Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Xbox Series X Review – Still Stunning

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The highly anticipated Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is now available on Xbox, and it’s been fantastic to return to Midgar! Players can once again join Cloud for fast-paced, stylish battles, deep RPG mechanics, and a showdown with the Shinra Corporation. Many first experienced the Remake in 2020 during pandemic lockdowns, and then revisited it in 2021 with the Intergrade release on PlayStation 5 and PC.

Was playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on the Xbox Series X fun? Definitely! Midgar still looks amazing and is a blast to explore. Even after six years, it’s a fantastic adventure, and still worth playing in 2026, especially when there aren’t many games that are quite as good.

Similar to the PlayStation 5 version, the Xbox Series X offers two graphics options: Graphics mode and Performance mode. Graphics mode prioritizes visual quality, aiming for 30 frames per second at 4K resolution. Performance mode lowers the resolution to 1512p but achieves a smoother 60 frames per second. Overall, the game ran consistently well on the Xbox Series X, with only minor occasional issues, making it just as stable as the PS5 version.

The Xbox versions look just as good as the PlayStation 5 versions, though they take a bit longer to load. However, this isn’t a major problem thanks to Xbox’s Quick Resume feature, which makes loading almost instantaneous after the initial start. Overall, the game’s presentation is very similar on both consoles.

The game features great lighting and detailed character designs, which is important for a story-driven experience like this one. While some textures and minor character faces aren’t as polished, they’re not too noticeable considering how good the game generally looks.

The battles are still excellent, striking a great balance between fast-paced action and the strategic ability to pause and direct your team. While I mostly preferred using Cloud and Barret, I expect Xbox players will enjoy trying out different character combinations to find powerful attack strategies against the game’s diverse enemies and impressive bosses.

If this is your first time playing, be prepared for challenging combat – you’ll need to use everything you have, even on the Normal setting. At first, you’ll likely rely on Cloud’s close-combat skills and Barret’s long-range attacks, but as you gain new allies, you’ll be able to create more complex and effective battle plans.

Turning on Performance Mode – and I definitely suggest you do – makes the game’s animations incredibly smooth and engaging. Battles feel rhythmic and well-coordinated, like you’re directing a perfectly timed sequence of attacks, and watching your characters perform those moves is really rewarding. This is especially good because you’ll be fighting enemies often as you explore and advance through the story.

The boss battles are particularly well-designed, just like in the original PS4 version. Their unique attack patterns will keep you engaged as you learn when to strike and when to defend. You’ll spend time collecting items to improve your characters, and the game offers a steady challenge if you thoroughly explore the world of Midgar.

The game steadily rewards your progress, and the user interface clearly shows you what you need to advance. The menus are smooth and easy to navigate, and the role-playing elements are introduced in a way that’s easy to learn. This allows you to stay immersed in the compelling story, which is one of the game’s best features.

The story of Cloud battling Shinra and ultimately facing Sephiroth is captivating, but it’s the journey to get there that truly makes this game special. Each character is memorable, bringing their own unique personality, humor, and charm. I especially love Barret’s passionate dedication to saving Midgar and how his personality clashes with, yet complements, Cloud’s. Their relationship is both heartwarming and funny, making them feel incredibly real and well-developed.

The actors all deliver strong performances, but Aerith is particularly memorable. She’s a genuinely graceful and sincere character, and her story is a real highlight – I think many first-time viewers will feel the same way.

I was happy that Episode Intermission was automatically included with the Xbox version of the game. You’re really going to enjoy playing as Yuffie, who fights with shuriken. She’s a unique character – she can attack from a distance like Cloud, but also fight effectively up close, similar to Barret.

It’s a shame you can’t directly control Sonon, which was a common issue even in the PS5 version. However, the INTERmission story connects really well with the main game, so I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a deeper experience in this world.

The game is full of fun little mini-games hidden throughout the world. I really enjoy those, and I often found myself getting distracted from my main goals just to play them for hours. It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re having fun, and that’s impressive considering how good the rest of the game already is.

The game’s levels are well-made, though they feel somewhat straightforward. The voice acting and sound effects are also adequate. However, players who previously experienced the game on PlayStation will notice the lack of the DualSense controller’s immersive vibrations. While this is a significant difference, it’s due to the hardware and won’t likely be an issue for those who’ve been playing on Xbox.

If you’re wondering whether Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade lives up to the hype, the answer is a definite yes! It’s a fantastic game for anyone who enjoys action RPGs, compelling characters, and polished gameplay. The combination of all these elements makes it well worth playing. And for those who love to fully complete games, this one will keep you busy for quite a while!

Being part of the Xbox Play Anywhere program is a huge plus – you can pick up right where you left off on other devices that support your game library. No matter if you’re a long-time fan of the genre, have already finished the game on PlayStation or PC, or are completely new to it, this game is sure to keep you entertained and wanting more when you reach the end.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox Series X.

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2026-01-22 22:43