How Do These Versions Compare To The PS2 Originals In 2025?

[Bmash13]

I was thinking about buying a PS3 if I can find the model that's backwards compatible with PS2 games. Now, I've heard that the PC ports of various FINAL FANTASY games had problems when they were first released on Steam. Most of the forums related to these ports' flaws are from years ago though. How do these versions of these games compare to their original releases in 2025? What problems have been fixed and what problems are still present? If the PC versions are still botched, I'll just wait until I can find a backwards compatible PS3 and play the originals there.

[Dirty Digger]

This is a port of the PS3 port, I don't recall it having many problems or complaints one either release and in theory the feedback from when it was released on ps3 should have made its way into this. I've played it through, its mostly just fine.

There are a number of QOL features in this version. Like being able to turn off or increase frequency of random encounters as needed. You can also do speed up/fast forward I think. I haven't used that.

The HD textures are mostly an improvement. Some things/colors are overly saturated though. Like none of the eyes have the right colors. IIRC I think there was some issue porting the facial expressions so they had to do extra work or something. I don't think this is that bad though and it hasn't bothered me. Anyone who didn't play the original probably wouldn't notice or care. Maybe someone else has more details.

The music update is a sidegrade. Perfectly competent and mostly of equal quality as the original. You can switch back and forth in the menu. Very much preference which you like.

There is a cheat thing called farplane you can use with this you wouldn't be able to on the original.

This is based on the pal version which has the dark aeons. This locks backtracking certain areas until you level up enough to beat those bosses. This was not originally in the north american release.

You can use the original sphere grid or the "expert" grid which just has less locks meaning you can start characters differently if you want. A thieving yuna or a healing wakka. I didn't find it to be that interesting.

"distill sphere" abilities added to both sphere grids to help with grinding. Nice, but only the ability distill ability was actually needed, and only for a short time.

The one story element that was changed that I remember is they muted the loud obnoxious laugh the second time it comes up because of how many people complained about ti. It was in fact very awkward and annoying, but that was the point of the writer cause they are all pretending not to be depressed and anxious. It was a good change in my opinion cause I don't really like hearing it even if it serves an important narrative purpose.

In short, this version is fine. It is probably older than the other games ports which were orignal for pc at the time. I don't think you would regret getting this one.

Honestly though, If you want to play the original as close to intended as possible short of buying a ps2, then you might want to hoist the jolly roger, matey. Very easy to set that up on modern systems. Best cheap option for the purist.

[Casurin]

It mostly playes the same aside from some small changes.
it basically boils down to having 2x/4x-speedup options, X-2 got a bit more with new character-jobs.

Some people have problems with the graphics but that is mostly an AMD-problem and even there only affects some.

And if you really want to play the original then don't waste your money on a PS3.
A PS2 would do just fine, but better would be to just emulated it (no forum-mods - emulation is legal and it is allowed to be talked about on steam).

[sumolagann]

They ruined the character graphics and broke face animations, playing the ps2 one upresed would be the better choice purely based on that, imo. Had examples, but I don't know where they are anymore, it gets pretty bad though, it's like botox.

https://i.gyazo.com/b6510e531f96d1eae7babbe955cc8427.jpg

[Dirty Digger]

Originally posted by sumolagann:

They ruined the character graphics and broke face animations, playing the ps2 one upresed would be the better choice purely based on that, imo. Had examples, but I don't know where they are anymore, it gets pretty bad though, it's like botox.

https://i.gyazo.com/b6510e531f96d1eae7babbe955cc8427.jpg

Man, that is pretty noticable. How hard would it be to improve this? I feel like as many different times as they have sold this they could go in and update it with a more faithful restoration.

[sumolagann]

Originally posted by Dirty Digger:

Originally posted by sumolagann:

They ruined the character graphics and broke face animations, playing the ps2 one upresed would be the better choice purely based on that, imo. Had examples, but I don't know where they are anymore, it gets pretty bad though, it's like botox.

https://i.gyazo.com/b6510e531f96d1eae7babbe955cc8427.jpg

Man, that is pretty noticable. How hard would it be to improve this? I feel like as many different times as they have sold this they could go in and update it with a more faithful restoration.

It gets worse than that sadly. There seems to be a decent ps2 tidus head mod now on nexus mods, but I just compared them and noticed face shadows are also missing on the remaster in the cutscene, at least in the compared scene. The animations seem to be different too, but it's too hard to tell with the little I see.

Ps2 is still looking better from what I see, but if you were going to play this version that would be something to get.

[Casurin]

While it is noticeable - this is not a game were you constantly stare at the faces of your characters so it is just a minor inconvenience.

[みずゆき]

Originally posted by sumolagann:

Originally posted by Dirty Digger:

Man, that is pretty noticable. How hard would it be to improve this? I feel like as many different times as they have sold this they could go in and update it with a more faithful restoration.

It gets worse than that sadly. There seems to be a decent ps2 tidus head mod now on nexus mods, but I just compared them and noticed face shadows are also missing on the remaster in the cutscene, at least in the compared scene. The animations seem to be different too, but it's too hard to tell with the little I see.

