Square Enix - FFXIV: Dawntrail (2024)

SecretSatisfaction said:

So ladies, advice please. Pixel remasters on Switch or wait to see if the quality of life stuff gets updated in the pc versions?

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I'm a bit biased but...if it’s feasible for you, I’d go with a GBA emulator and start playing right away. I’ve been playing the GBA versions since I was a kid: the games came out ages ago, and most of the sprite work and graphics look better than the new ones! However, it’s great that the Pixel Remasters has features to make the games less annoying (reducing encounters, speeding up the game (you can do this one on an emulator though)) and modern, so if that's something that interests you, then you might want to tackle them!

codecat said:

I'm a bit biased but...if it’s feasible for you, I’d go with a GBA emulator and start playing right away. I’ve been playing the GBA versions since I was a kid: the games came out ages ago, and most of the sprite work and graphics look better than the new ones! However, it’s great that the Pixel Remasters has features to make the games less annoying (reducing encounters, speeding up the game (you can do this one on an emulator though)) and modern, so if that's something that interests you, then you might want to tackle them!

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Yeah I have the gba roms I think I was just distracted by the new and shiny thing. I think I’ll probably do that?

I mean I’m technically only 18 hours into my replay of VII so should probably finish that first

codecat said:

I'm a bit biased but...if it’s feasible for you, I’d go with a GBA emulator and start playing right away. I’ve been playing the GBA versions since I was a kid: the games came out ages ago, and most of the sprite work and graphics look better than the new ones! However, it’s great that the Pixel Remasters has features to make the games less annoying (reducing encounters, speeding up the game (you can do this one on an emulator though)) and modern, so if that's something that interests you, then you might want to tackle them!

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I imagine the DS remakes of III and IV are likely better than the original games too, but the appeal here (to me at least), is actually playing the (improved) originals, and doing it on the Switch.

soratami said:

I imagine the DS remakes of III and IV are likely better than the original games too, but the appeal here (to me at least), is actually playing the (improved) originals, and doing it on the Switch.

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I agree that there's a huge appeal in playing all of the titles on the Switch (I'm considering getting the bundle and finally playing III in 2D), but for the rest...it all comes down to what experience you prefer – the DS remakes are very cute, they allowed for cutscenes to have a bit more oomph and it's always a plus to see a 2D world materialized into palpable 3D, but personally the games felt slow overall, and short-sighted when exploring the world map and dungeons, unlike FF IV for example, that you could see ahead well and make more accurate decisions.

By the way, about the post you made about the translations: I know they fixed the VI translation from GBA onwards and that the Pixel Remaster uses the same one (it's very good!) – I'm not sure about the rest of the GBA versions, but if the Pixel Remaster games use the remaining GBA translations, I can verify that there's no localization awkwardness and you won't lose any context as you're playing the games!

codecat said:

By the way, about the post you made about the translations: I know they fixed the VI translation from GBA onwards and that the Pixel Remaster uses the same one (it's very good!) – I'm not sure about the rest of the GBA versions, but if the Pixel Remaster games use the remaining GBA translations, I can verify that there's no localization awkwardness and you won't lose any context as you're playing the games!

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Yeah I just deleted the post because after a bit of searching I pretty much answered my own question, seems like the pixel remaster translations are all fine, which is a relief. It's a shame FF7's never got properly fixed beyond correcting a few typos, because if there's a game that could use that it's that one.

codecat said:

I agree that there's a huge appeal in playing all of the titles on the Switch (I'm considering getting the bundle and finally playing III in 2D), but for the rest...it all comes down to what experience you prefer – the DS remakes are very cute, they allowed for cutscenes to have a bit more oomph and it's always a plus to see a 2D world materialized into palpable 3D, but personally the games felt slow overall, and short-sighted when exploring the world map and dungeons, unlike FF IV for example, that you could see ahead well and make more accurate decisions.

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I JUST played the DS Remake of IV (the PC port of it), and the speed was probably my biggest issue with it. It sort of suffered from the same thing replaying IX does, where battles take too long to load up and get going. The gameplay is good, it just doesn't feel seamless and the whole thing feels a few percentage points slower than it should be.

If there was a 1.5x or 2x speed up option for battles/exploring, I think the game would've been near perfect for me.

CaliDevotion said:

The new FF16 looks spectacular but I am just sad that this franchise has fully converted into another fast-paced action RPG when I still heavily prefer the decision making of turn-based adventures. I don't think any of these will top FFX for that very reason, and I stop seeing the difference between this and say ... an Elden Ring (which was my favorite game last year, don't get me wrong) ... when I am really craving something different.

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A blogger mentioned how Square pretty much wanted to make their own version of the Witcher and I can’t unsee it. Of course the gameplay looks amazing here in comparison to the Witchers system. Personally I don’t mind this change and I’m excited to play this.

I really wish SE would just make an ongoing turn-based Final Fantasy spinoff series that runs parallel to the main series. I don't really care about the numbering of those titles, but I'd like a return, and Bravely Default isn't as frequent to be a replacement. It could even just be a Switch-focused spin-off so they can milk that sweet, sweet console adoption rate.

I'll play XVI and it'll probably be great, but it'd be nice to have options that don't cannibalize each other.

For sure, and I did love Octopath, Triangle, and Bravely Default 2.

It'd just be nice to have some 2D/Turn-based spinoffs that get all the normal trappings of a Final Fantasy series game. Namely, the summons, the Cids, the crystals.

ChrisC said:

For sure, and I did love Octopath, Triangle, and Bravely Default 2.

It'd just be nice to have some 2D/Turn-based spinoffs that get all the normal trappings of a Final Fantasy series game. Namely, the summons, the Cids, the crystals.

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I agree, but when those games all fill that old school Final Fantasy void in everything but name, I suppose there's not that much reason for SE to actually make new traditional Final Fantasy games, as nice as that would be. Still, I'm hoping that's basically what the supposed IX remake is.

FFXVI is not really what I want but it does look like it's going to slap. Yes, it looks like they are trying to make their very own Witcher but the combat looks incredible whereas The Witcher 3's combat is kind of ass relative to other action RPGs.

The Japanese RPG developers just have such a better grip on good combat feel than the Western ones. It annoys me that WRPG fans have such a superiority complex when their games tend to play so clunky in comparison.

Random but the pixel remasters look so aesthetically pleasing on the Switch dashboard

soratami said:

Random but the pixel remasters look so aesthetically pleasing on the Switch dashboard

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The dream if they would update something for the other FF games like this on the Switch but nn, Square Enix will Square Enix.