Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Review

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Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a modern reimagining of the iconic 1997 RPG, renowned for its pseudo-turn-based battle system known as Active Time Battle, which captured the hearts of gamers worldwide. While it’s labeled as a remake, many view it more as a sequel to the original.

As someone who has never experienced the original game, I will embark on this review focusing solely on the initial portion of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. I will delve into various aspects including gameplay, graphics, music, story, and replay value of the game.

Final Fantasy VII Remake employs a real-time battle system with a focus on exploiting enemy weaknesses and strengths. You control one party member at a time but can seamlessly switch between characters during combat. To utilize items and magic, players must build up their ATB (Active Time Battle) gauges through normal attacks. Each character has two ATB bars to fill, allowing them to use either items or spells. Equipping a Refocus materia and utilizing it expands this to three ATB bars.

The real-time battle system emphasizes player skill and reaction time, offering an immersive experience. However, it may lack the depth of tactics and strategy found in turn-based games. Enemies have stagger gauges, which, when depleted, increase the damage they receive. While stagger mechanics add intensity to battles, some players may find them repetitive. Personally, I’m not a fan of the stagger-burst-wait cycle, as it can feel monotonous after a while.

The graphics in Final Fantasy VII Remake are nothing short of breathtaking. The attention to detail in every environment, character model, and cinematic sequence is simply stunning. From the towering skyscrapers of Midgar to the lush, otherworldly landscapes, every scene feels meticulously crafted to immerse players in the world of Gaia.

However, it’s important to note that such immersive visuals may not be suitable for everyone. Some players may find themselves experiencing headaches or motion sickness, particularly during fast-paced action sequences or when navigating through intricate environments. While this doesn’t detract from the overall beauty of the game, it’s worth considering for those sensitive to such effects.

The music in games or films plays a crucial role in guiding your emotions throughout the plot. It has the power to evoke specific feelings at each stage of the story, making moments truly memorable. Overall, I immensely enjoy the music in Final Fantasy VII Remake. However, there are times when I didn’t feel as though the music effectively guided me through the experience; instead, it felt more like background noise. Once again, I’m not saying the music is bad—it just didn’t always complement the scene well. Music is a universal language; it can transform a scene into one that’s happy, sad, energetic, or mysterious. I’ve seen this versatility demonstrated before.

To me, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a game, and I’ll be evaluating it as such rather than as a cinematic film. In my opinion, RPG stands for Role-Playing Games, where you embody a character and your choices shape the narrative. However, in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the story feels overly linear, limiting player agency. It often seems as though the game is trying to wrest control away from the player. At times, the story feels so dominant that it begs the question: should Final Fantasy 7 Remake be a film instead of a game? The abundance of cutscenes, even during battles, can sometimes detract from the gameplay experience.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake offers limited replay value. Due to its heavy emphasis on cinematic storytelling, it feels more like watching a film than playing a game, which may deter players from replaying it multiple times. However, for those seeking an added challenge, the game does offer a hard mode unlockable after completing the main story, providing an opportunity for those looking to test their skills.