What Makes Final Fantasy Type-0 HD Different?

Final Fantasy Type-0 is somewhat of a spiritual successor to Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. Both games debuted on the PlayStation Portable and feature action-RPG elements in which the player takes direct control of the character. While Crisis Core saw a worldwide release, Type-0 was limited to a Japanese release back in late 2011. Now Square Enix is almost done with an HD remaster of Type-0 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, which will be available worldwide in March.

While some players imported the original Japanese title, for most people outside of Japan, the HD remaster is the only game they know of. However, there are fairly significant changes between the original Japanese release on the PlayStation Portable, and the upcoming HD release on current-generation consoles. Let’s take a look at some of the bigger differences between the two.

Graphics

One of the most obvious enhancements comes in the way of the graphics. With the power of the current-generation hardware, Square Enix and HexDrive have been able to drastically improve the visuals in the game. If you’ve seen Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD or Kingdom Hearts 1.5 or 2.5, you have a basic idea of what to expect from the enhanced visuals in Type-0 HD.

It doesn’t look as glamorous as Final Fantasy 15, which is a full current-generation game instead of a remastered PSP effort. However, it looks better than most games for the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360. Think of it as the middle ground between the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 and you’ll know what to expect of the game. The visuals are HD, but the assets used weren’t on the same level as those used in games made exclusively for current-generation consoles. However, the models from the PSP version’s cutscenes were used in the HD remaster to gain higher quality visuals, but it’s still not quite what you may expect from a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One title, for obvious reasons.

Difficulty

Fans of the original game claimed that it was too difficult for the average gamer. This is a common problem in modern gaming, where many companies are trying to cater to a larger fan base, and therefore make games easier and more accessible. To a vast majority of gamers, this is great news, but to a few members of the old guard, when gaming was difficult, this is a bit of a letdown.

Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is a game designed to bring PS3 and Xbox 360 owners into the new generation before the release of Final Fantasy 15. Because of this, it’s necessary (and smart business) to cater the game to the largest audience possible. That means making the game a little easier so that more people can enjoy the experience.

Sound Enhancement

The speakers on the PlayStation Portable are somewhat limited given that it’s an aging handheld platform. However, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One support high-end surround sound formats. Because of this, the sound in Type-0 HD has been reworked to include more bass to give every action additional punch. Once again, don’t expect an engrossing sound experience that you’ll likely find in Final Fantasy 15, but the game should sound better than it ever did on the PlayStation Portable.

Tone and Color Scheme

Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is meant to be somewhat of a bridge leading into Final Fantasy 15. Both games are part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis subseries, which also includes all of the Final Fantasy 13 installments. The original game used a heavy red color palette. For the HD remaster the color palette will be much broader in order to fit in better with the color palette of Final Fantasy 15. It’s a minor change to most, but with Square Enix trying to create a link between the two titles, the change makes sense.

Multiplayer

The original version of Final Fantasy Type-0 featured a co-op multiplayer option that allowed players to group up in order to complete various missions. Not all missions in the single player mode were available for co-op play, but the option was there more often than not. For the HD remaster the multiplayer option was removed in order to release the game earlier. Square determined it would take an additional year to transfer multiplayer options to the HD remaster, so instead some of the features of multiplayer were added to the single player experience.

When it comes down to it, Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is meant to be a hold over until players can get their hands on Final Fantasy 15. The first shipment of the game even allows access to the Final Fantasy 15 demo. Both games look extremely enjoyable, with Type-0 HD hitting North America on March 17.

Want more help? Pre-order the Final Fantasy Type-0 HD Official Game Guide now!