Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Review and 5 Key Moments

Table of Contents:

• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Faithful to the Original or a New Path?
• Dive Into the World of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: What You Need to Know
• Open World Overview in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Expectations vs. Reality
• Problems with Minigames in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Combat in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: More Than Just Minigames

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Faithful to the Original or a New Path?

Since the release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, fans have had questions about how long the developers will stick to the original story. The Remake made changes to details, adding depth and new elements, which made it a unique experience. However, the ending of the game left an open question about the future of the series. The multiverse introduced at the end made many wonder whether Rebirth will be a continuation of the Remake or will develop an independent story. It will be interesting to see how the developers will balance between respecting the classics and creating new plot twists, which can attract both old fans and new players.

With the conclusion of Remake, it is clear that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth remains faithful to the original. Cloud Strife and his companions leave the dark alleys of Midgar and venture into familiar locations: Junon, Cosmo Canyon, Corel, and others. However, the developers have made changes to the order of these locations to adapt the narrative, given that key plot points have been carried over to the next installment. This allows for a more fluid and logical story flow that enriches the gameplay experience and deepens character interactions. It's important to note that despite the changes, the spirit of the original remains, which pleases fans of the series and new players alike.

Hardcore fans will definitely notice the many differences and new secondary characters. However, these changes, at first glance, do not have a significant impact on the overall perception of the plot and the emotional richness of the game. It is important to note that even with the new elements, the main story remains coherent and attractive, maintaining an intriguing development of events and deep character development.

Dive into the World of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: What You Need to Know

If you are not familiar with Japanese culture and the Yakuza series of games, also known as Like a Dragon, you may have a hard time appreciating the new game. Unlike the more serious and restrained storyline of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Rebirth presents a vibrant and rich world that showcases a unique eccentricity. This game immerses players in a dynamic atmosphere, offering engaging gameplay and memorable characters. Importantly, the world of Yakuza is rich in detail and cultural references, making it appealing to both genre fans and newcomers.

In Rebirth, you'll experience exciting adventures filled with diverse events. The main characters will explore tropical jungles on chocobos and enjoy the atmosphere of a city reminiscent of a combination of Las Vegas and Disneyland. They'll meet circus athletes, take part in operas, play cards with dogs, and even sunbathe on the beach under the watchful eye of a talking fortune-telling cat. This isn't just a prologue to the exciting events of Midgar—it's the beginning of the true story of Final Fantasy 7. Prepare yourself for unforgettable encounters and adventures that await you in this captivating world.

The developers paid attention to every detail, creating visually and aurally rich scenes. The storyline is presented with a high level of execution and impressive cinematography. However, there are also some drawbacks: some dramatic moments drag on, and character monologues can feel tedious. As a result, while certain events in the original game took about an hour, in Rebirth they can stretch out for as long as five.

The increased length of the game allows for greater depth in the characters. Cloud becomes multi-layered and interesting, demonstrating his schizophrenic nature, while Barret evolves from a simple comic relief into a more complex personality. Despite the presence of anime clichés, the character designs do not feel flat and monotonous, making them more realistic and memorable. This adds extra depth to the game and helps you better understand the story.

Yuffie's character development in the remake significantly exceeds her portrayal in the original. While she was merely a casual encounter in the original, in the Remake, she has become a central figure, becoming an integral part of the group. The story expansion also emphasizes her character, emphasizing her significance in the story. Despite her comedic nature, Yuffie becomes an important figure, which adds depth and complexity to her character.

Some characters, such as Cid Highwind and Vincent Valentine, have gained greater depth but are currently unplayable. Their full reveal is expected in the trilogy's finale, which has piqued the interest of fans. This creates anticipation and intrigue around their further development and possible impact on the plot. Information about them may heighten interest in the game and attract new players.

Questions center on the ending and the new story arc begun in the Remake. Full conclusions can only be drawn after the trilogy's conclusion. The antagonist Sephiroth, though more accessible, still retains his enigma. Perhaps the third part will return to him the mystery that he had before.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Open World Overview: Expectations vs. Reality

In the original version of Final Fantasy 7, players explored a schematic map, encountered random battles, and visited a variety of towns. However, the developers at Square Enix decided to update the format by creating an open world, which, unfortunately, did not meet the expectations of modern players. The new game world raises more questions than positive emotions and is reminiscent of the outdated approaches used by Ubisoft. Such changes, instead of attracting a new audience, can leave players disappointed and raise doubts about the success of the open world concept in this franchise.

In Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, players explore a variety of vast regions full of exciting activities, including searching for ancient artifacts and fighting powerful monsters. During the game, it is necessary to activate towers, which allows you to open new quests on the map. One of the most memorable aspects is the frequent interaction with a character who has become a real meme among fans of the game. This adds uniqueness and humor to the gameplay, making the journey through the world of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth even more exciting.

The game's methods have drawn criticism similar to that usually leveled at Ubisoft. While some aspects of the open world may seem excessive, they sometimes obscure important elements of the lore and story. However, many side quests fall short, and only a small number are truly engaging. Developing more interesting and thoughtful side quests would greatly enhance the overall appeal of the gameplay and deepen interaction with the world.

Final Fantasy 7 fans may be eager to complete all of the side quests, as they provide an opportunity to get to know Cloud's party members better. Each side quest causes one party member to reveal interesting aspects of their life, which impacts how their relationships develop. These interactions ultimately determine who Cloud will date. Completing side quests not only enriches the story but also makes gameplay more engaging and action-packed.

While the concept of improving relationships through side quests is promising, the implementation is often subpar. Players are faced with monotonous tasks that mostly boil down to fetch-and-return mechanics. This reduces engagement and interest in the gameplay. To make side quests more appealing, it's necessary to introduce more varied and interesting mechanics that will engage players and make interactions with characters more meaningful and memorable.

