Square getting on the PSP train

[Bobtheduck]

PSP may not print money, but it has finally proven itself to be a viable handheld that can sell games, even if not quite as well as the DS. Enough so that Square is starting to take a liking to it and break away from their Nintendo handheld exclusivity they had for a few years./ http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3156429

All I gotta say is: What's a better deal? Re-buying the games on PSP or using my PS1 versions on the PSP? There are supposed to be minor improvements over the previous releases, but... I guess It's a matter of whether the PS1 emulation (Sony's legitimate emulation, not the other kind) can handle the PS1 Final Fantasy releases without serious bugs... Of course, I'd rebuy FF8 if they came out with a special updated release on the PSP, even if the emulated version ran perfectly... I may not be so quick to do that with FF1... FF2 is iffy, as that's my favorite 8 bit FF game.

[Azier the Swordsman]

"Looking more like SNES Final Fantasy's than previous remakes."

The PSone and GBA versions ALREADY look BETTER than the SNES Final Fantasy's. Unless there is a seriously major overhaul on both of those like FFIII DS, I'm not quite sold, considering I already own nearly ever version of FF I and II known to man.

But forget Final Fantasy.

Castlevania X: Rondo of Blood is coming to PSP with the original version, a remade version, and Symphony of the Night all in the same package. I now officially have my one and only reason to invest in a PSP.

[Cognitive Gear]

No more. I refuse to give square any more money for those titles. I bought them once when FF: Origins was released. I didn't think that either was particularly worth replaying.

Now if they gave the original PSone games a resolution increase and gave them true widescreen, I might be willing to rebuy those. However, they have not been announced as remakes; so I'll put that thought aside.

[Azier the Swordsman]

I did play the NES/Famicom originals previously, so I did find the replaying of those titles fairly enjoyable. FF1 needed way less leveling up and more exploration, though.

[Bobtheduck]

[quote="ikimasu"]Now if they gave the original PSone games a resolution increase and gave them true widescreen, I might be willing to rebuy those. However, they have not been announced as remakes]

That's what I'm waiting for, too... Not just that, but a PS2 level upgrade to 7, 8, and 9... They'll have like a third of the models they need for 7 in crisis core, will it be that hard to finish? They can keep the engine, the *shiver* translation, and just upgrade the visuals a bit. 8 may be a bit harder, since there isn't any "8-2" they're working on to steal resources from... They'd never be able to do this on the DS, due to storage capacity, but on PSP it may be possible with compression.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I have this major beef of having an optical disc storage device as something portable. It's like trying to jog with an 80 gig ipod. It will wear out quickly.

I feel more comfortable with flash-based storage devices. Discs are good, but a system that's easily movable with a disc is something I'm not too comfortable with.

[Nate]

Gee...I wish we'd mentioned these remakes on the Gamecast...oh wait...we did. :p

Anyway...this is the fifth (count 'em, FIFTH) version of FF 1 & 2 to exist. And I find it hard to believe that the PSP version will be superior to the Dawn of Souls version. Well, okay, so it'll have the CG movies that Origins had (could care less) and MAYBE better music...but that's about it. Not enough to make me brush the dust off my PSP.

FF 1 & 2 are the weakest links in the series anyway. I beat both of them (and all the bonus stuff) on DoS...no interest in replaying them, ever.

Besides, I thought the Tactics remake was already proof enough that Square was wanting to do stuff with PSP. XD

[Bobtheduck]

Besides, I thought the Tactics remake was already proof enough that Square was wanting to do stuff with PSP. XD

no, it was proof they were "experimenting"

That, and crisis core. Two titles is experimenting, 3 titles shows a bit more faith. It's still not MUCH faith, however.

And I think 1 and 3 are the weakest links in the series, not counting the DS rerelease which I haven't played, though I hear it's changed substantially. I say they are the weakest because they have no real plot. There is no character development in either game, unlike 2. 2 is pretty awesome. I love the non-leveling system in 2, it was rather unique for its time, and I love the characters and the password system. Still, as you said, it is the 5th release... Twice on Famicom, once on PS1, Once on GBA, and now on PSP and I'm not sure I'd buy it again unless they added a LOT to it. Maybe more cutscenes, a la Chrono Trigger rerelease (With Amano's art, of course... grr... I hate toriyama's art) particularly since I can just play the PS1 version without having to buy a new one.

Gee...I wish we'd mentioned these remakes on the Gamecast...oh wait...we did. :p

Gamecast? What's that? Well, actually, I don't get the gamecast because I always forget about it, but I was told by someone commenting on my livejournal that "It's just like they said on the gamecast, the 360 just looks better" So, not only do I feel vindication knowing it's the opposite for Oblivion (which I would never buy anyhow) and it looks better and loads faster on the PS3, but I also know any game news is going to be negative about Sony for the next year, so it's not really worth me paying attention to. It will just make me upset. Sorry, I guess I'll start listening to it once launch season is over... I'm tired of the Sony hate. It's not just you guys, though, it's all over. It's part of why I stick around here a lot less.

