Kitase Dreaming of Final Fantasy VII Remake

During an interview for French TV program, "Next Gen", on French TV channel MCM, Yoshinori Kitase, producer of the Final Fantasy series, said that he is hoping to do a Final Fantasy VII remake after XIII and Versus XIII.

He said "Every day I wake up and the project is moving slowly, although it is still at the stage of reflection."

It will come, my readers!

[Kitase is dreaming about a remake of Final Fantasy VII] [Image]

Games that Japanese Gamers Want Remade

Dengeki Online recently had a polling asking Japanese gamers what games they would like to have remade. The results are below. I wonder what came in first.

1. Final Fantasy VII (PSone) (Square Enix)

Oh, duh.

2. Xenogears (PSone) (Square Enix)

3. Seiken Densetsu 3 (Super Famicom) (Square Enix)

4. Romancing SaGa 3 (Super Famicom) (Square Enix)

5. Tactics Ogre (PSone) (Atlus)

6. Megami Ibunroku Perusona (PSone) (Atlus)

7. Final Fantasy IX (PSone) (Square Enix)

8. Romancing SaGa 2 (Super Famicom) (Square Enix)

9. Saga Frontier (PSone) (Square Enix)

10. Wild Arms 2 (PSone) (SCEA)

Not surprising that mostly every game here is from Square Enix, and all of them (minus 3 games) are on the PSone. I mean, come on people, we are talking about Japan. Square should get to work on that Final Fantasy VII remake (please, won't you?), after that a Persona remake from Atlus wouldn't hurt at all either, or perhaps Persona 2. Hmm.

[Dengeki Remake Poll] [Kotaku]

Final Fantasy VII Director Speaks on Chance of A Remake

The United States wants a Final Fantasy VII remake, Japan wants one, and so does the rest of the world. What are the chances of this actually happening though? Let's hear what Square Enix's Yoshinori Kitase, director of the Final Fantasy VII on the PSone we all know and love, has to say about it.

"My feelings are that if a remake were to work well then all the core members of the original team must be reassembled, all the artists and designers.

The problem is that, although all of us have an idea of what a remake should be and how to do it, organising such a thing right now is logistically very difficult. All the different members are now involved in very new, very large projects like Final Fantasy XIII and those projects are going to take a while.

Maybe, when all those games are finished then we can look at doing something like that.

Of course, that said we came up with the idea for Crisis Core in just two days. It was a case of 'this is what we want to do, so let's do it'. So, you can definitely expect the probability of something spontaneous happening at some point, but it's hard to predict."

He's said this before. Square Enix loves remakes, you can tell by all the remakes you see on the DS. You can bet this will eventually come. It is the smartest thing they can do.

[FFVII Director On Chances Of A Remake]

Hip-Hop Producer Just Blaze Shows His Love for PlayStation 3, Final Fantasy

In a new video recording, hip-hop producer Just Blaze gives us a tour of his room. The fact that it is so crappy is beyond us since he is CEO of Fort Knocks Entertainment, but he does express his love for PlayStation 3 and Final Fantasy. "How many rappers you know got this" he says as he holds a copy of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Enjoy!

Final Fantasy VII: Remake Blues

The past week, I've picked up my copy of Final Fantasy VII to actually finish the game. So far I'm about 20 hours in on Disc 2 and over-leveled (that way, bosses are easier). I'm not going to go into any details, except I will mention I'm just entering The Crater and looking for Sephiroth. While playing the game, I realized how much better "the best RPG ever made" would be if it were remade on the PlayStation 3. The thought in my mind that it is extremely possible and the best move that Square Enix can make (possibly after XIII & Versus XIII) but they have no plans on doing so (at least, any announced plans) drives me mad.

You know, when we open the new site (that starts with an "S"), we may add a section to the site just for Final Fantasy VII. Thats how much we love it.

April Fools Watch: Final Fantasy XIII Demo With Last Remnant, FFVII for PS3 Confirmed

Ah, the day of jokes has arrived, yes people it is April Fools Day. We have the first piece of obvious jokery on the internet.

This one states that a Final Fantasy Versus XIII demo will be available with Square Enix's upcoming The Last Remnant, just as they do for many other of their major games. The demo would have been from after 20 something hours in the game, showing how far along in production they are. It also mentions that an hint in The Last Remnant confirms the RPG fan dream of a Final Fantasy VII remake. If only it were true.

