We all knew Final Fantasy 7 Remake was only the start however had no thought how lengthy we must look ahead to the following half, and even what number of components this extremely formidable venture would find yourself spanning. Since followers have been begging Square Enix to remake what is sort of presumably the preferred and vital JRPG of all time for years, there was clearly quite a lot of strain on them to get it proper. While there was loads of skepticism for the primary half altering a lot concerning the core system, as soon as we had it in our palms, it turned virtually universally praised.
After Remake, there was subsequent to no information on when Cloud and his ragtag crew’s journey would proceed. That is, not till the 25th anniversary of the unique PlayStation 1 recreation, when Square Enix dropped a ton of information on us . The largest information was clearly the official reveal of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second half in what we now know to be a trilogy of titles. After beating the primary half, it’s best to know that your information of the unique title will solely serve you so nicely going ahead, so right here’s every thing we learn about Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Note: There will probably be spoilers all through for each Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the unique Final Fantasy 7.
Further studying
Release date
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was revealed with only a launch window for now. As of the time of this writing, it’s scheduled to return out “next winter,” that means the winter of 2023 operating into early 2024. Considering Final Fantasy 16 is slated to launch someday in the summertime of subsequent yr, we’d think about Square Enix would need to give a great quantity of house between these titles, so our guess is that it comes both very late in 2023 or, extra doubtless, January or February of 2024.
Platforms
This is one other fascinating facet of the entire Final Fantasy 7 retelling trilogy. We all keep in mind the primary half, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, being a PS4 unique at launch, then later getting a PS5 improve in addition to a PC model. However, that recreation has nonetheless not but come to another platforms. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, at the least so far as the reveal trailer signifies, will comply with the identical system, although skipping the PS4. When it comes out, you possibly can solely play this recreation on the PS5.
We suspect that, once more, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will come to PC inside a yr of the PS5 model, if the identical sort of deal between Sony and Square Enix exists for this recreation because it had for the primary. As far as Xbox gamers are involved, whereas we knew that Final Fantasy 7 Remake was solely a timed unique, the truth that it nonetheless hasn’t proven up on that platform but signifies that both the deal retains the video games unique to Sony consoles till the following recreation within the sequence comes out and even presumably till all the trilogy is out. That’s pure hypothesis, however is the one factor that is smart when it has been over two years with out it coming to Xbox.
Trailers
Our first take a look at Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was in a fast trailer that exposed the sport in the course of the Final Fantasy 7 25th anniversary occasion in 2022. It opens with Aerith stating that whereas the previous could also be set in stone, the long run could be modified, even when it has been “written.” This is clearly referencing the final recreation the place notable adjustments to the story weren’t simply made however have been truly a plot level that we’ll go right into a bit extra later.
We get a shot of the enduring meteor crashing into the planet with the easy query posed, “What will become of the planet?” From there we see Cloud for the primary time strolling with Sephiroth towards a forested space as he states that “he wants to finish what he started — reclaim his birthright and rule over the planet with Jenova at his side.” This scene is sort of actually from the flashback that happens proper after Cloud and his crew depart Midgar and he explains his previous with the villain in his hometown.
As the 2 proceed strolling, we hear extra conversations, with Cloud almost definitely speaking about how he thought Tifa was already lifeless after Sephiroth went mad, burned down their hometown, and tried to steal Jenova from the reactor. Tifa stops him and asks what he means and if he thinks she’s an imposter. This is closely foreshadowing the twist that Cloud’s reminiscences of this occasion aren’t correct, completely main into the following block of textual content asking, “What is fact and what is fiction?”
