Adventurers and collectors, lend me your ears! The elusive physical edition of the Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster collection has resurfaced, and it`s currently entangled in the swirling vortex of Amazon Prime Day deals. For those who prefer their classic RPGs on a cartridge or disc rather than purely digital ether, this is news worth casting Haste for.
This collection isn`t just a simple port; it`s Square Enix`s dedicated effort to revitalize the first six mainline Final Fantasy titles. We`re talking about the foundational pillars of the series:
- Final Fantasy I
- Final Fantasy II
- Final Fantasy III
- Final Fantasy IV
- Final Fantasy V
- Final Fantasy VI
These Pixel Remasters feature comprehensive graphical overhauls that stay true to the original 2D pixel art aesthetic but with increased detail and polish. Think of it as seeing your cherished childhood drawings redrawn with a master artist`s pen.
Equally significant are the audio enhancements. The legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu supervised beautifully rearranged soundtracks for each game, offering a fresh take on iconic tunes while still providing the option to switch to the original 8-bit and 16-bit masterpieces. Hearing the classic battle themes or town melodies with modern instrumentation is a treat for the ears.
Modern Comforts Meet Classic Challenge
Perhaps most appealing for modern players are the substantial quality-of-life improvements. These remasters include features that make revisiting these potentially challenging games much more accessible:
- Quick Save: Essential for those quick gaming sessions or unexpected real-life interruptions.
- Customizable Text Fonts: Read the epic narratives in a style you prefer.
- Experience Multipliers: Want to grind faster? Boost your EXP gains.
- Auto-Battling: Breeze through easier random encounters.
- Ability to Turn Off Random Encounters: Explore dungeons and world maps without constant interruptions – a godsend for puzzle-solving or backtracking.
Beyond gameplay, there`s also an in-game bestiary, an illustration gallery showcasing the updated art, and a music player to soak in those fantastic soundtracks.
The Physical Hunt Ends (For Now)
The physical “Anniversary Edition” of this collection, complete with a charming sticker sheet of character sprites, was initially released in limited quantities and promptly vanished from retailers, leaving many collectors sighing. Square Enix wisely restocked it last fall, bringing it to wider distribution. However, even those restocks can be subject to availability whims.
Currently, for a limited time as part of Prime Day, Amazon has restocked the collection and is offering significant discounts:
- For Nintendo Switch players, the collection is marked down to $45 from its usual $75 price tag.
- PlayStation owners (compatible with both PS4 and PS5) can snag it for an even sharper price of around $42.74, also down from $75.
This is a substantial saving for six full-fledged, updated classic RPGs on a single game card or disc. The appeal of owning these foundational titles physically, seeing them evolve from the rudimentary beginnings of FF1 to the narrative and graphical heights of FF6 on the Super Nintendo, is immense for fans.
Keep in mind, like all Prime Day deals, this opportunity is strictly time-sensitive. The discounts are tied to the event and are expected to expire tonight. If you`ve been waiting for the right time (and price) to add these digital-turned-physical treasures to your library, now is likely the moment to act before they perhaps embark on another mysterious disappearance.
Ellis Thorne