Classic game programmer like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy X explodes: why would anyone want to resemble their games?

The veteran programmer Koji Sugimoto, known for his work on iconic titles such as Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy X, has expressed his discontent with the recent trend in modern video games that seeks to emulate the visual errors of the PlayStation 1 era. Sugimoto believes that this practice, fueled by the release of a new tool by Unity Japan, which makes it easier for developers to replicate the characteristic texture distortion of the PS1 hardware, is unnecessary and goes against his work as a developer.

There are no limitations anymore, why imitate them?

In a comment reacting to a tweet from Unity Japan, Sugimoto reflected on the hard work he and his team dedicated to avoiding texture distortion, something that is now glorified as a “charming” aspect of retro video games. “Back then, we put in exhausting effort to avoid this distortion, only for it to be considered a character trait today,” Sugimoto stated, emphasizing his bewilderment at this current appreciation.

The criticism is not new; as early as 2019, Sugimoto had described the trend of intentionally replicating such imperfections as “detestable,” arguing that he had spent hours of work struggling against the problem. Despite his frustration, the interest in visual defects evokes a broader debate about the value of imperfections in digital media.

The renowned musician and composer Brian Eno has also addressed this phenomenon. In his book A Year With Swollen Appendices, he argues that elements that now seem strange or ugly in a new medium, such as CD distortion or 8-bit sound, will eventually be valued and emulated over time. This trend reflects a nostalgic look at the aesthetics of the past, which continues to influence the artistic direction of contemporary video games.

Steam DOWNLOAD