Summary
In addition to putting out new titles to some of its most popular franchises and experimenting with new IPs, Square Enix has been steadily showing an increased interest in remaking more titles from its impressive and vast back catalog. Not only do players have the second installment of theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketo look forward to in 2024, rumors continue to abound regarding the existence of other remakes of titles from the Japanese luminary’s legendary PS1-era output. While more remakes of games in the developer’s flagship series make sense financially, there’s an opportunity for Square Enix to remake some of its more overlooked games that still shine as examples of impeccable game design. One such game isVagrant Story.
Vagrant Storyreleased on the PS1 at a time when Square Enix was firing on all cylinders, putting out some of their most incredible and innovative work following the flexibility and freedom thatFinal Fantasy 7’s unprecedented successafforded. In addition to titles likeXenogearsandParasite Eve,Vagrant Storywas a radical departure for the developer and specifically intended to be somewhat of an antithesis toFinal Fantasy. Coming from mastermind Yasumi Matsuno, the very same director ofTactics OgreandFinal Fantasy Tactics,Vagrant Storyis one of the best titles to release for the PS1 and absolutely deserving of a remake.
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Vagrant Story’s Brilliance Still Sets It Apart 23 Years Later
The runaway success ofFinal Fantasy 7in the West opened up a whole new market for Square, leading to one of the most prolific and critically acclaimed periods in the developer’s long history. Having just come off of hiswork onFinal Fantasy Tactics, Yasumi Matsuno wanted to make a new kind of RPG that was both visually and tonally distinctive from theFinal Fantasyseries while also delving deeper into the realm Matsuno had created as the setting forFFT’s story – the kingdom of Ivalice. And from just the opening moments of the game,Vagrant Storyestablishes itself as a wholly unique entry in Square Enix’s PS1 library.
Long beforeFinal Fantasy 16’s story borrowed liberally fromGame of Thrones,Vagrant Story’s plot was dripping with cinematic flair and touching on controversial topics that mimic the real-world rise of European powers and the political and religious intrigue that followed. Not to rest just on the laurels of its narrative, though,Vagrant Storyalso introduced an amazing new battle system where players could both switch weapon types and target different body parts to inflict status effects or impair enemies outright. That the game is still remembered fondly by those that played it as one of the best in Square’s PS1 library belies the sad fact that the game went mostly overlooked, releasing just before thelaunch ofFinal Fantasy 8.
Matsuno Himself May Be Hinting at a Possible Resurgence of Vagrant Story
Most of the prevailing rumors surrounding the next possible remake from Square Enix seem to point to the existence of aFinal Fantasy 9remake, but recent developments suggest that Yasumi Matsuno may be dropping hints at the possibility of aremake or remaster ofVagrant Story. Since directingFinal Fantasy 12, Matsuno has taken somewhat of an extended break from game development at Square Enix, with the one exception being his work assisting on theStormbloodexpansion forFinal Fantasy 14. However, some recent tweets have piqued the interest of fans.
Matsuno shared a series of cryptic images on his official Twitter recently, including an image ofVagrant Storyrunning on the PS Vita and some of the imagery from the game itself. While it’s all speculation at this point, it does line up with the fact that Square Enix itself has openly acknowledged its desire to remake more of its past titles. Imagining the incrediblevisual style ofVagrant Storymodernized for next-gen hardware while also introducing new quality-of-life features like radial menus and weapon wheels makes for an exciting prospect. Here’s hoping thatVagrant Storygets a second chance to shine.
