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[Cipherr]

I don't know how well the DS remakes sold, but given the installed base of iOS and Android devices, it's no doubt much more financially viable to dump a $20 quick-and-dirty port that will probably sell several hundred thousand times onto those platforms and bank on nostalgia and the Final Fantasy name (who else can get away with selling games for >$20 in the App Store?) than it is to remake V and VI from scratch and sell 30 or 40 thousand copies for $40 on 3DS / Vita to nerds like us.

Our dreams of a remade FFVI fade, like tears in the rain.

How much data can we pull together to actually test this. IIRC FF3 for DS sold over a million in Japan alone, and the Dragon Quest games have done similar or more. That is a LOT of revenue. Keeping in mind that the handheld console versions need only prove themselves worth the effort in terms of ROI. Just because one makes less money than the other, doesn't mean its not worth the time.

 

[MagiusNecros]

This was the Kotaku "source" anyway, can't link magazine scans on gaf.

http://www.ff-reunion.net/ff/2013/03/20/ff5_ios_release_date_march_28th

Wow the character sprites are terrible. I like the dialogue character art though.

 

[electroplankton]

what a mobile revolution. That means at least that a full 3D remake on proper platforms is still possible. Playing FFd with the dpad for me was almost impossible.

edit: I saw the scans, my eyes are bleeding.

 

[paile]

All Squeenix ever do anymore is rehash old games on new platforms and milk new games on old platforms.

 

[vareon]

Huh. So it's like "Hey guys, we have the FF Dimension engine ready. Can someone make FFV in this?"

 

[Jacobbles]

Ugh, this looks dreadful. I love FF5 to death but this... this is really bad. Those character sprites are terrible.

I'd almost consider biting if this was coming to 3DS/Vita, but as it is it's a no sale.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

Wake me up when they remake it for 3DS like they teased two years back.

 

[MagiusNecros]

I guess now I can only hope for BDFF at this point.

 

[Glass Rebel]

How much data can we pull together to actually test this. IIRC FF3 for DS sold over a million in Japan alone, and the Dragon Quest games have done similar or more. That is a LOT of revenue. Keeping in mind that the handheld console versions need only prove themselves worth the effort in terms of ROI. Just because one makes less money than the other, doesn't mean its not worth the time.

Japanese sales for DS remakes of

Final Fantasy III (Ultimate Hits) = 1,008,230 / 48,340
Final Fantasy IV (Ultimate Hits) = 622,475 / 29,031

 

[BassForever]

No make FF5 3D remake SE to follow after the incredible FF4 3D remake!

 

[Rootbeer]

After those crappy looking FFI and II phone ports, and then this, which looks every bit as ugly if not worse... please for the love of all things sacred do NOT give FFVI the same treatment. Just... leave it alone. I'd rather have no release than something like this.

FFIII/FFIV (DS)/4 Heroes of Light-esque remake on 3DS will be appreciated though

 

[MrT-Tar]

And I was hoping for a 3DS remake, in the style of III and IV...

 

[Goli]

After those crappy looking FFI and II phone ports, and then this, which looks every bit as ugly if not worse... please for the love of all things sacred do NOT give FFVI the same treatment. Just... leave it alone. I'd rather have no release than something like this.

FFIII/FFIV (DS)/4 Heroes of Light-esque remake on 3DS will be appreciated though

Uhhh the FFI and FFII mobile ports are based on the 20th anniversary releases on PSP which was also the base for FFIVCC which everyone considers gorgeous.

At any rate, I'm not really seeing the ugly in the character sprites... They look fine to me, they're just not on FFI/FFII/FFIVCC level.

 

[Synth_floyd]

This port looks pretty good actually. Looks like they took whatever that FF spinoff game was and souped up the engine. The HD sprites look decent as well.

 

[Hours Left]

Uhhh the FFI and FFII mobile ports are based on the 20th anniversary releases on PSP which was also the base for FFIVCC which everyone considers gorgeous.

