At long last, it’s arrived! Final Fantasy 7 Remake is now available on Windows PC through Steam, offering a reunion steeped in nostalgia. However, by the year 2025, mere nostalgia may no longer suffice.
In today’s era, where service games, addictive social media platforms, and corporate greed dominate, it’s quite refreshing to find unique games like this. It’s heartening to see developers like Square Enix stand firm against the tide, avoiding the allure of quick profits and maintaining artistic integrity, as seen in Final Fantasy 7.
In a fresh take on the original expression: Square Enix truly surpassed expectations with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, expanding significantly upon the framework established by FF7 Remake and incorporating a plethora of novel features and varied gameplay mechanics. Although I’m still pondering about certain aspects of the narrative, the grandiose manner in which it honors the traditional elements has me willing to set aside my reservations. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is an outstanding, top-notch PC adaptation that demonstrates Square Enix’s growth from their previous endeavor with Remake.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Visuals and Sound
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been immersed in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and it’s evident that Square Enix has gained valuable insights from their past experiences with PC versions, especially in the initial setup options.
As a tech enthusiast, I’ve been deeply immersed in the captivating world of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on my high-performance Windows 11 laptop equipped with an RTX 4080 GPU, 32GB RAM, and a powerful Core i9 13950HX CPU. Despite having only one system to test, Square Enix’s assurance that the game is optimized for the Steam Deck gives me confidence in their dedication to faithfulness.
Playing at almost flawless 60 FPS, I’ve experienced minimal dips during asset streaming, but overall, it’s been a delightful experience – smooth, stable, and bug-free (at least as far as I can tell). However, with PC games, it’s always tricky to predict the experience as your mileage may vary. Compared to other AAA PC ports, my experience with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has been remarkably better, and I look forward to seeing how well it performs on the Steam Deck in the future.
In comparison to its predecessor, Square Enix has significantly increased the ability for players to customize the graphics settings in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, offering a more flexible experience than the previous version which was criticized for being too restrictive with visual options. While there’s still room for improvement, as some advanced NVIDIA features are yet to be added, the overall graphical flexibility in FF7 Rebirth has seen notable enhancements, demonstrating improved development tools and learning. The upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Remake “Part 3” is expected to offer even greater customization options, as Square Enix aims to deliver simultaneous PC and console releases in the future.
From an artistic perspective, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth appears to be another visually stunning game from Square Enix. It also demonstrates a significant enhancement in crafting realistic and richly detailed open-world landscapes when compared to its predecessor. When you contrast FF7 Rebirth with Final Fantasy 16, it seems as if they were created by separate development teams, despite the fact that they will both be released within just a few months of each other.
Square Enix has gone above and beyond in their dedication to preserving the static backdrops from the original material. They have not only recreated these environments, but have also enhanced them significantly. It appears that Square Enix understands that nostalgia can distort memories, making them seem larger or better than they were. To counteract this, locations such as Junon, Costa Del Sol, Cosmo Canyon, and others are more detailed and stunning than necessary. Even minor details from the original game, like a specific shop, character, or mini-game, have been reproduced with care and affection. The level of detail is simply breathtaking, triggering core memories at an almost rapid pace. For those who did not play the original game, you’ll discover a vast and diverse world of interconnected biomes, sci-fi cityscapes, set in a world affected by post-industrial decay. The way the game guides players towards exploration isn’t always perfect, but this is undoubtedly one of the most visually stunning games of modern times – thank Jenova it has an excellent camera mode.
The concept of “exceeding expectations” to evoke a sense of nostalgia permeates every element of the game’s presentation, visual and auditory. Familiar melodies are reworked and become integral parts of dramatic swells that intensify with each escalating battle. Scenes originally known for their humor are given grander treatment, while significant, poignant moments carry an even deeper emotional resonance.
In my opinion, Square Enix might have achieved their top-notch sensory experience yet with Final Fantasy 7 Remake. However, it’s important to understand that this isn’t just a walk through the park – what gameplay is like in this role-playing game (RPG)?
