How do I talk about a game that has taken up so much time and left such an impact? A game that I logged over 77 hours into and 3 real world months. A game that during one of the craziest times of my life as I was buying a home for the first time, moving, rehearsing and performing in multiple shows, and more was a bedrock for me. Something I could go to when I finally had time to rest and enjoy the world, combat, and especially the characters as everything around me was a swirling tornado of chaos. I don't know if I fully can, but I'll do my best here.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was a game I was looking forward to having enjoyed Remake, but not one I was overly hyped about. I loved the characters in Remake, especially as someone who never got around to the original game and was meeting them for the first time. I really liked the combat too, but otherwise it was very good if not great. So imagine my surprise when I boot up this Part 2 just to have my mind blown. The combat is back with some major improvements and additions that made it even deeper than its already impressive predecessor. The story goes to new, exciting places, and even if it's a bit meandering, it finds its way to important key moments I won't forget. The characters are back and better than ever! Getting a whole open world with tons of side content to further flesh them out only helps. I loved seeing my old favorites from Remake again and meeting all the new, wonderful characters for the first time.

It's a game that just completely sucked me in and refused to let go. I don't know if it's even released its grasp by this point, moments and music and characters running through my mind still. It's been less than a day since I rolled credits, so maybe I'll see in a few days. The open world is just phenomenal, the act of claiming towers to discover all the good little bits spread around the wilderness excellent at activating that part of my lizard brain that just wants to complete complete complete. It's nothing new but a nice streamlining of the formula so many Ubisoft games and others have used for years. It's polished to a sheen here. While some pieces were a bit too much busywork and not every minigame worked as well as others, I could not stop hopping all over this world completing all the different combat challenges, lifesprings, minigames, sidequests, and more! Every area introduced so many new things, from new activities to new ways to navigate.

The combat, while once again taking some getting used to again like in Remake, flourishes once you've locked in. It's deepened its materia system, expanded its weapon catalog and their abilities, and provides so much to analyze and play with for every foe and fiend you find. Hell, I even left a piece or two of the system alone and still felt like I was juggling a ton to strategize and fight each enemy in the best way possible. There's certainly more depth to be found, which is exciting especially as I do want to come back and beat this game on Hard mode.

The story too, while it has some silly stumbles in the late game like Remake, makes up for any slip with some of the best plotting and character development I've seen in games. It's not afraid to get silly nor serious, and it's a marvel at how well it balances these tones.

And the characters, oh my lord the characters. It was fun talking with one of my best friends who has played the original about how they've changed things around for the better. The glow up for Cait Sith was especially surprising. I loved the little furball from the get go, so to hear how maligned he was before was a shock. His arc hits some big spots I won't spoil but tore me to absolute pieces. Alongside the other part that... well they have fun handling that as you'd expect.

Honestly, my only complaints are some stupid minigames, sidequests, and the silly story stuff at the end that was too much. They get absolutely blown away by all the positive. This game moved me in ways I haven't been moved in a long time paired with gameplay that reaches the stratosphere in quality and execution. It's gorgeous to behold, runs great the vast majority of the time, and has a new version of what was already one of the greatest soundtracks of all time. And by god is it one of the best stories and casts of all time too.

It's amazing to see what Nomura and team are doing to remake this game into its own masterpiece trilogy. Hell, these aren't even your typical remakes/remasters that spruce up the game while still keeping the same gameplay core. These are really brand new AAA games that are more "adapting" the original game. If they keep this quality up, I can't wait to see how things end in Part 3. For now though, Rebirth is easily a new all time favorite for me, and I implore anyone who cares about gaming to check it and its predecessor out.

Literally a day after I posted my last rant log about what I thought of the current state of the game, Supergiant released a Major patch with a fuck ton of QoL fixes, and specially, weapon changes. Goddamn, these people work quick! So I decided to hop back into the game and try, try again, mostly with the weapons that seemingly got improved.

Immediately I was pleasantly surprised to see that Ygnium (Torches) was massively buffed, and I nearly cried tears of joy at the fact that I had finally found what I considered to be my favorite weapons, along with Revaal (Skulls) which I hadn't the chance to try out until now. I'm glad to see that going forward I know that those two are going to be the weapons I'll do most of my runs with. Axe is almost good, but the Omega Special is still not worth the commitment with the barrier dropping while you are locked in the animation, specially against enemies that spam projectiles. So I have to applaud Supergiant for this, I'm genuinely looking for more patches on the way to the full release.

However, some of my strongest nitpicks are still there, I still think it's very obnoxious that nearly every boss likes to spam a fuck ton of adds now, and I still don't find the Arcana system that interesting. However, something else that changed is that I realized that the issue isn't that Enemies are overtuned in later areas, but instead is that Surface runs are fucking tough, enemies there aren't just fucking around compared to the underground areas.

Now having beat a full run on both sides, I can comfortably kick back, put this one on the shelf, and wait for the chefs to do their work

I have starred at a blank screen for several minutes trying to think of what to say to show my love for this game. Unfortunately trying to describe exactly what makes me feel the way I do about this game is hard to pinpoint without just saying this is a masterpiece that excels in every area a video games can. But in my opinion this truly excels at every level. Character progression, relate ability, replay ability, story, production, sound tracks, visuals, combat, exploration, vast hour syncing beautiful locations, heart breaking emotional moments, genuinely hilarious moments, so many fun mini games that it feels like you could sell it’s as a Final Fantasy version of Mario Party, you want it in a game it’s probably here. Also did I mention music, character progression, and story because these aspects aren’t just top notch for Final Fantasy, they are top notch for the medium.

