Kitase "really interested" in FFVII remake

By Oli Welsh Published 16 February, 2010

"I don't get tired of people asking that".

Asked yet again what he'd think about remaking PSone classic Final Fantasy VII, Square Enix's Yoshinori Kitase - producer of FFXIII and director of FFVII back in the day - has said he'd be "really interested" in such a project.

"I'm really interested to see this more complete form of Final Fantasy VII portrayed more realistically with the voice and animation and all the subtle expressions there," he told GameTrailers (via VG247).

"I'd be interested to see that and to make that, it would be a great experience. I don't get tired of people asking that question," Kitase added, apparently without sarcasm, "so I'll continue to answer my thoughts as long as people keep asking."

Back in the present, his latest opus, Final Fantasy XIII, releases here on 9th March. Find much more on the FFXIII gamepage.

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About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (44) Latest comment 2 years ago

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  • Pughie #1 2 years ago

    I'm getting tired of hearing about it though....either make it or don't.

    Stop teasing us

    and anyway do we need it? the nostalgia is one of the best parts about re-playing the game, i can't see myself enjoying badly voiced characters and full orchestral versions of the music. I just don't believe it will have the same type of charm as the midi versions (turks theme being the best), as well as the movements of the blocky characters the noises while jumping.....thats most of the reasons why i still love this game

    don't rape my childhood square
    Edited by Pughie at 16/02/10 @ 09:54

  • galerian86 #2 2 years ago

    I guess I'm one of the few who wouldn't mind if they don't remake FF7. There is something special to me about what we now considered as ancient graphic. The blocky character, the pre-rendered background, and the Don Corneo act, I don't want to see them in glorious HD to be honest.

  • menage #3 2 years ago

    Fuck off, not going to happen

  • M_of_the_sys #4 2 years ago

    I agree with Pughie and galerian86.

    I wouldn't mind seeing a remake but at the same time, I wouldn't mind if they didn't. Just wish I'd stop hearing about it. Even if they started making it now it would be another 3 - 5 years before we saw it.

    I do like the way they did Crisis Core though.

  • andywilkie35 #5 2 years ago

    Always wanted a remake, but then again if its the choice of having voice acting in my JRPG or not, then I'll just stick with the original thanks.

  • Widge #6 2 years ago

    I would want them to overhaul the combat system if they remade it. I'm a bit too efficient at FF7 and can now power through the game, effectively X-mashing physical attack on each foe with no real threat or necessity to do anything different.

    This is the sort of thing that I reckon would make a remake a grander undertaking, not just dumping the game into 3D, it would need a bit of an overhaul and facelift to bring it up to todays standards. You're a bit more forgiving of the PS1 game because of the fond memories, you wouldn't be so with a remake.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #7 2 years ago

    People LOVE the cheesey PSone graphics these days, if your going to continue milking FFVII to death just make another movie, or at least somthing like Crisis Core again..

    IF if IF! you really wanted to remake a game into HD - pick FFVI, not only is the game HUGE, I can see player's drooling over the most iconic scene in FF history, the Oprah House bit, proper soundtrack behing it and a proper HD FMV, that and FFV are the underrated titles of the FF series.

  • schnide #8 2 years ago

    What's the point in remaking it? I've never played it all the way through (maybe one day - maybe..) but isn't the real pull of FFVII the story? And although I've not played it through, even I know one of the huge plot points so it's not like a remake would add anything new.

  • Les #9 2 years ago

    Please, don't.

    Might be a relatively inexpensive way to cash in on the FFXIII engines developed for 360 and PS3 but it will very likely result in uninspired crap like the Advent Children movie.

  • Paperghost #10 2 years ago

    Another vote for "no thanks". Given the very uneven quality of the spinoffs etc (and the rather OTT trend to turn Cloud from a battle ready soldier with a handful of issues that get resolved ingame to ludicrously whiny emo douchebag), I tend to think it would be a bit of a disaster.

  • Bigglesworth #11 2 years ago

    Well my my, aren't we a bunch of cynical Simons today.

    FF7 remade for my PS3 as soon as you like, Mr. Kitase, kthnxpls.

  • Mooglepies #12 2 years ago

    Not bothered. It was good for it's time but I think any enjoyment I have left is fuelled by a rose tintrather than any quality it has/had.

