Marcelo X's Final Fantasy I・II・III: Pixel Remaster - Classic Appearance Mods
(Also Replaces The Fonts With Improved and Official Final Fantasy Fonts)


Mod Information:
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All graphics were modified by me, Marcelo X, from 8/6/2021-8/12/2021. I was done inserting the mods into the games on 8/12/2021 and I released them on 8/13/2021. I would have been done sooner but sleep, time with wife, rubbing multiple cat bellys, chores, busty pawg videos, Make It Rain event in Final Fantasy XIV and remembering that Final Fantasy II has character portraits (which meant I had to make custom portraits, including making one for Scott since the game does not have one, delaying the release by an extra day or two,) made this project take a lot longer than it should have. I thought I would have been done by the 8th.

The goal of this mod is to get the characters to look closer to what they did in their original 8-Bit releases. Some characters only needed a few changes, some required to a lot of modifying (they are mostly color corrections, with a handful of exceptions.) However, the "less angry" appearance change was due to many of the characters looking like they were very angry the entire time, was a little off-putting, so I changed them. I want the Warriors of Light to save the world, not have one of them go through a mental breakdown halfway through his journey due to his nonstop/constant anger. ;)

I only made this mod because I wanted the Fighter in Final Fantasy to be a redhead like he was in the original release. Then I decided to make an additional change here and there...the next thing I knew, I had changed nearly all the aspects of FF+FF2+FF3 that I didn't like (for the most part, seeing as how I don't know how to change anything non-graphically, otherwise I would rename Warrior to Fighter in Final Fantasy, along with some other changes) simply because they weren't true to the original releases (which, if I'm not mistaken, is the entire point of the Pixel Remaster Series.) I didn't make these with the intention of releasing them online, I made these 3 mods just for me. However, I'm sure there are other Final Fantasy fans out there that wish the characters were closer to the 8-Bit versions, so screw it, I decided to release my personal mods, 100% free, of course. Before you ask, no, I not able to apply these mods to the mobile versions, man that would be sooo perfect...

Side Note: I fixed the fonts in Final Fantasy I+II+III by using the built-in Japanese font system's English fonts. These are Square-Enix made fonts that they have used in some Final Fantasy games. MUCH better than the terrible font these games normally use. To recap, these aren't some fonts I added to the games, these fonts are built into them, so no need to worry about outside stuff being added to your game(s.) All I did was just make them use much better built-in fonts.

*******BACK-UP THE GAME BEFORE APPLYING THESE MODS!!!******* If you don't, then you will have to re-download the game(s) to undo any changes that you don't like. Although, to be honest, these are extremely small games so redownloading them isn't the end of the world, but it can be annoying for those with data caps or overly slow connections.


Final Fantasy: Pixel Remaster Changes:
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Ever notice that Square has never released the artwork for WarMECH? We have seen the art of every single monster in Final Fantasy, but never WarMECH/Death Machine...Did Amano never make any artwork for the first Notorious Monster? (Yes, I know that T.Rex is also a Notorious Monster, shhhh, be quiet...)

Game changes:
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・Font has been replaced with an official Final Fantasy font that is drastically better.

Overworld and Battle changes:
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・The angry-looking characters look less angry now. (This took a lot of modified sprites)
・Fighter has red hair!!! <---Pretty much the entire reason this mod exists.
・No changes were made to the Black Mage...that would be a sin against humanity.

Monster changes:
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・Medusa and her alternate color have been made topless again.
・WarMECH has been recolored to be less red and to have more accurate front light colors.
・Eye and Phantom sprites have been replaced with Beholder/Death Beholder modified sprites (the original Beholder/Death Beholder FC/MSX2 sprites are 1 pixel too tall to use in Pixel Remaster, so a very minor change was made to make them fit) ripped from the Machines With Software eXchangeability 2 version (the very first graphical remake of Final Fantasy, although it was techinically a re-coloring, but details...details...) which shows the original look of Eye/Phantom before SquareSoft got scared of being sued by the IP holders of Dungeons & Dragons when the non-Japanese version was being prepared. This resulted in them changing the sprites (the original look was MUCH better, was a giant Beholder, instead of just an eye with mouthless teeth and ummm, tenticles??? flowing drool??? bleeding from everywhere??? who the hell knows. lol In the remakes it's steam coming out of the mouth, maybe... so yeah, whatever...) I included 3 variants so you can have the variant you like best in your game, the variant that is automatically installed gives you the MSX2 Eye (Beholder) and Phantom (Death Beholder) sprites with the Eye having the pupil corrected. For those that don't know, the pupil of Beholder on the MSX2 has 5 incorrectly colored pixels in the pupil, the Death Beholder does not have that issue. The second variant "FF - Eye+Phantom MSX2 Variant" gives you the option of using the MSX2 sprites without the pupil being corrected on Beholder, it's for the purists out there, comes with the same Death Beholder sprite as the automatically installed variant. The third variant "FF - Eye+Phantom FC Variant" uses the FC sprites, since Pixel Remaster is based on the Family Computer game then this variant would be the most accurate one to use. Pick the one that you like best or take the easy route and use the one that is automatically put in. If you want the first version of Beholder/Eye and Death Beholder/Phantom back after installing the FC or MSX2 variant, just re-apply the full "Marcelo X's Final Fantasy: Pixel Remaster - Classic Appearance Mod" and this time, do not install the FC/MSX2 variants.