[FFXIII Playable Demo, FFVII PS3 Remake CONFIRMED]

More Evidence of a PlayStation 3 Remake for Final Fantasy VII

The rumor doesn't stop, and it won't stop till Final Fantasy VII for the PlayStation 3 is actually announced. That is what we love about it. On a new post on James Mielke's blog, he pointed out a question in their Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII interview with Hajime Tabata.

1UP: Does Crisis Core mark the finale for the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII series?
Hajime Tabata: No, it does not. The Compilation's finale will take some other form.

All other compilation titles for the Final Fantasy VII series have already been announced and released. So what is left? A Final Fantasy VII remake is left. Think about it, so far they have released: Final Fantasy VII on PSone, Dirge of Cerberus on PS2, Crisis Core (this month) on PSP, Advent Children on Blu-Ray (2008) and Before Crisis on the mobile phone. That PlayStation 3 is next in the system line-up.

[More circumstantial evidence that an FFVII remake is en route to the PS3]

Final Fantasy VII Remake Possible If Development Schedule Opens

This months issue of the PlayStation: The Official Magazine features an interview with direction of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Hajime Tabata.

One of the questions asked to him was about the possibilities of a Final Fantasy VII remake.

"The possiblity for a remake may become greater if, for instance, the schedules of the original members of the Final Fantasy VII development team, such as Kitase and Nomura, open up"

Who knows, maybe after Fabula Nova Crystallis is done with, they will get to work.

[FFVII Remake Possible If Development Schedules Open Up]

1000th Famitsu Special: Fabula Nova Crystallis Interview

We will be straight with you here. We have no idea what these scans say. What we think we know, according to a title translation from the original news story, is that it's an interview with Nomura regarding Final Fantasy XIII, Versus XII, Agito XIII, and some other Square Enix games, and that it's the 1000th Famitsu issue special. We merly posted this in case anybody can help us out.

Update: Ok, we have a minor translation. The magazine is interviewing Testuya Nomura to celebrate their 1000th issue. Some of the details below.

- While designing Final Fantasy VII, they were indecisive about how spiky to make Cloud's hair.
- Since people are more used to the beautiful CGs of FF characters, Nomura prefers his own artworks to not be shown out in the open too often and thinks that the Final Fantasy illustrations done by Yoshiyuki Amano are what people prefer to see.
- Normally draws with just a mechanical pencil, then scans and digitally colours his artworks.
- Buys games based on Famitsu reviews.
- Lightning from Final Fantasy XIII: Has muscular legs, she isn't sweet, strict to herself and to others, and doesn't like whiners. She is quite like a military soldier.
- Final Fantasy XIII scenario writer, Motomu Toriyama wanted her to be more muscular and macho, but Nomura thought people wouldn't be fond of her as a main character if he designed her that way.
- Aya (Aya Brea from PE3) is a bid more rounded than Lightning.
- Versus XIII heroes' clothes will probably be revised.
- Versus XIII main character is unlike Cloud nor Squall as people are expecting. Everyone's impression on him will greatly change once they hear him speak. Many people may not like him.
- His name will be related to weather just like Lightning, but personally Nomura has gotten bored of this naming tradition.
- The next time they reveal new Versus XIII info, they will reveal the main character's name.
- Agito XIII characters are being called after their weapons between the development staff members, like how the boy with the cards is known as "Card-kun". The girl with glasses is being called "Class President" just because of her image, though.
- Final Fantasy XIII scenario writer, Motomu Toriyama wanted her to be more muscular and macho, but Nomura thought people wouldn't be fond of her as a main character if he designed her that way.
- Versus XIII main character is unlike Cloud nor Squall as people are expecting. Everyone's impression on him will greatly change once they hear him speak. Many people may not like him.

The scans can be seen below. [PS3Forums]

[파이널판타지 노무라 오빠 인터뷰 스캔샷]

Surfer Girl: Square Enix Re-Releasing Final Fantasy VII for PLAYSTATION Network

According to Surfer Girl, on January 14, 2007 she revealed that Square Enix is remaking games for the PLAYSTATION Network.

Today, in the comments section of one of her posts, a questioner asks how Square Enix will remake their games, and what games. Surfer Girl responded "Primarily graphical touches. I hear FF7 (again, not in that rumored all-out remake fashion that has been mention)."