At any rate, I'm not really seeing the ugly in the character sprites... They look fine to me, they're just not on FFI/FFII/FFIVCC level.

Yeah, the PSP remakes looked amazing.

These sprites look more in line with the style of FF Dimensions. Not ugly, but just not very interesting either. Hopefully some clearer pictures will give us a better sense.

Still totally digging the character portraits though. A lot.

 

[Toth]

Hmm if it is coming 3/28, I imagine a website should be appearing soon?

 

[Jacobi]

I already had FF5 too often, how about 6 already Square?

 

[Bruno MB]

This is why Final Fantasy V (DS) never happened.

Final Fantasy III (DS) - Japan 990.000 + US 460.000 + Europe 480.000 = 1.930.000
Final Fantasy IV (DS) - Japan 620.000 + US 300.000 + Europe 180.000 = 1.100.000

 

[Heropon]

This is why Final Fantasy V (DS) never happened.

Final Fantasy III (DS) - Japan 990.000 + US 460.000 + Europe 480.000 = 1.930.000
Final Fantasy IV (DS) - Japan 620.000 + US 300.000 + Europe 180.000 = 1.100.000

Final Fantasy III didn't have a port two years before (well, it never had one) so I think those numbers were simply unreachable, meaning that a hypothetical FFV remake wouldn't have seen another huge drop in sales. But knowing how greedy is Square Enix I can see what you say being true. They were disappointed with Chrono Trigger's sales after all...

 

[MagiusNecros]

This is why Final Fantasy V (DS) never happened.

Final Fantasy III (DS) - Japan 990.000 + US 460.000 + Europe 480.000 = 1.930.000
Final Fantasy IV (DS) - Japan 620.000 + US 300.000 + Europe 180.000 = 1.100.000

And how many versions of FFIV did we have at that point? Exactly.

 

[Aeana]

GBA version of both FF5 and 6 have horrible, horrible soundtrack, due to sucky ass GBA audio processor.

5's doesn't really suffer at all. Nothing like 6.
And... Obviously this version doesn't use the GBA sound.

 

[FaceDa]

Can I change the sprites so they aren't ugly?

$7 change sprite IAP

 

[Meier]

Who the hell is paying 20 bucks for these games on iphone?

I would say no one but they keep doing it so who knows. I'll never pay more than $5 for an iPhone game personally. Not a chance in hell -- too much free entertainment content at my fingertips (that I enjoy as much as gaming on the go) to spend that much. I've only paid more than $2 a few times (Kairosoft games).

 

[realalbedo]

Looks great to me. Too bad about Android delay!

 

[Toth]

Okay...if you are going to add Amano's gorgeous art to the dialogue screen, why are you using sprites that look COMPLETELY the opposite. Faris' looks especially wrong....

 

[Goli]

Okay...if you are going to add Amano's gorgeous art to the dialogue screen, why are you using sprites that look COMPLETELY the opposite. Faris' looks especially wrong....

GBA version had this too yet I never saw anyone complaing *shrug*

The direct feed screens:

And I don't think this is using FFIVCC sprites, they're all new.
For comparison:

The difference is pretty dramatic, but I guess it's to be expected for a remake.

 

[badcrumble]

This is why Final Fantasy V (DS) never happened.

Final Fantasy III (DS) - Japan 990.000 + US 460.000 + Europe 480.000 = 1.930.000
Final Fantasy IV (DS) - Japan 620.000 + US 300.000 + Europe 180.000 = 1.100.000

Probably. Sigh. I wish they'd try it on 3DS though. The game deserves much better than this.

 

[djtiesto]

The tiles, portraits and enemies look pretty good, the sprites look absolutely revolting though. Oh well, still the best FF game ever so I'll pick it up.

 

[cartman414]

I already had FF5 too often, how about 6 already Square?

Only version worth it that we actually got was the GBA one. Plus the game hasn't even had an actual remake.