Last Fantasy Techniques – The Ivalice Chronicles remakes one of many best ways video games of all-time, including to it quality-of-life updates, a brand new visible type, full VO, and extra. When it was revealed in June, I used to be thrilled – it isn’t the simplest recreation to legally play lately, a problem emphasised by Sq. Enix famously dropping the sport’s supply code after rewriting over it when bringing the sport to the West after its Japanese launch. However I wasn’t essentially thrilled about a few of the modifications.
The largest change is the brand new visible type, which, whereas trustworthy to the unique pixel artwork in a manner, does not maintain a candle to stated authentic artwork. I had all the time dreamed of an HD-2D remake of Techniques, and the reveal of The Ivalice Chronicles in June killed that dream.
After enjoying the sport for about an hour in Cologne, Germany, throughout Gamescom 2025, I am nonetheless left wishing this was an HD-2D remake – I simply do not suppose the brand new visible type does a lot for me. You possibly can, happily, change to the unique visible type of the sport, however not and not using a main caveat: the fashionable upgrades, high quality of life modifications, absolutely voiced characters, and up to date UI are a part of the improved model of Techniques, or in different phrases, the visually redone model of Techniques. The brand new cutscene type is unbelievable, although.
I am nonetheless not offered on the absolutely voiced characters, both. They sound nice at instances… and never so nice at different instances. I will admit: I like Techniques and have imagined totally different characters in my head and maybe my dissatisfaction stems from VO not matching what’s all the time performed in my head. That stated, I hope the forged grows on me extra within the full launch.
The remainder of The Ivalice Chronicles, nevertheless, is unbelievable, and that is largely as a result of Sq. Enix has made some good quality-of-life modifications to an already implausible recreation. The wanting it’s that The Ivalice Chronicles performs amazingly (a minimum of within the hour I checked out) and that is as a result of it is the Techniques and love.
Fight feels nice, and navigating the battlefield, planning strikes, and fixing the varied encounters, which really feel like mini-puzzles to determine, is nice enjoyable. New options embrace a “tactical view” that makes scouting the battlefield simpler, a better technique to verify flip order, fast-forward choices (just like Sq. Enix’s different remastered Last Fantasy releases like Last Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age), auto-save in battles (a real lifesaver), and extra. It isn’t arduous to see how these options will improve the sport after one hour of making an attempt them out, they usually help you higher focus your time and efforts into issues just like the job system, occasion technique, and extra.
Sq. Enix says The Ivalice Chronicles consists of further conversations and dialogue, however I did not discover something revelatory – a con of only one hour with a recreation, little question. That stated, I am barely anxious in regards to the new dialogue as Techniques options a wonderful story. Does it want extra dialogue? Want is a powerful phrase, but when what’s new can match what’s already there, then I am all for it.
After its reveal in June, The Ivalice Chronicles shot up excessive on my checklist of most anticipated video games launching in 2025. After enjoying an hour of the sport, it is nonetheless excessive up on that checklist. Although I am not offered on the brand new visuals and VO, I am unable to deny how thrilling it’s to have a brand new excuse to leap into one of many style’s greatest.
Last Fantasy Techniques – The Ivalice Chronicles launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Collection X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Swap 2, Swap, and PC on September 30.