  • ShiroBen #13 2 years ago

    How about making a new FF that's as good as FFVII instead? Honestly, it wouldn't be that hard, the elements that make FFVII so special are pretty clear.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #14 2 years ago

    @Shir - it's because they can't - the orginal FF team is now Mistwalker and after FFX the 'good' team is actally the Kingdom Hearts guys leaving the core team to spin off MMOs and MMO styled games, VSXIII is the one to look for TBH the numerical series peaked long ago

    Added: Oh look the negive police are out in force 'FF7 IS THE BEST GAME EVVEH!!!!, SQUARE ARE GODS!!!', come on everyone can see since the split off with Miswalker the qualitly of the nuberical series has dipped and theres been a lot of questionable 'ideas' going into the games, whereas the KH team have brought us some damn good titles, although all of the portable systems, they've been still damn good, VSXIII is their first title back on the core system - like I said THATS the one that I'm expecting to be the quality one
    Edited by Kremlik at 16/02/10 @ 10:28

  • Widge #15 2 years ago

    I'd like a remake but only if they do it well. Get that script translated properly and brought up to scratch, take advantage of online abilities and do something special with the Gold Saucer by cramming it with online arcade games (multiplayer snowboard races!)... but yeah, that battle system, get that sorted. I'd like to see it more like FFIX's level of difficulty where status attacks really screwed you and were useful against foes. I never use status attacks as I know that within 2 rounds of the the X button, whatever I am facing will be "down" via physical attacks. More vicious and challenging nasties too. Perhaps refine the Materia system so it encourages character specialisation, rather than ending up with a team that can effectively have anyone in it and choice tends to come down to how much you like their lv4 limit break.

    If they can't afford to do the thing in 3D, I would love to see a gritty anime cel shaded look for the game. Ages much better that way too.

  • sfp_noodle #16 2 years ago

    an ff7 remake wud definately split the fans, including me. i mentioned a few days ago tht adding voices to the charcters wud destroy the affinity we had with them 12 years ago. the charcters wud no longer have tht special identity tht they had. its not jus graphics remember, SE wud have to overhaul their battle engine as the one found in ff7, wilst fun, isnt relly challenging anymore. i have to admit tht the music is haunting for me and i wud HATE it if they changed it one bit. if a remake was ever planned, they'd be better off with making a version tht lets u switch between the new and old tracks from a menu in-game. after all its for the fans. they can afford to fuck up any FF game, but if they fucked up ff7, they'd be ruined. let alone the europeans and americans, i doubt tht even their ever faithful japanese audience wud forgive them

  • Bigglesworth #17 2 years ago

    @noodle
    The characters have had voices for quite some time now, and for the most part their identities have held together pretty well. It shouldn't spoil your memories of the characters unless you renamed them Spikehead and MrTguy.

    edit: oh and regarding the music, listen to Voices of the Lifestream and complain that the music was altered.
    Edited by Bigglesworth at 16/02/10 @ 10:26

  • TeaFiend #18 2 years ago

    And who says that the Japanese games industry is not progressive and willing to explore new ideas?

  • geeza2020 #19 2 years ago

    NO NO NO NO NO.

  • sfp_noodle #20 2 years ago

    @bigglesworth

    i loled. as if i didnt know they already had voices *roll eyes*

    my point is, voices in ff games are appaling at best. the english actors they provide cannot provide the same kind of personality tht we as gamers can give them. a name is just a label, it is not a personality. when i saw advent children, i struggled to enjoy it with the horrible voice acting. i can only ever watch tht film in japanese, at least then its less painful to hear.

    finally, my point about ff7 being ruined with voices is simply because the 9 million gamers tht enjoyed it all those years ago wud probably not enjoy the same charcters in the same way. barret in advent children for example, mentally hes actually quite a powerful character in the ff7 world. yet the guy who does his voice makes him sound like a right dumbass. and he manages to do tht with only a few lines of dialogue!

  • Widge #21 2 years ago

    a-HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA...
    a-HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA...

  • Bigglesworth #22 2 years ago

    Well, I think we've about reached the natural conclusion of this internet discussion. Let's agree to differ.

  • butler` #23 2 years ago

    DO IT

  • hibee #24 2 years ago

    Meh.
    While it's no skin off my nose if they remake it (actually, make that when they remake it. A cash cow this bloated is going to get milked sooner or later), I'm not sure I see much point in it. The original is still pretty damn great! I've always loved how even with the clunky old engine the animators could be really subtle; remember Tifa and Cloud sat under the stars in Nifelheim? Their body language and the silence told the story beautifully. Of course a (well done) HD version of that scene might rock my world, but I've seen Advent Children, and the sheer volume of emo whinyness packed into that film will take a long time to scrub from my brain...

  • Widge #25 2 years ago

    You can also get away with a bit of cheese in text form.
    Is it Palmer who says something along the lines of "Oh yes! Bring me some tea with lots of sugar and DON'T FORGET THE LARD!"

    That would die as a spoken line.

  • BritishBlue1 #26 2 years ago

    Well I bought and replayed the original over PSN and I have to say the plot really hasn't stood the test of time. I wouldn't be enthusiastic about a remake, I mean, how many times can you play the same game over and over?

  • Pughie #27 2 years ago

    5 times and counting

  • wellzy4eva #28 2 years ago

    If a Final Fantasy VII remake is made (And that's a big if) it'll tear the fans in two.

    Some will prefer it due to new graphics, and others will complain of any minute changes made to the way the game is played (Even to the extent of glitches).

    See any threads about Super Mario originals vs SNES (And GBA) remakes.

    Edit: Sorry SFP_Noodle, didn't notice you'd already written the same.