I don’t know how Square pulled it off but they made one of the most well liked classic cast of characters and made them 100 times more deep, real and relatable. This goes for every party member but two stand out. First is Yuffie. In the original game Yuffie is optional so they didn’t really give her character much more character than “I love materia.” Here she is fully fleshed out, deep, loveable character just as much as everyone else in the party. Secondly is Cait Sith. As much as I loved the original cast I loathed Cait Sith with my entire being. All of my friends I knew that played this game also hated him. But in this game they did the impossible and took him from my one of my very least liked characters made him into an upper tier character. He goes from a legit joke to an amazing, funny, clever, loving character. To me the remakes did more for him than anyone .

The story was magnificent albeit with a some pacing issues. There were so many side quest thrown at you in between small chunks of the story. Outside of that though it was damn near everything you could want. There is some divide between fans on the last chapter but I think it sets up the potential of part 3 extremely well. I want to talk story much more but don’t want to spoil a thing but just know I thought is was S+ tier.

The music was a delight as songs were brilliantly remixed and sometimes used at beautiful or tragic times. This is one of the best Final Fantasy sound tracks, sooo elite of the elite. Two songs that surprisingly were way more catchy than they had any right to be were “bow wow wow” and the Chocobo songs when racing.

The gameplay is by far the best in the series imo with only XVI and Remake coming anywhere close. Everything felt smooth and customizable. Building each character to your unique play style was enjoyable.

The only two downsides I can even see someone arguing against are the final chapter playing out differently than they hoped and the pacing due to side quests. However as someone that thinks the final chapter will be a good springboard into part 3 and wants as much (good) Final Fantasy content that Square can put out these were bonus/non issues for me.

I could legitimately go on about this game for several hours but I don’t want to ramble. I recommend this game 100% and believe it is one of the greatest video games of all time!

Having the "voices" in Senua's head straight up tell the player solutions to the game's awful and easy puzzles might be the most baffling design choice I've seen in a game this year. Simultaneously being the single most egregious example of excessive hand-holding in AAA games and massively undermining what these games are trying to say about mental health.

Still though, this is probably less annoying to play than the first game simply because there's less "gameplay." The puzzle and combat sections in the first game were terrible, and I guess Ninja Theory wasn't confident in their ability to improve those aspects so they wisely decided to just strip those sections down and commit more to the walking simulator and cinematic aspects.

In 10 year though, when these visuals are no longer cutting edge, I genuinely don't see a reason to ever think of this game again. It's a walking simulator with annoying puzzles, mediocre story, and art direction that's derivative of better works (like Robert Eggers' stuff). I'd call it a glorified tech demo, but there are plenty of explicit tech demo games that are much more fun/substantial/meaningful than this.

Personal preference, but having put 200 hours in the first game

1. You get stronger in 1 / bosses are easier in 1
2. The weapons are much more unique in 1
3. Your bad runs in this game feel much worse and there are a lot more bad boons.

That being said, I don't have a ton of motivation to play because 200 hours tends to be my limit and this game is a clone of 1, which is fine, but I don't think I'll be putting another 200 in this one.

20 hours in I want to keep playing so it definitely feels distinguishable enough for a sequel but there are some preference issues I have with it which put 1 above this one for me.

Ton of content for EA though and it's still a great game.

Freed from the shackles of traditional video game structure, the FF7 team went so far above and beyond that it's hard to fathom. No one is coming to this game without having played the original or Remake, so the heavy lifting in terms of story and characters is already accounted for. The game instead focuses its ambition entirely inward, creating the most expansive and compelling game of the AAA Open World Action-Adventure RPG genre -- by embracing Final Fantasy 7 to the highest extent.

They took the winning formulas of FFVII Remake's battle system, and overlayed 100 hours worth of quests, minigames, and exploration that consistently surprises and delights. While some elements may feel a little like chores, it never feels compulsary (unless you plan to 100% the game). Instead all of this adds up to constant new experiences that add color to the world. Even just walking through a new zone, seeing all of the unique assets created for the game makes you feel like you're feasting on the most premium digital world ever created. The most impressive thing about this is that the team didn't need to do any of this. They could have had a strict chapter structure like Remake with smaller cities a faux open world, and we all would have accepted that. But instead they wanted to make something vast and worthy of the ambition of a Final Fantasy Game. It's not a perfect game, but even when things don't quite works.... it works! It's the most imperfect game I would say is a 10/10.

Of course having such a big game take place in the first half of the second act of FF7, the story's stakes and character development is limited by default. There are of course plot twists and the big question everyone is wondering about what will happen to Aerith. It was obviously a challenge to keep a sense of forward momentum and keep the big conflict at the top of mind, but I think they did succeed, even when they made choices to delay some plot points. There is a lot of repetition but still feels well paced.

Part 3 still has a tall task ahead of itself, especially with the ways that this game raises the stakes above Remake. However I do have faith and I think we will all look at The FF7 Remake Series as a real pinnacle of long-form storytelling.