Ps2 is still looking better from what I see, but if you were going to play this version that would be something to get.

Are there any mods around that restore the original backgrounds / lighting at least? I've noticed this version redid a lot of the backgrounds and even changed camera angles in some scenes, and it ends up looking off because of it. I just overall prefer the ps2 version over this but I'm still considering playing this remaster alongside the ps2 version on an emulator, but I can't really tell if it's worth trying this one out over just the fact that it all looks so off compared to the PS2.

[sumolagann]

Originally posted by みずゆき:

Originally posted by sumolagann:

It gets worse than that sadly. There seems to be a decent ps2 tidus head mod now on nexus mods, but I just compared them and noticed face shadows are also missing on the remaster in the cutscene, at least in the compared scene. The animations seem to be different too, but it's too hard to tell with the little I see.

Ps2 is still looking better from what I see, but if you were going to play this version that would be something to get.

Are there any mods around that restore the original backgrounds / lighting at least? I've noticed this version redid a lot of the backgrounds and even changed camera angles in some scenes, and it ends up looking off because of it. I just overall prefer the ps2 version over this but I'm still considering playing this remaster alongside the ps2 version on an emulator, but I can't really tell if it's worth trying this one out over just the fact that it all looks so off compared to the PS2.

I didn't see anything for that. probably refined ps2 mods is all there is for now, but you can browse through nexus if you want to double check.

ffx international seems to have the same amount of content except maybe audio drama in credits, and remastered music. Had not heard of the different camera angles before, interesting.

[みずゆき]

Originally posted by sumolagann:

Originally posted by みずゆき:

Are there any mods around that restore the original backgrounds / lighting at least? I've noticed this version redid a lot of the backgrounds and even changed camera angles in some scenes, and it ends up looking off because of it. I just overall prefer the ps2 version over this but I'm still considering playing this remaster alongside the ps2 version on an emulator, but I can't really tell if it's worth trying this one out over just the fact that it all looks so off compared to the PS2.

I didn't see anything for that. probably refined ps2 mods is all there is for now, but you can browse through nexus if you want to double check.

ffx international seems to have the same amount of content except maybe audio drama in credits, and remastered music. Had not heard of the different camera angles before, interesting.

Had to find a video that shows the camera thing, easiest example I could find was this one. At about 5:25
https://youtu.be/ewmxdhF3F7o?t=322

Also nothing of the sort on nexus. Most of the mods I see are just PS2 models for Tidus, Wakka, Rikku, etc. Might have to looks further on other mod sites.

[Dirty Digger]

Originally posted by Casurin:

While it is noticeable - this is not a game were you constantly stare at the faces of your characters so it is just a minor inconvenience.

Unfortunately, this game seems pretty unloved from modders. ff9 has the whole moguiri mod which is a complete game changer update total game overhaul. When I look for mods for this game there is next to no mods at all, not just few mods that try to address this particular problem.

[Dirty Digger]

Originally posted by みずゆき:

Originally posted by sumolagann:

but I can't really tell if it's worth trying this one out over just the fact that it all looks so off compared to the PS2.

It looks worse, but the QOL features are nice. That fareplane editor also lets you remove a lot of grind you may not want to do on the 5th plus playthrough.

[Dirty Digger]

Originally posted by みずゆき:

Originally posted by sumolagann:

Also nothing of the sort on nexus. Most of the mods I see are just PS2 models for Tidus, Wakka, Rikku, etc. Might have to looks further on other mod sites.

I have been looking at comparison videos for a few days. Most striking difference to me is the eye colors are off. Too color saturated, really thick dark border around the iris. I really wonder if you just fixed the eyes would that resolve 90% of the complaints? The overall faces would be much hard to actually notice than the eyes.

[Dirty Digger]

Originally posted by みずゆき:

Originally posted by sumolagann:

Had to find a video that shows the camera thing, easiest example I could find was this one. At about 5:25
https://youtu.be/ewmxdhF3F7o?t=322

Ya, the camera angle change was definitely a downgrade for that boat scene. Whats worse is cropping the pre-rendered cutscenes. Should have made that optional or something. I think I would have all the content in 4:3 than cropped in 16:9. Its an old game people would get why those cutscenes are in 4:3

[sumolagann]

Never realized about the pre rendered crops either, too bad.


https://files.catbox.moe/7r0004.png

Theres example of the facial expressions going wrong with the remaster, ps2 on the left, remaster on right. I'm not sure how the ps2 head mods compare with the original.

Would be cool if square eventually goes back to all their remasters, but I doubt it, a large amount seem worse than originals, a few can be saved with mods... Ones that should be easy are even butchered though, like chrono trigger and romancing saga 2+3, romancing are 30fps while the originals are 60...

Changing FFX environments and lighting is probably not going to happen since that seems like a ton of work, but you never know I guess.

[みずゆき]

Yeah, I hope one day Square stops being retarded and just updates their older remasters to be on par with or better than the originals. Mostly just hoping one day they just actually port the ps2 version on here for its 25th anniversary or something. Otherwise emulation is still the best way to play this on PC.