Final Fantasy VII remains one of the benchmarks of modern gaming. Even nearly thirty years after its debut on the original PlayStation, the adventures of Cloud and his allies in AVALANCHE linger in the cultural consciousness. This made their return in 2020's Final Fantasy VII Remake all the more impactful, as the game's new approach to gameplay and tweaks to the original story brought new energy to the classic adventure.
The story is set to continue in the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second part in a planned trilogy that recreates the original story for a new generation. Members of the press (including CBR) recently got the chance to play a hands-on demo of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which embraces the changes of the prior game and infuses them into a more expansive and open world. It's an exciting step forward for the franchise and an exciting tease for what's to come in Final Fantasy's future.
Following up on the events of Final Fantasy VII Remake, Rebirth follows the continued adventures of Cloud, Tifa, Barrett, Aerith, and Red XIII as they make their way across their fantasy world -- which has been teased to carry the story forward to one of its most iconic moments ahead of a third and final entry. Whereas the previous game largely rooted itself in the mega-city of Midgard, the second in the planned trilogy brings the players to the larger world of Final Fantasy VII. With a focus on open-world exploration, players will find plenty of new avenues to explore and experiment with. The hands-on demo for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth focused on two sequences -- a flashback to the days of Cloud's tenure in SOLDIER alongside a then-heroic Sephiroth, and a larger exploration of the game's open world.
The former was focused on combat above all else as players explored the mountains near the town of Nibelheim. The sequence even goes so far as to give players the chance to play as Sephiroth. Longtime fans will relish in deploying his techniques themselves, unleashing a flurry of strikes that retain their weight and power despite their fluidity and speed. This segment highlights what makes Sephiroth such a dangerous figure within the world of Final Fantasy VII, and does a tremendous job of proving why he's such a threat to the world at large. The second sequence was set in the present, with the larger cast contending with an expansive and dangerous world.
Much of the hands-on was focused on combat and exploration, serving as a good showcase of the game's approach to monster encounters. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's gameplay mechanics fuse the classic turn-based RPG elements of the franchise with the more action-driven combat of modern Final Fantasy games. Players are able to shift between members of their party to use in combat, with each character displaying a different feel and approach to battle. There's an adaptability at play too, lending itself to player experimentation. Flying enemies can be brought low by Cloud's Thunder attacks, Barret's long-rage assaults, or a flurry of blows from Tifa. Players can briefly slow combat to utilize items, call upon spells, or unleash powerful Limit Breaks. The flow of combat proves to be adaptable and quick to master, allowing even rookies to the setting the chance to deploy some staggering attacks.
Boss battles are impressive and fuse cut-scenes seamlessly with combat, lending each combat a cinematic quality that's hard to match elsewhere. It's to the game's credit that it flows a tad better than in Remake, with the A.I. party members operating at a fast rate. When it works best, the combat flows in surprising ways -- lending itself to cool moments that feel effortless in execution. It can be a lot to follow, but the streamlined approach to combat lends itself to fast decisions in the heat of battle.
While the combat proves to be a quick blast, the exploration element could prove to be Final Fantasy VII's secret weapon. Whereas in the original Final Fantasy VII exploration was largely relegated to town visits and icons on a larger map, the advanced computing power of modern gaming opens up the entire world for a grander sense of adventure. Players are given the ability to just hop atop a Chocobo and stride across the horizon, players can discover secret treasures, hidden enemies, and unexpected rewards. While it doesn't feel as broad or expansive as something like Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it does give players thrills to see more of this new take on the classic game something to chew on. There are mysteries to explore and monsters to uncover, and updating one's adventure log with each victory is an effective deployment of the game's strengths.
As with the previous entry in the trilogy, the PS5's processing power gives the game some truly staggering visuals. The games also notably retain the trademark touch of the bizarre, with dolphins racing to the rescue and Chocobo stables serving as landmarks that players can encounter. It's an exciting step forward for the game and the series as a whole, highlighting how far it's able to change while still retaining that iconic Final Fantasy VII aesthetic and feeling. The characters are clear, the voice-acting engaging, and the plot continues to slowly unfold in a way that feels accessible for newbies but engaging for long-time fans. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has all the makings of an impressive expansion of what came in Remake, and promises to be one of the killer titles for the PS5 in 2024.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is scheduled to launch on the PlayStation 5 on February 29, 2024.