Final Fantasy VIII-3 hasn’t left my mind. The fixation has lasted much longer than is probably called for. I’ve reviewed it already but that review was mostly my reactionary feelings and thoughts in a very general sense. Nobody asked, but I want to let out some thoughts that branch beyond the game itself and discuss the aura around it and its place amongst remakes and remasters that continue to populate the industry.

Despite the facade that we are tired of remakes and want more original ideas, it’s fascinating how many are widely beloved and celebrated. Perhaps we’re embarrassed to admit that we love repackaged nostalgia. I hear about remake fatigue so often but it seems to dissipate when “one of the good ones” comes out. I’m in favor of more work being put into new games (or sequels even) rather than remakes and remasters, but I can’t help but admit to myself that almost every huge remake has been pretty great to play, and it’s also wonderful to play older games on new hardware. It’s convenient and helps people avoid spending 100 dollars on a GameCube game. I’m not sure I would have ever played Baten Kaitos without it receiving a remaster. So many celebrated remakes are pretty 1:1 as well, with only the slightest of adjustments that could go unnoticed easily; the discussion is usually around the visuals alone. Preserving those original experiences seems important to the business of remakes. The most skepticism I can recall around a remake was Resident Evil 4. It ended up being very faithful and safe in terms of its changes and it went on to receive GOTY nominations. Dead Space received a very faithful remake and fans are devastated that we aren’t getting a remake of 2. So many games that “didn’t need remakes” became examples of “the good ones”. Some people try to claim that Final Fantasy VII never really needed a remake and all they wanted was a visual overhaul remaster adjacent kind of thing. While true that plenty of people were never clamoring for a remake of VII, it would be wrong to say that the idea of a Final Fantasy VII Remake did not consistently surround the legacy of VII.

Fans of Final Fantasy VII wanted a remake of it as soon as they played it; wondering why the characters couldn’t have realistic proportions all the time. Why can’t the game look like the cutscenes? Final Fantasy VIII came out and already we saw what VII could have visually been instead. Final Fantasy X happened and we then wanted VII to have voice acting too. Final Fantasy XII released and a fan receiving the first copy said “Please remake Final Fantasy VII for the PlayStation 3” into the microphone. There’s a lot of remakes, a lot of them are good, and plenty of them we never really asked for, so how is it that the one game that begged to be remade upon its birth stubbornly refused to be remade for so long? Sometimes it’s hard to believe that it exists and that we’re 2/3 games into this trilogy.

Final Fantasy VII is the only game that could be remade in this way. A lot of the original creators are on the Remake project. The developers that made games we grew up with are getting older. Retirement is close for many and has arrived for others already. This is the last chance we have to get this from them. It’s not just about remaking a game because it needed quality of life upgrades, it’s about remaking the culture around it. The FF7 remake games are remaking the fan theories people had around the original in the 90s. It’s remaking the experience of leaving midgar for the first time. It’s remaking the biggest spoiler in gaming and finding ways to replicate our original experience. It remakes experiencing the music for the first time. There’s a world where we got a standard remake of FF7 that goes on to be “pretty good, but not as good as the original”. Some remakes release to little fanfare and feel unnecessary. Some remakes want to replace the original or be the default version we go to when we think of it. FF7 could never be replaced. It’s why games like Ocarina of Time will likely never receive more than what the 3DS version provided. Some games are too big for themselves. Some remakes are destined to be hated by fans solely because it isn’t the original game. The FF7 remake games know this. Never have I played a remake of a game that so strongly loves its original self. Nothing about the Remake series feels like a replacement. It’s an extension of the original in every way, refusing to ignore what made it resonate with us. I’ve seen countless people play the original game for the first time because of these games or in preparation for them. It’s a huge conflict for many people, wondering if they need to play the original game or not. Resident Evil remakes are great games, but I don’t imagine many people feel a weird sense of guilt by not experiencing the original games before or after. The creators of FF7 are proud of their work and don’t want it to be forgotten. These remakes may be different and change story beats or add a plethora of original ideas absent from the original, but it’s all in service of its blueprint. It only seeks to emulate what the original accomplished.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is what we’ve all been waiting for. I don’t think we’ll ever have a set of games like these ever again in terms of concept and development. Love letter is far too mild for what this is. These are developers who loved a piece of art so much that they couldn’t say no to making it for us again. There’s discussion about other Final Fantasy games that should be remade and I often see people say “hopefully it won’t be like the VII remake”. I love FF VIII and IX, but we do not exist in a world where those had similar reputations as VII and would warrant a similar approach. It’s almost a misunderstanding of what the VII Remake project is about. It isn’t simply remaking a game because it seemed like an easy check to cash, it’s tackling the nightmare that was the never ending demand for it and what angle to approach it; fully in relation to us and our expectations as fans. No video game calls for such a remake other than Final Fantasy VII. The fact so many people have gone back to play the original PS1 game is amazing. I may never play the original resident evil 1 because of how good the GameCube remake is, but because of the way the VII remakes are turning out, I will always see it as another branch on the tree.

