Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster

There are plenty of remakes and rereleases of the classic Final Fantasy titles within relatively easy reach, but it’s hard for me to sit here and say the most recent stab at improving these games were a bad attempt. It respects the source material enough to not make any drastic changes, improves the presentation in the best way it possibly can, and sticks the landing as the definitive way to experience a well-established classic. Even with the fan favorite VI finishing up this batch of remakes, this is a game that’s still well worth your time. They hold up for a damned good reason. If you’re on the fence about picking this one up, don’t be. You’re going to enjoy yourself.

In particular, it looks back fondly at the NES trilogy and updates the mechanics, structure, story, and gameplay, all while retaining that traditional turn-based combat and wonderful music. Even the sometimes frustrating dungeons and bosses stick around for much-needed reminders of the good old days. Because of this, Final Fantasy V has a unique spirit amongst the other Super Famicom/SNES titles. VI does have some elements of customisation, and IV has its moments of silliness, but the core of V is to embrace the fun and experimentation and lose yourself in the adventure. Sometimes, I forget to do that when I’m playing a video game, particularly a Final Fantasy game. So, for that alone, I’m glad I gave the Pixel Remaster of Final Fantasy V a chance.

Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster gives one of the franchises’ underdogs a substantial glow-up, in many ways realizing its potential in ways the original hardware or previous ports never could. Series fans should not miss the opportunity to experience it here, if they’ve never played it before.

The fourth and sixth instalments are most often cited as the highlights of the 2D series, while five was always considered a weird Japanese game with a job system that few have played. However, from today's point of view, especially after playing the great Pixel Remaster version, I can say that Final Fantasy V is perhaps the purest classic JRPG experience in the series and a collection of all the best ideas from the 2D era. If you like this series and the genre in general, don’t skip on this one. Thank me later!

Final Fantasy 5 Pixel Remaster still isn’t the ultimate way to play the game. That would be the Game Boy Advance version of it, thanks to the bonus classes and character portraits. However, it’s still a fantastic RPG, elevated by its spirit of fun and an absolutely gorgeous soundtrack. Whether you’ve played another version before or not, it’s definitely worth experiencing.

This is the best version of the classic RPG. Not only it has aged very well, but all the improvements make it easier to enjoy than ever before.

Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster is a game that should not be missed by JRPG lovers with its customizable job system and successfully developed features.

As much as I loved playing through the Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster, I can’t call it the definitive version. A definitive version would have the GBA bonus content, the PS1 cutscenes, the option to switch graphics and music, and multiple difficulties. But what we have is a beautiful version of a JRPG classic that has not been widely distributed outside of Japan. It’s an amazing game that holds up really well today. So, if anyone from Square-Enix is reading this review, please release the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters on console, with physical editions. I would buy the heck outta that.

With its lighter adventure and rich job system, Final Fantasy V retains its original charm with this Pixel Remaster edition. If the title benefits from graphics and a neat soundtrack like its predecessors, we can still deplore its cleaving font or the absence of content added with the Advance version. Despite everything, the greatest strength of this Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster remains to finally make available in French the lesser known episode of the Super NES trilogy.

While the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters aren’t perfect, they’re certainly the best and most convenient ways to play these classic games. The soundtracks are lovingly orchestrated and the pixel art is gorgeous, though the latter does lose some detail in the translation. Each game feels great to play, but I do wish extra content from previous releases or remakes had been included.

Final Fantasy V is one of the more overlooked titles in the franchise, but skipping this title would be a mistake. Its story may not reach some of the highs as other entries in the franchise, but it’s still compelling enough to keep players interested. While it might not have the best Final Fantasy story, however, it has one of the best job systems. There’s grinding involved to get some of the exceptional abilities, but the freedom to customize a party however the player wants offers many opportunities for creative party configurations and encourages multiple playthroughs. Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster updates a great classic JRPG in a way that respects the original 16-bit title, bringing enough changes to make it feel updated but keeping it familiar enough to appeal to long-time fans.

If you have never had the chance to play Final Fantasy V before, the Pixel Remaster offers great value. This is a good version of a great game that shows clearly why Square is highly regarded for their expertise in RPGs. However, as a long-time fan of the game and the series, I sincerely wish they had gone the extra mile into making this version the most comprehensive and definitive edition it deserves.