10 Things We Want In a Final Fantasy XV Remake

I've been into the Final Fantasy series since playing the original on the NES. Sure, my relationship with the series has been on and off over the years — I had a Sega Genesis as opposed to a SNES growing up, for example. But, I've played all of them, including the Game Boy releases, at least once. I tell you all of this so you can take what I say next into the proper context.

Final Fantasy XV is probably my favorite game in the series.

Don't get me wrong, I'm fully aware of its flaws. The storytelling is way disjointed, a good portion of the world feels empty, and do not even get me started on Chapter 13. On the other hand, the combat, while flawed, is a lot of fun. The interactions between the characters are the best ever seen in the series... well, the best I've ever seen, anyway. Then there are the vistas you're treated to as the Regalia makes its way across Eos. Final Fantasy XV is, if anything, a gorgeous looking game. Heck, some of us here like the game just the way it is.

There's been no official announcement of a FFXV remake — just talk that Square Enix is "considering it" along with a bunch of other things. But, if they're genuinely considering it, the least I can do is offer suggestions on how to make it the best remake ever. In fact, I can offer ten suggestions. And here they are.

10 Integrate All the "Episode" DLC Into the Game Itself

Let's Fix This Fractured Narrative

When FFXV was first released, the way the DLC was implemented into the narrative made perfect sense. For example, at some point early in the game, Gladiolus leaves your party for a while, and he's not exactly forthcoming as to why. In order to find out, players would need to purchase the "Episode Gladiolus" DLC — and then, theoretically, play through it once they finished the game. Well, that made sense when you were still trying to sell the content apart from the game. Now, it seems pretty unnecessary. Obnoxious, even.

If you're remaking the game — or even just re-releasing it, for that matter — there's no justification for making players exit the game and go back to the main menu in order to access this content. Make it a part of the full game itself. Whether players can jump right into the flashback (I personally suggest offering this after Gladio returns to the group, not right after he leaves) or save it for later, it still needs to be a seamless transition.

9 Implement the Planned "Dawn of the Future" DLC and Other Cut Content

Deserves the Phantom Liberty Treatment

Integrating previously existing side content into the main game is one thing, to be sure. But, let's not forget that there was a treasure trove of planned content that never got to see the light of day. We're talking about the planned "Dawn of the Future" DLC, and it was intended to be toFinal Fantasy XVwhatPhantom Libertywas toCyberpunk 2077. Well, in a way.

Part of Dawn of the Future's intent was to give players an "alternative" ending to go along with the game's perfectly fine but admittedly depressing "real" ending. There would also be four new episodes to be included: Aranea, Lunafreya, Noctis, and Ardyn. The episode revolving around FFXV's charismatically evil but sympathetic antagonist made the cut, but all further post-release content was dropped after director Hajime Tabata left Square.

Whether any of the content was produced already or not is irrelevant. After all, if you're remaking everything else, you might as well go ahead and make this new stuff while you're at it. I personally suggest making this "alternate" ending one that players can actually earn, as opposed to just presenting it as supplementary content to be viewed from the main menu.

8 Don't Rush the "World of Ruin"

It Took Ten Years to Get There, After All!

There's a point near the end of Final Fantasy XV (we told you there were spoilers!) where Noctis confronts Ardyn and finds himself trapped in the Crystal — for a decade. Sure, that's not exactly Dave Lister's stint being frozen in time on Red Dwarf, but it's not exactly a weekend, either! During those ten years, Eos fell into constant darkness and became the "World of Ruin." Anyone else getting Kefka flashbacks?

Whether it was due to a rushed production or if it was intentional, this entire section is extremely linear. It genuinely feels like you're reunited with your friends, dress up in badass new outfits, and then make your way to the endgame. I get the impatience, but there's so much to potentially explore here that it feels like a wasted opportunity. Let us explore this scary new world, preferably in a badass truck like the kind Talcott is driving when he finds you.

And speaking of Talcott, why not let him join the party for a few missions so we can see how much he's changed during the time jump. The same goes for Iris, as well. Don't just tell us about her new life as a "Daemon Slayer" — show us! All of this and more is an oversight that a remake should be able to remedy.

7 Fix Chapter 13

You Just Had to Go and Get Me Started on Chapter 13, Didn't You?

Even the most ardent defenders of Final Fantasy XV in its immediate state at launch don't really care for Chapter 13. Separated from both your powers and your comrades, it's a slog down corridor after corridor, as if the game suddenly decided it was Final Fantasy XIII for a while. Yes, you finally got to use the vaunted Ring of the Lucii — except at that point, it was less the One Ring and more like Ralphie's Little Orphan Annie decoder ring. Not even drinking your Ovaltine could save this level.

Saving it, though, they tried. They patched it up so that you could switch between Noctis and the pairing of Gladio and Ignus (Prompto was off doing Episode Prompto things), which helped, but the whole mission felt like a mess. Now, with a remake and the benefit of hindsight, Square has the opportunity to make this one of the best sections of the game. Make it scary and really lean into that feeling of isolation. And let's really show the player — and Ardyn himself — just how terrifying of a weapon the Ring of the Lucii is supposed to be.

