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Reader Discussion – How Much Should A Remaster Change?
Today marks the release of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, a remastered and revamped version of the 2006 PS2 original. It's an excellent game (read our review), but if you are the type of player who wants a remaster to retain the purity of the original version, you might be surprised.
The Zodiac Age has the same story and characters, but the new jobs and license boards completely change the way your characters develop (even when compared to the International Zodiac Job System version of the game, which never released in North America). I think it's definitely an improvement, but players who loved the old system are not getting the game they remember. Last year's Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir is another example of a remastered game that makes fundamental changes to the original formula.
Where do you draw the line? With a remaster, do you want the same game you know and love, but prettier? Is it okay for developers to tweak mechanics and overhaul systems, or does that change the experience too much?
On the other hand, you might think that current remasters don't go far enough – that they should add new characters and story content beyond the base game to give old fans more reason to return.
It's a tricky issue, so share your thoughts in the comments below!
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