In a way it’s preserving art by remaking it. Something like the Silent Hill 2 remake has a gross vibe to it because the original game isn’t easily accessible, and here we are making a radically different version of it in a world that won’t let you properly experience its original self. Final Fantasy games are wonderfully ported and preserved across so many systems. We can play the original VII whenever we want. The Remake series may be divisive, but its approach to examining itself begs you to not forget where it came from. It preserves its place amongst gaming as an art form. Sure it can be played in isolation, but it is radically improved when you carry the experience of the original game with you. It reminds me of a film adaptation of a novel. Video games remake themselves to improve ideas and visuals or to introduce itself to a new audience that will never play the original. The VII remake project aims to avoid that. It’s still remaking itself within the medium of video games, but the novel to film comparison is to say that it provides a new experience rather than a definitive one. You may prefer one over the other, and that’s okay. I don’t think the point is to have a better game than the original, but to let both coexist with each other and go down in history together, side by side. It’s a wonderful thing.

A game that I respect more than I actually enjoy. I understand it's influence and I love some of the other content this universe has produced (Remake is incredible). But man this game has been completely decimated by the passage of time. Most of the time, when I play an seminal classic, I find that they've aged well and are fun even in the context of modern gaming (SOTN is an example of a game that came out the same year and hasn't aged a day), but FF7 is unfortunately an exception for me. The gameplay is too slow and easy, the movement feels awkward, the visuals and presentation are really unappealing (this is coming from someone who loves plenty of uglier games), and the UI and menus are simply awful.

Despite my mixed feelings on this game, it's very easy to see why it's such a beloved classic. The worldbuilding, story, music, variety, and characters are all good even today. While I think Square Enix's take on remaking this game has had an excellent start and much more ambitious than anyone could have imagined. I do hope that one day we get another take of this game that sticks closer to the original vision while smoothing out the rough edges I mentioned, since Remake is so fundamentally different from the original experience.

When looking at the lenses of remakes, remasters, re-imaginings, reboots, definitive editions, ports, and plenty by the library classifications. It is important to understand where and what kind of vision the original and new are undertaking. Are companies such as Bluepoint trying to faithfully rework a game 1:1 without specific egregious artistic or personal changes in the first's tone and music? Do the budget remakes of Front Mission create a definitive edition? Can both the initial version and separate remakes such as Resident Evil stand side by side with one another? These are difficult questions to ask and honestly, I've seen many arguments for, against and nuance takes in the middle. Depending on the experience of the individual and the context from which is given in claims. The evidence and therefore the response may vary. To this end, I would posit a question. What is Final Fantasy VII Remake(FFVIIR)? Sounds like a dumb question, albeit questioning sprouts and fans, the answer may surprise you. In my eyes, the question is only a part of the whole pie I've been struggling to eat since completing the 2nd installment of the 2024 title called Rebirth. And in pursuit of such answers, I decided to replay FFVII Remake once more. Marking this as my third finished playthrough. I will state beforehand I’m not skilled enough to determine a decisive reply. Rather I've submitted 7 mixed feelings along with 7 praises. To demonstrate why I’m struggling and dearly pray the information presented will help a soul in a similar position. Forgive me if I offend anyone who holds the title near and dear to their hearts. That is not my intent. My troublesome concerns in the following text are not meant to be scathing nor as a rant. And are simply my observations on what could be improved. Followed by what I believe the team does well. With no spoilers as much as possible. Failing that, if at any point I’ve resorted heavily negatively or failing the above. Then you have my express permission to summon a big meteor and channel your energy to land on me and thus yeet me into the lifestream.

First - Faithful to the original, yet evokes new material. Over simply designating it as a remake. The official name should've been called a re-imagining. From the playstation store the description states "... is a reimagining of the iconic original with unforgettable characters, a mind-blowing story, and epic battles." For those confused on the word 'reimagine,' the definition according to merriam webster says "to imagine again or anew, or recreate." A remake by definition is "make anew or in a different form. - Remade." To explain in simpler terms. I perceive the definition to be a higher quality recreating the foremost vision with higher fidelity and optimizing whatever is lacking to a certain extent. A reimagining of this caliber goes beyond the constraints the previous presented to offer something unique and old. Straightaway, please erase notions of 1:1 you will find semblances and fresh adjustments present everywhere. I admit I am poorly ignorant of what the definition in the landscape of video games entailed and expected a remake before a reimagining. A gentle reminder to keep your expectations in check. Funnily enough, If you had talked to my 2020 self he would've given you a frowning face with a "What you talkin bout fool!?" while explaining why this is faithful. Man. Believe me, it is another instance of me desiring to go back in time to slap my past self silly. Regardless, a vital question comes to mind for fresh souls and veterans. Do I need to know the pioneers or titles from the compilation? The short response is no. For unfamiliar dudes. Don't worry this isn't me trying to scare prospective souls for the 2020 JRPG. Context is important, and sure you can gain a great deal more from playing the premier and other connected mediums within the universe. However, leave that to the fans who want something different. As someone who isn't a fan of the earliest yet devoured everything in the compilation minus Dirge. I sound hypocritical. Although I hold the seventh entry in the series in my top ten for the franchise. Don't get me wrong, this isn't me being an arbiter of who and what you can play. Eventually, it is your decision to decide. I love to inform/educate others for those not in the know or out of the loop. The long retort is a 'yes' and 'maybe' for fans and those somewhat familiar with the FF7 universe. Why? Well in a 2020 VG247 interview with the producer Yoshinori Kitase(Who directed the initial version) stated "...all of the lore from the works created after the original, the Compilation of Final Fantasy 7, that's all very much in the base of the canon for the remake, and going forward it will be too." The response was due to a question on how significant the "compilation ideas," will be brought to the table. What does this mean for the modern FF7 project split three ways? Well. in my eyes. They're moving outside a 're-imagining'. delving into territories of the 'reboot' and 'sequel' combination. Smashing like playdoh three qualities to present exciting and bold overhauls with the aged guards in the developer team and fresh blood behind the 1997 release. And does it stick to the landing? Hmm, I don't think I can state it definitively did, but my 2020 aging self and multiple friends, peers, and others dearly enjoy the remake. In that sense, I must articulate that's perfectly valid. But 2024 me posits an uncomfortable realization upon replaying before arriving at my conclusion. And that is...