    Second Edit: It would NEVER happen, but a parallel running change (Like Secret of Monkey Island special edition) would be the best way to do it, so you can press a button to toggle between old and new graphics.
    Edited by wellzy4eva at 16/02/10 @ 11:06

  • curtlikesmeat #29 2 years ago

    About adding voices - although I didn't enjoy Advent Children that much I thought the voice work in it wasn't too bad, if a little over American in some places.

  • M_of_the_sys #30 2 years ago

    "This guy are sick."

  • Zidargh #31 2 years ago

    Do not get me wrong - I enjoyed Advent Children and I thought Crisis Core was okay.

    But don't remake it.

    A dubbed voice shoves a very certain type of character down my throat. The text boxes let me use some of my imagination to make it MY experience. And even if they don't put in voice acting, the next gen graphics will take all its character away. The fact was that whilst some may consider the graphics odd (FMVs with semi-realistic then random block characters being a good example), they had their character. Its like teeth. Teeth that are have been fixed to look immaculate lack any unique character.

    They won't remake it anyway.
    Edited by Zidargh at 16/02/10 @ 11:43

  • InfiniteFury #32 2 years ago

    About the right time in the cycle (and given the amount of dev time needed) for this to be a PS4 launch game. It would shift consoles left right and centre although they'd obviously want it alongside other original launch games.

    Now I think about it, do Sony own any rights to that game or are Square able to produce on multi-platform?
    Edited by InfiniteFury at 16/02/10 @ 12:13

  • IneptPercy #33 2 years ago

    Now don't get me wrong my memory of FFVII us amazing, but asfter having abother go more recently I have found the character depth just isn't all there. Yes its a great story but not the greatest ever link some make out.

    Got to say the RPG with the best character depth I ahve played to date is probably lost oddessy, the flashbacks really do paint amazing pictures.

    In summary, leave it alone.

  • seanthejackal #34 2 years ago

    its not a question of if but when. it would also be the fastest selling game ever made no question about it, even if it cost £100 and gave me cancer i would still buy it...twice.

  • FortysixterUK #35 2 years ago

    Don't worry.
    It'll happen.
    Sept-Nov release 2012, using Advent Children quality cut scenes and the same voice actors.
    PS3 will be on 1 disc, Xbox 3 discs.
    Come back to this post nearer the time to prove me right.

  • Luckyjim #36 2 years ago

    I'm gonna' say it: FFVII has not aged that well.
    Edited by Luckyjim at 16/02/10 @ 15:12

  • Demiath #37 2 years ago

    Please, remake the game so people like me who were too OLD to play the game when it was originally released (i.e. didn't give a damn about "childish" consoles like the PS1) can get an opportunity to experience FF7 without thinking they accidently bought a Lego game...

  • Sharks #38 2 years ago

    Yes! I fear with their most recent approach they might scupper its greatness..nah, I want it anyway. Big no thanks to voice acting though.

  • trip919 #39 2 years ago

    Oh you tease and you tease and you tease. Just like that bitch back in the day, yet you never deliver. Whore.

  • JamieR #40 2 years ago

    Avoiding getting my hopes up but adding i really wonder if adding all these things will improve the game i kinda like the low quality music in the original for example but i guess it don't matter if they take a big gamble with some aspects if the remake isn't good the original is still there.

  • Stop-gap #41 2 years ago

    I would have been all over this like herpes over a `Boro whore back in the PS2 era, but I no longer trust Square to not dump all over the things that were good and proper with FF7. Agreeing 100% with the "it will lose its charm" brigade.

  • Chufty #42 2 years ago

    Wow, such cynicism. You do all realise that if they release a new FFVII remake, you don't have to play it? The original plays just fine on your PSX, PS2, PS3, PSP and PC.

    If they want to use their new engine to remake one of the greatest games of all time, bring it to a new audience and make a quick buck while they're at it, then let them do it.

    Personally I have faith that Square are capable of pulling it off.

  • InternetRed #43 2 years ago

    I've not really played much of the first, so a remake would be interesting to me. The problem I find with old FF games though is no matter how great they were, and how good they look in the remake (PSP's FF1 and 2 for example), the mechanics don't seem to age well. Everyone is used to FF12 by now, and looking forward to more of the same MMORPG-style gameplay, where random encounters have been removed... will people (not just the fans, but the people new to that game) like it?

    FF1 and 2 is a prime example. Looks great, is a total grind-fest, that involves wandering around, attack/attack/cast/cast and then listening to the victory music.

  • actionfitz #44 2 years ago

    A remake wouldn't work. At all.
    If they remade the game without taking into account the fact that games and gamers have moved on since 1997... I just don't think nostalgia would cut it. They would need to do something new with the IP.

    But then they would probably lose what made people love the original.

    If the made a sequel to FF7 (with the original setting an cast) and took it in a new direction - like say full free roaming 3D like say AssCreed 2, or cinematic and epic like God of War. There are so many things they could do with a sequel.

    But Please please don't just remake it.