Final Fantasy XII HD?

[Night Fury]

Speaking with RPGSite, Final Fantasy Director Yoshinori Kitase has hinted that depending on the success of Final Fantasy X and X-2's HD release, more classic Final Fantasy games could get the HD touch-up, and his first choice for said touch-up is Final Fantasy XII....


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“We’ll have to wait and see if these remasters are going to be successful, first,” Kitase said. “If they do well, I think this will pave the way for more of the previous games to remade in an HD sort of quality.”

"I mean, if we had to single out one of the vast number of Final Fantasy titles which we could make in HD, it would have to be Final Fantasy XII” Kitase, however, does go on to say that although he had no part in the creation of the latest HD revamp, he is hoping that it's success can give old titles of the franchise a boost and trigger similar projects for them.

Released in 2006, Final Fantasy XII was a game which really split the fans, many didn't enjoy the very new battle system, but many also praised the innovative and fresh style that was planted into the game. Whether you liked it or loved it, you can't deny that it was Final Fantasy XII that was the first big change in the direction of the series - taking it from an old-school turn based style game, to something far more interactive and much more like MMORPG games.

I for one, was not a great big fan of Final Fantasy XII, I liked the characters and the story but I couldn't wrap my head around the battle system, so I never played it from start to finish. However now I'm a bit older and I've enjoyed a larger variety of games, Final Fantasy XII HD is something I wouldn't write off at all. What do you think? Maybe you're against Final Fantasy XII and you're still waiting for that big Final Fantasy VII remake.... Let me know in the comments!

SOURCE (http://thekoalition.com/2013/06/ff-xii-hd-depends-on-the-success-of-ff-x-x-2-hd/)

[Aulayna]

I'd buy it in a heartbeat. XII is one of the best of the modern crop of FF's.

[Goldenboko]

I've beaten this game too recently to rebuy it :p

[Hollycat]

I'd be a day one purchase.

[Fynn]

I'd buy it a thousand times.

[Mirage]

Day zero

[Flying Mullet]

I'd be curious to see how much they would improve the graphics before I shelled out any money for it. It's not like the graphics are bad to begin with.

[Scotty_ffgamer]

The graphics are pretty much fine. I doubt they would need to touch up on them much. I would get it in a heartbeat if they included the Zodiac Job System and improved the quality of the audio.

[Flying Mullet]

I would get it in a heartbeat if they included the Zodiac Job System and improved the quality of the audio.
Decreased load times would be a big plus too.

[Mahad]

This was a pretty fun game. I would try it again, but I'm still waiting for the Final Fantasy Ultimate Fan Edition which contains all the console main FF titles from I - XII in HD. You know it's coming.

[Freya]

Hopefully Vaan's fake abs would be fixed.

[Flying Mullet]

Hopefully Vaan's fake abs would be fixed.
With real abs or a beer gut?

[Hollycat]

Hopefully Vaan's fake abs would be fixed.
With real abs or a beer gut?
Neither, asuming they keep the clothes they could just replace his model with a girl and everything would be a-ok. Otherwise, someone needs to tell Vaan that GUYS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO WEAR BIKINI TOPS!

[Mirage]

Way to enforce classical gender roles, HC.

[Hollycat]

Way to enforce classical gender roles, HC.

I'm pretty sure that even 100 years ago it wouldn't have been acceptable for even women to walk around in a bikini. Hell, stop showing your ankles you dirty hussies.

[Mirage]

Yeah, so you are enforcing them.

[SteahMeLee]

:love: If they will publish the Zodiac Job System version that is salvation from these hard-to-customize-into-classes License Boards (since squares are not skippable) it's a secure buy to me! XII is good to me and I love Tactics and Ivalice, I just prefer the Zodiac Job System over the normal Licenses system...

[DMKA]

I'd be curious to see how much they would improve the graphics before I shelled out any money for it. It's not like the graphics are bad to begin with.

True, Final Fantasy XII is one of the best looking, if not the best looking PS2 game. However, the graphics aren't the problem; it's the resolution of everything that's the problem. It's easily the worst looking PS2 game I've ever seen when played on an HDTV.

Honestly, the graphics are so good that it would be the easiest HD remake SE has done. If you know what you're doing, and have a system that can handle it, Final Fantasy XII looks unbelievable on an emulator.

http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee458/Entonations/ff121.png

[Bolivar]

This is everything I need in my life right now.

[TheDesertedOne]

Regardless of appearances, I would purchase this if it were to be released. Given that I'm a newbie to the series.

Granted, I'd be better off going in with an open mind since my brother rented this once and hated it to a degree where he could not see how anyone would like the game at all. Granted, he was disappointed by FFVII and FFXIII, but he didn't slam them as bad as he did XII. At least he acknowledged with those games that he could see someone liking them.

