Final Fantasy VII Remake

We all remember where we were in 2005 when the PS3 tech demo was shown to the world and we were all teased with something that few ever imagined would become a reality. Here we are, April 10th 2020, and the remake of Final Fantasy VII is a reality!! The graphics are stunning, especially if you have a 4K tv, and the gameplay is fluid and fun. I must admit that the goosebumps hit pretty hard once those first notes of music played over Aerith's face(and what a gorgeously rendered face it is!) and it felt like 1997 all over again!! Thank you, Square Enix!!!!

The original game means so much more to me than nostalgia- as it does to many people. When the original released there were not many games of its scope, its wackiness, its maturity or its willingness to play with themes ahead of its time. Needless to say I was worried square would mess this up after FF13 and FF15 (at release). I was even tempted to not preorder after having my faith in the series shaken since FF12.

Needless to say (as my opinion is in the title)- but this game is incredible. I will be replaying this game for a long time.

Without ruining anything- yes- it has changed things- but only for the better. Elements that needed fleshing out have been- there are no unnecessary elements (only side quests/mini games if you want them) and the finale is absolutely outstanding.

From a graphical standpoint, never have I felt so happy to have invested in a pro and a 4k tv- and this is from someone who thought that when I played God of War. It is breathtaking in every section.

The soundtrack is, again, incredible. From the intro to the outro I found myself occasionally just amazed with how well this game all fits together- and the music is the glue- I will be downloading it after writing this review. The voice acting is absolutely amazing, even from third party characters of passers by- there is nothing that annoys me more than screechy terrible voice actors constantly yabbing as you wander through an area- but in this they all talk about relevant (game) world matters and its really interesting to catch some of their conversations.

The gameplay (especially battling) has the welcome element of challenge and a really decent variety- in normal and hard. You have to actually consider equipment, skills and materia in this. It is not a button masher. There is plenty of choice of approach too- not just one method to beat someone or something- as well as varying small elements through player choice though we all meet many of the major story beats. I would akin it story path wise more to uncharted 4, than to say the Witcher- there is player choice and an interesting world to explore- but it is not open world. The story is amazing. Thats all im saying about that.

For those as familiar with the original as I am then there are so so many small and large elements to kick up your nostalgia. So many. I absolutely loved seeing what was a 2D painted environment brought into a living breathing world. Finding all it was super fun- and I am replaying now.

All in all, it is as my title says, an absolute pleasure for your eyes, your ears and your heart. If you had lost faith in square like I had started to- then please give them a chance- you wont regret it.

THIS GAME IS GREAT, but it is not perfect.

This is not really an RPG in the sense you don't really get much opportunity to level up since it follows a fairly traditional action game (stage 1, stage 2, etc...). In the places that you are given a choice to "grind," it is not worth it since the enemies give so little experience points and you have to leave areas and return for the enemies to revive.

There is still some customization involve but it mostly deals with material as opposed to stats, since stats are generally gain to a certain extend. I wish you had more opportunities to explore the city but you don't really get that. ONCE YOU LEAVE AN AREA, THAT IS USUALLY IT. You don't get a chance to go to that area anytime you want.

The camera is ok for the most parts but some battles can get really clunky, especially if the enemies are in a small area or if they are flying. The camera will just go all over the place.

The biggest issue is that the story really doesn't go anywhere, it is just a setup. The Midgar section in the original FF7 was around 3 - 4 hours long only, there is not much story there, just a set up. Square Enix took that and turned it into a fun 30+ hour game. It is not a spoiler but it literally ends when you leave Midgar so yup.

9/10

I am a die hard fan of the original FF7 game, so I was both thrilled as well as nervous about this remake. I mean, how can you top one of the best games ever made? Also, how do you manage to satisfy the lovers of old school 'turn based' action, as well as the next generation? Well, they actually managed to pull it off! Not just in terms of gameplay or graphics, but also the effort to go much more in depth with each character and side character. I am truly impressed by the creativity of the developers, who managed to stay true to the original plot, as well as surprise those who know the story so well.

Although the story only covers the Midgar part, FF7 Remake has all the characteristics of a full game and much, much more!

I mean to be honest when I first heard that a remake of this masterpiece was in the works I thought it would be a little tricky to live up to our expectations. But man I was in for a surprise! The game is flawless, I almost cried when I first heard the remade battle theme & the mako reactor themes. The combat system is way better than I expected, the characters are as fantastic as ever. As for the graphics, it's easily one of the best looking games ever made. So even if you haven't played the original, or any final fantasy games, get this played, you're in for one hell of a ride!!