I realise it’s just a little late, but I actually had the game completed at the beginning of May. Lockdown issues…
On to the actual post, the Final Fantasy VII Remake was quite possibly one of the most hyped releases of the year. I mean, how could it not be, gamers across the globe have been clamoring for a remake since the PS2 era introduced HD graphics way at the turn of the century. Development was first announced at the E3 2015 Playstation Press Conference and it’s been a very long five years.
For anyone who has played the original 1997 version of the game, regardless of how the finished product actually turned out, it was a must have. The fact that such a beautiful and compelling story could be told through visuals as bad by today’s standards speaks to the strength of the actual plot and effective storytelling techniques employed by the developers.
Before I actually start talking about the Remake itself, I first need to clarify that the full story will only be told over several different releases, as such the game I have only covers a third of the story. Now, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t pissed at this decision. Once playing the Remake, however, I came to realize that it functioned perfectly well as a game in it’s own right. It takes roughly 60 hours of gameplay to complete, a respectable amount of time to invest in a playthrough for any RPG.
Upon launching the game, I was immediately impressed. The visuals were stunning. The city of Midgar had finally been given the sordid splendor it had been craving since 1997. As happy as I was with the incredible display of art before me, I couldn’t help but feel slightly concerned. Final Fantasy VII was a game that relied on heavily on physical humor, and while I do enjoy HD graphics, I always maintain that with with increasingly realistic artwork, much of the physical humor made possible by super deformed models is not possible.
Despite this concern, I figured I’d be okay. The developers would probably find ways to make up for it. The music certainly did. I already considered the original soundtrack among the strongest video game music, and having received a 2020 update, no doubt with better equipment, engineering and breakthrough techniques, the sound of the Remake had the perfect blend of innovation and tradition.
The characters of Final Fantasy VII have always received a lot of love from fans, as such many of them have appeared in countless spin-offs and cameo appearances in many forms of related media. I can’t say for sure if these appearances were as a result of their popularity or if their popularity was due to the overwhelming amount of spin-offs. Regardless, the result is that we already had some idea of what the new character designs were going to look like.
Two of the game’s main protagonists, Cloud Strife and Aerith Gainsborough didn’t receive any drastic changes, and probably for the best. Their designs were perfect anyway, with Cloud’s now famous shock of spikey blond hair, and Aerith’s iconic pink hair ribbon. The case was not true for the other two main characters.
Let’s begin with Tifa Lockhart. Tifa is quite possibly one of the most famous video game heroines of all time. As shallow as it might seem, anyone who tells you her looks don’t contribute to that is lying. She’s hot. Out of all the cast, this fist-fighting female’s design was always going to come under the most scrutiny. And I’m not mad about it, truly. Sure I don’t like those stockings, and while her famous bust has had a reduction over the last 20 years, she looks better than ever.
The last character, Barret Wallace, had previously come under fire for his original design closely resembling Mr T. This caused problems for reasons I don’t want to get into right now, but suffice to say people thought it was a form of cultural appropriation. In any event, Barret’s new design is definitely an improvement.
On to the actual storyline. I loved it, and it’s very difficult for me to write this section without giving spoilers. The story was fantastic, the characters dynamic, and the plot intriguing. About two hours into the game I realized that it was virtually impossible to compare this game to the original. Both are excellent games in their own right and more than capable of standing alone.
As for the gameplay? Well, let me start by saying that I’ve played many games. I’ve played many Final Fantasy games specifically. The one thing to note about the Remake is that its gameplay effortlessly combines all the best elements of other games. While it certainly took some getting used to, there’s no denying that the Remake has perhaps the best system of any Final Fantasy title to date! And that is high praise coming from me, a guy who would like to make a living by complaining.
The conclusion? Buy it! Buy it now! Final Fantasy VII Remake is a worthy investment even to someone who isn’t familiar with the series and is an enjoyable experience that brilliantly marries the old with the new to create an experience that people will be talking about for a very long time.
Mechatronic Burst Gaming 