Second - The linear sections need to take a backseat. A conclusion I reached since I've taken the liberty of recording my whole replay. For transparency, this means I played on classic difficulty and solely focused on the main narrative. Excluding the side-content because I already completed them in 2020. Where I finished a hard mode replay upon polishing off normal mode. I found dissecting the gameplay bits. 10+ linear sections in eighteen total chapters. Meaning player agency to move in an environment usually in a guided manner. Not bad by either means, however, these segments offer a repetitive structure of mandatory fights with some leeway to run past. Instead of opting for a free-form combat encounter at your leisure at any time. A famous example is Chrono Trigger where you had a bunch of areas to opt out of required battles by fleeing and running around mobs. Here we don't get that unless we run a sufficient distance or until each enemies are wiped out. Thereby, stalling players and a focus on rinse-and-repeat combat engagements. To drive the claim deeper these sectors take up 'xx' minutes. Ranging in my experience 20-50 min. Varying depending on the length: short, medium, and long. Includes watching cutscenes interlaced as you progress further in a route. Not noticeable if you partake in the voluntary areas and stop to take a break. An un-fun endeavor in dealing with yet a familiar path to tread and battle. Cutscenes and voiced commentary can only do so much if I'm forced to brawl with mob #1 and mob #2. Taking out the surprise and inducing...

Third - A rampant formulaic structure in abundance on the far side of the spectacle and splendor of the dystopian cyberpunk metropolis of Midgar. The place where the bulk takes place. Before I slash on ahead I must enunciate you control a character initially. Cloud Strife. Mercenary & EX-Soldier. Armed with a hulking greatsword busting from his back, he embarks on a dangerous job with eco-terrorists to stop a megacorporation from harnessing the planet's precious finite resource mako. An eyebrow-raising premise and I'll detail more later. Continuing from my claim earlier. The former is true. And though I'm no expert designer I don't like predictable sequences. The first offered short linear zones capable of completing in achingly fewer occasions than what my results found. Sharing authentic surprises making full use of the shift into 3D. By contrast, I found the measure of guided linear padding districts a chore than a fun participation. To be fair this is looking through the eyes of a replayer, yet for those newcomers this is probably fine. Although coming from Rebirth, I found the developers didn't learn their lesson and continued the practice to disastrous effects. Sure there are moments interspersed where we deal with minor obstacles in the way: switches, pulleys, levers, buttons, time limits and split parties, stealth, and walking passages. Creating opportunities to diversify the run then face another foe formula. Realistic to the point of unnecessary for the sake of immersiveness. Doesn’t make sense to hold a button to stress the act of pushing stuff such as hard levers. Hence, still not sufficient to make me jump in joy saying "GUYS THIS IS AWESOME!" Reality isn't the same as the expectations as I failed earlier above in my 1st point. Cut these chunks 50% to 100% in my opinion. Don't delay my gratification further to catch the next plot scene. Apply enjoyable no obstacles in overcoming or keep them extremely short. And to be frank we do distinguish semblances of these later on: trains, grappling hooks, and controlling big o'l arms, but their exposure is still too long for my tastes. Even slicing extended verticality would've helped in the level designs, slapping a sidequest abruptly can provide benefits.

Fourth - Thus padding becomes a constant companion of mine. From the FFVII Remake Ultimania book. An interview revealed "...in the original game, it takes about 7 hours to go through the Midgar section. In the Remake, the map would need to be in 3D, so there would be much more information to account for as well as minutes pass. To go from one point to another, and all that adds up. Since we knew that we would have to add scenarios to the story too, I knew that the overall gameplay of the Remake would be well enough to cover a whole game." - Tetsuya Nomura(co-director) said. Expanding the JRPG from 7 hours into a AAA term is unprecedented. Can you imagine if Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was cut 1/3 and the 1/3 was blown into a full $70 price tag? The number of resources, man-hours, and sheer effort along with the Square Enix budget + marketing. Of one of the most recognized JRPG brands on Earth and selling millions to this day, with medals of commercial and critical success in the tail-end of 1997 is double eye-brow raising past my hairline. My times in 2020 were 76 hours to 100%, 45hr on a first playthrough plus completing the entire sidequests and 19 for my replay. Close to the submitted averages from How long to beat data. Therefore it is inconceivable for me to imagine entirely the work involved has non-existent padding. The opposite is true adding filler during unnecessary sections. Not bringing out various spoilers, but I dissected the chapters, discovering multiple instances of stretching the seven hours. I've already talked above about the linear pieces, but certain cutscenes need not be extended. I don't want to watch a mysterious guy with cat-like eyes gradually gazing at me, walking slowly and spontaneously whispering in my ear. Appearing as a ghost when you least expect it and serving as a major means to tease the audience. Extra examples inside. Such as a roach add forced skirmishes with a guy who isn't really a friend, but hold up maybe he is because we escaped? But the dude has no depth whatsoever beyond flamboyant actions and liberally using the word 'nakama' as if it's going out of style. Villain points of view in a corporate office were also forced, displayed no nuance, and hit the predictability counter. A single egregious instance is a bald disgusting filthy excuse of a being hungering for the female body was equally disturbing and felt excruciatingly too lengthy. I wanted to gag and run out of the room looking at the poor excuse of a 'man,' constantly as the camera shifted to him.

