I have both the SNES copy (via my SNES Classic) and the PS1 version, but I it will be the Pixel Remaster for me. I think outside the GBA version, PR is just considered better than the other versions due to bug fixes and QoL features.
This is actually kind of a white whale for me. I have played it several times but never actually beaten it. When I was a kid, the final boss was too difficult and when I picked up the PS1 version I never made it to the final dungeon... Finally get an excuse to beat this one!
It would definitely be a pixel remaster on steam for me. I had it on the GBA years ago, but didn't finish it, and have long since flipped it. I'm interested in going back now and seeing it with different eyes, and particularly to see how it holds up. Chrono Trigger totally held up, for example, and I played FF7 for the first time a few years ago, and while it didn't rock my world like it would have for the people who played it when it came out, I could still respect what it did.
I may be waiting to see if it hits a sale, though. It's not like $18 is prohibitive by any stretch, but it's sort of the principle.
If anyone is playing the SNES/GBA versions, there are some pretty fun options available via rom hacks. A few that caught my eye are below (descriptions spoilered for post size) but there are dozens more.
SNES Version
Final Fantasy VI - T-Edition + EX (English Translation)
FF6 T-Edition is a popular Japanese ROM hack of Final Fantasy VI for the Super Famicom. It’s intended for Final Fantasy VI fans who would like to play the game with new twists.
Think of Final Fantasy VI T-Edition as a fun, lengthy, and more difficult version of Final Fantasy VI from an alternate universe.
In simple terms, this ROM hack:
Retains the original story, but adds a LOT of new content *around* the main story, including side quests, locations, dungeons, super-bosses, unlockable character costumes (each with stat changes), a music player, and more
Celebrates the Final Fantasy series in countless ways, including hundreds of pieces of music from other games in the series
Updates the game’s mechanics with bug fixes, difficulty modifications, new spells, new attacks, new items, and a whole lot more
This patch should be applied on a UNMODIFIED ROM of FF6j, not on FF3us.
Final Fantasy VI - GBA Text Minus Pop-Culture References
The goal for this project was to combine the detail and “accuracy” of the Final Fantasy VI Advance text with the visual and auditory quality of the SNES release, all without the most obvious real-world references. Beyond that, patches that fix bugs, remove censorship, and add a few features without unbalancing the game (which itself was already an easy title to complete) were incorporated. For more details, see the readme file.
Final Fantasy VI - Total Graphics Uncensorship
Final Fantasy VI received a number of changes from its Japanese incarnation when it arrived overseas, which extended to graphics. Several of the somewhat adult themes were altered to be family friendly.
There are various mods that revert the censorship, but no one unified patch, plus the existing projects left a few changes untouched. Thus, Total Graphics Uncensorship was created to completely restore the original graphics of FFVI.
In short:
The original title screen is restored, removing the black and white splash screen
Barb-e, Dahling, L.80 Magic, and Madam smoke
Critic, Chadarnook (Woman), Goddess, and the Final Boss Tiers show more skin (Mine cart battle BG bug is fixed)
Siren and Starlet show more skin
Cafés are now pubs
Mute’s graphic is fully reverted
Optionally, the Japanese version’s MP growth curve can be restored (See readme for details)
Final Fantasy VI: Revised Old Style Edition
Final Fantasy VI: Revised Old Style Edition is a thorough and nostalgic revision of the text and presentation of Final Fantasy VI.
The purpose of the hack is to refine FF6’s surface-level elements according to the standard set by the PS1-era FF titles (e.g. FF Origins), while preserving the scope and difficulty of the original game as Square designed it. This is a classic improvement-type hack intended for newcomers and veterans alike.
The dialog script has been revised based on multiple translation efforts, both official (SNES/Woolsey, GBA/Slattery) and unofficial (kWhazit, Tomato, Lina Darkstar, et al.). It aims to combine the completeness and accuracy of the GBA with the energy and pacing of the SNES, sans censorship. Much of the official English text is retained in the updated script, particularly where the SNES and GBA agree closely with one another. When unofficial sources are used, the wording is adapted as necessary to maintain cohesion with the overall script.
FF6:ROSE introduces two major advancements in its localization:
Numerous instances of mismatched character dialects, continuity errors, and unnecessary speaker ambiguity have been resolved for the first time using a novel method of dialog customization.
