Yoshi-P Wants Square Enix To Re-Release Two Classic PS1 RPGs

Naoki Yoshida, the director and producer behind Final Fantasy 14, voiced his desire for Square Enix to re-release the classic PlayStation RPGs Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics. Both Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story were originally released on the PS1, developed by Square Enix as part of the greater Ivalice Alliance series. Both games received a lot of critical acclaim back in the day, and are still lauded as some of the best games by Square on the console. Final Fantasy Tactics in particular got two sequels, one on the Game Boy Advance and one on the Nintendo DS, along with a remake of the first game in 2007 on the PlayStation Portable.

Despite both the games’ acclaim, Tactics hasn’t had a new release since the 2007 remake, and Vagrant Story was only re-released via PlayStation Network on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita in 2006. While rumors of a potential Tactics remaster have been circulating for the last few years, especially after the infamous 2021 Nvidia GeForce Leak, Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story director Yasumi Matsuno eventually shut them down. Many fans, including Final Fantasy 16 actor Ben Starr, have been vocal in wanting a remaster or re-release of the first Final Fantasy Tactics game, including Square Enix’s own Naoki Yoshida, or Yoshi-P.

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In an interview with 4Gamer, Yoshida and Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi were asked about what games they would like to re-release, including remasters, remakes, and even titles they didn’t work on themselves. While Sakaguchi said he’d like to re-release the Terra Battle mobile game, Yoshida said that since he was a big fan of Director Yasumi Matsuno’s work, he wants a re-release of Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics, wanting future generations to play them on any platform.

Yoshi-P Wants Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics to be Played by ‘Future Generations’

Yoshida stated that, while he himself doesn’t have much interest in remakes or remasters, he thinks it’s important that fans can play these older games properly. Yoshida’s love for Final Fantasy Tactics is evident, as he previously said the series itself deserves another entry. Another game Yoshida brings up is Parasite Eve, which he says also deserves a sequel. Yoshida also jokes that since the protagonist of the original was named after Sakaguchi’s daughter, the sequel’s main character should be named after Sakaguchi’s grandson.

Yoshida then says that while games like Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Parasite Eve are Square Enix games that deserve a re-release or remake, it can be difficult to make a reality, but if there are a lot of fans who support it, then it could be something done with current technology. Despite Yoshida wanting a remaster or re-release of both of these games, it doesn’t appear to be in the works at this time. Even Matsuno himself said that he’s not working on a potential remaster, asking fans to play other titles like Vanillaware’s Unicorn Overlord if they want to scratch the itch of playing something in the vein of Final Fantasy Tactics.

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  Final Fantasy Tactics

  Originally released in 1997, Final Fantasy Tactics is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square. It is the first game of the Tactics series within the Final Fantasy franchise, and the first entry set in the fictional world later known as Ivalice that was inspired by the real Middle Ages.

  The story follows Ramza Beoulve, a highborn cadet placed in the middle of a military conflict known as The Lion War, where two opposing noble factions are coveting the throne of the kingdom. But the story also follows a commoner named Delita, one of Ramza’s childhood friends. 

  Tactics features a character class system, which allows players to customize characters into various roles. The game makes extensive use of most of the original character classes seen in earlier Final Fantasy games like Summoners, mages, Monks, Thieves, and more.

  Known for its exciting turn-based combat and robust job system, Final Fantasy Tactics sticks out as one of the most beloved game in the entire franchise.

  Systems

  

  Released

  June 20, 1997

  Developer(s)

  Square

  Publisher(s)

  Square , Sony Computer Entertainment

  ESRB

  t

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  Set in the fictional kingdom of Valendia, Vagrant Story is a JRPG that was developed and published by Square prior to the company’s 2002 merger with Enix. The game follows protagonist Ashley Riot, a brave knight who is pursuing an evil cult leader in the midst of a civil war.

  Systems

  

  Released

  May 15, 2000

  Developer(s)

  Square

  Publisher(s)

  Square

  ESRB

  T For Teen due to Animated Violence