Next, we see the change that would have probably the most main implications for this new timeline going ahead: Zack. We see Zack carrying Cloud towards Midgar as a substitute of Cloud making his manner on his personal after Zack died to guard him. Cloud says, “You were here with me … five years ago. Where are you? What happened to you?” This raises many questions on when this line is delivered for the reason that authentic Cloud didn’t understand he and Zack have been completely different folks till after he fell into the lifestream a lot later within the recreation. Aerith stating, “I’m trying so hard to find you,” makes way more sense since she by no means knew Zack died at this level and the 2 have been in a relationship earlier than assembly Cloud. Zack’s solely line, which might very nicely be to both Cloud or Aerith, is, “Sorry … feel like I failed you.” And then we minimize to the brand new title of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
We don’t need to go too deep into what occurred in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, particularly not theories right here, however there are some things price noting that will probably be vital for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. First, the one gameplay we see is Cloud and Spehiroth apparently on their solution to the city or reactor within the mountains of Nibelheim. This implies that the occasions of this flashback gained’t change — not as a result of Sephiroth, or one other power, can’t or gained’t intrude with what occurred there, however as a result of that is Cloud’s incorrect recollection of these occasions. This story is instructed within the first metropolis you go to after leaving Midgar, Kalm.
Zack is the opposite main participant to contemplate. His survival may very well be the largest change to the story but and critically impression not solely the narrative but additionally character relationships. We are very curious to see what occurred to him after reaching Midgar and the way, or why, he was separated from Cloud and by no means reunited with Aerith.
Of course, there’s the large query: Will Aerith survive this time round? This is unattainable to reply proper now and will simply go each methods, which is thrilling in its personal proper to not know what’s coming. Since we all know that this sequence will probably be three components lengthy — primarily based on storytelling strategies, anyway — the second half is usually the place our heroes are at their lowest level, so whereas it might not occur to the identical particular person, or in the identical manner, odds are that one thing will occur on the conclusion of this recreation that places Cloud and the others at a low level.
As far as the place the story will go, we are able to solely guess primarily based on the unique recreation, however as a result of they’ve primarily damaged freed from the bounds of that recreation, who is aware of how a lot issues will change. For followers of the unique, that’s maybe an important a part of this new telling of occasions.
Gameplay
OK, so whereas we did see gameplay within the preliminary trailer, it was nothing greater than strolling round. That leaves quite a lot of questions in thoughts, probably the most outstanding being about how they may deal with the open-world facet. Now that we’re out of Midgar, issues will vastly open up if the sport is something like the unique. In the unique, shifting across the overworld was represented by a giant mannequin of Cloud strolling over the terrain, which wouldn’t stylistically match with the hyper-realistic fashions and environments we’ve got in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. This may very well be fastened when you begin touring with automobiles, nevertheless, so maybe touring early on will probably be extra truncated or computerized till you get your first Chocobo to experience.
In phrases of fight, once more, nothing was proven, however primarily based on how well-received the brand new motion and turn-based hybrid system was in Final Fantasy 7 Remake was, it will be foolish to suppose they’d transfer away from that. Obviously, they may develop it, not solely with new materia but additionally with new get together members. Red XIII, for instance, ought to lastly be a playable character, plus Yuffie, Cait Sith, and hopefully Cid and Vincent, too. Each one will little question have their very own methods. In that regard, we anticipate minor alterations on the core however extra selection through new characters, tools, and materia.
Outside of the primary story, we’re somewhat curious as to how a lot aspect content material to anticipate. Final Fantasy 7 Remake added in a ton of aspect quests and stuffed in a ton of gaps to make the Midgar part final a full recreation, however now that we’re out, there’s already quite a lot of primary plot, open-world areas, and dozens of huge areas to get by means of in simply two titles that, in the event that they put in as a lot aspect content material as the primary recreation, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth might simply balloon as much as a 100-hours-plus recreation. While some might love that, it won’t be sensible.
Multiplayer
Even although it technically hasn’t been said, we really feel assured in assuming that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, like Remake earlier than it and the OG title earlier than that, will probably be single-player solely. There are methods we might see some odd multiplayer-type issues added right here and there, like leaderboards or video games within the Golden Saucer, however we’re fairly assured that Square Enix desires to maintain this a pure, single-player expertise.
Pre-order
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was solely simply revealed and continues to be fairly a methods off. Once the discharge window of “winter” will get centered down right into a date, we anticipate the pre-orders to begin popping up. When they do, we’ll fill you in on all of the editions and particulars you want.
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