Game of the Year: #7 – Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

As a long-time fan of the Final Fantasy series, I must say that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has left me utterly spellbound! Having grown up with the original game, it’s been an absolute joy to see how beautifully Square Enix has breathed new life into this classic tale.

Although we’re not entirely thrilled with Square Enix’s choice to divide a former 40-hour masterpiece into three substantial installments, we can’t help but acknowledge the significant work that went into Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2.

The Final Fantasy 7 Remake seemed to pave the way for a larger and more impressive follow-up, and indeed, that’s largely what we received. Stepping away from the towering metallic city of Midgar, Rebirth embraces its freedom and presents an engaging journey most of the time.

Without a doubt, Rebirth shines when it meticulously recreates storylines and settings from the original material, pouring an excessive amount of detail into a world that was already captivating and intriguing. It also makes a concerted effort to flesh out the characters further; Cloud and his companions are exceptionally well-developed in this version, with Cloud, the spiky-haired protagonist, truly standing out among the ensemble.

The fighting has received some fantastic upgrades too – and the blend of action and command system remains a standout feature, just as it did in Remake. Moreover, the extraordinary boss battles serve as the cherry on top for the combat-focused experience, leaving us wondering how they could possibly outdo these challenging encounters in the next game.

In a tranquil setting, Rebirth offers an array of optional activities outside the heat of combat. To be fair, some of these mini-games can be overwhelming at times, and not every one of them could be considered entertaining. However, it’s hard not to admire the sheer volume of content crammed into this remarkably comprehensive remake (if you can still refer to it as that, given its current state).

Beyond that, you’ve got the background music. Oh my, the music! Each fight in the game seems to have its unique melody – unbelievable – and the variety of tunes is astounding. It’s an extraordinary feat of creativity.

The reborn version of Final Fantasy 7 effectively expands upon its remake, which is a promising indicator for the highly anticipated third installment. Here’s hoping and wishing that Square Enix delivers on their promise, as a successful conclusion would result in an exceptionally impressive trilogy.

At Push Square, our Game of the Year top 10 list is determined through a combination of votes cast by our internal team members and frequent contributors. Additionally, our community’s Game of the Year poll contributes to the final results. We invite you to share your thoughts on our selection in the comments section below, whether you agree or disagree with our choices.

You can check out all of our Game of the Year coverage by clicking the link.

Do you agree with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth being our #7 Game of the Year? (5 votes)

  1. Absolutely, it’s in the right spot 0%
  2. It should be higher on the list60%
  3. It should be lower on the list20%
  4. It shouldn’t even be on the list 0%
  5. I don’t know / I haven’t played it20%

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2024-12-26 19:06