If anything, I'd take both Final Fantasy VII on the PLAYSTATION Network and a full-fledged remake. If one, I'd go for the full-fledged though.

[Via Surfer Girl]

Update 1/17/08: In a new comment post by Surfer Girl, she reveals the PLAYSTATION Network release will be more of just a re-release rather than a remake.

Final Fantasy VII: The Reason for PSone Remote Play

The new update we received yesterday included more than just DivX and WMV support. This new update came with PSone remote play, meaning any downloaded PSone title, or any PSone disc we had in the system, we can play it from our PSP using remote play. The game that is going to be played the most? Final Fantasy VII. Now we just need it in the PLAYSTATION Store. Look above, and see how real remote role playing is done.

Cloud to Return In Final Fantasy XIII?

If you saw the extended version of the new Final Fantasy XIII trailer, you may have seen this guy pop in on a motorcycle and start shooting during the last few seconds.

Games Radar has proposed a theory that this could possibly be Final Fantasy VII's cloud. Normura stated a while back that “We of course know ourselves what the fans want so we'd like to continue thinking up a variety of things” so it could be possible.

Think about it, what would Cloud look like with his hair down and a bandanna over his head? Then look at the picture. As of now, we could only speculate till the character is actually named.

[Via Games Radar]

Official Site for CLOUD Book Opens

The official site for Square Enix's CLOUD artbook and accompanying DVD has opened today.

The site lists all the trailers on the special DVD such as Final Fantasy XIII & Versus XIII. It has a preview of some of the pages in the book, including one Fabula Nova Crystallis page.

Check out the site at the link below.

[Visit CLOUD Official Site]

Final Fantasy VII: For the Collectors

Final Fantasy VII was with no doubt one of the greatest RPGs ever made. So why not game to it with some Final Fantasy VII potion. That way, after you start getting tired and sweat, you can drink the potion and you will be restored to your normal state.

Theres more goodies than just those though.

Collectible statue figures of your favorite characters. I want that Cloud statue! But, we can't have everything now can we? Unfortunately, the only way to get these are through the Japanese Enix store.

[Via Dengeki]

G4 Preview: Square Enix @ TGS 2007

G4 show us all the details about the newest Square games, Infinite Undiscovery, Kingdom Hearts, FF13 and Versus 13, aswell as The Last Remnant. They also talk about what was seen behind the hidden "curtain" of the new Final Fantasy games. Enjoy.

[Via GameTrailers]

Last Order: Final Fantasy VII: Missed It?

Have you ever seen the anime Final Fantasy VII titled The Last Order? It's a big part of the series that highlights Zacks part of the story. If you've played Final Fantasy VII, and watched Advent Children, then you need to watch this.

[Via DTW]

Final Fantasy VII "We Hope to Meet Final Fantasy VII Again" Full Page

If you remember about a week or two back, we got some information from Forever-Fantasy about the Crisis Core book and how it stated "We Hope to Meet Final Fantasy VII Again!" on the page.

Now we have a full page scan along with the page next to it. On the page next to it, it says "And Next?", which goes on to say "We Hope to Meet Final Fantasy VII Again!". Could that mean it's Square Enix's "next" project?

1UP Blog: Final Fantasy VII Listed In Square's Mega Theater

If you are dissappointed that we didn't hear anything about a Final Fantasy VII remake during Sony's conference, don't worry, developers like Square Enix are having their own. This was posted on the 1UP blog during the live blogging for Sony's conference:

"6:21: Woah. THIS JUST IN: So apparently we just heard from Jeremy that they're probably going to announce the FF7 remake here. He says "Final Fantasy 7" (no details) is listed at the Square Enix theater."

So I guess we got that too look forward too now. A Final Fantasy VII remake seem highly likely though. It's the smartest move to make.

[Via 1UP]

Rumor: TGS 07 Shows Endless Crisis, Kingdom Hearts PS3 [Update]

With the approach of Tokyo Game Show which will begin on September 20, 2007 for the press and industry, here is the latest rumor from the famous Japanese forum 2ch, which lists new Square Enix titles for the show, like Endless Crisis: Final Fantasy VII on PlayStation 3, three new episodes of the series Kingdom Hearts to be appeared on PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, and PSP. Nothing official for the moment, but were waiting patiently, we will know some more information in a few hours when the first information coming from the Japanese magazines Famitsu & Shonen Jump is uploaded online. Here are the titles.

