With the end of the millennium soon being twenty years ago, nostalgia for the twentieth century's last decade is starting to kick into high gear. It's evident in gaming with re-releases and remasters of beloved classics coming from the '90s becoming a trend. The PS1 game MediEvil is getting a full-fledged remake, while Square's classic RPG Final Fantasy VIII will be released in a remastered format.
The beloved Final Fantasy title finally coming back makes one dwell upon other '90s RPG's deserving of a remaster. The decade was chock full of classics in the genre, so it was fairly easy to find ten masterpieces in need of an updated release.
10 Final Fantasy Tactics
This spin-off of the iconic JRPG franchise stands toe to toe with the best of the mainline entries. Its progression system allows for experimentation and unique ways of upgrading characters. The story is worth noting as well.
The tragic tale of political strife between two kingdoms mixed with some supernatural elements makes players go from battle to battle in anticipation of what will happen next. A remaster could add more detailed sprites and improve animations, perhaps even making it a fully 3D game.
9 Fallout
Many veteran fans of the series have taken umbrage with Bethesda's recent handling of the property. Each new game in the series strays further and further away from the franchise's roots. Fallout 4 feels more like a dungeon crawler than a narrative-based RPG.
They are still fun games, though Fallout 76 launched to largely negative reviews, but they don't feel like classic Fallout. A new version of the classic games would go along way towards restoring goodwill with fans. It would also give younger gamers a chance to experience the classics that started it all.
8 Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VI was the last numbered entry before the series made the jump to 3D, and is often considered the best of the sprite-based adventures. Most of the older titles have been re-released with new art, but the updated aesthetic garnered universal ire from critics and fans.
Square should revisit the classic and give it a more respectful look. The remakes of Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II for the PSP look stunning and would be a good example for them to follow if they ever decide to update the 2D games' looks once again.
7 Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
The second Elder Scrolls game has a staggeringly large map; many times larger than any of the 3D entries. To be fair, a large chunk of it is randomly generated, but that's still a whole lot of game for people to play.
Unfortunately, it is still wracked with bugs and doesn't contain many of the modern conveniences to which most gamers are now accustomed. Bumping up the graphics, making the environments more varied, and removing the glitches would be a great way to celebrate this beloved title and ensure it could be enjoyed for generations to come.
6 Legend Of Dragoon
As popular as JRPGS were in the late '90s, not all of them entered the gaming culture pantheon. The Legend of Dragoon sold well but isn't talked about as fondly as other PlayStation RPGs.
It came out late in the console's life, so PS2 RPG's like Final Fantasy X would dominate the conversation just a year later. Sony could remind people what made their RPG so special with a new version for the PS4 or even the upcoming PS5.
5 Parasite Eve
Parasite Eve is a weird game. It is a turn-based RPG set in a modern-day city instead of a fantasy world or futuristic metropolis. The hero doesn't face off against an evil kingdom or supernatural force, but monsters concocted in a lab that use humans as a host.
The atypical setting and horror vibe helped it stand out from the pack, leading to a sequel and a third game on the PSP many years later. With horror games being so popular these days, a remake would surely find an audience.
4 Xenogears
Xenoblade Chronicles gets plenty of love from Nintendo fans, but how many know of the creator's prior works? While not technically in the same series, all the games with "Xeno" in the title are spiritually connected made by Tetsuya Takahashi. Xenogears was the first, and while it is dramatically different than Xenoblade Chronicles, the DNA is there.
The narrative is compelling, and the anime cutscenes are gorgeous to behold. A remake could perhaps remedy the rushed ending that eschews gameplay and feels more like a visual novel than a video game.
3 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Before Final Fantasy Tactics, there was Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. This game distinguishes itself from its peers with branching narrative paths leading to a variety of endings, and a narrative that doesn't involve magic or ancient curses, though magic is still a part of the gameplay.
Depending on the choices players make, the protagonist can be a virtuous figure of justice questioning whether the fighting and bloodshed he endures is worth it, or a malicious, ruthless commander.
2 Legend Of Legaia
Legend of Legaia and its sequel are the only two games to feature their unique battle system. Instead of a single attack, players input a combination of punches and kicks to unleash a flurry of combos on their enemy during a turn. Not only was it creative from a mechanics perspective, but the graphics and art were stunning.
The cult classic is hard to come by, and those who do have a disc will find numerous audio bugs when playing it on the PS2 and PS3. Bringing it to modern consoles in an enhanced state would help spread the word about this underappreciated classic.
1 Chrono Trigger
What more is there to say about Chrono Trigger? Except for its graphics, everything about its gameplay and story holds up to this day. Fans are still clamoring for a sequel continuing the characters' stories.
While Chrono Cross appeased some fans, others wished for something more direct. A remaster, or even a full remake, would show people that Square didn't forget about this franchise while making a few new fans in the process, kick-starting the road towards a sequel.