Establishing a prequel and backstory to the most iconic game and protagonist, may be the most difficult hurdle this game faces, yet it jumps that hurdle with great confidence. After hearing that the game had a cringy story and boring ameplay loop, I was suprised to find that I had fun with both.

Explording the region and fighting bosses as Zack was a delight, a fun protagonist that stands out in a crowd of boring RPG main characters. Filling Cloud's role would be a difficult task, but making Zack a goofy and kind hearted character, really contrasts with the narrative and tone of this universe, yet this works well, as by the end I was on the brim of tearing up when experiencing the absolute tragedy of his story. This game acts as a perfect addition to the FF7 world, as instead of padding the world full of useless content, it instead strives to be its own unique experience, whilst setting up depth for the later story.

Zack, Cloud, Sephiroph, and all new characters, feel complex and alive in this game, further expanding on main game in ways that makes you appreciate the world more. Though the story can be confusing at times, and the combat feeling stiff after a slog of battles, I'm glad I played this game and I can't wait to explore more of this universe. Society yearns for anime boys with big swords.