The names of almost all enemies and items have been retranslated at full length. Originally, these names were limited for technical reasons to 10 and 12 letters, respectively. Using an expanded pool of monospace font graphics, the names of enemies and items now reach up to 14 and 16 letters in length, respectively, and only a handful require abbreviation.
The hack is built on C. V. Reynold’s Bug-Fix Compilation patch. It also includes decensored graphics and multiple quality-of-life enhancements. Several of the new features have either been developed from scratch or updated by the author specifically for this hack. A considerable amount of original technical work and attention to detail have gone into making this a uniquely polished and uncompromising FF6 experience.
Final Fantasy VI - Ted Woolsey Uncensored Edition
Back when Final Fantasy VI (Final Fantasy III US) was released the game was heavily toned down, censoring graphics and the like. When it was re-released for the Playstation, the graphics were uncensored but toned down script remained. Then came Final Fantasy VI Advance with a newer (though some consider drier) translation, but the color palette and music were altered for the handheld console. Others have made re-translations, such as the great work by RPGOne, Lina Darkstar, and Kwhazit.
Now this is Final Fantasy VI: Ted Woolsey Uncensored Edition. The goal was to make the SNES version uncut and to clean up the script but keep the nuance used by Woolsey in the original game’s release. Using the original Woolsey script as a basis to analyze, the entire game was looked through, line by line, using FFVI Advance, RPGOne, and Lina Darkstar to accomplish this. Recently, the game’s script was also heavily analyzed by Kwhazit and Mato (Legends of Localization). With these newer and more heavily detailed looks into the game, the script was again updated to provide a much more accurate version while still remaining true to the original game’s release.
Also used was various tools and patches to uncensor the graphics, restore Character Class names, extend spell names, rename monsters and items, and make hopefully the version of Final Fantasy VI that everyone will play.
Any bug fixes or additions that were used were chosen not for any balance changes, but to fix persistent issues in the game, as to not change the experience of the original too much. This even includes the long list used in the optional Bug-Fix versions of the game.
Additional Add-Ons are also optionally included. These tweaks bring an overall complete experience that many would say should have been in the original game to begin with.
The Music Player included with the game has been altered for compatibility with Ted Woolsey Uncensored Edition.
GBA Version
Final Fantasy VI - Sound Restoration hack and fewer framerate drops
This hack, that could also be called “FF6 advance as it should have been”, basically replace the music with the original music from the SNES version (gone the aggressive fuzzy instruments).
The framerate drops, although not entirely suppressed, are greatly reduced, so this version plays almost as smoothly as the SNES original.
All 3 releases of the game (Japan, America, Europe) are supported.
The opera songs can optionally be patched to have true opera soloists, and the major part of the opera tunes are played by Tokio’s orchestra (European version of the ROM only).
Final Fantasy VI Advance - Minus Pop-Culture References
This patch removes the most jarring real-world references from Final Fantasy VI Advance and fixes minor bugs/oddities, as well as restoring censored content and adjusting the color palette to more closely resemble the original Super Famicom/Nintendo release.
Oh hey, I’m in the midst of playing FF VI already so that works out.
Yeah, the urgency to finish a game was not really a driving factor as a kid for me either. I just remember never beating it because I tried so hard to beat that boss and just never could. The only ones I tried to play through completely with any sense of urgency were games I rented, since those had to go back to the store. But ones I owned could be played at any time.
I'd put about an hour into the Pixel Remaster, but put that on hold when I realized nominations were opening back up for this. Glad to see it get the win, I had a blast going through my other old SNES favorite, Chrono Trigger, with the club a while back.
Put another couple hours in last night and this morning. Not to put anyone off of the Pixel Remaster if (like me) they've already played through the SNES version a million times and are eager to try out a different version, but I'm noticing some little polish problems that make me think this version could use a patch or two before it's really ready for primetime.