This question aims to provide information about the gameplay mechanics of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, while also maintaining a natural and easy-to-read style.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Gameplay
The Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth games serve as a link between the traditional turn-based strategy of the original and a more interactive, action-packed hack-and-slash style that Square Enix believes players are seeking. This approach can be contentious at times, but I feel that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth manages to maintain a balance by combining the combat systems from its predecessor with some contemporary features.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s battle system shares many similarities with its original counterpart, incorporating timers for ability usage, enemy stagger meters, and powerful summonable entities alongside Limit Break attacks that are both awe-inspiring to witness and exhilarating to execute. However, Rebirth introduces some fresh complexity, offering skilled players novel methods to showcase their combat ingenuity.
In the new version of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, a range of socketable Materia skills can combine to create fresh combos, lessening the need for detailed management among party members and harmonizing with enemy stagger burst damage opportunities. Square Enix has also thoughtfully addressed the requirement to physically swap characters in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
In the initial game, you could essentially spend the whole playthrough seated on Cloud without ever needing to switch to other playable characters. However, this approach might not work as well in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, given that Square Enix aimed to rebuild the full cast of characters from the original version. If players predominantly control Cloud throughout the game, it would seem counterproductive to have a diverse roster at all.
In Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, using your Active Time Battle (ATB) points on abilities causes your team to earn points for executing joint attacks. This system subtly motivates you to frequently switch between characters because the ATB gauge fills up relatively slowly if your party members are controlled by AI. When you’ve accumulated enough points, you can unleash impressive Synergies between certain characters – these serve as smaller versions of Limit Breaks. These team-ups are visually stunning and extremely effective, boasting the potential to provide additional ATB charges, extend an opponent’s stagger meter, or deal immense damage.
In Rebirth, I experienced a higher frequency of switching between characters compared to Remake. Some optional extra content, which may include challenging mini-bosses, require players to strategize and adjust their playstyles for successful completion. While it’s possible to overpower everything by continuously using Phoenix Down revival items or potions, the true satisfaction comes from playing the game as intended. There’s an easy mode available if you prefer a more straightforward hack-and-slash experience with less focus on strategy and planning.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth follows the narrative beyond Midgar, as seen in Disc 1 of the PlayStation original. I was skeptical that Square Enix would truly replicate the entire Disc 1 experience after playing FF7 Remake, but they proved me wrong and have indeed created a faithful recreation.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth boasts a vast gameplay with numerous open-world settings linked by expansive linear dungeons. For dedicated players aiming to explore every nook and cranny, it could take up to 150 hours. A more casual playthrough involving some side quests might last approximately 70 hours, while those focusing solely on the main story might finish within around 40 hours.
In my opinion, the aspect I find most problematic about Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth lies primarily in its open-world gameplay. Instead of adopting design principles akin to those seen in Elden Ring or Zelda, it seems to draw inspiration from Ubisoft’s design approach that has grown repetitive. Consequently, the linear areas of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth are where it truly excels, as they offer a nostalgic return to the classic dungeoneering reminiscent of the original Final Fantasy 7. In these sections, the gameplay paces beautifully, climaxing in epic boss battles that are cinematic spectacles and include intriguing secrets to discover away from the main path. However, the open-world areas tend to be underwhelming, often filled with icons that lead to optional gameplay, but are marred by excessive handholding mechanisms that detract from immersion. For instance, just a few minutes into the expansive world post-Kalm town, you’ll encounter numerous hints suggesting there might be something interesting elsewhere, accompanied by Ubisoft-style tower puzzles, which appear to have slipped past Square Enix’s notice.
In a positive light, the additional content in the game is entirely optional. When I grew tired of attempting to navigate towards the next map marker, I often disregarded Chadley’s somewhat annoying data requests and delved directly into the story content instead. Surprisingly, the game becomes more enjoyable when played this way, even though I occasionally stumbled upon some truly fascinating optional bosses and side stories that enriched the existing lore and characters. I preferred to uncover these elements at my own pace, rather than being guided there with condescending icons and intrusive markers that diminish the overall experience. After playing Elden Ring, I find it hard to enjoy open-world games any other way – but understand this is purely my personal viewpoint. I believe it would be more effective if points of interest stood out during exploration, rather than being directed there by a bothersome UI mechanism. Many of those UI elements and animations are also excessively slow, and unnecessarily restrict control for extended periods.