One of the main drawbacks of the open world is the need to repeatedly find chocobos in each region, which becomes a mandatory quest for the player. The physics of character movement also raises criticism: the heroes move unnaturally, creating the feeling of being glued to the ground. In addition, the maps have a complex structure, which often makes searching for the desired point tedious and annoying. These aspects can negatively affect the overall experience of the game and reduce the level of player engagement.

Problems with minigames in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Minigames are a fun addition to RPG mechanics, but in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth their quantity and quality are questionable. It is important to keep in mind that such elements are short-lived and do not distract from the main gameplay. Effective implementation of minigames can add variety and appeal to gameplay, but it's important to maintain a balance so they don't overwhelm the main storyline and game mechanics.

Among all the minigames in the project, the Gwent-like card game deserves special attention. This innovative approach to combining card combat and strategic interaction truly impresses players. Also worth noting is the music game, which allows for improvisation on the piano, introducing an element of freedom and creativity to the gameplay. These unique mechanics make the project more engaging and varied, contributing to its popularity among users.

While there are numerous minigames, such as a shooting gallery, stealth chocobo collecting, dolphin racing, and even turn-based fighting games, many of them prove to be too difficult and unenjoyable. Over 96 hours of gameplay, I devoted about 20 hours to these minigames, but soon realized that it was better to ignore them. However, the game often requires completing these minigames to complete quests, which adds additional difficulty and reduces the overall interest in the gameplay.

In the story-driven date quest in the Gold Saucer location, players will encounter a number of minigames that can prove tedious. Many of them require significant effort to master the controls and understand the rules, which often leads to frustration. The reason for completing every level with a maximum rating remains unclear. This can reduce the overall interest in the game and leave the player feeling dissatisfied.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth sometimes evokes associations with the Yakuza series, in which minigames are integrated into story quests. Tasks, such as collecting mushrooms or returning chickens to the coop, are transformed into minigames. This may seem interesting at first, but over time it becomes annoying, especially given the length of the main game. Such elements can distract from the main plot and reduce overall immersion in the game world, which is important for experienced players.

The reasons for the large number of minigames in modern video games are not fully understood. Perhaps the developers are trying to balance the number of cutscenes by adding a variety of gameplay content. This is especially noticeable in elements where the player controls a cat and solves simple puzzles. These minigames not only add variety to the gameplay but also allow players to immerse themselves in the game world, offering new challenges and engaging tasks.

Some minigames may be a nod to the original, which also featured similar elements. However, in the new project, they feel overly intrusive, detracting from the overall experience. These elements, instead of enriching the gameplay, distract attention and create a feeling of overload.

Battles in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: More Than Just Minigames

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth offers players a rich experience, including interesting dating scenes and a variety of minigames. However, the true challenge lies in the extensive combat system, where players will face a variety of enemies. While regular enemies are not particularly difficult, boss battles become a real challenge. The game features a variety of bosses, each requiring players to use thoughtful strategy and tactics to defeat.

The combat system in Rebirth combines real-time and turn-based mechanics while maintaining the spirit of the original. Players control three characters simultaneously, allowing them to switch between them during battles. Using both simple and special attacks helps effectively deal with regular enemies, but defeating bosses will require more sophisticated strategies. Building up the ATB gauge is essential, as it is used to use magic, special abilities, and items. Effective resource management and choosing the right tactics are key to success in battles.

A key element of the combat system is the use of ATB abilities, which adds depth and variety to battles. As the ATB gauge fills, players can actively maneuver, dodge, and parry enemy attacks. This creates a unique blend of real-time and strategic elements in a dynamic combat system, allowing players to make more informed decisions and adapt to changing battle conditions.

Attacking bosses isn't enough—to achieve maximum damage, you need to stun them. This is achieved through the use of special abilities that expose enemy weaknesses. Often, these weaknesses aren't obvious and require complex attack combinations, adding a strategic element to every battle. Understanding combat mechanics and using skills correctly significantly increases your chances of victory.

Players have the ability to summon powerful creatures and use team abilities, significantly expanding the game's tactical options. A new leveling system with a skill tree and ability bindings to various weapons provides greater flexibility in creating unique character builds. This allows each player to tailor their hero to their playstyle, making the gameplay more engaging and varied.

Some elements of the combat system may cause frustration among players. When you switch to a specific character, enemies begin actively attacking them. This creates difficulties, especially if you've chosen a hero like Iris, who has a slow attack speed and is designed to support the team. This approach can negatively impact combat strategy and reduce the effectiveness of the group. Optimizing the enemy aggression system based on the selected character could improve gameplay and make it more balanced. Complex support characters, not focused on the tank role, can present certain challenges for players. It's important to periodically switch to such characters to build up your ATB meter and provide necessary support in battle. This can complicate gameplay, as it requires players to be flexible and adapt to various situations. Effective use of support units can improve team strategy and increase your chances of winning battles.

In conclusion, it's worth noting that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is not just a game, but an important episode of the remake, which attracts the attention of its fans. Although the game lacks complete independence, the story and gameplay style create a unique gaming experience. The open world and variety of side quests can make the process too drawn out, which sometimes leads to fatigue. Nevertheless, the game leaves vivid impressions that are pleasant to recall while watching "game films" on YouTube. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth continues to develop the beloved universe, offering players new adventures and deep immersion into the story.

Subscribe to our Telegram channel "Checkpoint", where we publish the latest news from the world of games, information about development, and advice from game development professionals. We are open to your ideas and discussions on topics related to the gaming industry. Join us to stay up to date with the latest trends and get helpful tips.