Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana was ahead of the curve for real-time RPG battles. The game was colorful, and would make for a beautiful HD game rendered in an oil-painting style. Square Enix has ported this to Wii’s Virtual Console (as well as iOS and Android), but an update on the Wii U would be fantastic. Think of Skyward Sword’s game mechanics with the Wiimote implemented into the battle system, with a look reminiscent of Okami or Child of Light.
Illusion of Gaia
Illusion of Gaia’s character designer was Moto Hagio, one of the founding mothers of shojo manga. Bringing her back on board for a remix would be a great testament to an important figure in Japanese manga. The next generation of gamers could get the chance to embrace a remarkable adventure wrapped around a classic story about friendship.
Chrono Trigger
This might be a no-brainer. The clamor for a remake has been going on for years, even with some fan-made endeavors getting buzz. This hasn’t been enough for Square Enix to embark on a massive quest to remake such an epic game, though. They’re already getting ample feedback with the Chrono Trigger ports to iOS, Android PSN, Nintendo DS, and Virtual Console. There may not be much incentive for a remake just now, but perhaps one day.
Parasite Eve
A survival horror RPG? That alone should send chills down your spine. The cult classic series saw an update with The 3rd Birthday, but that’s not quite satisfying enough. Think of how Resident Evil evolved as a franchise. What if Parasite Eve sustained the momentum? What would Parasite Eve III look like on PS4 and Xbox One?
Secret of Evermore
There might be enough tales about a boy and his dog, but Secret of Evermore is worth revisiting. The ambient, dark quest could take pages from The Order: 1886 and The Last Guardian for a big, fantastical adventure through time.
Mischief Makers
While everyone was swaying away into 3D worlds, Enix released Mischief Makers for the Nintendo 64 nearly 20 years ago. The game holds up though, with charm and a sense of humor that translates well into today’s game climate. Mischief Makers would fit in well with the platforming genre, and the power of the next gen consoles would help bring it to a vivid reincarnation.
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy VIII has long stood in the shadow of its older sibling Final Fantasy VII. The argument of which Final Fantasy is an eternal one that will draw no conclusion. But because VIII isn’t the popular vote doesn’t mean that it doesn’t deserve a remake. It’s still a great game with a magical resonance that would make a big, pretty splash reimagined in HD. Although, it might be nice to find a way to keep the junctioning system without it being so time-consuming. You know, because we’re all responsible adults now with jobs and families and such, which might prevent us from drawing 100 Ultimas for each character.
Valkyrie Profile
Valkyrie Profile has seen two prequels released since its inception in 1999. Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria was released in 2006 on Playstation 2, with Covenant of the Plume following on Nintendo DS in 2008. A port was made for the PSP, but with the otherwise rarity of this game, Square Enix could capitalize on that void with a beautiful, atmospheric remix. Could the cult classic that saw poor sales in the West finally break ground?
Brave Fencer Musashi
The epic and downright silly Brave Fencer Musashi wouldn’t have to be censored as much since we’re all adults now. A remake would certainly be welcome, but illustrator Tetsuya Nemura might be too tied up with Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII remake to revisit this one. Still, one likes to dream, especially when nostalgia hits thinking about big, memorable boss battles like the Frost Dragon. As lofty as this may sound, Brave Fencer Musashi could be Square Enix’s comedic response to Legend of Zelda, whenever the new one is released.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Mario RPG is arguably one of the best RPG games of all time. Now that Square Enix and Nintendo ended their beef years ago, why not revisit the classic on the Wii U? An incredible soundtrack, memorable battles, and a cast of characters that should have been new staples in the Mario series (Geno, Mallow, Booster, Smithy, The Axem Rangers, and so many more) make a Super Mario RPG remix a sure bet. At least we wouldn’t have to worry about saving Princess Peach again.
What Square Enix games would you want to see updated? Let us know in the comments!
Published: Sep 28, 2015 01:12 am