Fifth - Modifications aren't always better in the plot. Again no spoilers, but I can count on one hand some important moments I feel shouldn't have been revised. The absence of blood, replaced with a [redacted] trail takes out the fear and horror replaced with a sense of befuddlement. And this confusion is greatly enhanced immediately upon our [censored] shifts from their initial personality into apathy. Followed by a sense of bewilderment as continued plotbeats hammer our vision punching a sort of psychosis-like of what is real and unreal into our eyeballs. Lingering repeatedly as the camera oh so slowly focuses on them repeatedly. As a consequence, a major character's presence is overhauled due to the additional scenes pandering to their figure instead of using imagination, stories told by word of mouth to take hold of our party. I understand why these adjustments were made, and it is not horrible to the extent I'm moaning so loudly. Merely closing my eyelids and hmming while simultaneously imagining what is going on in the writer's head. Kazushige Nojima and Motomu Toriyama specifically. Because actively adding and revising these elements felt weaker. Teasing and baiting without explaining concretely. A more isn't always a better case.

Sixth - Extends to the unfamiliar content. Namely Whispers. No softly saying words to my ears kind. Rather, mysterious entities will show up occasionally. Not a spoiler because these are shown in the official trailer. Without stating too much, the entities follow an old, repetitive pattern. I'm sure you heard it already, but it is a formulaic response once again to obstruct our party. Why? points gently at the wide and above points I've said so far. In essence, these felt needless, fueling countless theory-crafting and driving discussions. Which by itself isn't bad. I love a good talk with possible outcomes and what-ifs. But after finishing Rebirth and replaying, I still cannot find solid reasons for their existence to entice freshbloods into a JRPG. I've come to note their existence as a red-stop light. Stopping my vehicle motion until a certain amount of minutes have passed before I can move forward. Their intervention in most aspects worsens instead of alluring the audience. Removing their presence entirely and organically adding an easier, less complicated-to-understand presence would've been a better solution in my honest opinion. The closest example I could consider is the film Arrival(2016). Again no major beats will be spoiled from the film. But within the cast is introduced to [blank]. We, both the cast and audience try to understand what this [blank] is. By the credits rolling, I came out with a pensive, but nodding my head action. As vaguely as I can put it. I understood the whole picture. Whispers don't give you the tools to understand. Merely dangling a carrot atop your head while you flop around illustrating a starving bunny failing to reach the juicy treat. And as someone who loves lore and connects it to the plot. The single aspect infuriated me and shot my suspension into a black hole.

Seventh - The sidequests offer little to decent value. Ultimately granting a reprieve in the narrative. Looking back on my notes I wondered why I didn't utter exceptional stuff on the optional matter. After reviewing the list and rewards from a guide I realized why. Serving as a means to take a break. And offer chore missions to perform. From my findings, plus five fetch objectives, 10+ extermination assignments, several minigames, missable missions if you fail to carry out preceding jobs beforehand, and requirements. For instance, completing a couple of them in full unlock a party member cutscene with our protagonist. Playing devil's advocate, these operations do serve a purpose. Helping the people in Midgar, specifically the individuals in the slums who are in dire need of their tasks. Not a bad thing. However, the design implementation of fetching materials, and items, and finding stuff becomes boring. fighting unique variants of creatures fought in the plot and never-seen monsters is a nice touch, but consummate rewards can be lacking. They consist of items and equipment of above-average quality with several weapons exclusively gained. To be fair, not all quests suck. I'd bark a handful off the top of my head is notable in the sense of me giving a single thumbs up. Wish they resonated far higher with deep lore connections and barely superficial relationships. Extending to the NPCs you meet as well. Remove missable errands, interject our party members asking Cloud for help, abrupt errands popping up, surprising injecting urgency, followed by relief. Simple tasks removing debris or gently carrying an injured person while slowly commentating juicy gossip would've elevated the non-essential areas into a must-play. Now I'm shaking my head, grimacing to speak anything nice.