Granted, I still plan on playing XII eventually. When I get to it, I will ignore my (younger) brother's complaints and promptly tell him "You're full of shit" (with sibling rivalry, of course) just like I did with FFXIII.

[FFIX Choco Boy]

Please, no. Please, no... An HD revamp wouldn't be enough of an improvement on this title to constitute shelling out another $60 for it, and IZJS doesn't have enough changes compared to the original, either. In fact, I like the original more than IZJS. So, even though I do enjoy XII(Not really fanboy status, but it's plenty of fun), this would be a huge, unequivocal no for me.

[Rocket Edge]

Hugely encouraging news. :spin:

[Yeargdribble]

True, Final Fantasy XII is one of the best looking, if not the best looking PS2 game. However, the graphics aren't the problem; it's the resolution of everything that's the problem. It's easily the worst looking PS2 game I've ever seen when played on an HDTV.

God, this is the truth so bad. I tried to play it some years ago running my PS2 to a 50" plasma and it looked like absolute trash. I was very disappointed.


Honestly, the graphics are so good that it would be the easiest HD remake SE has done. If you know what you're doing, and have a system that can handle it, Final Fantasy XII looks unbelievable on an emulator.

Maybe I'll mess around with this sometime. I've not dug into PS2 emulation very much. I always heard that it was one of the least emulatablle machines and people have hit a lot of road blocks with it. Probably doesn't matter much though. I pretty much only emulate on portable devices. I've just lost my ability to sit down, tethered to stationary screen, and play an RPG.

I think an HD FFXII rerelease would probably be the final push for me to buy a Vita.

[Pheesh]

I never played it, but being someone that liked the newer battle system changes that Square started implementing I think I would enjoy it. Hopefully this happens.

[Fynn]

Way to enforce classical gender roles, HC.

I'm pretty sure that even 100 years ago it wouldn't have been acceptable for even women to walk around in a bikini. Hell, stop showing your ankles you dirty hussies.

This is pre-Ajora Ivalice we're talking about, Hypo. Remember the standard armor for the Dalmascan military consists of a sports bra and not much else.

[Shiny]

This is some bullshit. Make the VII or earlier generation HD remakes. I don't care if it's more work -- it makes more sense and people demand VII more than they demand XII.

[Pumpkin]

I really wish they would make a remake of IX :(.

I might buy this if it has the Zodiac Job System thingy because I never got to play it that way. I wouldn't otherwise because I have XII and it looks fine and there's no need for another one.

[Karifean]

I would buy it. I never had the IZJS version and Trial Mode looks pretty awesome. Heard a lot of good about that final battle on Stage 100, too.

[Yar]

So that would mean it would be for PS4, right?

[maybee]

This is some bulltrout. Make the VII or earlier generation HD remakes. I don't care if it's more work -- it makes more sense and people demand VII more than they demand XII.

^ This so much

Final Fantasy IX HD would be so awesome.

[Mirage]

They've already made higher resolution remakes of 1 and 2!

[TheDesertedOne]

This is some bulltrout. Make the VII or earlier generation HD remakes. I don't care if it's more work -- it makes more sense and people demand VII more than they demand XII.

^ This so much

Final Fantasy IX HD would be so awesome.

Me playing VI kinda has me thinking what if it was made as a modern game. Granted, IX HD would be awesome and I know that it, a VII HD, or XII HD would make some fans happy.

Just like the X/X-2 HD is making some happy already.


They've already made higher resolution remakes of 1 and 2!

Yes, they did. However, those were NES games placed onto the PS1/GBA/PSP and still were firmly 2D. They were not given the treatment that X/X-2 HD is.


The only issue with games older than X being converted to HD is that they would essentially have to re-make the game from the ground up. It would be worth it, but I can see SE doing it for one older game, which would more than likely be FFVII.

[Fynn]

Yes, they did. However, those were NES games placed onto the PS1/GBA/PSP and still were firmly 2D. They were not given the treatment that X/X-2 HD is.
Actually, it pretty much is an analogous situation. 1, 2 and 4 on the PSP had their textures, sprites and backgrounds enhanced, so that they fit the HD resolution. X/X-2 is getting the same, the graphics were 3D from the get-go, only textures and character models are given a higher resolution. A similar remake for the PS1-era games would require them to completely redraw the prerendered backgrounds, making work on such a remake far more costly.

[Hollycat]

This is some bulltrout. Make the VII or earlier generation HD remakes. I don't care if it's more work -- it makes more sense and people demand VII more than they demand XII.

^ This so much

Final Fantasy IX HD would be so awesome.

