Why These Classic JRPGs Still Don’t Need Remakes
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
An editorial look at classic JRPGs like Earthbound, Final Fantasy 9, and Chrono Trigger that still hold up brilliantly today without needing modern remakes or remasters.
Remakes and remasters dominate the current gaming landscape, with studios constantly giving past hits the modern glow-up treatment. While titles like the Resident Evil 4 remake or Square Enix’s massive Final Fantasy 7 trilogy prove that sweeping overhauls can work wonders, certain foundational pillars of the genre simply do not need changes to shine in today's ecosystem. These titles remain entirely playable and deeply engaging across modern hardware without requiring a ground-up reconstruction from developers.
Take Earthbound, for example, which remains a masterclass in tone and writing available right through Nintendo Switch Online. Released in North America back in 1995, Shigesato Itoi’s quirky take on small town America is still laugh-out-loud funny and wildly imaginative, influencing generations of indie developers who came after it. Similarly, Final Fantasy 9 stands tall without the rumored remake treatment. Square’s return to classic medieval fantasy following the steampunk eras of its predecessors delivered a heartfelt exploration of mortality that looks and sounds just as brilliant today as it did in 2000.
Then there is Chrono Trigger, a collaborative masterpiece that continues to bewilder fans with its absence on current Nintendo platforms, leaving PC players as the main modern beneficiaries. Its time-travel narrative, designed by an industry dream team, holds up as a masterclass in pacing and world design that needs no HD-2D filter to captivate players. For a deeper look at these timeless adventures and where to find them, check out the original feature on Polygon.
Polygon
Tags: JRPG, Retro Gaming, Square Enix, Nintendo Switch, Polygon
Original article: Polygon