Bonus for the Intermission DLC - I'll be blunt I don't enjoy the intermission Yuffie episode. Offered with a pricetag to consumers following the launch months down the line. The cost I paid was $20. I didn't feel it was worth to play. For those not in the know. Here's a description of what it entails in the store page.. "Play as Yuffie after she arrives in Midgar. There, she and another Wutaian operative are to rendezvous with Avalanche HQ, infiltrate the Shinra Building, and steal the conglomerate's most powerful materia. This DLC unfolds over two chapters that are separate from the main narrative, and also adds a combat simulator fight against Weiss to the PlayStation®5 version." I like Yuffie, she offers a naive optimistic view marred by her grudge in a harsh world ruled by a megacorporation. Has clear goals and her infectious go-to attitude hardly fails to bring a grin on my face. However, playing as her I realized the pitfalls specifically the linearity added nothing satisfying. Launching my big ninja shuriken to hit objects in the environment and climbing and overcoming obstacles from battling leaves me a bitter taste I find in wasabi. Outside of a handful of cutscenes with her Wutaian operative who is handsome and cool. Conveying the strange if not interesting dynamic the duo share. And that was easily the strongest aspect displayed along with a lesser extent a tower defense minigame called Fort Condor. What grinds my gears paying $20 is how little the main plot moves. Two plus chapters and a combat simulator I have no interest in. The former is heavily lacking despite trying to intersperse the duo's movements while the main story progresses back in the base FF7 crew. As a consequence, very little I enjoyed besides learning background about her once her mission finishes. A modicum of context for her soon-to-be joining with the main cast in Rebirth. And why she's acting in a certain manner. A lack of meaningful content I paid a substantial amount leaves me full of regret. I wish I had the foresight to travel in time and watch a Let's Play instead. There goes my five hours never returning. For those who adore the fullest extent granted I salute you.

Phew. With utterly nasty stuff out of the way. I can now focus on the best parts. And it's funny, I started my replay in search for validation of my troubled thoughts and came out picking spare facets I revel in.

I - Body gestures, facial expressions, and voice acting beautifully translate the 1997 3D era into the modern enriching our beloved party. The 2020 title wonderfully demonstrates this. The guy with a machine gun arm(Voiced by John Eric Bentley) is easily my favorite dude. Charismatic, body of action, gung-ho yet deep within his tough, gruff exterior lies a loving family dude. His speeches and comradery brighten my days whenever he's on screen. A female martial artist/bartender(Voiced by Britt Baron) is soft-spoken but belays a deep love for her friends. Giving a helping hand to whoever her companions are. Yet her eyeballs and facial expressions along with a fraction of timidness tell a deeper story. She doesn't display her emotions a lot, from her face, but generally her body motions. Baron's voice lends a hidden quality I found myself talking internally "Oh these cheeky buggers." That's the max I'll pass to stop myself from blurting a cool detail. Perhaps the most striking and given the maximum enhanced flair is the flower girl(played by Briana White) our merc meets later on. Wearing fully her emotions on her sleeve, she charges ahead, setting the stage yet doesn't outshine her fellow members. Trying different things and is unafraid to speak her mind with gestures and emoting so gracefully but not to the extent of over-dramatic illustrating Nicholas Cageness as some haters love to slap on him. She exudes a gentle, caring personality in contrast to the people you witness. Endearingly loveable. Complementing their physical presence is a flirty, but kind female, a not-Rambo-like dude, except very friendly and thinks with backups. An affectionate and true-to-heart guy who loves a tasty meal. And last but not least the guy with a huge buster sword on his back who I'll continue to give the benefit of the doubt behind his no-nonsense values but continues to help his comrades for a solid price. The villains to keep things short. I hate them substantially. Good job fellas.

II - Worldbuilding is satisfying to learn. The key to a decent to quality worldbuilding in my opinion is if the player connects to the lore, the relationships individuals have with NPCs, antagonists, and surrounding rules, laws, religion, beliefs, and values, presented in an effective way grabbing hold the audience, never breaking apart, fastening a desire to learn further. Here I had a deeper love for the universe entailed. Misinformation and propaganda became easily digestible and prevalent sifting through what is true and false information. I love the added depth in the NPCs. We behold how they act, their gripes given freely, their daily lives in the slums, what assistance they need, and who is perpetrating the evils nearby causing a disturbance. Adjusting their dialogue as the world moves forward. The cause and effect our colleagues undergo as beats pass. Witnessing the consequences of our actions. Enriching my proficiency. I grasped fear at the sheer scale of devastation. Helpless in my struggle to conjure meaningful methods of assistance. Warmly embraced the power of friendship. Lending a hand to those in need while meeting an angel. And helped a poor guy who seemed to have enough bad luck etched onto his soul.

III - Guided experience of linearity. Didn't mind the linearity at every opportunity. I mentioned before the linear sections needed to take a backseat and it's true. However, I appreciate the decent length and restraint of levels to hold being a maze-esque or overstaying their welcome. Grateful, exploration isn't filled to the brim with useless collectibles, an excess of loot, and a tedious length. Feels just right to be led to my next storybeat without a major hang-up stalling me. Consequently guiding me into a satisfactory mood. The commentary members' sprouts occasionally aid in removing the dullness permeating. Reminds me of FFXIII. This comes as no surprise since the director Motomu Toriyama resides with the FF7 crew. For what it's worth, it is an improvement from the hallway nature prior. Though to be frank I didn't mind them considering it was my official gateway into the franchise heh.

