Aside from being the game that was largely responsible for popularizing JRPGs in the West, Final Fantasy 7 was many players' first game in the series and has long been the game that is most recognizable in the franchise. Given its place in the series' limelight, it makes perfect sense as to why Square Enix chose to remake FF7 for modern audiences with Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Still, there is another (and perhaps greater) Final Fantasy title that has an oft-requested update: Final Fantasy 6. As the greatest Final Fantasy title from Square Enix's legendary SNES catalog, Final Fantasy 6 is more than deserving of its own remake.
Releasing on the SNES in 1994 as Final Fantasy 3, Final Fantasy 6 is widely regarded as not just one of the best Final Fantasy games but also one of the best RPGs ever made. Featuring a shocking mid-game plot twist and some series-best mechanics, Final Fantasy 6 is a fan favorite that seems to only get better with age, further evidenced by its popularity among the 6 titles on offer as part of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters. If and when Square Enix decides to remake Final Fantasy 6, it should implement the same template used for the upcoming Dragon Quest 3 remake instead of the full-3D re-imagining afforded to Final Fantasy 7.
Using Octopath Traveler's Perspective for a Graphical Facelift
Square Enix's own Octopath Traveler series was developed as a callback and homage to the classic RPGs in the company's library, complete with grindy turn-based combat and gorgeous sprite-based artwork. In a style now referred to as "HD-2D", graphical assets are pixilated but presented from a 3D perspective with depth of field instead of the traditional top-down view of the SNES Square Enix output. Square Enix has already remade two of their classic games with graphical updates that adopt this style - 2022's Live-A-Live and the upcoming Dragon Quest 3 remake. A potential Final Fantasy 6 remake would also fit naturally within the HD-2D style.
Alongside Chrono Trigger, the sprite-based graphics of Final Fantasy 6 were some of the most impressive that Square Enix were able to squeeze out of the SNES. While a full-3D re-imagining of the characters and locations of Final Fantasy 6 would be interesting to see, a large portion of the game's charm and nostalgia comes from the original 2D perspective. By updating the graphics in a way that retains the spirit of the original game, Square Enix could both please fans and implement a successfully proven visual technique.
Keeping the Core of Final Fantasy 6 Intact While Adding Features
Even though not much is known about the Dragon Quest 3 remake aside from what was revealed in the announcement trailer, it appears as if Square Enix is aiming to keep most of the features of the original game while updating the visuals using the modern 2D approach of Octopath Traveler and Live-A-Live. A potential remake of Final Fantasy 6 should also follow Square Enix's work on Dragon Quest 3 by maintaining the narrative and mechanics of the original while adding some quality-of-life features such as those found in the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters. The core of Final Fantasy 6 still raises it to the status of arguably the greatest game in the franchise, and a remake shouldn't counter that impression.
Instead of making unnecessary changes or cutting content, an updated HD-2D remake of Final Fantasy 6 should instead expand upon elements of the original that players have held in high regard for almost 30 years. Developing the backstory of key characters, expanding the bestiary, or even adding new Espers for players to collect and use in battle are just some of the options that come to mind when considering ways Final Fantasy 6 could be updated. As a luminary of 16-bit JRPG design, Final Fantasy 6 deserves an update that stays true to the spirit of the original as much as Dragon Quest 3's remake.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is currently in development.