The year was 2001, and my friends and I had just finished playing Final Fantasy X, a game many consider to be one of the finest to come out of (what was then) Squaresoft’s development studio. Considering its superior graphics (courtesy of PS2’s 128-bit architecture), implementation of voice acting, and lush, immersive environments, it didn’t take long for us to wonder if Squaresoft would remake Final Fantasy VII, the most iconic game in the franchise, for the PlayStation 2.

Our reasoning was simple: if the PlayStation 2 could make Final Fantasy X look so impressive, it would be a no-brainer for Squaresoft to capitalize on the next-generation hardware and treat its fans to a guaranteed bestseller. This was not to happen, however, and instead we got FFX-2, Final Fantasy XI, and Final Fantasy XII -- all games that were well received by critics, but that failed to live up to the gravitas of their predecessors.

It would be a quiet few years until the Final Fantasy VII rumor mill would start up again, this time in the form of a PlayStation 3 tech demo, which showed a next-generation remake of the opening cutscene of Final Fantasy VII. Crisp graphics, detailed environments, and a gorgeous non-polygonal Cloud were all it took for the hype to reach a fever pitch, and if this wasn’t enough, Advent Children, a sequel to FFVII’s storyline, would hit store shelves in Japan only two months later. All indications pointed to a guaranteed Final Fantasy VII remake on the PlayStation 3, but to the chagrin of their fans, Square Enix didn’t deliver, which was pretty much the proverbial final nail in the coffin of any Final Fantasy VII remake.

But then E3 2015 happened, and with it, an unambiguous announcement of a Final Fantasy VII remake in the form of a glorious trailer, sending much of the Final Fantasy fan community into a collective hysteria. In one simple announcement, Square Enix won back the favor of FFVII diehards, squashed all the naysayers, and gave those on the fence a great excuse to go out and buy a PlayStation 4.

What’s on the line

One attendee at E3 told me he would be okay if Square Enix didn’t make another game for years, as long as the FFVII remake remained faithful to the original version. A cursory glance at Final Fantasy community forums shows this to be a prevailing sentiment among FF aficionados, which shows just how much Square Enix has put on the line with their announcement.

In a time where movie and video game remakes and reboots seem to be all the rage, it’s easy to see why some fans are concerned. What if Square Enix messes with the combat and materia system? What if the voice acting misses the mark? What about the overworld? How are they going to implement that—especially when the only games to feature them are on the 3DS?. There’s a lot that could go wrong, and while the PS4 has the advantage of updates and patches on its side, it’ll still be nigh-impossible to fix something if the problem lies within the foundation of the game.

Of course, there’s a lot that a remake can do to improve on the original. In addition to improving the obvious—namely the graphics—the remake could also bring the title to the 21st century by incorporating the option to have faster battles, revamping the all-too-addictive mini-games, and providing new subquests to accompany the main storyline. This is where Square Enix needs to be extra careful, though, because if they go overboard they may risk distancing themselves from purists who would take anything superfluous as a sign of betrayal.

Whether Square Enix will choose the path of the purist or the path of the progressive remains to be seen, however the bottom line is this: there’s no turning back.

Considering the massive undertaking that Square Enix has at hand, it’s easy to see why they’ve stayed away from remakes for so long. Everyone remembers how bad the 2010 remake of the Karate Kid was, and while these flops are rarer in the video game industry, it makes much more sense for a company to reboot a franchise rather than remake a title considering the risks involved. Remaking Final Fantasy VII won’t be as easy as the FFIV remake and nowhere as easy as remastering Final Fantasy X, and no matter what decisions they’ll make, it’s a guarantee that they’ll be scrutinized for years to come.

Why it matters

One of the questions that you won’t hear asked about the Square Enix’s announcement is: why Final Fantasy VII?

The decision to pursue FFVII over other titles in the franchise is a fairly obvious one. In addition to being the most sold Square Enix title to date (10 million and counting), Final Fantasy VII continues to hold the mantle as one of the most recognizable RPGs in the world. For many, it represents the most definitive RPG of all time, a title that all other turn-based RPGs are compared to. In one of my previous articles, I discussed the prescience of Final Fantasy VII, showing how, despite having come out 18 years ago, its socio-economic and political themes still reverberate in modern-day politics.

Clearly, Final Fantasy VII is the right choice for a remake, and you’d have to come up with a very good argument to suggest another title in its place.

Assuming lengthy development times (which would be appropriate for a game as encompassing as FFVII), we’re likely going to get our hands on a playable demo sometime in the next two years, and, with any luck, a 2018 release.

But what then? Will Square Enix commit to another remake? And if so, which one will it be?

There are many reasons why FFVII could be a one-off. For one, committing to remaking other titles in the franchise would suggest (to outsiders, at least) a failure to innovate in the face of an increasingly competitive marketplace. Second, while it’s all but certain that the FFVII remake will be an instant financial success, this may not hold true for its other titles -- with the exception of FFX, a game that was remastered and re-released just last month.

But supposing Square Enix decides to tackle other games, which one would they cover next? It’s hard to choose between FFVI, FFVIII, and FFIX, and no matter which one they pick, their decision alone would say a lot about what the company thinks about their roster, and it would necessarily divide franchise fans one way or the other. Plus, if they choose to remake, say, FFVIII, then fans will expect them to do the same for the other titles, something Square Enix may not be willing to do.

It used to be a joke in Internet circles that, should Square Enix face an existential threat, they would always have a get-out-of-jail-free card in an FFVII remake. While the company is a long way off from going bankrupt—this much is certain from the upcoming releases of Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts III—their decision to commit to the remake shows a change in direction for a company that has tip-toed around the subject for the better part of the decade.

Some may see the Final Fantasy VII announcement as a sign of defeat, with recent titles failing to perform on the same, godlike tier as Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy X. I believe it represents a bold move into uncharted territory that shows, at the very least, a deep level of respect and gratitude for Square Enix fans who have stuck to the franchise since the very first time they chose ‘New Game’ after the loading screen.