IV - Supplementary characterization made me smile a lot. I remember key specifics from FF7 and to behold my beloved characters now provides increased background, insight into their interpersonal relationships and human characteristics in expanded detail is one of the strongest I adore. Every person receives a modest to larger-than-life expansion for the better I reckon. A flirty armor girl surprised me. In her hidden motivations concerning family and her previous background. A splinter cell obtained considerable screentime that I previously forgot. Wedge endeared me for his loveable nature extending beyond his friends namely cats and tasty meals. Biggs worries a lot and is unable to stop overthinking things. Yet has a heart of gold. I can go on, but I believe the interesting conversations spoken out of fights and during walks heighten the sense of camaraderie and friendship blooming. Heartwarming to witness first impressions mellow out, distrust and suspicions thawing in the face of a common enemy. Giving out a helping hand, handshakes, high-fives with a motion to stand by fellow companions instead of walking away is a powerful show, don't tell. Precious bonds are forging and solidifying and it is awesome viewing these interactions.

V - The cinematography is breathtaking. I vividly remember iconic moments in the past. Thus perceiving them recreated in magnificent care is a sight to behold. Fluid animations, on-the-spot lip-sync, no out-of-character or sharp cuts. Action sequences offer an intense rush following combat during an encounter or moving along the plot. The camera is the star and I am on the edge of my seat looking forward to the next cutscene coming alive. I adore catching my beloved group shine. Panning the screen exhibits landscape shots to breathe in both the sheer beauty of the world and horror. Equally represented. I am thankful the camera doesn't move too fatal parading useless shots. I figure 90%+ of the whole work done by the cinematics is rendering shock and awe. From the biggest to smallest moments. I cannot for the life of me complain about the artistic vision. Pleased to note everything from monsters to humans, made with painstaking clarity and life. Conversations between allies are not too long or too short. Employing no waste. Made me appreciate discussions and commentary in and outside of battles. Body gestures, facial expressions, and voice acting coalesce achieving realism. Gluing on hidden peculiarities I may have missed. Antagonists also share a respectable amount of screen focus. Feeling far in tune with a darker nature behind fake placid expressions. Honestly, I'm clenching my teeth a bit whenever their presence is displayed. Seriously wish I could sockem into pancakes if I had One-Punch-Man's power. Ughhh.

VI - Combat runs optimally whereas before they staggered and walked tall. As Michael Higham first coined the term. Transforming two plus decades of the Active Time Battle(ATB) system for the 2020s is no small task. Has to be engaging, and tactical, delving into simple to complex maneuvers. FFVIIR succeeds in this aspect allowing gateways and fans a fresh, but familiar way to eliminate foes. FFXIII stagger mechanic is used, intensifying deadly blows on bosses by increasing their percentage. Spells, items, and abilities fluidly intersect. Defending, attacking, and retreating are viable options. Likewise activating a limit break. Ultimate moves by our members display a spectacle flourish as a coup de grace. A battle system worth revisiting and as someone who didn't tire of it on my 3rd run that says a lot on sheer robustness. Hard mode concentrates the finer aspects of fine-tuning equipment, materia(ability/passive modifiers during the flow of skirmishes), and proper item usage to etch a challenging win past a hard-fought match. Forming not an insurmountable cliff to climb. But a gradual incline passes the conventional rinse and repeat tactics of normal mode. Additionally, VR battles and completing optional objectives serve as a nice segway to learning the tricks of the trade. Granting a deeper fulfillment for those hungry for extended bloodthirsty encounters.

VII - New is cool and I don't care about the ancient material. And even if I did care, there is adequate 'new' content giving me a boatload of incentives to look forward to in the future. Hmph! I was imagining for a lengthy period of a scenario where I didn't play the compilation entries, or original and watched the extended media. Concluding, enough enjoyable parts to satisfy anyone(to varying degrees). In spite of my 7 mixed feelings affecting my overall experience. Yes, it is a remake, yes it is a re-imagining but it doesn't discount my mixed feelings and enjoyment. Instead, it brings perspective, reflection, and a culmination of everything I sought and gained in 2020. Everyone who loves it or almost the entire pie, is in for a tasty treat. My past self most certainly would agree. But my 2024 self I'm moving onwards over my honeymoon phase to realize the cracks forming. On the far side of splendor lies a troubled heart. I find myself beset with multiple questions on what constitutes a viable reimagining/remake/reboot. I'll probably ruminate for years to come constantly re-evaluating the ever-eluding dilemma. For now to answer what I said previously what is Final Fantasy VII Remake? It is a serviceable that could be improved remake striving to uphold, surpass, and capture new and youthful veterans. Regardless of reception, they move to the beat of their drum. Varying in results, what matters is what you think of the title. Feelings strong or minor are fair and valid. And it is as the 2015 E3 trailer prophesies.

"...there are now beginnings of a stir. The reunion at hand may bring joy; it may bring fear. But let us embrace whatever it brings..."

7/10


References and Additional Material:
DF’s 2020 Unpublished review + spoiler thoughts
2020 VG247 interview
2020 FFVII Remake Ultimania book. An interview
FF7R List and Rewards from a Guide
Original title by Michael Higham
FF7 Remake Official trailer
2015 Final Fantasy E3 trailer