It’s unfortunate that despite the numerous pockets of brilliance hidden within the open-world gameplay of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, my main complaint lies in its structure. The reimagined Fort Condor storyline as an optional side quest is truly remarkable, offering a plethora of enjoyable mini-games. However, I find it perplexing and frustrating that the game requires players to complete seemingly arbitrary tasks, such as climbing a tower reminiscent of Ubisoft games, before encountering intriguing monsters. This seems like a waste of time and effort. Hopefully, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 will reconsider some of these design decisions, as they appear to have been influenced by the open-world design trends popularized by Ubisoft in the past.
Without a doubt, as mentioned earlier, the game truly excels in its classic, sequential levels. Square Enix’s boss battle creation is simply outstanding, seamlessly blending strategic gameplay with cinematic grandeur in a manner that few other studios have managed to replicate. This strength was evident in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 16, and it’s even more pronounced in Rebirth. I hope they continue to refine this aspect in their future projects.
In their reimagining of the game, Square Enix consistently exceeds expectations by amplifying key elements from the original version. Familiar monsters and boss encounters become even more grandiose and breathtaking, with clever integration into the storyline. The “Assess” Materia not only uncovers enemy vulnerabilities and strategic hints but also delves deeper into the game’s lore and provides insights about the world. Previously puzzling enemies and locations in the original are given rich histories in Rebirth, making exploration rewarding with new discoveries waiting at every turn.
In writing this critique, I deliberately bypassed numerous extra features to adhere to the embargo. However, despite having missed out on a substantial amount of content, my eagerness to resume playing is undeniable, which for me, signifies an exceptional game. The expansive character lineup, diverse Materia abilities, assorted weaponry, and party configurations offer countless possibilities for unique playstyles. Should I focus on making Aerith more defensive or offensive? Is it wiser to construct Cloud’s skills around melee, magic, or a blend? Which characters should be part of my main team composition? What optional Materia from Chadley missions should I explore to unlock new abilities? Whom among Cloud’s romantic interests do I choose…?
In Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, there’s an abundance of choices to explore, which at times might seem overwhelming. Yet, it’s reassuring that you control the pace, allowing you to delve into the content that catches your interest most. This game offers a rich experience that truly invites you to immerse yourself deeply, more than justifying its value.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Story Direction (No Spoilers)
In the process of creating story beats for reviews, writing for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth can sometimes feel quite challenging due to its unique circumstances. Suppose you’re a game developer working on this project. Not only must you cater to fans who have specific expectations based on the original game, but you also need to create an experience that resonates with contemporary audiences. This is no small feat considering a significant portion of potential players may not be familiar with Final Fantasy 7 at all – as the original game was released in 1997.
Even though we’re in 2025, many of the themes from the original game remain strikingly relevant. Balancing these factors and crafting a captivating narrative that appeals to both long-time fans and newcomers is a task worthy of the most skilled storytellers.
In contrast to other games in the series, Final Fantasy 7 presents a distinctly grim tale with unexpected tender moments. The narrative centers around the Shina Corporation’s ruthless exploitation of the planet for wealth and control, leaving no one unscathed who dares oppose them. Simultaneously, Sephiroth, a powerful hybrid human-alien soldier, lurks in the shadows, seeking vengeance against the society that created him, with ambitions to ascend to divine status. However, amidst this dark backdrop, our heroes – Cloud the mercenary, Tifa and Barrett the ecoactivists, Red XIII and Aerith the Shinra Corporation refugees – find moments of relaxation, like lounging at the beach or visiting a theme park.
In a manner characteristic of engaging anime narratives, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth offers an exhilarating blend of whimsical and entertaining sequences with profound moments of philosophical despair and anxious contemplation. The game respectfully revisits iconic scenes from the original version, amplifying both its quirky and fantastical aspects as well as its grim and melancholic elements. While some players might find the plot to be somewhat unpredictable, I contend that at times the game veers too heavily towards its comedic elements, potentially diminishing the impact of some of gaming’s most revered antagonists.
As a researcher studying the development of Final Fantasy VII Remake, I find myself pondering over the intriguing aspect that the series seems incomplete without the third and final installment, Rebirth. Without revealing any spoilers, it’s clear that this concluding chapter promises a significantly darker narrative compared to what we’ve experienced so far.
Combining all three remake entries into one cohesive entity would likely result in a more balanced pacing, but this presents a formidable challenge for the creators at Square Enix. Rebuilding such a timeless classic while maintaining the integrity of its most iconic moments is no easy feat. Altering the entire story structure to accommodate the new pacing wouldn’t be feasible, nor would it be appropriate to introduce darker elements prematurely.
