Final Fantasy 7 Remake Review!

A review expressing my full appreciation and admiration for Final Fantasy 7 Remake!

FF7 Remake came out five years ago. I remember when this game finally arrived. I was ecstatic, especially when I was stuck inside during the pandemic. This game was a comfort to me as much as it was a dream experience.

Initially, the game was great. However, I had my reservations about the game. While there were things I loved, there were things I didn't like. My nostalgia for the original played a part in this too, especially with some of the changes and new plot points with the Whispers.

After replaying Remake on stream. Coupled with my experience with Rebirth. I feel I can now write this review with a full appreciation and understanding for the new elements, expansions, and faithfulness of Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

Presentation

This game is beautiful. I have never seen ruin look so good in a game. Also, the more clean and extravagant areas of the game look spectacular.

The characters looked fantastic. These designs are the best versions of these beloved characters. Everything about these characters has been recreated in HD splendor.

FF7 had some strange, cartoonish enemy designs. In Remake, these enemies still retain their strange features. But the enemies are now menacing as they are strange. It’s unreal how the devs have managed to translate and make these monsters into almost real-life threats.

Combat

Final Fantasy 7 Remake has one of the best battle systems from the series. I would venture to say that this combat system is one of the best in Gaming. Remake combines the ATB system, command-based menus, and action combat into one great battle system.

Your characters attack and block in real-time to build ATB. Each character is given two ATB bars. Once your one or both bars are full, your characters can act with more powerful abilities and magic.

Your characters can cast spells and use command abilities from their equipped Materia. Yes, Materia system makes its return! A lot of the Materia is the same from the original game. They will be familiar to veterans of the OG.

But the Materia system has upgraded to suit Remake’s combat system. In addition, there is brand new Materia for Remake. The new Materia supports the new mechanics and the abilities of Remake’s hybrid battle system.

Weapon Abilities

In addition to Materia, each character now has their own abilities known as Weapon Abilities. These abilities are unique to each character as they come from each character’s weapons. Once you maxed out a weapon ability's proficiency. That character can use that ability without the initial weapon.

There are a variety of weapon abilities. They ranged from powerful attacks like Cloud’s infamous Braver. Other abilities have a dramatic effect on an enemy’s stagger gauge. Some have benefits that suit a character’s unique abilities.

Unique Abilities

Another new combat feature is Unique abilities. Every character has a unique ability based on their specialty. Cloud has two modes: Operator and Punisher. Cloud attacks are normally in the Operator. For his unique ability, Cloud switches to Punisher mode.

In Punisher mode, Cloud’s attacks are slower but more powerful. Punisher mode’s key feature is that when Cloud blocks the enemy’s attack, he counters and punishes the enemy. Punisher mode knocks an enemy off rhythm and inflicts massive damage. More importantly, Punisher drives an enemy’s stagger gauge.

Stagger

While Stagger isn’t new to Final Fantasy, as it was first introduced in Final Fantasy 13. Stagger returns as a new feature in FF7R’s combat. The process remains the same with some differences.

Each enemy has a stagger gauge under their HP bars. Once you fill up the enemy’s stagger gauge. They become staggered. While staggered, enemies are helpless and open to attack.

To fill an enemy’s stagger gauge, you can use magic targeting an enemy’s weaknesses, taking advantage of an enemy’s tactics using a character’s unique abilities, or using focused base weapon abilities. Using these same methods can pressure enemies, making them more susceptible to staggering. Unloading these same methods and tactics will fill their stagger bar even more.

Overall, this battle system is action-packed and tactical at the same time. I had a blast with the combat system. It’s truly the best battle system Square Enix has created. They were deep in their bag with this combat with incorporating command-based menus, ATB, Stagger, and action combat with other past systems.

Story

Faithfulness and Expansions

Remake does an incredible job of remaining faithful to the original story of Final Fantasy 7. The game remains mostly faithful to the original. But there are differences and expansions of certain elements of the original story. Expansions enabled the developers to expand the story of FF7 like they intended originally.

A prominent example is Wall Market. While the story in Wall Market remains faithful to the original game. Wall Market has been expanded into an entertainment district. I won’t get into spoilers, but the expansion of Wall Market is all for the better.

