Final Fantasy 9 Would Be Walking on Thin Ice With One…

With the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy now nearing its end with its third and final entry ahead of it, speculation has naturally drifted onto what, if any, installment Square Enix might be considering remaking next. Recently, the developer unveiled the upcoming Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, a remaster/remake of the original 1997 spin-off. However, when it comes to the series' main entries, only rumors persist, with Final Fantasy 9 being one of the most talked-about. While it's possible the rumored remake has been canceled, even that information is based on a rumor.

If the Final Fantasy 9 remake rumors turn out to be true, it could go one of two directions. It could take the path of least resistance and give it the Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles treatment, which would allow it to occupy a unique space in the gray area between remake and remaster that blends faithfulness to the source material with modern visuals, audio, and gameplay improvements. On the other hand, it could lean more toward what the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy has done and give fans a fully-fledged remake. Either way, there's one feature that, while it might be a risk, Final Fantasy 9 should consider adding.

Despite the Risk, Final Fantasy 9's Rumored Remake Should Feature Voice Acting

Voice Acting Could Really Bring Final Fantasy 9's Characters to Life

Voice acting has become increasingly popular in games, as it helps bring characters to life in a way that silent speech bubbles aren't capable of. In fact, there are plenty of cases when a game doesn't feature voice acting that players cry out for it. Tales of the Shire is one of the most recent examples of this, and many fans were puzzled by its lack of voice acting — even though Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, two games it was inspired by, don't feature voice acting at all. If nothing else, it just goes to show how much demand has increased for voice acting in games over the last decade alone. That's why Final Fantasy 9 might want to consider featuring full voice acting as well.

Part of the reason gamers have begun wanting characters to have voices more than they ever have is the value they add to a game's narrative and world. Fully voiced characters often allow players to establish stronger emotional connections with characters, and there's also a considerable amount of immersion voices can add to a gaming experience. Voices allow characters to express emotion more accurately, and those characters are more likely to be remembered (or at least remembered in a deeper way) if players can hear them. Needless to say, if Final Fantasy 9 were to feature voice acting, it would be a game-changing addition.

Voice Acting Has the Potential to Be Controversial to Veteran Fans

The only issue is how voice acting in Final Fantasy 9 would sit with veteran fans, and that might ultimately come down to how the potential remake would be handled. If it were done in the style of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, it would make sense for it to feature voice acting, as voices would naturally complement more visually realistic characters. If the potential remake were done similarly to Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, though, voice acting would not only make less sense, but its execution could ruin the experience for longtime Final Fantasy fans.

For instance, if the delivery of each character's lines either wasn't performed well or didn't end up sounding how Final Fantasy 9's original audience thought they might, it could put the game's immersion, imagination, and nostalgia at risk. That being said, the presumed purpose of a Final Fantasy 9 remake would, of course, not merely be to appeal to the nostalgia of longtime fans but also welcome in a brand-new audience of players. In light of that, fully voiced characters might be the best route for Final Fantasy 9's rumored remake to take, in spite of the risk that comes with it.

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