to a paladin was integral to how those archetypes were used for the rest of the Final Fantasy series. However, with a story so focused on one character, there are points where the supporting cast falls to the wayside in favor of supporting the protagonist’s journey. Characters like Kain, Rosa, and Rydia remain important to the story but do not have as much agency as Cecil. A reworked story could give these characters thought-out and emotional character arcs.
The benefit of remaking a game from the ground up is that there is a chance to tweak parts of the story. Players saw this done in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, although to varying degrees of success. Many fans agree that it excelled when giving underutilized characters, like the other members of Avalanche, a time to shine in completely new story sections. This same thing could be done to different party members in Final Fantasy 4. Having the party interact in this way could help people get attached to the characters. Different side stories could also be made to support character development and allow for side characters to get a spotlight. This will have players feel more deeply invested as to what happens to these characters as the story unfolds.
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Expanding The World Of Final Fantasy 4
Seeing how the different locations were interpreted on a larger scale was one of the best parts of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Final Fantasy 4 has no shortage of iconic locations that would benefit from the same treatment. Much like how Yggdrasil looms in the distance of every location in Dragon Quest 11, the Tower of Babil in Final Fantasy 4 would be a spectacle to see on a larger scale and would serve as a reminder of what is to come. Other locations like Mount Ordeals and the Kingdom of Baron could feel much more grandiose if done on this larger scale.
In addition to playing up the importance of existing locations in Final Fantasy 4, a remake could also serve as an opportunity to expand on the world’s existing lore. Final Fantasy 7 had the advantage of having lots of supplemental material to include in its remake. A Final Fantasy 4 remake could pull some details from its sequel and add a lot of new material to add to the world. Giving more lore to the underground dwarves, the Lunarians, and the many kingdoms of the world would make the game feel much more like a fleshed-out fantasy setting.
Many of the games in the Final Fantasy series deserve to be reintroduced to modern audiences, even if the precedent of Final Fantasy 7 Remake puts a lot of pressure about Square Enix. Fans have been asking for remakes of classic Final Fantasy games for a long time, and there are possibly none more deserving than Final Fantasy 4.
Final Fantasy 4 Pixel Remaster is available now for Mobile and PC.
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