Remake also incorporates characters and elements from the whole FF7 complication. Characters like Kyrie and Leslie make their appearances from the novel, Turks Side Story: The Kids Are Alright. They are seamlessly implemented into Remake’s world.

In my original playthrough of Remake, I thought some of the expansions were filler. But I now see that they makes the narrative of FF7 even richer. They also expand the world of FF7 and Midgar.

I may not like all of it, especially since I'm revisiting the sewers and dealing with a certain creepy, salacious don and his equally awful pets. Even these playing through these parts are worth it for character development and engagement with the main, side, and new characters.

Characters

Main Cast

Remake is the best representation of the main cast of FF7. The main cast’s character and traits are expanded upon. You can see Cloud trying to be a cool, badass Ex-Soldier. While he succeeds in this, you also see how awkward and dorky he can be. Seeing a multilayered hero like Cloud being portrayed in this manner allows us to connect with him more.

But the most improvement awards for character representation belong to Aerith and Barret. Aerith acts as the sweet and kind heroine we all know and love. But Remake displays Aerith’s sassy, playful, comical and bold sides. I also love how Remake presents Aerith as a mysterious and mystical heroine who may know about what's truly going on with the story.

Barret’s portrayal is a lot better in Remake. Gone is Barret’s original localization. We are left with a man who is a loving and doting father. Barret is also more of a charismatic and caring leader of his Avanlanche cell. Despite his cell’s extreme methods, Barret cares deeply about saving the planet and his comrades.

Lastly, Barret is freaking hilarious. There were many times he had me smiling and laughing. I feel Barret’s representation and character arc are even more improved in Aerith.

Tifa’s character also gets the spolight and it gets expand upon. She is the motherly, sisterly woman we all love and respect. Remake does a good job of portraying the hestiant struggle between Tifa’s kind heart and her duties with Avalanche. When it comes to protecting innocent people, Tifa becomes more decisive. She doesn’t hesitate to save her allies and innocent people.

Side Cast

Focusing on just Midgar has allowed devs to expand the depth of the city in terms of story and characters. The side characters have received this treatment, too. Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge, the three other members of Barret’s cell, have received more depth to their stories.

I enjoyed these three characters. Remake allows their individual personalities to grow and shine. My favorite was Jessie out of the three. Biggs and Wedge grew on me.

I also like the new characters like Andrea Rhodea, Madam M, and even Chocobo Sam. My favorite was Andrea Rhodea due to his personality and the dance number he does with Cloud.

Many of these side characters were a joy. They further enhance the city and story of Midgar. They brought a lot of emotional weight to the story, whether it was through joy or tragedy.

Themes

FF7 Remake retains the same themes as the original game. Themes like humanity using the planet's resources to live comfortable lives. Shinra siphons the Planet’s life-force to provide power for the citizens’ comfort. The cost is that they are draining the planet’s life force.

Remake also enhances these further and introduces new ones. Barret’s cell bombs the Mako Reactor. While it helps the planet, Remake shows the damage caused by the reactors’ destruction.

Remake introduces these new moral gray areas. Who is in the right? Who is wrong? Of course, Shinra is wrong for killing the planet and only caring about their power and profits.

But is Barret’s cell justified for blowing up the reactor in the first place? They are right to try to save the planet. But do the means justify the ends, especially when the livelihoods of innocents are involved? This point is driven home further when you witness the aftermath of the reactor bombings.

Arbiters of Fate and Destiny

The Arbiters of Fate or Whispers are the most intriguing yet important new element of FF7 Remake. While I am still not the biggest fan of them, I now understand they bring new possibilities to how the trilogy will unfold. Thanks to ProfNoctis and other content creators, I have a better appreciation for the Whispers, too.

I won’t give any spoilers. But the party and their interactions with the Whispers will have a dramatic effect on what comes next in Retrilogy. This unknown effect will extend beyond Rebirth and Part 3.

The Unknown Journey Continues

Replaying FF7 Remake was an awesome experience. This latest experience with Remake has made me realize how excellent this game truly is. I can’t wait for play Rebirth next.

I realize that Rebirth is a large step up from Remake. But Remake is also an excellent beginning to Rebirth and the Retrilogy as a whole. Without Remake, this trilogy won’t not exist, and Rebirth would have nothing to build upon. Remake is truly an excellent game now that I can appreciate most of the game now.

Score: 9/10