Star Ocean: The Second Story Paves the Way for Square Enix's Next Remake

Article Key Points

Xenogears, a cult-classic PS1 RPG from 1998, deserves a remake that stays true to its source material while updating certain aspects.

The remake of Xenogears should include original 2D character sprites and modern technology to enhance the full-3D backgrounds with dynamic lighting. It is essential to preserve the fully-orchestrated soundtrack by the original composer Yasunori Mitsuda, as exemplified in the remake of Star Ocean: The Second Story R.

Square Enix has been fulfilling its promise to search through its previous catalog to find games that deserve a remake. This week, they released Star Ocean: The Second Story R, a remake of the beloved PS1 RPG developed by TriAce and published by Enix. Star Ocean: The Second Story R successfully combines innovation and nostalgia for fans of the original game, while also incorporating modern quality of life features to attract a new audience. The success of this remake suggests that Square Enix should consider remaking Xenogears, a game released in 1998, using a similar approach.

Just like Second Story R, Xenogears features 2D character sprites in a 3D world. While the original Star Ocean: Second Story used pre-rendered backgrounds for its environmental assets, the remake transformed them into fully 3D spaces with depth and dynamic lighting. This change would be a perfect fit for a Xenogears remake. As a cult-classic PS1 RPG, a Xenogears remake should strive to maintain the essence of the original while also enhancing and updating aspects of the game that may not have aged well, following the example set by Star Ocean: The Second Story R.

Why Xenogears Needs and Deserves a Remake

Xenogears, the 1998 RPG developed by Square and created by Tetsuya Takahashi, who later founded Monolith Soft, is known for its spiritual successors in the Xenosaga and Xenoblade Chronicles franchises. Originally intended to be a darker and more complex version of Final Fantasy 7, Xenogears became its own separate title with Takahashi having creative freedom to explore themes of Gnosticism and Freudian psychoanalysis. Due to budget and time constraints, the game shipped with an incomplete second disc. Despite this, Xenogears remains a beloved RPG from Square's iconic PS1-era.

Unfortunately, the game has largely remained exclusive to the PS1 platform, with only a few ports to the PS3, PSP, and PS Vita. Given the unfinished second half of the game, a remake with the same level of care as Star Ocean: The Second Story R could bring Xenogears to a new audience. However, for a successful remake, it is crucial to stay true to the original vision and have Takahashi lead the completion of the game.

Features From Star Ocean: The Second Story R That Should Reappear in a Xenogears Remake

Use of Original 2D Sprites Over Brand-New Full 3D Backgrounds

Given that Xenogears utilizes a remarkably similar visual palette to Star Ocean: The Second Story, it makes perfect sense for a remake of the game to heavily borrow from the features found in Second Story R. The fact that Star Ocean: The Second Story R faithfully reintroduces the adored RPG in a contemporary context with the appropriate updates, while still staying true to the original brilliance, is simply the cherry on top.

The original 2D character sprites of Xenogears lend a timeless quality to the game, distinguishing it from early 3D RPGs like Final Fantasy 7 or Wild Arms. In the event of a Xenogears remake, it would be ideal to follow the path of Second Story R and retain the original character sprites, while giving a modern touch to the full-3D backgrounds through advanced technology and dynamic lighting.

A New, Fully-Orchestrated Soundtrack Arranged by Xenogears' Original Composer

Yasunori Mitsuda's composition for Xenogears is equally remarkable and iconic to his contribution on Chrono Trigger. In Second Story R, the original score is maintained while being enriched with a full orchestral arrangement skillfully executed by the original composer, Motoi Sakuraba. The exceptional quality of Mitsuda's work in Xenogears unquestionably warrants such treatment.

Subtle Refinements to Xenogears' Already Great Combat System

One of the highlights of Second Story R is the way it maintains much of the original's greatness while subtly enhancing the gameplay flow. Xenogears boasts an exceptional hybrid combat system, where human characters engage in melee combos and subsequently fight in the iconic gears using light, medium, and heavy attacks. Although the combat system is already impressive, a remastered version of Xenogears could elevate the character progression model and introduce new Deathblows.

Xenogears

Platform(s) PS1, PlayStation 3Released October 20, 1998Developer(s) SquarePublisher(s) SquareGenre(s) JRPGHow Long To Beat 60 Hours

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of Xenogears, I am thrilled by the prospect of a remake that stays true to the original while incorporating modern enhancements. The game's intricate storyline, memorable characters, and captivating soundtrack have left an indelible mark on me, and I believe a remake has the potential to introduce Xenogears to a new generation of gamers while also satisfying long-time fans.

The success of Star Ocean: The Second Story R provides a solid blueprint for a Xenogears remake. The updated visuals, refined gameplay mechanics, and faithfulness to the original game demonstrate Square Enix's commitment to preserving the essence of classic titles while adapting them for contemporary audiences. By following this approach, a Xenogears remake could deliver a visually stunning and engaging experience while maintaining the game's narrative depth and philosophical themes.

I strongly believe that Xenogears deserves the same level of care and attention that has been given to other classic Square Enix titles such as Final Fantasy VII and Chrono Trigger. With Tetsuya Takahashi at the helm, a Xenogears remake has the potential to become a masterpiece that not only lives up to the legacy of the original but also expands upon it in exciting new ways.