Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster review: Hitting for six

There is no doubt that the Final Fantasy series is one of gaming's most defined and well-recognised, yet it is largely the latter half that captures the majority of the public and critical attention. The post-PS1 era of Final Fantasy has rightly received high acclaim, but it has generally been more difficult to discuss and access the six mainline entries that came before.

However, that has all changed now with the release of Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, which rejuvenates the first six games on multiple levels and compiles them into one convenient package. But does Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster do enough to bring these games into the modern era? 

Pixel preservation

The sign of a good remaster is always when a game's visual identity is preserved, and that is very much the case for all six games here. They keep the NES and SNES-era pixel charm that so many fans love, but bring it up to scratch with modern high-resolution displays and it absolutely shines.

The character models have been completely redrawn and are a particular highlight in all six games, carving such defined details within such a small space. There is of course a clear visual progression and evolution as you move through the games chronologically that is generally echoed throughout all aspects, but even the first entry into the series remains such a treat to look at.

This wholeheartedly extends to all of the outstanding illustrations that accompany all six games. More than anything these articulate the wonderfully crafted fantasy of the series' namesake, and it is so great to see them included as an earnable extra as you progress through each entry.

Fontroversy

One unlikely point of contention that has arisen in the hearts of many fans is the rather absurd font choices within this remastered collection. There was quite a significant controversy surrounding the font included in the PC releases, and thus an updated typeface was included in the console releases.

However, it still isn't great, remaining far too thin and leaving too much negative space on the screen. While it does seem rather ridiculous to be complaining so much about a font choice, it is where the majority of each game's narrative and systems are communicated, so it remains a vital feature to get right.

• Looking for another outstanding RPG to play from Square Enix? Check out our Octopath Traveler 2 review for more details.

Magical new compositions

One of the clear highlights of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is the stunning new orchestral compositions for each game, which revitalise each area, battle, and session that you play.

Supervised by the legendary Nobuo Uematsu, each track is wonderfully composed and really feels like it does the grandeur and mythology of the series justice. There of course might be some players that yearn for the electronic beats of the original scores, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a player who does not fall in love with each and every track.

Even the harp-ladened main theme that plays as you scroll through each title on the PlayStation menu is affecting, proving why the Final Fantasy series is celebrated almost as much for its music alone alongside its ever-engaging combat and awe-inspiring narratives.

A series evolved

Perhaps the biggest downside of this particular collection however is how much it highlights the evolution of the series as a whole. Playing through the games in chronological order makes you realise that there are some that are quite remarkably better than others.

Perhaps the clearest split in this regard comes at the halfway point, where the series moved onto the SNES from the NES. It is from here that the games start to feel more than just a standard fantasy RPG, which for the time was remarkable but doesn't quite hold up as well today - especially in the reflection of other spectacular titles in the same collection.

It is truly impressive to see a series arguably surpass itself with each subsequent release, reaching a crescendo with the outstanding Final Fantasy VI - which rightfully sits at the top of our best Final Fantasy games list.

• See another rejuvenated Square Enix classic in this Live A Live review.

The Verdict

Overall, if you're a Final Fantasy fan who has never had the chance to play most or all of the titles in this collection then you should jump at Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, as it provides the best way to play all six entries to this day.

My own gripes about the font aside, there has been remarkable care taken in restoring these six titles, giving them a proper chance to shine on modern consoles. However, for those who aren't quite die-hards it might be a better choice to select certain games individually as opposed to the whole collection, as some titles have stood the test of time far greater than others.

4.5/5

Reviewed on PlayStation 5. Review code provided by the publisher.