Just little things, like the fact that the game doesn't remember whether characters are in the front or back row if they leave the party and come back (e.g. I had everyone in the back row during the Lethe River segment, and then after I went through the "choose your scenario" screen and chose Terra / Edgar / Banon, they were all in the front row). Or characters not being properly de-equipped when they leave the party, which granted the OG version didn't do either, but that was supposed to be one of the QoL fixes in this version. The most annoying so far is that the game doesn't automatically target your team with beneficial spells / effects and the enemy with offensive ones, so it's easy to accidentally heal the enemy or hurt your friends if you're just a little too quick with your button presses.
Still loving the remixed soundtrack, and the redone battle effects for skills and spells are amazing, and there are some nice little QoL touches like Sabin's Blitzes showing you the inputs on the screen and not failing you for one wrong button press. I've been streaming my playthrough on Twitch, and I'll admit to being the proverbial die-hard Star Wars fan watching the Special Editions in the theater. "That's new! That's new! Oh, that's new and that's awesome! Oh, but that's new and I don't like it!" (-:
I tried to install a couple of UI mods-- there's one that adds character portraits to dialogue screens-- but I wound up getting a neverending loading screen when I started the game up with them, so I got rid of them and it works fine again. It's still a little early in the port's life cycle to expect mods to "just work," especially since official patches are likely to drop and break them now and then, and there's only so much troubleshooting I have the patience for, so I'm probably better off just playing the game "vanilla" anyway.
Just got the pixel remaster for Android. Look forward to playing this.
hbi2k: to be clear, you’re saying that cure spells don’t default to targeting the party? And attack magic to the enemy? That’s wild if so. Is it reversed?
Edit: I just fired it up and don’t see any issue with spell targeting. Are you saying the game allows you to target enemies with heals, allies with attacks? That’s for strategic reasons.
I've played about an hour of the Pixel Remaster and my fire magic definitely default targeted the enemy, not my party. I have not tried using Cure yet to see what its default target it. Maybe the "remember cursor" setting is kind of funky and also remembers your target not just the last command? I will poke around at that next time I play.
Just making sure I'm in this thread for the next game.
I’ve been thinking about this question this week. My first thought was an SNES game, but we’ve just played one, so I’ll keep this one in the back pocket for now and will instead nominate… Trails of Cold Steel III!
Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark (Switch, PS4, Windows)
Gotta nominate again. Still have my partial run that I need to finish and maybe this will motivate me.
Seconding Fell Seal and nominating Radiant Historia. I grabbed it for $10 when it was on sale like a month ago, and I know it's gotten some attention here before.
Seconding Radiant Historia (it was on my list of potential nominations).
I'll be seconding Trails of Cold Steel III!. Is it me or has this specific series been popular for us to pick in Q3 or Q4 for the past few years?
As for a nomination, seeing as Radian Historia has already been nominated... Let's see... Decisions, decisions, decisions...
Digimon Story: Cybersleuth
Bit of a longshot, but it's been sitting there in my pile, so, what the heck? Worth a shot.
Seconding Radiant Historia!
I could only choose one of the two to nominate hehe.
EDIT: Bobby-hausered.
I'll be seconding Trails of Cold Steel III!. Is it me or has this specific series been popular for us to pick in Q3 or Q4 for the past few years? :D
It was on sale for 50% off on the Epic Game store recently, and with an additional 25% off, I just bit the bullet. And there is a Steam sale right around the corner.
Seeing as how Blue Reflection hasn't gained enough traction the few times it's made it to voting, it's time to nominate a different game. I have been looking to try out the Atelier series, so I am going to nominate Atelier Sophie - The Alchemist and the Mysterious Book.
Seconding Atelier Sophie.
Seconding Radiant Historia!
I could only choose one of the two to nominate hehe.
EDIT: Bobby-hausered.
Funny, Fell Seal and Radiant Historia were the two that I was thinking about nominating, so the choice was made after you nominated one of them. I'm still very interested in doing Xenoblade 1 with the club, but not so close to X3 coming out in a month. Might be a 2023 revisit.
I'll second Berseria. Have that one sitting on my hard drive untouched.
Is Suikoden II too hard to get a hold of to nominate? It's technically still available for download on PS3, but also, it's not like there's a dearth of "ways" to play virtually any PS1 game.
Is Suikoden II too hard to get a hold of to nominate? It's technically still available for download on PS3, but also, it's not like there's a dearth of "ways" to play virtually any PS1 game.
I would definitely second it.
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