Complaints are always louder than compliments, unless the compliments are for something competing with something that has slightly more complaints than it does. Though there are plenty of complaints about another expensive system that got drowned out by the much fewer but much louder complaints about the PS3... How many 360s have gotten returned? Man... Quotes from numerous people "I've gone through 5 360s..." I'm on my 3rd" "My first died right away" and the worst "I bought a core system." Sad... So sad...

In any case, though you may have mentioned it on the gamecast, as I said I didn't listen to the gamecast, haven't in a while, and there wasn't a thread about it, so that's why I brought it up as news.

[Nate]

And I think 1 and 3 are the weakest links in the series, not counting the DS rerelease which I haven't played, though I hear it's changed substantially.

Yeah, III is pretty weak. I have the DS version and well...I haven't played it in ages. It just isn't very good. I still think it's better than II, though.

I agree the storyline and characters in II were awesome, but I hate the lack of a level system.

And sorry, but any game where you get weaker by fighting enemies is garbage in my book. Had to restart an ENTIRE game of FFII because surprise surprise, I levelled up too much! Yes, having to restart an entire game because you got too strong is ridiculous.

Actually I think I remember one other game that was similar...when you hit level 99 you became extremely weak. Don't remember what it was though.

Still, as you said, it is the 5th release... Twice on Famicom, once on PS1, Once on GBA, and now on PSP

Don't forget the Wonderswan Color. :p

I'm tired of the Sony hate. It's not just you guys, though, it's all over.

To be fair, if Sony had a better press department with idiots who didn't say things that made them look like they were mentally retarded *coughJackTrettoncough*, it would really cut down on all the Sony hate. Not eliminate it, because some people have no lives and nothing better to do, but Sony is really digging their own grave.

[Bobtheduck]

Yeah, III is pretty weak. I have the DS version and well...I haven't played it in ages. It just isn't very good. I still think it's better than II, though.

I agree the storyline and characters in II were awesome, but I hate the lack of a level system.

Given I'm able to forgive a game's gameplay for decent story, I suppose that's why I prefer 2 to 3. 3 is still better than 1, though... The only thing 1 has going is it's the first game...

And sorry, but any game where you get weaker by fighting enemies is garbage in my book. Had to restart an ENTIRE game of FFII because surprise surprise, I levelled up too much! Yes, having to restart an entire game because you got too strong is ridiculous.

I'm guessing you didn't like 8, then, though I guess 8 was overall easier than 2.

Don't forget the Wonderswan Color. :p

How silly of me... A nintendo hater's portable of choice, eh? Meh, I still supported Nintendo's handhelds at that time, and I hated the Wonderswan... I just think the PSP has a lot of potential, considering the thing is almost as powerfull as a PS2.

To be fair, if Sony had a better press department with idiots who didn't say things that made them look like they were mentally retarded *coughJackTrettoncough*, it would really cut down on all the Sony hate. Not eliminate it, because some people have no lives and nothing better to do, but Sony is really digging their own grave.

No argument there... I want to cry everytime Kaz Hirai, that one guy who promised the money for finding PS3s on the shelves, or Phil Harrison open their mouths, except that last interview with Phil Harrison, which was really good and didn't have ANY pro-sony corporate BS... It was an honset interview as a gamer, an artist, and a game designer... It's the first time I've ever seen anyone with that much influence basically share my views on something so thoroughly. I guess that's a big part of why I'm still a Sony fan, despite wading in their BS...

[Nate]

Given I'm able to forgive a game's gameplay for decent story, I suppose that's why I prefer 2 to 3. 3 is still better than 1, though... The only thing 1 has going is it's the first game...

Yeah, I don't see why people hold FF I in such high regard. It really isn't that good of a game. I mean, okay, so it introduced people to RPGs and whatnot, but still, it isn't that good (same goes for the original Dragon Warrior).

I'm guessing you didn't like 8, then, though I guess 8 was overall easier than 2.

Eh? You didn't get weaker in FF VIII when you leveled up...the enemies just got stronger along with you. That's a bit irritating, but acceptable.

What I'm talking about is, in II, in the final dungeon all the enemies have insanely high stats, but extremely low levels. And if you've gotten your stats too high, if you fight them, you end up getting weaker (i.e., "Gus' HP dropped!" "Maria's Magic Power dropped!" "Leon's Strength dropped!" and so on). THAT is why I hate FF II, because it punishes you for getting stronger.

How silly of me... A nintendo hater's portable of choice, eh? Meh, I still supported Nintendo's handhelds at that time, and I hated the Wonderswan...

Oh, I don't own a Wonderswan. Never have. I just know the first remake of FF 1 & 2 was on that. And the remake of IV, because I remember hearing people complain there were bugs that crept over into FF IV Advance (apparently the GBA version is a port of the Wonderswan version).