I must confess, I haven’t played the original Final Fantasy 7 on the PS1. Also, I am not a fan of turn-based RPGs. However, when Square Enix released Final Fantasy 7 Remake on the PS4 in 2000, I enjoyed it. It was more like an action game giving you control over your entire party including their special abilities. In the Final Fantasy community, there was a lot of talk about how the story has changed from the original game and how FF7 Remake is but a small chunk of the full game, yada yada yada. The good thing is that this iconic game introduced a whole new set of audience (like me) to it and I enjoyed it. Just like Peter Jackson revived Lord of the Rings to a whole new audience with his films, FF7 Remake is aimed at telling a beloved classic tale to a fresh audience taking creative liberty to alter the story. Considering the grand scale of the remake, developer Square Enix has broken it up into a trilogy. I enjoyed FF7 Remake enough to dive into part 2 of this epic saga – Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Table of Contents
Story
While there is a story recap at the opening of the game this is one where it would benefit the player if you have experienced the game, especially the small nuances that aren’t covered in the recap. Playing FF7 Rebirth without playing Remake is like playing God of War Ragnarok without playing God of War 2018. It’ll make sense, but you miss out on a lot.
Speaking of the story, it has a lot going on. Put simply, you once again don the role of Cloud Strife and his merry band of eco-terrorist group – Avalanche on a war with the evil corporation – Shinra. Shinra is looking to drain the planet’s life energy and you are out to stop the big baddie Sephiroth who is the mastermind behind it all. Throughout your journey, you will meet some new characters who will join your party. Speaking of your party, it includes characters from the first game including Barret – the man with a gun for an arm, Tifa Lockhart – Cloud’s childhood friend, Aerith – the mysterious girl you met in the first game with some unique skills, Red XIII – a talking hound and more.
Getting into spoiler territory, the story can be summed up as the Final Fantasy 7 Multiverse. While the game doesn’t explicitly tell you this, you know you are in a different universe when you spot ‘Stamp’ the mascot dog in a different avatar in each universe. The game alludes to the multiverse a lot but it isn’t until the end of the game that this becomes kind of clear. Maybe the third game will tie in all the loose ends? A great example is Cloud narrating the time he met Tifa at her village when he was a young soldier, but Tifa doesn’t remember this at all.
There is also the question of Aerith’s death. It isn’t a sweeping clear blow and I feel like there is an alternate universe where she survives. While the game does have a definitive ending, it has the same problem as any movie or game that is the middle chapter of the trilogy – a not-so-definitive ending. Overall the game is a fantastic narration of a great story with some interesting plot twists that will keep gamers debating till the third game releases.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is largely the same as its predecessor with some welcome tweaks. The biggest change is the world you traverse. Where Final Fantasy 7 Remake was a linear adventure with many tight spaces to navigate, Rebirth gives you a lush diverse open world to explore. There are 6 regions to explore, each with its environment and style. The open world has the same standard tropes we’ve come to expect – climb a tower and activate it to see what you can do in the area kinda deal. Some gamers are tired of this but not me. I enjoyed exploring an almost markerless map in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom but considering the hectic schedule of my life, I enjoy the fact that I can log into an open-world game, check a few icons off a map and move back to the real world. But that’s just me.
Moving over to the combat, it is a standard third-person action-adventure game with a twist. You can take control of your party members to use their unique abilities adding depth to the combat and also a decent amount of variety based on the character you are controlling. Additionally, Synergy Abilities lets you combine the special abilities of two characters to perform some slick moves. Some of these abilities can help you quickly close the gap between enemies, toss one character in the air to take on aerial foes, or simply unleash a super attack! It’s a lot of fun giving you added depth that goes beyond simple button mashing.
The game also has a lot of side quests and while I didn’t delve into too many of them with my time with the game, it is an area I will explore in my next playthrough.
The Witcher 3 has Gwent which blew up into this awesome card game and now Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has Queen’s Blood. While I have seen many people enjoy the card game, it wasn’t for me. I skipped out on Gwent in The Witcher 3 and I skipped as much of Queen’s Blood as I could. But if you enjoy the distracting card game in an action game, then this may be something you’d enjoy!
Overall, the gameplay of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is quite deep. There is enough depth in the combat to keep it fresh, especially with the synergy abilities, and a plethora of side quests some of which are quite diverse and optional bosses for those who want to perfect their combat skills.
Graphics and sound
Starting with the graphics, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has two options – Graphics for 4K and 30 FPS, and Performance for 60 FPS with lower resolution. The game has received multiple patches since I started playing it, and for most of my playthrough, I played the game using the performance mode – 60FPS. Sitting 6 feet away from my LG 55-inch B9 OLED, the visuals looked good and the 60FPS is just a better experience for a fast-paced action game like this one.
If there is one place where Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth shines, it is with the sound design. The orchestral score which kicks into high gear during a combat sequence or one of the many cinematic sequences will keep you on the edge of your seat. The same can be said for the sombre tunes that play during key cinematic moments and when you are traversing the open world giving you a sense of peace and calm. The swish and thuds of your sword hitting enemies have a satisfying swish to it as well.
The voice acting is great too. Generally, I find that a lot of Japanese games have over-the-top voice acting and the same is the case here, but it is slightly toned down, especially during the signature story moments.
Verdict
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a great action-adventure game. If you like games like Devil May Cry, and Monster Hunter or even enjoyed the recently released Final Fantasy XVI, then this game is one you will enjoy. The impact of the game will be greater if you’ve played FF7 Remake. In fact Fantast 7 Remake and Rebirth have the same impact that the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movies had – reigniting passion for a beloved fantasy world using new-age technology and storytelling to attract a new audience!
Editor’s Score: 9/10
Pros
- Great story
- Engaging gameplay
- An open world to explore
- Great soundtrack
- Good voice acting
Cons
Some side quests feel like fillers
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Developer: Square Enix Creative; Business Unit I
Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PS5
Price: Rs 4799
We played a review copy of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on a PS5
