Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Xbox Series X Review – Expected Excellence

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Okay, so it’s finally happening! I’ve been waiting ages, but Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is officially out on Xbox Series X. Honestly, it always bothered me that so many of us Xbox players were missing out on what’s easily one of the biggest RPGs around – it’s a seriously ambitious game, and it totally delivers on those promises. It’s been out on other platforms for a bit, but trust me, it hasn’t lost any of its magic. It’s still incredible!

Final Fantasy’s Rebirth is a strong and moving game, and it’s clear why it’s one of the best-selling titles in the series. The story feels both recognizable and fresh, continuing the delicate balance between honoring the original game and introducing new elements that Remake started. It pays tribute to beloved characters and locations while still offering a unique experience, avoiding a simple retelling of the classic.

“Of course, the people you meet along the way are a huge part of Rebirth’s allure.”

The game expertly balances familiarity and surprise. It offers enough nods to previous installments for longtime fans to appreciate, while still keeping its overall direction a mystery. It manages this delicate balance with impressive finesse. While playing Remake Intergrade beforehand might enhance your understanding, this game is perfectly enjoyable on its own. It’s a captivating experience, blending intrigue, a compelling pace, and a grand scope, making it incredibly difficult to stop playing, even when revisiting it.

One of the biggest draws of Rebirth is definitely the people you encounter. Characters like Cloud, Aerith, Barret, and Tifa feel more alive than ever, with personalities that expand on what you remember from the original game. The game features a lot of new conversations and playful banter between characters, adding depth as you explore the beautiful world.

These characters are more sensitive and rely on each other when they start to doubt themselves, and some of the most powerful moments happen when the action slows down to focus on heartfelt conversations. These interactions deepen the relationships within the group and make the story more emotionally resonant, giving you real insight into what drives each character. This expansion feels like a natural extension of the original game, and it’s a fantastic addition. More than ever, they truly feel like a band of traveling friends, which is essential for any great RPG.

Look, this game definitely has those epic, over-the-top moments you expect from a Final Fantasy title. It’s huge, but what really impressed me is how it kept things fresh. One minute I was totally invested in a touching story moment, and the next I was thrown into this crazy, action-packed scene that had me feeling everything all at once – I barely even realized how smoothly it transitioned!

Most RPGs don’t offer such a comprehensive experience, but this one truly makes you feel like you’re embarking on an epic journey through a huge and immersive world.

This game boasts impressively crafted boss battles, engaging side games, and plenty of optional exploration, all of which enhance the story and characters. It’s unusual for an RPG to offer so much content, creating a truly epic adventure where you feel like you’re on a grand journey across a huge world. Your companions provide support as you face seemingly insurmountable odds and stop a dangerous plot. It’s a fantastic blend of classic RPG elements with modern polish, making for a compelling and high-quality experience.

The redesigned world in this version is a major improvement. Unlike the original game’s straightforward path, this version features more open areas that are incredibly diverse and feel unique. Even after playing multiple times, I still find myself stopping to appreciate the beautiful scenery. Each location, from the grassy plains to the sunny coasts and the Gold Saucer, has its own distinct character thanks to special side quests, interesting ways to get around, and a captivating atmosphere.

The game world feels thoughtfully designed, like it was created with care rather than just filled with content. There’s a huge amount of optional stuff to do, but it all feels purposeful – it either adds to the story and world-building, strengthens your relationships with your companions, or rewards you for exploring and being curious, all while helping you improve your character.

This game is incredibly addictive – once you start playing, it’s hard to stop, and you’ll likely find yourself thinking about it even when you’re not playing. There’s a lot to do, catering to different preferences, whether you enjoy uncovering secrets, following the main story quests, raising chocobos, or exploring the Gold Saucer. It’s a complex game with a lot of depth, and the RPG elements are genuinely satisfying and rewarding.

The game now features more characters you can play as, giving you greater flexibility in how you approach battles. Each fight allows for different strategies, so you can adapt your tactics as needed.

This game isn’t just an action game with RPG elements; it’s a full-fledged RPG focused on deep customization and teamwork. It features a robust system with things like Materia, weapon upgrades, and crafting, allowing you to build powerful combinations between your characters. You’ll have tons of options for improving your gear and tailoring your party’s strategy for combat. If you love experimenting with complex systems to find creative advantages, you’ll likely find this game very engaging.

All the effort you put into preparing for battles really pays off in the combat system, which is definitely the highlight of the game for me. It expands on the action-based, ATB system from the original, and with more characters to control, you have even more strategic choices. Each fight is flexible, letting you adapt your approach as things change.

Once you start exploring how your characters’ skills work together, the combat system becomes incredibly effective. Mastering the basics – like switching characters, managing stagger, blocking, and dodging – takes practice, but it’s rewarding. Add in powerful abilities like Limit Breaks, team-up moves, summons, and customizable Materia, and you get a complex but satisfying battle system. It feels like conducting an orchestra, leading a spectacular performance on an epic scale.

Rebirth is a truly exceptional game that seamlessly blends a compelling story, exciting combat, and a rich world to explore. It not only features the best combat the series has ever seen, but also integrates it perfectly with the narrative and exploration, enhancing the overall experience. Every action you take feels meaningful and contributes to a captivating cycle that will draw you in and keep you engaged.

If you own an Xbox, this game is a great RPG and definitely worth checking out. It’s a solid addition to the platform and we highly recommend it.

The Xbox Series X version of the game lets you choose from three graphics settings. ‘Graphics mode’ prioritizes visual quality and renders the game in 4K. There are also two ‘Performance modes’ – one focuses on image clarity, and the other on smoothness. While all three modes worked well, we found the ‘Graphics mode’ to be the best, as it really showcased the game’s beautiful visuals and details.

As you might expect, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is an excellent RPG and a fantastic game to add to your Xbox collection. It features a compelling story, unforgettable characters, a vibrant world full of things to do, and incredibly satisfying combat – all blended together flawlessly, making it one of the most impressive games in recent years.

While the game isn’t perfect – the movement can feel a little rigid at times, and some story moments are over the top – these issues are minor compared to how well everything else is done. If you have an Xbox, this is a fantastic RPG and a game we highly recommend.

The game is wonderfully ambitious and incredibly smooth to play – it’s been a joy to revisit.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox Series X.

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2026-06-05 16:17