The problem with remastering PS1 games is that they can't reuse hardly anything from them. In most HD remakes all they do is adjust the resolution, expand the mesh for player characters and major enemies, and use hd textures on everything else. However, the polygon count in PS1 games is so low that merely adjusting the textures would look awful on any game, be it the blocky FF7 or the less so FF9. In order for them to make an HD version of any PS1 game, they would have to completely remake the game or it would look simply awful. Redoing textures is much simpler than creating all new meshes for every enemy and repainting all the backgrounds and redoing all the magic, and basically recreating all of that as a new game. FF12 has poly counts equivilent to the average current gen game up to about last year, making it a far simpler and far more attractive remaster than any of the PS1 games.
When they say remaking 7 is impossible, what they are really saying is that completely rebuilding the game from scratch would tie up most of the companies resources as they would have to make it perfect to satisfy gamers. While the end result would most likely be FF7 with graphics as good as Advent Children, it would take them far too long for it to be feasible. After all, they are already almost bankrupt and they have to pay their employees.

That is why a few years ago SE said they wouldn't consider remaking FF7 until they had regained their glory or surpassed it. They can't afford to remake 7. But 10 and 12 only need new textures.

TL;DR
They literally cannot afford to remake 7.

[Mirage]

This is some bulltrout. Make the VII or earlier generation HD remakes. I don't care if it's more work -- it makes more sense and people demand VII more than they demand XII.

^ This so much

Final Fantasy IX HD would be so awesome.

Me playing VI kinda has me thinking what if it was made as a modern game. Granted, IX HD would be awesome and I know that it, a VII HD, or XII HD would make some fans happy.

Just like the X/X-2 HD is making some happy already.


They've already made higher resolution remakes of 1 and 2!

Yes, they did. However, those were NES games placed onto the PS1/GBA/PSP and still were firmly 2D. They were not given the treatment that X/X-2 HD is.


The only issue with games older than X being converted to HD is that they would essentially have to re-make the game from the ground up. It would be worth it, but I can see SE doing it for one older game, which would more than likely be FFVII.

2D games were still firmly 2D, 3D games were still firmly 3D. I don't share your opinion that 3D = better.

[TheDesertedOne]

2D games were still firmly 2D, 3D games were still firmly 3D. I don't share your opinion that 3D = better.

When did I say 3D > 2D? I happen to like both whenever done right.

My point was that making a 3D remake of a 2D game would take more effort than to simply make a 2D remake of a 2D game.

[Mirage]

So then it's no problem that the FF1+2 remakes were remade in higher res 2D. I'm so glad we agree!

[Ouch!]

After all, they are already almost bankrupt and they have to pay their employees.
Square Enix is nowhere near "almost bankrupt." Your analysis was spot-on up until that point (namely that a remake of PS1-era titles are just that--remakes, not remasters), but despite some disappointing releases financially recently, Square Enix isn't anywhere near bankrupt. Take a look at their financial reports; despite a bit of a downturn, they're doing fine and still have plenty of cash on hand.

Based on a conservative estimates of active subscriptions to FFXI (approximately 300,000), they're pulling down $54 million in annual subscriptions alone (and to a game for which development and maintenance ten years into its lifecycle is comparatively cheap). Even if Final Fantasy XIV is only moderately successful, an MMORPG with even only a few hundred-thousand subscribers is basically a license to print money.

Final Fantasy VII would be enormously expensive to remake, and I don't anticipate that we'll see a remake for a current generation console ever. I would not be surprised, however, if they went with a PSVita remake or something similar to that. I'd eat up PSVita remakes for VII, VIII, and IX.

[Hollycat]

After all, they are already almost bankrupt and they have to pay their employees.
Square Enix is nowhere near "almost bankrupt." Your analysis was spot-on up until that point (namely that a remake of PS1-era titles are just that--remakes, not remasters), but despite some disappointing releases financially recently, Square Enix isn't anywhere near bankrupt. Take a look at their financial reports; despite a bit of a downturn, they're doing fine and still have plenty of cash on hand.

Based on a conservative estimates of active subscriptions to FFXI (approximately 300,000), they're pulling down $54 million in annual subscriptions alone (and to a game for which development and maintenance ten years into its lifecycle is comparatively cheap). Even if Final Fantasy XIV is only moderately successful, an MMORPG with even only a few hundred-thousand subscribers is basically a license to print money.

Final Fantasy VII would be enormously expensive to remake, and I don't anticipate that we'll see a remake for a current generation console ever. I would not be surprised, however, if they went with a PSVita remake or something similar to that. I'd eat up PSVita remakes for VII, VIII, and IX.

Excuse me if I was wrong, I was under the impression that they were still in the financial crisis they were a few years ago.

[Pike]

Never liked XII. Not interested. It probably wouldn't be released for any system I own, anyway. THANKS OBAMA. AND SQUARE. :stare:

[Ouch!]

