Final Fantasy X, X-2 HD Remaster Coming March 2014

One of the most celebrated RPGs of all time, as well as its less-lauded sequel, has been bundled up, HD-ified and is nearly ready to arrive on current (or is that now ‘last gen?’) consoles. Square Enix today announced a March 18, 2014, release date for Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster.

Final Fantasy X holds a special place in many-a gamer’s heart, and for good reason. The first FF game of the generation, the game was a near-complete reinvention of the series. Everything from the graphics to the fighting engine, to the story-telling and mini-games, received a facelift. There was a memorable cast of characters, a noteworthy villain or two, an engrossing love story and an extremely awkward scene about laughter (If you’ve played it, you know exactly what I’m talking about).

Final Fantasy X did so well that Square Enix decided to create the first direct sequel in franchise history, releasing Final Fantasy X-2 just a couple of years later. While some were not as impressed with the new story (which saw Yuna becoming a magical pop idol), X-2 featured plenty of nostalgia and arguably the best fighting engine in the series.

We’ve known for a while now that both X and X-2 would be getting the HD treatment, we just never knew until today when, exactly, we could expect to actually be playing the game. It turns out that the answer is “mid-March,” meaning gamers only have a few more months to wait before they can finally rejoin Tidus, Yuna and the rest of the gang on their quest to save the world form Syn.

And for those who want to go the extra yards, there’s even a Limited Edition up for grabs, featuring a lovely artbook. To get your hands on that, all you have to do is pre-order the game nice and early. The upgrade, including the artbook and a special cover featuring the game’s star-crossed lovers, comes at no additional charge.

It should be noted that this announcement only specifically mentions the PS3 version of the game. A Vita version is in the works, but no word yet on when that might be available. So if you’re holding out to take on the FFX/X-2 adventure on the go, you’ll have to stay tuned for future release info.

And, just for the heck of it, here’s a look at the original trailer for the PS2 version of Final Fantasy X. Long-time fans should prepare to experience all of the feels.