Final Fantasy VII Remake is a troublesome act to observe. That’s not simply because Square Enix set a brand new bar for motion RPGs with its laser-focused Midgar deep dive. Rather, it’s as a result of the high-concept meta-narrative culminates in its heroes killing the very idea of destiny and liberating themselves from the predestined path established by the unique 1997 basic. Where on this planet are you able to probably go from there?
For the previous three years, I’ve spent plenty of time questioning how the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth would deal with that problem. If it was too devoted a remake, it risked making its predecessor’s highly effective ending really feel meaningless. But if it strayed too removed from the unique, it might be skipping out on bringing a few of its most memorable moments to life. I’ve been excited — and maybe just a little nervous — to see the place that unknown journey was heading.
After a hands-on demo of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, I lastly have some solutions. Well, kind of. My preview highlighted how each fight and exploration have advanced whereas exhibiting me new playable characters and areas like Junon for the primary time. Even after one hour of playtime, although, its strategy to story stays a bewildering thriller … and that’s precisely what I hoped for.
Team synergy
The first piece of my demo takes place in a flashback. A younger Cloud, Tifa, and Sephiroth discover themselves in Mt. Nibel, climbing by means of a darkish cave. While there’s just a little dialogue, this chunk largely served as a reintroduction to Final Fantasy VII Remake’s glorious fight system. The fundamentals stay the identical, as gamers can assault in real-time and gradual the motion to a close to standstill to navigate menus. What’s new, although, is a larger emphasis on group assaults.
Square Enix
Expanding on Episode Intermission’s combos, Rebirth introduces Synergy Skills, a brand new fight layer that emphasizes social gathering team-ups. When holding down the block button, I can press a face button to carry out a duo assault with my social gathering members. Even extra devastating Synergy strikes act as two-character restrict breaks that may actually flip the tide of battle. A climactic boss towards a hulking monster would finish with Cloud and Sephiroth pulling off a stunning Synergy assault with extra sword slashes than I can depend.
And sure, which means Sephiroth is a playable character this time.
It looks as if Rebirth’s precedence is ensuring gamers get to spend extra time with its increasing forged of characters, deepening their backstories. It’ll have loads to juggle, too. A gift-day part of my demo had me touring with Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith, and Red XIII directly. All 5 characters appeared on display always, although I may solely set three up as my battle squad whereas the opposite two merely watched battles from the sidelines (I’m not solely clear if that’s the way it’ll work within the last recreation). That’s a serious change from Remake, which featured predetermined social gathering compositions from chapter to chapter.
Staying unpredictable
While the primary demo centered on fight, the second was solely centered on exploration. Here, the group finds themselves in a small open-world space exterior of Junon. Before strolling into the fishing city, I’ve a while to wander round on a Chocobo and do just a few open-world-style actions. Scattered fight trials would have me making an attempt to beat a pack of enemies inside a time restrict whereas finishing a guidelines of duties in battle. I may observe Chocobo chicks to find quick journey markers and get plumes that may very well be traded in to customise my chook’s armor. I may even discover a wealth of supplies, which I may use to craft gadgets and in flip full micro-objectives for a little bit of expertise.
Square Enix
It’s not a full open-world pivot. The space I explored was most likely akin to a few of Final Fantasy XVI’s vast fields, however it already seems like there’s considerably extra to do and see in these areas. That ought to come as nice information to those that took concern with Remake’s corridor-like degree design. Just as the unique Final Fantasy VII opens up as soon as gamers go away Midgar, so too does Rebirth. That’s nice information contemplating that iconic areas just like the Golden Saucer are making a return right here.
While all of these adjustments are thrilling, I wouldn’t name them stunning. Rebirth seems to be and performs like its predecessor with some new touches that align with plenty of its trendy friends. What I used to be hungrier to see is simply how a lot the sequel can be keen to get bizarre, adapting a number of the oddest elements of the eclectic unique. And the tip of my demo would guarantee me that Square Enix isn’t holding again.
Upon getting into a small city south of Junon, an area would instantly beg for my group’s assist. She’d lead us to a lake the place we’d discover Yuffie in a ship, being hunted by Bottomswell. It’s a boss struggle from the unique recreation however naturally recontextualized to behave as a brand new character introduction. All hope appears misplaced for Yuffie till Rebirth lastly offers me the sort of weird second I craved: A dolphin pops out of the water to lend a serving to fin. It’s a hilariously left-field second that confidently preserves a chunk of the unique recreation.
Square Enix
My battle with Bottomswell is as thrilling as any struggle in Remake, with my social gathering peppering it with spells and long-range assaults whereas dodging watery whirlpools. When I land the final strike, I transition right into a ridiculously gratifying cutscene the place my dolphin pal helps Cloud end the huge water snake off. It all ends with a picaresque parting shot as Cloud poses with the dolphin, rainbow overhead.
It’s that second that sells me on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth greater than the rest I performed. Sure, it’s at all times good to revisit Remake’s ingenious fight system, and the additional duo system brings much more persona and social gathering interplay to it. The semi-open-world pivot is a pleasant contact too that I’m positive will give me plenty of good causes to marvel at Square Enix’s meticulous world design. But what I really like about Remake is its solely unpredictable nature. The manner it takes concepts from the unique, brings them to new extremes, or subverts them, is what makes that have so particular. Rebirth’s retooled dolphin sequence has me assured that it has the identical wild power in abundance.
At Final Fantasy VII Remake’s conclusion, a title card teased its sequel by calling it an “unknown journey.” I can already see why after a little bit of playtime. I nonetheless really feel like I haven’t even seen 1% of what Rebirth should supply — even I used to be shocked watching its latest State of Play trailer regardless of having really performed it by then. I’m able to seize that dolphin fin and let it take me as far out into the ocean as it could go.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launches on February 29 for PS5.
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