Final Fantasy VII Remake arrived with huge expectation for all who loves the series or are willing to play it. And that’s no surprise since Cloud’s journey is one of the most iconic in videogame history, wich brings the question: Final Fantasy VII Remake is so iconic as the original?
This text contains SPOILERS! Be cautious
Yes! We finally reached the end of this FFVII Remake special, and here we’ll talk about the game by publisher/developer Square Enix, signed by diretor Tetsuya Nomura, and released in April, 2020.
But, before we start, I wanna tell a little story. My experience with the original FFVII is really recent, because my, at the time, Playstation 1 never, literally, got trough the first frame of the game’s opening.
For that reason, years later, precisely in 2019, I got the opportunity to play the original game (using a speed up feature). I credit this as the fact responsible for FFVII not apearring in my list of favorites FFs.
That said, in terms of comparison between the original and the remake, everything’s still fresh in my memory. And here, I can atest: everything is the same, but (almost) all is different.
Shall we begin?
Plot
Here we have the main turning point of FFVII Remake, the plot. Everything seems like the 1997 game. We’re presented to Cloud, Barrett, Biggs, Wedge, Jessie, and the gameplay, all revamped (we’ll talk about the gameplay later), and this is were the magic in FFVII Remake start.
Everything’s enchanting. Linear, but enchanting. And after the initial arc, and first Boss Battle, it’s time to explore “Upper Midgar” a little (let’s call it that way), and to meet the cornerstone of FFVII lore: Aerith.
And for that, let me get some help form the character’s american voice actress, Briana White.
I was not prepared for this moment. Hearing my voice over work in the finished product for the first time… Pure magic.
(light spoiler warning) #FF7R pic.twitter.com/ECelqkicqQ— TheStrangeRebel (@TheStrangeRebel) April 14, 2020
“I was not prepared for this moment. Hearing my voice over work in the finished product for the first time… Pure magic.
(light spoiler warning) #FF7R”
Yes, Briana represents me in that moment, one of the most iconic in videogame’s history. And here as well, we get the first signs that the story will blow your mind.
Besides Aerith, we’re presented to the demented… wait! Whispers… ghosts that doesn’t look too friendly… and him. Yes, him. Sephirot (already?)!
Downtown Midgar
After the first act of action, we arrive in Downtown Midgar, home of the less fortunate in Midgar. And here is where you can explore one of the most incredible things in te FFVII Remake: the interactions.
Everything here is alive, all of the NPC’s chats can be heard during your stroll in the streets. And now, Cloud literally do his mercenary work and starts the game’s side-quests.
Works that make you go from point A to B are your missions here, and basically during all the game. But that’s just fine! Nothing is tiresome, and most times it brings some “human experience” about the place and the people who give said missions. That includes quests with your Avalanche (ecoterrorist group that fights world destruction)) colleagues. Jessie, Biggs and Wedge have all fundamental roles in the story, bringing more screen time to characters less explored in the past.
Final Fantasy VII Remake excels in stablishing powerful connections between the main characters and the player, making you care about’em in all moments of the game.
Holding a little about the story, since we can go with some heavy spoilers, let get to the point that made me more confortable in reviewing FFVI Remake.
Gameplay
For starters, FFVII Remake can show some hardships with its battle mechanics. But, in just a few moments of playing, the ATB (Active Time Battle) system is learned. Now, if you’re more experienced with the franchise games, you’ll easily fell that the combat brings together the best of Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XV and elevates it to max level.
All characters have unique characteristics and you won’t pass one minute without wanting to use all of them in battle, because it’s really fun. Even more, any weapon you acquire with a character grants an ample strategic fator, were your build can be created exactly like you wants it, something very similar to the Gambit System of Final Fantasy XII.
In a organic way, the fights, especially the boss fights, seem a lot of times like a dance, because of the character’s movements during their attacks. Strategy here is essencial, and it’s not because the game has “Hack and Slash” features that beating up all you see solves everything.
It’s good to metion that every battle is completely elevated to epic levels thanks to Nobuo Uematsu’s compositions. The legendary japanese songwriter has in his resumee nothing more than fourteen of the serie’s titles, beginning in 1987, where he worked in the first Final Fantasy game.
Negative Points in Final Fantasy VII Remake
Well, not everything is a bed or roses in FFVII Remake. Even tough only a few, they exist. The battle system itself shows a lack in sync with the game’s camera numerous times, especially when fighting in more narrow locations, like the sewers act, or to have enemies flying in the scenario. Nothing that disturbs the adventure, but is worth to note it.
Talking about scenarios, that’s a huge problem in FFVII Remake, alongside some graphics. There will be times where you’ll be in awe with the ample vision and the details added in all of the maps you come across, and yes, they sure are pretty. But certain details are somewhat lackluster, like doors, windows and tables the aparently are not well made, without the polishing expected to be shown in a game of the current generation.
And let’s not forget about the two summons you should acquire during gameplay, but have simply been put on sale, when there could have been more interesting ways of getting them. Things like that, wich should be obtained by the players efforts, are now simply put as pre-sale bonuses.
However, I want to highlight the real problem in the game, alas not only in the game, but in Square Enix as a whole: the lack of communication with the players about the next parts of the Remake. Some might say that “not even they know”, but, come on! The company who’s been working in this game for years really doesn’t know, or don’t want to say when the next part is coming out? Please.
Conclusion: Final Fantasy VII Remake fulfill its job?
It’ normal to be skeptical when a remake of na old game is announced. Questions like “will it be good?”, “they will maintain the essence of the original?” can appear. But, FFVII Remake answer this aforemented questions masterfully. However, it leave others in the way that we’ll only know when the next parts come to our hands.
If you’re a Final Fantasy enthusiast, but never played, I recommend this game without a shadow of a doubt. It is a amazing entryway to the franchise, but know that you’ll take long to find answers (and talking about it, if you go to the original to search for answers, know that you will only come out with more questions). After all, “the journey to the unknown will continue”.
But if you’re na old-timer on the series, and didn’t have the chance to play FFVII Remake, what are you waiting for?
Final Fantasy VII Remake fulfill its job of retelling in epic fashion the events of its predecessor, but getting to do it in its own way. It desserves all compliments, and its legay, like the original, will be remembered for generations to come as one of most outstanding stories in videogame’s history.