Final Fantasy II: Pixel Remaster Changes:
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I included a Soul of Rebirth: Pixel Remaster screenshot that I made when I needed a break from manually inserting each damn sprite, one at a time (inserting them involves a few steps in between each insertion.) Just broke my heart that the content is not in this game, although I understand the reasoning they gave us. I just believe they actually excluded it out of laziness, not to be closer the original release (if they truly cared about being close to the original game, then this mod would not need to exist.) Anyway, enjoy the screenshot and the never-coming dreams it could inspire. The screenshot does raise a good question though, if Soul of Rebirth takes place in the afterlife, why in the hell is there a Zombie Borghen in the afterlife? Shouldn't he no longer be a zombie or does that mean that Minwu, Scott and Josef should instead be called Zombie Minwu, Zombie Scott and Zombie Josef since everything in the afterlife is a reanimated dead?

Game changes:
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・Font has been replaced with an official Final Fantasy font that is drastically better.
・The portraits in the menu have been recolored/redrawn, closer to the Family Computer version. I'm not an artist, so if you don't like my custom portraits/sprites, then too bad. ;) I was initially going to color them to match the sprites, but that's not how it was in the Family Computer version (the original release of FFII.) This meant I had to recolor them again to match the colors of the FC portraits, so if you are wondering why the hair colors of the portraits don't match the battle/overworld sprites, that's why.
・I included a variant for Firion "FFII - Firion - Redhead" and Maria "FFII - Maria - Redhead" to recolor their portraits to better match the Battle sprites, this is an optional install that does not install automatically. You can use one or the other or both (or none and stick to what installs automatically.)
・I included a variant for Guy "FFII - Guy As Scott" and Gordon "FFII - Gordon As Scott" to convert them into Scott, although I wouldn't recommended using both as that will give you two Scotts in a party eventually. If you use the Guy variant, make sure you rename Guy to Scott when you name the characters, more authentic that way. They both come with the option of leaving Scott's overworld sprites unchanged or to have the "angry" look on his face removed. If you want Scott to match the rest of the characters then don't use the angry look. Scott does not have a portrait in Pixel Remaster so I made one for him. These variants were added because it seemed like a waste to have Scott in the game and never be able to play as him. I chose Guy so you can always have Scott in your party and I chose Gordon due to him being very similiar to Scott (they're brothers.) Remember, just pick one, don't install both variants. If you want Guy or Gordon back after installing Scott, just re-apply the full "Marcelo X's Final Fantasy II: Pixel Remaster - Classic Appearance Mod" and this time, do not install the Guy/Gordon variants.

Overworld and Battle changes:
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・The angry-looking characters look less angry now. (This took MANY modified sprites)
・Firion has been restored to his Family Computer glory days appearance!!! Plus his Toad has been colored red.
・Maria is a redhead again!!!
・Guy is wearing blue again.
・Leon is blue from head to toe again.
・Minwu, only changes were less angry sprites and redrawn portrait, uncovering his mouth.
・Josef is no longer bald, has balding blue hair again, outfit is blue like his cape was.
・Gordon is white haired again, plus he is wearing red again.
・Leila is a brunette again, plus her outfit is blue again.
・Edward is golden again.
・BTW, All of the overworld and battle sprites of Scott, from the Soul of Rebirth additional content, are in the game files, even though the content he is from is not in the game. The overworld sprites of Scott are used in the intro cutscene, so it makes sense that they are in the game. As for the battle sprites, maybe they were made to make the designing of Scott's overworld sprites easier, somehow? However, the game does not have a protrait for Scott, like it does for all the other characters.