In my opinion, viewing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as the hopeful second act before the storm truly breaks is an apt perspective. The story will likely take a dramatic turn for the worse after this installment, providing a stark contrast and enhancing the overall impact of the narrative.
In my opinion, considering the challenges of recreating something like this, Square Enix does an exceptional job, particularly if you’re a fan of the original. Many memorable moments from the past game are taken to greater depths in Rebirth, offering deeper understandings of the characters and their reasons for action. Even some peculiar aspects from the original have new context, which enhance rather than diminish the overall story. However, not every new plot point is as successful.
In simpler terms, “Rebirth” follows up on some of the debatable story aspects introduced in “Remake,” and these points may not be fully resolved yet. I’m keeping an open mind for future developments in part 3, hoping there might be a surprising twist. However, I fear that Square Enix might have overcomplicated the narrative by trying too many new things with Rebirth. A straightforward retelling with additional context would have been my preferred approach for this sequel. But remember, opinions can vary, so I’m holding back on giving a final verdict until part 3 is released.
We possess an entertaining and captivating melodrama filled with distinctive, memorable characters. It manages to create a fantastical soap opera feel unlike many other franchises. When it desires, it can be comical and absurd, but it also doesn’t shy away from being deeply somber when the situation calls for it. The humor is effectively delivered, and certain moments of nostalgia might stir a tear from the eyes of long-time fans who reminisce wistfully.
It could be challenging for me to accurately predict how contemporary viewers will react to it, as their feelings might differ significantly from those who have fond memories of Final Fantasy 7. Some may find its quirky elements a bit too unusual or even disjointed. The abundance of characters and events can potentially create a dizzying experience, I suppose. However, considering the delicate balance Square Enix had to achieve in appealing to both long-time fans and newcomers, I think they did an exceptional job.
I primarily experienced the game using Japanese voiceovers, yet I find the English version commendable as well. The characters’ actions and facial motion capture are vivid and emotional, while Final Fantasy 7 Remake boasts some of the most memorable antagonists the gaming world has to offer.
It could be said that delving into Final Fantasy 7 Remake is essential to fully appreciate Rebirth, since it serves as a direct follow-up. While there’s a recap scene available on the main menu, I believe it doesn’t quite capture the chilling depth of Sephiroth’s character – his subtle manipulations and ominous presence lurking behind the scenes.
Long-standing enthusiasts are sure to cherish revisiting the game’s famous landmarks and moments, no matter what. Meanwhile, freshcomers might find themselves captivated by the appealing cast of characters, much like countless others did during the 90s.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Conclusion
At its heart, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is an exceptional Action Role-Playing Game that leans towards tactics, offering fans of the original a delightful dose of nostalgia while giving it a fresh, modern twist for new players. Square Enix skillfully caters to both the original game’s loyal fanbase and the demands of contemporary gaming, making Rebirth feel well-suited for today’s PC gamers. The company appears to have utilized their expertise in developing Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 16 for PC, infusing those insights into Rebirth, resulting in a PC version that seems robust and customizable.
It’s truly impressive how Square Enix has managed to encapsulate almost all aspects from the original “Disc 1” Final Fantasy 7 experience, including characters and locations, while maintaining top-tier AAA quality standards. However, the game stumbles slightly in its open-world design, and some of its new storylines may be more the product of overthinking than creativity. Nevertheless, these minor flaws are mere imperfections on an otherwise magnificent masterpiece.
Although Rebirth has its imperfections, it’s a refreshing update for a series that was once celebrated for providing immersive experiences spanning generations. In an era where free-to-play games often dominate, offering shallow entertainment, games of this scale, depth, and quality are hard to come by. I express my admiration for the Final Fantasy 7 Remake initiative, appreciating the team’s efforts. I never imagined I’d witness a contemporary reinterpretation of Final Fantasy 7, which continues to rank among, if not at the top of, my favorite video games ever. It’s far from flawless, but simply having it available feels nothing short of extraordinary.
If Square Enix continues to refine Final Fantasy 7 Remake “Part 3” in a manner similar to how they improved Rebirth, my faith in the franchise’s future has never been stronger.
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2025-01-22 17:10