Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Games Are Mostly Amazing on the Switch

The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games are more than welcome returns to form for modern platforms. Each one taps into the art that people know and love, relies on familiar gameplay, and offers arrangements of classic music. Now that all six of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster entries are on the Switch, they often still feel like they can be an amazing way to re-experience the beloved JRPGs. There are some issues still related to the fonts and use of space in each game. However, overall it feels like each one is a very worthwhile way to play the game.

At their heart, in each case someone is getting a way to play Final Fantasy I, II, III, IV, V, and VI on the Switch with the Pixel Remasters. They work well, the design pays tribute to the original releases, and they’re all critically acclaimed RPGs. I mean, you don’t need me to tell you a game like Final Fantasy VI is a masterpiece or it’s momentous to see a remaster of the original Final Fantasy III worldwide after all these years. They avoid the pitfalls of some past, delisted releases with redrawn graphics. So right from the outset, we’re “ahead” from an accessibility standpoint. They’re largely true to the original versions of the games people love, which established an entire franchise.

With the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Switch and PS4 games, Square Enix went a bit further in terms of extra options. Some are incredibly appreciated. For example, in each game you can opt for the original soundtrack instead of the new arrangements. It’s easy enough to switch and they still sound fantastic. The new orchestral options are lovely, of course. But there’s something about the classic version that makes a player appreciate the gravitas that Square could accomplish on a system like the SNES. It really helped me connect in a way that brought me back to playing the original Final Fantasy on my NES or Final Fantasy VI on my SNES.

The Boost also is a boon, but perhaps not in a way you might expect. Yes, somebody could use it to “cheat” the system. You can jack up the amount of EXP, gil, or AP earned from a fight or turn encounters off. But there’s also the opportunity to challenge yourself. Aside from going up to four times as many benefits, you can completely remove the possibility of any gains or set earned values to 0.5x. It allows for flexibility and the player to rebalance things to their own needs.

However, there is one issue that feels even more noticeable now that I have all of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games in my hand on the Switch, rather than on a PC. The amount of empty space really stands out more when it’s in my hands. This can be most noticeable in certain battles. For example, in earlier entries like Final Fantasy, we might see large groups of enemies that fill up the opposition’s side of the screen. But regardless of the installment, the area for enemies can feel like there’s something missing. Especially if you’re facing a boss that should otherwise feel larger or more imposing, but instead seems a little less impressive due to how much area is there.

This also means that the new font, which is an improvement, still isn’t exactly perfect. There are some moments when the Classic option looks great. If there’s a story scene where a character is introduced or something notable is happening and no text boxes are used, it’s great! The size of the text works well for these segments in the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Switch games, even if it ends up being smaller for the UI when setting character names. But for most text boxes, it means there’s this empty field with room for four sentences when most exchanges only use one or two. As for the menus, there are these major gaps and occasional instances where some extra detail might be much smaller than surrounding text.

So yes, some aesthetic issues remain in the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Switch games. The use of space isn’t ideal and, while better, the Classic font could use some adjustments. Even so, the games generally look and play well on the system. It feels like it’s a welcome way to expand the library and enjoy games in an accessible, comfortable way. Each and every one remains a classic, and it’s amazing to get more access to them.

The six Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games are available on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PC, and mobile devices.

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