Final Fantasy III: Pixel Remaster Changes:
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We finally get this game in 2D in English (Well officially at least, since the 2D Family Computer version has been in English through a fan translationed ROM since 1999. Final Fantasy fans have been playing this game in 2D for slightly over 2 decades now, while casual fans only played the terrible 3D version since it's 2006 release. Now casual Final Fantasy fans are finally able to enjoy Final Fantasy III as it was meant to be played, in 2D!!!) However, making the fourth Onion Knight wear pink is so wrong, his color is PURPLE! Now tons of casual Final Fantasy fans will think the fourth Onion Knight is pink...ugh)

Game changes:
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・Font has been replaced with an official Final Fantasy font that is drastically better.

Overworld and Battle changes:
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・The angry-looking characters look less angry now. (This took MANY modified sprites, sooo many...)
・The Pink Onion Knight has been restored to Purple like he was in the Family Computer version (He only wore red in the battles due to limited onscreen colors, but if you used the fourth Onion Knight as your main, he would wear Purple in the overworld. Seriously though, pink...what the hell was Square Enix thinking???)
・Fighter is a redhead again!!!
・Knight is a redhead again!!!
・BTW, all the enemy sprites (except, maybe 1 enemy sprite, although not verified) in Final Fantasy III were taken directly from Final Fantasy: Record Keeper instead of using the sprites from the unreleased WonderSwan Color remake of Final Fantasy III or redrawing them. FF1+2 Pixel Remasters cost less than FF3PR, but FF1-2 redrew all the enemy sprites, while FF3 costs more yet they didn't redraw the sprites at all. Really disappointing that these FF3 graphics have been around for years instead of us getting brand new graphics like the cheaper priced Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II received. They didn't even touch them up or improve them at all, just a pixel by pixel copy...So damn lazy, like they are with Final Fantasy XIV 2.0+, they just take enemies from FFXI, XII, XIII and they just add them to the game, instead of remaking them for the game, nope just cut and paste, boom a "new" enemy for FFXIV...shameful that this is what Final Fantasy has become, a bunch of cut corners and doing the least amount of work required to get our money...think about this, the upcoming expansion of FFXIV has "new" monsters that came directly from FFXI in the benchmark/full game...yep, they are still adding PS2 graphics to a PS4/PS5 game and not even touching them up, just as is...beyond lazy, seriously super lazy, can you think of any modern high-end game that is adding PS2 graphics as new content?!?!?!? At least in Final Fantasy XIV 1.0 when they brought monsters from other FF games they were completely remade for the game, not just cut and pasted. How did this readme turn into a rant? Probably shouldn't have toked all that sativa before writing this readme. lol I'll shut up so you can enjoy this mod.


Installation:
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This readme should be in a file called "FFI・II・III - Classic Appearance Mods with Variants and Fonts.zip" and inside of that zip file are 3 zip files and an image along with this readme.txt file. There is one zip file per Final Fantasy game in the main zip file, unzip it to place those five files (the fifth file is this readme file that you are reading right now) in the folder/directory that you are in.

Important tip, make a backup of every folder you are placing files into, makes it really easy to undo any changes you don't want.

How to install the mod for Final Fantasy:
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Unzip "FF - Classic Appearance Mod + Variants + Fonts" into a separate folder. There you will find 6 files, 4 are zips, 1 is an image (PNG,) 1 is a .dll file. The image file is to give you a visual of most of the major changes, but none of the minor ones, such as the anger removal.

Place the UnityPlayer.dll file in the folder where Final Fantasy is installed, you should probably backup the original file before replacing the UnityPlayer.dll that is in the Final Fantasy folder with the one from this mod. This file is important, the game will not go past the "Now Loading" part of the title screen without it. The folder should be:

[Where you have Steam Installed]\steamapps\common\FINAL FANTASY PR

Now take the 2 files inside of "FF - Much Better Fonts.zip" and place them in this folder, replacing the files that are already there:

[Where you have Steam Installed]\steamapps\common\FINAL FANTASY PR\FINAL FANTASY_Data\StreamingAssets

Now unzip "FF - Classic Appearance Mod.zip" into this folder, replacing the files that are already there:

[Where you have Steam Installed]\steamapps\common\FINAL FANTASY PR\FINAL FANTASY_Data\StreamingAssets\aa\StandaloneWindows64

There, you now have modded the first Final Fantasy, it's ready to be played. You also have the option of unzipping either "FF - Eye+Phantom FC Variant.zip" or "FF - Eye+Phantom MSX2 Variant.zip" to use different variants of Eye and Phantom. This is not necessary to do, it's just a cosmetic choice, and only unzip one of them, if you do both, the second will just override the first one, making the first unzip pointless. This is where you put the variant:

[Where you have Steam Installed]\steamapps\common\FINAL FANTASY PR\FINAL FANTASY_Data\StreamingAssets\aa\StandaloneWindows64

How to install the mod for Final Fantasy II:
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Unzip "FFII - Classic Appearance Mod + Variants + Fonts" into a separate folder. There you will find 11 files, 8 are zips, 2 are images (PNG,) 1 is a .dll file. One of the images gives you a visual of most of the major changes, but none of the minor ones, such as the anger removal. The other image is the Soul of Rebirth screenshot mentioned in the "Final Fantasy II: Pixel Remaster Changes" section above.

Place the UnityPlayer.dll file in the folder where Final Fantasy II is installed, you should probably backup the original file before replacing the UnityPlayer.dll that is in the Final Fantasy folder with the one from this mod. This file is important, the game will not go past the "Now Loading" part of the title screen without it. The folder should be:

[Where you have Steam Installed]\steamapps\common\FINAL FANTASY II PR

Now take the 2 files inside of "FFII - Much Better Fonts.zip" and place them in this folder, replacing the files that are already there:

[Where you have Steam Installed]\steamapps\common\FINAL FANTASY II PR\FINAL FANTASY II_Data\StreamingAssets

Now unzip "FFII - Classic Appearance Mod.zip" into this folder, replacing the files that are already there:

[Where you have Steam Installed]\steamapps\common\FINAL FANTASY II PR\FINAL FANTASY II_Data\StreamingAssets\aa\StandaloneWindows64

There, you now have modded Final Fantasy II, it's ready to be played. There are 6 variants included. You have the option of unzipping "FFII - Firion - Redhead" and/or "FFII - Maria - Redhead" to use different variants of Firion and/or Maria's portraits, making them redheads so they resemble the overworld/battle sprites, this also makes Maria's toad portrait red. You can also replace Guy or Gordon with Scott with any of the 4 zip files called "FFII - Guy/Gordon As Scott" if you want to play as Scott from Soul of Rebirth, make sure you use just one of the Scott variants. All six of the included variants are not necessary to install, they're cosmetic choices. This is where you put the variants:

[Where you have Steam Installed]\steamapps\common\FINAL FANTASY II PR\FINAL FANTASY II_Data\StreamingAssets\aa\StandaloneWindows64

How to install the mod for Final Fantasy III:
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Unzip "FFIII - Classic Appearance Mod + Fonts" into a separate folder. There you will find 4 files, 2 are zips, 1 is an image (PNG,) 1 is a .dll file. The image file is to give you a visual of a few sprite recolorings, but most of the changes are not shown on there, such as the anger removal.

Place the UnityPlayer.dll file in the folder where Final Fantasy is installed, you should probably backup the original file before replacing the UnityPlayer.dll that is in the Final Fantasy folder with the one from this mod. This file is important, the game will not go past the "Now Loading" part of the title screen without it. The folder should be:

[Where you have Steam Installed]\steamapps\common\FINAL FANTASY III PR

Now take the 2 files inside of "FFIII - Much Better Fonts.zip" and place them in this folder, replacing the files that are already there:

[Where you have Steam Installed]\steamapps\common\FINAL FANTASY III PR\FINAL FANTASY III_Data\StreamingAssets

Now unzip "FFIII - Classic Appearance Mod.zip" into this folder, replacing the files that are already there:

[Where you have Steam Installed]\steamapps\common\FINAL FANTASY III PR\FINAL FANTASY III_Data\StreamingAssets\aa\StandaloneWindows64

There, you now have modded Final Fantasy III and the Onion Knight is as he should be, the game is ready to be played!!! :) Have fun!!!


Special Thanks
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I don't know any of these two people, but without them, these mods would not exist:

Raikoh - The person who came up with the method I used to make these mods.
Enfyve - The guy who tweaked the UnityPlayer.dll that makes using these mods possible.