Traditionally, Final Fantasy has always been about legendary heroes, sinister bad guys, and beautiful women, brought together by fate for a fantastic adventure. Sure enough, Square Enix lost sight of that basic formula with the roadtrip of a boysband in part XV. Yet Final Fantasy VII Remake brings it all back. And then some! This game perfectly captures what the franchise is all about. From an engaging storyline and lovable characters to epic battles and impressive set pieces. It's all there. Frankly, I never expected to care so much for these characters all over again. Even more so than in the original game. And for that, the dev team deserves a huge thumbs up.
Final Fantasy VII Re:Coded
Surely everyone already knows about mercenary Cloud Strife, who joins the eco-warriors of Avalanche in their fight against the evil ShinRa Corporation. Let's skip the main storyline in favor of some fresh story beats. Final Fantasy VII Remake does not only expand on the existing story, but brings in fresh ingredients as well. Quite a lot even. And those new segments are perfectly integrated. Cloud and Tifa's relationship is far more nuanced. Likewise, Biggs, Wedge and Jessie especially are transformed into characters with an actual personality. Honestly, it's a joy to get to know them like this. Of course the core of the story remains untouched, but while it had only a skeleton for support in the original game, the Remake also consists of flesh and blood. The result feels perfectly organic.
Aside from deeper personalities for the main characters, the Remake introduces fresh faces at a high pace. My personal favorites? The underground leaders of the shady district of Wall Market. The new and often eccentric figures really take this whole place to the next level. Not only with their unique characteristics, but because they bring an amusing twist to situations from the original game. For example, the infamous and renewed Honey Bee Inn is absolutely spectacular thanks to its Moulin Rouge influences. Equally awesome is the Corneo Colosseum, where the commentaries of the hosts will definitely put a smile on your face.
That said, Square Enix has to be careful in taking too much artistic liberty while handling the source material, since the ending of the Remake is quite bold. Don't get me wrong: the conclusion was as epic as it was surprising, but it could really vex long-time fans. Surely the team could still take it in any direction they want, but they need to find a very strict balance between expansion and renewal. I am definitely aboard for the whole trip and already excited for the next chapters, but I also fear that Square Enix might lose a lot of passengers if the voyage deviates too much from the original. It comes down to a balancing act on a tight rope, so I hope Tetsuya Nomura and team listen to the fans and don't go freestyling too much. After all, this is not Kingdom Hearts.
Buster Sword 'em up
Final Fantasy VII Remake really shakes up the concept of the original game, which is apparent in gameplay too. Turn-based battles make room for action-oriented combat and that works surprisingly well. While you're hacking away at hordes of enemies with the Buster Sword, a small ATB-gauge fills up. Once it's full, players can open the command menu to spend a segment of that gauge on powerful abilities or destructive spells. While choosing your ability, the action goes into extreme slow-motion, similar to tactical pauses in Dragon Age. That way, players can pick the desired attacks or magicks without feeling rushed.
As a long-time Final Fantasy fan, I must say this new combat system is extremely gratifying, because it combines the cinematic action from Advent Children with the tactical possibilities of the ATB-system. Through the command menu, players can even issue orders for their companions, which gives them complete control over the battlefield. Admittedly, things can get chaotic at times, especially while fighting challenging foes. How so? Well, your comrades aren't too keen on using their abilities without direct orders. As a result, you occasionally need eyes on the back of your head to greatly improve the survival chances of your crew. Nothing a bit of micromanagement can't handle, but a little more independence would have been a nice touch.
Overall, the new combat system really shines. Square Enix makes sure that it can do so in every part of the game. Monsters that were just cannon fodder in the original, return as full-fledged multi-phased boss battles in the Remake. On top of that, nearly every single baddie needs to be staggered in a different way, which makes every fight a puzzle in and of itself. Add to that the surprisingly new amount of dungeons and you'll have a lot of fighting fun. Mind you, fighting is not all you will do in these new surroundings, because they also serve puzzles and give better insight in the daily Midgar life.
Virtual paradise
Now that we're talking about level design anyway, let's take some time to discuss the visuals, because Final Fantasy VII Remake looks simply astounding. Returning players will enjoy the familiar sights, with remarkable additions that improve upon the original design. At the same time, new players will be blown away by the level of detail that the ecclectic city of Midgar has to offer. Getting off the train in Sector 7 offers an incredible view of the central pillar of the city, supporting all the plates. However, when Cloud wakes up in that same Sector the next day, the sunlight bathes the whole place in a completely different atmosphere. Which makes you walk the bustling streets once more. Even iconic locations like the serene Church in Sector 5 or the high-tech ShinRa headquarters are reinvented in spectacular fashion. As a result, returning players will have more than one nostalgic throwback. Only thing we are wondering about is why in the world didn't Square Enix add a Photo Mode to this game?
Ready for Battle?
Something fans of the original game are undoubtedly excited about, is the full comeback of the Materia system. Prepare to spend lots of time picking the right Materia for the job. It's quite the challenge, since starting a boss battle against a giant mech without Thunder spells is going to have you bite the dust pretty bad. But then should Square Enix have opted for a system that allows players to switch out Materia during battles? Definitely not, because doing so abandons the necessity of constantly searching for the right load-out, which is part of this system's charm. As Yuffie said in the movie Advent Children: 'Hands off my materia'.
Another addition I thought was very cool is the ability to improve weapons. Every new weapon level gives players access to a set of perks, ranging from extra Materia slots to a load of stat boosts. It offers a slight option for customization, which allows players to develop characters as they see fit. On top of that, the game offers a variety weapons. Some focus on attack damage, while others prioritize magical havoc. Depending on your own preferences, you can either make Cloud into a heavy hitter or a deadly spellbinder. More freedom to the player and that's obviously a good thing.
All in all, Final Fantasy VII Remake is not just a game. It's a wonderful return to a beloved world and an emotional reunion with old friends.
(Editor's note: This review is the same as the one I wrote in Dutch, just translated to English. I apologize if there's any mistakes. Not a native English speaker and it's the first time I've done this. Still, I hope you like it, so let me know what you think!)















