Highlights
- Square Enix has been increasingly interested in remaking titles from its back catalog, including the possibility of remaking Vagrant Story.
- Vagrant Story, released on the PS1, was a departure from Final Fantasy and showcased impeccable game design.
- Recent tweets by director Yasumi Matsuno have sparked speculation about a potential remake or remaster of Vagrant Story.
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 the Final Fantasy 7 Remake to 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 is Vagrant Story.
Vagrant Story released 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 that Final Fantasy 7's unprecedented success afforded. In addition to titles like Xenogears and Parasite Eve, Vagrant Story was a radical departure for the developer and specifically intended to be somewhat of an antithesis to Final Fantasy. Coming from mastermind Yasumi Matsuno, the very same director of Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story is one of the best titles to release for the PS1 and absolutely deserving of a remake.
Vagrant Story's Brilliance Still Sets It Apart 23 Years Later
The runaway success of Final Fantasy 7 in 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 his work on Final Fantasy Tactics, Yasumi Matsuno wanted to make a new kind of RPG that was both visually and tonally distinctive from the Final Fantasy series while also delving deeper into the realm Matsuno had created as the setting for FFT's story -- the kingdom of Ivalice. And from just the opening moments of the game, Vagrant Story establishes itself as a wholly unique entry in Square Enix's PS1 library.
Long before Final Fantasy 16's story borrowed liberally from Game 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 Story also 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 the launch of Final 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 a Final Fantasy 9 remake, but recent developments suggest that Yasumi Matsuno may be dropping hints at the possibility of a remake or remaster of Vagrant Story. Since directing Final 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 the Stormblood expansion for Final 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 of Vagrant Story running 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 incredible visual style of Vagrant Story modernized 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 that Vagrant Story gets a second chance to shine.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will release in early 2024 on PS5.