Square Enix Games That Need Full Remakes

Key Takeaways

• Xenogears, a thought-provoking classic RPG, deserves a remake to attract new gamers.
• Parasite Eve, an intense horror classic, could bring new life with modern gaming technology.
• Vagrant Story, a fantasy epic with great character arcs, needs a remake for modern consoles.

If there’s one thing Square Enix has never been short on, it’s RPG classics. The Japanese video game publisher has proven to be a force in the genre for decades. Long before the merger of the Square and Enix companies even occurred, Square was already a giant in the gaming industry.

Throughout earlier generations of home console gaming, the publishers’ efforts were must-play, groundbreaking affairs. Franchises such as Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy revolutionized the potential of the RPG genre, and influenced it heavily in the decades since they first took off with players. Needless to say, with so many classics from the original PlayStation days, Square Enix has no shortage of incredible games that could be rediscovered with an update for modern consoles. These are a few that deserve to be remade.

5 Xenogears

An Intricate Classic With a Deep, Thought-Provoking Plot

• Initial release date: February 11, 1998
• Platforms: PlayStation, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable
• Genre: RPG, Adventure

This thoughtful epic served as the explosive beginning of the well-regarded Xeno series. Brimming with complex psychological and spiritual themes, the game proved to be another smash hit RPG for Square Enix at the time of its release. Players are taken to the land of Ignas, where a chaotic, long-running conflict between two countries has caused rampant destruction. Needless to say, all is not what it seems as player character Fei Fong Wong uncovers a variety of mysteries and conspiracies concerning an oppressive, tyrannical threat.

Despite its huge acclaim at the time, the long-rumored Xenogears 2never came to fruition. With a remake, not only could this game wow a new generation of gamers, it could also set the stage for that long-sought after second part to finally enter production.

4 Parasite Eve

An Intense, High-Stakes Horror Classic

The horrors of spontaneous combustion are used to startling effect in this atmospheric RPG. Serving as a follow-up to a popular Japanese novel of the same name by Hideaki Sena, the game allows players to tackle a devastating, humanity-ending plot over the course of six grueling days.

Players are introduced to Aya Brea, a cop in New York who must tangle with the deadly Eve. The titular villain is revealed to be looking into human extinction via a mass spontaneous combustion event. While the plot might sound absurd at a glance, it proves to be full of curious, philosophical implications, major twists, and two epic climaxes, with a surprise final boss materializing shortly after gamers seemingly complete the main plot. A major moment in horror gaming, Parasite Eve’s ambitious storytelling, tension, and atmosphere could all be brought to startling new life with modern gaming console technology.

3 Vagrant Story

A Well-Developed Fantasy Epic With Great Character Arcs and Lore

This imaginative RPG takes players to the mysterious world of Valendia, where players must investigate Leá Monde, a destroyed city. Players take control of Ashley Riot, a Valendian military agent looking into both the city itself and a dangerous cult that has been causing trouble there.

Widely praised for its rich, complex narrative, Vagrant Story impressed players and critics alike with its intricate combat systems and groundbreaking graphics for the time. It enjoyed a considerable fan following for years after its release. Vagrant Story’s epic action, character development, and plot would no doubt be a hit today as well. A revamp for modern gaming consoles would help bring new light to one of the original PlayStation’s finest hits.

2 Final Fantasy 6

A Classic Installment With a Great Ensemble Cast

This classic chapter in the beloved Final Fantasy series served as the last time the franchise employed two-dimensional graphics. Needless to say, its visuals and gameplay seem rather dated compared to many of the epics that followed. Considering its classic status, this makes it the perfect candidate to receive a remake.

With a whopping 14 characters to play, the game moves through a dramatic storyline revolving around a steampunk world full of oppression and magical mystery. With its rich storytelling and a variety of important, multiple-choice moments, Final Fantasy 6 is a rich epic that wowed 90s gamers. With a modernization of its gameplay and technical features, its incredible storytelling and world-building could be a smash hit once again.

1 Chrono Trigger

A Time-Travelling Classic That Wowed Critics and Players Alike

This seminal, time travel-focused RPG is regarded as an all-time gaming classic, and rightfully so. The game saw an all-star creative team step in to bring the world to life. Dragon Ball’s Akira Toriyama, Final Fantasy’s Hironobu Sakaguchi, and Dragon Quest’s Yuji Horii were all heavily involved in the game’s development.

The game’s combat system was groundbreaking for the time, bucking the usual trends of RPGs by keeping all foes on screen. Both melee and supernatural offense are on offer for players, as they lead their team through more than one time period in a dangerous fantasy world. While the game was impressive for 1995, the two-dimensional, isometric gameplay seems very dated for today. In order to do its classic plot and world justice, a full remake would allow this beloved hit to resonate with a whole generation of newer gamers.