Excuse me if I was wrong, I was under the impression that they were still in the financial crisis they were a few years ago.
Square Enix hasn't been in a financial crisis since the launch of Final Fantasy XI. Recently they've had a string of disappointing launches for title, but nothing that could be considered disastrous. Additionally, they just announced today that Final Fantasy XIV has reached 960,000 applications for beta. I'd wager that they're going to be okay.

[Hollycat]

Excuse me if I was wrong, I was under the impression that they were still in the financial crisis they were a few years ago.
Square Enix hasn't been in a financial crisis since the launch of Final Fantasy XI. Recently they've had a string of disappointing launches for title, but nothing that could be considered disastrous. Additionally, they just announced today that Final Fantasy XIV has reached 960,000 applications for beta. I'd wager that they're going to be okay.

Then I apologize, I was basing that assumption on our stock discussion about a year and a half ago.

Regardless, they still can't afford to remake 7 due to the time and effort it would consume, as well as the inevitable cries of "It's not as good."

[Raistlin]

I generally find it hard to justify buying new HD releases of games I already own, but this might be one I'd have to consider. FFXII is great, and exploring the massive world was a big part of it. I would especially consider it if they offered a collector's edition or some other type of new content.

[Elskidor]

I'd be curious to see how much they would improve the graphics before I shelled out any money for it. It's not like the graphics are bad to begin with.


Yeah. I'm a little confused why they are doing this in general. Will it earn much more money? I saw the trailer for X and X-II, and I guess graphics really don't bother me much, because i can't really tell much difference. Remaking old school NES/SNES titles with updated modern graphics I understand, but giving FFX/FFXII a minor enhance seems like more work and spending, with very little profit.

[Slothy]

Doing HD remake of PS2 titles is actually very little work and money, and therefore makes a lot more profit as a result. It would actually cost more to remake NEW and SNES title, and I could almost guarantee if you did that for the PS3/360, you'd never make enough to justify the effort since you have to basically start from scratch with those.

As for the topic, not sure how I missed it before, but the idea that FFXII getting an HD release would depend on how X and X-2 do bothers me a bit, if only because XII is a very different game.

[Bolivar]

I really wish they didn't condition it on the success of X and X-2, that they'd just remaster xii instead.

[Mirage]

Don't we all.

[Skyblade]

I really wish they didn't condition it on the success of X and X-2, that they'd just remaster xii instead.

I wish they'd just remaster all of them. And that they wouldn't ruin any of them when they did so (like adding Compilation stuff into VII). And that they'd be given out free. And...

Yeah, I agree that it'd be nice if they just remaster it, but if the remasters aren't going to make them money, it wouldn't make much sense. Personally I don't think there will be a problem with X/X-2 HD's success, so chances are good, I think.

Unfortunately, if they do remaster XII, XII HD may set a similar bar for future remasters, and so on down the line. One failed remaster may keep them from doing any others.

[Elskidor]

Just noticed X nor XII is offered on the PSN. What gives? I made the mistake of purchasing FFIV complete then realized had to have a PSP. I think my PSP is hacked so I'm a little nervous about hooking up my PSP to retrieve FFIV, so I was going to buy FFXII when i realized PSN didn't offer it! I wonder if it will once it's been remastered. This entire PSN thing confuses me. What happened to the hard copies lol?

[Hollycat]

Just noticed X nor XII is offered on the PSN. What gives? I made the mistake of purchasing FFIV complete then realized had to have a PSP. I think my PSP is hacked so I'm a little nervous about hooking up my PSP to retrieve FFIV, so I was going to buy FFXII when i realized PSN didn't offer it! I wonder if it will once it's been remastered. This entire PSN thing confuses me. What happened to the hard copies lol?
The ps2 version will never be released on PSN.
The Vita and PS3 remasters will be however.

[Mirage]

Just noticed X nor XII is offered on the PSN. What gives? I made the mistake of purchasing FFIV complete then realized had to have a PSP. I think my PSP is hacked so I'm a little nervous about hooking up my PSP to retrieve FFIV, so I was going to buy FFXII when i realized PSN didn't offer it! I wonder if it will once it's been remastered. This entire PSN thing confuses me. What happened to the hard copies lol?

Nothing "happened to" hard copies. Most games are released on discs, with a significant portion of those also being available on PSN. If not at launch, sometime later.

[Freya]

I think they haven't put the PS2 era games on PSN because of the possible re-releases. Well we know FFX|X-2 for sure but XII has had this rumor for a while. It may or may not be true. If X|X-2 does well then they may do XII if not then you'll probably see it on psn

[Bolivar]

Yeah they probably looked at their PSN portfolio and realized they shouldnt keep having multiple versions of the same game on the storefront, nor pre-empt their own attempts at re-releases.