- Endless Crisis: Final Fantasy VII (PlayStation 3)
- Final Fantasy XIII (PlayStation 3)
- Final Fantasy Versus XIII (PlayStation 3)
- Kingdom Hearts (temporary title) (PlayStation 3)
- Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories 2 (Nintendo DS)
- Kingdom Hearts 0 (PSP)
- Star Ocean 4 (PlayStation 3)

This is translated from French to English from JeuxFrance, which is citing their source as 2ch (2chan, a popular Japanese website.) For some reason, I highly doubt any of these though.

[Via JeuxFrance]

9.18.07 Update

My doubts were wrong! Here's a new update, a scan from V-Jump in Japan, confirming one of the Kingdom Hearts titles. More updates as they come!

[Via Forever Fantasy]

Final Fantasy VII Remake: If It Happens

Okay, hints are getting fonder and fonder of a Final Fantasy VII remake for the PlayStation 3, but Square isn't giving the details. Hopefully, TGS 07 will. But lets look into it, if an announcement is made about the remake, what would you want in it? Here's the list that I've gathered up thanks to sources:

1) Improved Graphics to match the next-gen fad, obviously. On par with the tech demo.
2) Better translation then the PSone game. Even the PC version had better translation.
3) Voice acting, maybe the voice overs from Advent Children, but make it look like they are actually talking this time. Have subtitles and the option to turn voice acting off.
4) Keep the good ol' world map, were we can fly free in the Highwind like never before in tech demo 3D.
6) Option to skip the summon animation.
7) More accurate story, so people understand it better. Many people still don't fully understand Final Fantasy VII's story.
8) Update the story with all the retcon from the compilation. For example the fact that Sephiroth jumps into the Lifestream in Last Order rather than Cloud throwing him into it like in the original game. Many people don't like the fact that Squae Enix are changing things in the story, but when Square changes the story, then those changes are official, and that means that some of the events we see happen in the original are outdated compared to what "really*" happened according to the updated story.
9) Online. There were a lot of mini games in Final Fantasy VII. There was chocobo racing, snowboarding, even boxing (the little machine at the Golden Saucer). If we had online, it would be great to play newly enhanced versions of those mini-games with other people around the world. Maybe even Player vs. Player at the Gold Saucer. Perhaps even add Home integration, adding new clothes when you buy the game, like Cloud armor, etc.
10) More side-quests would be nice, but no "revive Aerith"-quest or secret Holy- or Meteor-materias. Only side-quests that don't affect the story. A few extra mini-games for the Golden Saucer and mentioned online mode would be nice too.
11) When we can enter Midgar again, we should be able to go to all the areas of it, not limit ourselves. Even climb over the Sector 7 collapse. Not just Midgar, make everything truly explorable.
12) Random encounters and the Limit Break battle system need to stay.
13) Extra costumes for the main characters.
14) More materia, summons, weapons, and armor for the characters. Along with the weapons, more weapons to fight too.
15) Digitally Remastered music from the original game.
16) Explaination of why Cloud is in Final Fantasy Tactics.
17) Day and Night system, for more realism.
18) Destructible environments, like quake will mess up the ground, fire will burn grass/melt snow, certain attacks will leave grooves or craters in the ground, etc. so at the end of battle you see what effect you had. Also moving fight maps, like the fights still take place in a glass-shatter/swirl type area but your characters move around alot, like at first you run up and attack but don't return to your starting position, you stay where you were, spells and attacks would have a knockback effect, say for example in the fight with palmer, you could knock him back far enough that he would crash through a window in a house and your fight continues there where you'd break chairs and tables during the fight.
19) Have things from the other games and movies in it. A mysterious locked door in Shinra that says Deepground over top, but you can't unlock. Vincents Chaos actually looks like the new Chaos, and Valiant Beast too. Maybe a secret boss somewhere that is a Genesis Clone who survived. Clouds New sword could have a minigame on where to find each one, say you have to find one after you reach Costa del Sol but before you reach Gold Saucer or else you can't get it and can never complete the sword. Have it so when you get the sword it unlocks Omnislash 5. Maybe a fifth limit for all characters as well. Also make an event where you can find the Sherra.
20) Ability to keep all vehicles and not have the Tiny Bronco disappear after you get the Highwind.

Well, those are the best of the best, gathered from my source. Drop a comment, tell us what you think of the list. Got something to add? We just might add it.

[Via GS Forums]