Final Fantasy Type-0 HD

It seems almost like an integral part of handheld game development these days. Eventually, it will be 'upgraded' to feature on standard consoles. That's precisely the category that Final Fantasy Type 0-HD fits into - a game that's adjusted to being playable on all the other consoles purely for the reason of increasing sales. It's nice to play these games on different devices. Still, the whole concept is frustrating, considering minimal improvement is usually offered.

But alas, it's still always worth investigating with games like Final Fantasy Type-0 HD. That's mainly because the games are so jam-packed with action, story, and visuals that sometimes minor improvements can significantly impact gameplay - for better or for worse. Let's see if this rerelease makes any gesture with its 'HD' version?

The Second Type Zero

While we'll focus on the differences between Final Fantasy Type-0 HD and the original game, let's do a quick recap of what it's about and how it was received. The game attempted to pack a complete Final Fantasy experience into a handheld system, with a deep story, intricate combat, and as beautiful as visuals would take them.

While the game was generally well-received, the hardware limitations seemed to complicate the outcome. Ultimately, it did fall short of bringing the high-standard experience everyone expected. That's what Final Fantasy Type-0 HD aims to rectify. On devices with increased specs, Final Fantasy Type-0 HD could get a little bit more to the table.

The question remains, does it? The short answer is no, not really. Besides the expected graphical enhancements, Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is essentially the same as its original bar a few gameplay tweaks. Those include additional difficulty modes, crushing a few bugs here and there, a support personnel feature, and some unlockables.

While it's a shame it doesn't feel as complete as other entries to the series, it's a release that still maintains its integrity. The gameplay does feel a bit more refined and immersive on home consoles, but it doesn't feel any different. The story still feels muddled, and the combat is just a bit too basic for hardcore fans. Essentially, Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is a pure port of a handheld game to a big screen.

The Epitome of Tweak

Those nuances don't say that players won't enjoy Final Fantasy Type-0 HD. If you haven't played it because you didn't have a handheld console or other reasons, it's certainly worth a playthrough. The game is by no means a disastrous port like Assassin's Creed: Unity was when transferring it over to PC.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Visuals have noticeable improvements
• The gameplay does feel a bit more refined
• Some additional unlockables for the hardcore fans

Cons:

• Inherently the same game on different consoles
• No quality of life improvements
• Feels like playing a handheld game on a bigger screen