6 Flashback Chapters With King Regis and His Companions

Regis, Cid, Clarus, and Weskham Were the OGs of Insomnia

As part of the promotion for FFXV, Square released a free 16-bit-style Beat 'Em Up game called A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV. It featured Noctis's father, King Lucius, along with his own group of friends, Cid, Clarus, and Weskham. It was a legitimately fun game on its own, but it also gave us a look into what life was like well before the events of the game.

Now, at the very least, a remake should include a playable version of King's Tale. However, I think they should go further than that. Let's include flashback missions featuring these Insomnia OGs that parallel the missions of this newer generation. These would especially be well suited whenever we meet some of these original characters, like Cid at Hammerhead and Weskham in Altissia. It would be a great way to expand upon the game's lore while also adding some variety.

5 Give Lunafreya a More Realized Role

I've Got a Fevah, and the Only Prescription is More Lunafreya

In a game absolutely loaded with great characters, Lady Lunafreya, the Oracle of Tenebrae and Prince Noctis's betrothed, is arguably the most important. She carries the Ring of the Lucii, and she's essential in giving the people of Eos hope in the dark times this game is set in. Despite that, it feels like she's hardly featured in the game at all. Unfortunately, the game also does a pretty crummy job of making the moments she does take a part in feel particularly impactful. The remake should fix this.

For starters, let's give her moments in the game where she's playable — but not in combat. In fact, we're suggesting the opposite of that. There are cutscenes in the game showing her performing the duties of the Oracle, which is curing the population of the Starscourge, a crippling disease that only the Oracle can treat by moving the sickness from their bodies to hers. Giving her a significantly more substantial role in the game can even make losing her later on (I told you there were spoilers!) as impactful as losing Aerith in Final Fantasy VII was. (Also, more spoilers.)

4 Add All New Explorable Regions

Including Niflheim and Tenebrae

Considering how already freakin' big the map is in this game, it might seem kind of counter-productive to include more areas. Well, whatever, I'm going to do it anyway. Let's add on a couple of locations we only get a taste of in the original game: Lunafreya's home of Tenebrae, and the fearsome and intimidating Empire of Niflheim. Both of which you encounter in one way or another on the train late in the game, and both of which would be awesome to explore.

Even if they only add one of these locations, it's an opportunity to give players a whole new culture to experience. What do diners, shops, and more in either Tenebrae or Niflheim look and feel like? In Niflheim's case, we're talking about one small segment of a massive empire. What is life like on the enemy's side of the world? What kind of bounties could you go after while you're there, as well? And, more importantly, what kind of recipes could Ignus dream up while the group is at it?

Building Upon an Already Pretty Decent System

Let's not get the wrong idea here. It's not as if the combat in FFXV needs a complete overhaul. Is it perfect? Of course not. Otherwise, we wouldn't even be talking about it right now. But, it's also nearly ten years old, and progress has been made since then. If we're remaking the game, there's no reason not to implement some of these changes. So, let's talk about that.

One thing I'd like to see happen is doing away with the "hold to attack" system originally implemented. Sure, it works fine for what it is, but it also gets kind of boring after a while. Switching it up with a system that rewards precise strikes would make for much more compelling gameplay. Being about to quickly switch between weapons — hell, even party members — mid-attack to rack up combos would be a blast.

Final Fantasy XVI and the FFVII remake series have done a superb job of improving on these real-time systems. Why not work with those to create something new but also build on what's already there in XV?

2 Fix the Lackluster Environmental Audio

It's Really the Game's True Sore Thumb

I'm fully aware that making a video game at all — much less one the size of Final Fantasy XV — is hard. So, please keep in mind that when I say the sound design in Final Fantasy XV is terrible, I'm well aware that it's not as if I could have done a better job. I have the utmost for everyone who worked on that game. That being said... the sound design in Final Fantasy XV is terrible.

Almost everything you hear in the game — from the voice acting to the ambient noises — sound flat, feel stitched together, and come across as disjointed. There's no acoustic depth to any of it, and it all actually comes across as an afterthought. A complete overhaul of the sound in this game would go a long way towards making everything more immersive. Because, as it stands, it's the number one thing taking me out of the game as it is.

Please note that this refers to the sound design only. The score and soundtrack? Leave those alone, please!

1 More Fishing, Please!

That's All. Just More Fishing

Final Fantasy games are famous for their in-depth mini-games. Ever since FFVIII launched with Triple Triad, these games have become as ubiquitous as chocobos and dudes named Cid in the series. XV had... fishing. OK, on paper, that sounds kind of lame, but it was actually awesome. It was more in-depth than you usually find in these types of games, without going so far in the weeds (so to speak) that it got too complex to be any fun.

So, a remake could take what's already there and ramp it up. Add new types of fish, and have them all more dynamically react to different environmental effects. That includes adding new Legendary Boss fish — and making them insane. Of course, all these new fish could be brought back around to give Ignus way more inspiration for his already brilliant recipes.