Final Fantasy has been such a massive franchise that spanned across decades and across multiple console generations. There’s been some truly standout installments from this long-running series as well. One of the more beloved games of the series was Final Fantasy VII, a title that blew up in multiple markets when it initially launched in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation. Since then, fans worldwide have pleaded for Square Enix to return and bring out a remake for this JRPG installment. Fortunately, in 2020, we finally got the first part of this remake. Since this game installment was so massive, the developers could only deliver the game in parts. We’re going to receive Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second installment to this trilogy remake, in 2024.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth hands-on report – playable Sephiroth, Chocobo exploration, Junon and more
21.09.2023 - 03:21 / blog.playstation.com / Square Enix
Yes, you’ll be able to play as Sephiroth. As part of a new gameplay trailer earlier this year, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth confirmed a key scene from the original would feature in this, the second entry in a three-game project of the seminal PS1 classic. In 1997, that moment – a younger, revenge-driven Tifa facing off against Sephiroth – formed part of an extended playable flashback. Back then, the SOLDIER legend was but an NPC in your party. In last week’s State of Play, a new trailer revealed not only would that flashback be present in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in some capacity, but an accompanying interview confirmed the One-Winged Angel will be DualSense ready. And now, thanks to a new hands-on with a preview build of the game, we know what playing as Sephiroth will feel like.
That build is actually a two-part demo. The first half is a combat-heavy but story-driven section charts Cloud and Sephiroth’s mission to the mountainous Nibelheim and is around 20 minutes in length. The second part – Cloud and company’s post-Midgar adventure taking them across a sweeping valley sat in the shadow of Junon – is of similar length, if you head straight to the marked destination on the HUD. Play time could be and is extended due to the area’s expansive world and side activities that beckon: Chocobo chicks to follow, Chocobo farms visit to customize your newly-acquired mount, beasts to thrash with one eye on optional objectives. (It’s also an area rendered in such stunning detail, that I lose time just panning the in-game camera around to admire my surroundings.)
The demo as a whole is curated for attendees at this week’s Tokyo Game Show. As such additional tutorials are built-in to explain mechanics and new additions, to refresh or familiarize players depending on whether they’re returning from Final Fantasy VII Remake or not. We managed to get an early look ahead of the showfloor opening, and here’s what we discovered.
The mountain of Nibelheim was rich in collectable, equipable Materia, the demo egging me on to change my setup frequently to test the new types. Examples included Magnify Materia, increasing the number of enemies struck by an attack-type Materia if Magnify was slotted in alongside them. Fun yet potentially powerful was the ‘Spare Change’ Materia, with my attack strength based on how much Gil I’d cast (toss?) at an enemy.
Kickass Angel: The Nibelheim flashback pairs Sephiroth with a younger Cloud, the latter’s inexperience serving as a window for players to receive world-building exposition from both his comrade and Tifa (pre-Avalanche and accompanying the visiting Shinra military as a local guide). In the original game, the Masamune wielder played NPC in your party, commanding instant respect
Square Enix Reveals Special Meaning of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Art
When it comes to video game hype, game developers will do all kinds of things to get their fans ready for what’s coming, including leaving plenty of clues or “insights” into various promotional materials for the game to see if they notice them. For Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Square Enix has already dropped a couple of trailers highlighting the game world’s larger scale and the characters you’ll see in it. They’ve also dropped hints about the game’s story, including whether a certain character will die at the end of the title. But now, Square Enix has revealed something interesting about a key piece of art.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Gets New Details and Will Be At NYCC!
It’s interesting how much information is coming out about Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in recent weeks, given that the title won’t launch until early next year. It’s possible that Square Enix doesn’t want you to forget about the game and thus build up the hype for many months until it’s at a “fever pitch.” Or they just think that right now is the best time to do the reveals! Either way works in the minds of gamers. The good news is that today was one of those “reveal days” because plenty of information was dropped about the title.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s Open Ended Approach Was a Response to Remake’s Linearity Criticism
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is going to be a much more open experience than its predecessor, and it seems like fan feedback was among the reasons behind this.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Map Comparison Highlights Massive Scale, Explorable Areas
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is going to be a massive game, and now we have a better idea of how bigger the Eastern Continent will be, compared to the original game.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Will Expand Key Supporting Characters
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth may not be released until February next year, but the hype around the title grows with every new insight. The recent trailers highlighted numerous expansions into the world of the remake saga, as well as the characters that will help dominate the story. However, as with the first title, there will be expansions outside of the “expected story” that will help make things feel fleshed out. Both the game’s official Twitter handle and the creative director behind the title have shed some insights on this matter, not by focusing on main characters but key supporting ones.
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth pre-order guide
The latest installment of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy launches on Feb. 29 exclusively for the PlayStation 5. Dubbed Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, this iteration builds on the first game that takes place exclusively in Midgar. The sequel promises to be much bigger, taking Cloud Strife and company to plenty of regions filled with mini games, quests, and other challenges — some of which were not present in the original 1997 game.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Won’t Have any DLC; Open World, Crafting, and Minigames Detailed
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the middle chapter of the ambitious Final Fantasy VII Remake project, arrives in just a few short months, and Square Enix has provided more info about the game’s world. We know FF7 Rebirth will feature a much larger, more open world than FF7 Remake and Square Enix has detailed some of the regions you’ll be exploring, including the Grasslands, Junon, and the Gold Saucer.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth details regions, exploration, world intel, mini games, and combat
Square Enix has released new information and screenshots for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth introducing some of the game’s regions, exploration, world intel, mini games, and combat.
Final Fantasy XIV's Packed 'Growing Light' Update Gets New Trailer, Naoki Yoshida Teases 6.51 and 6.55
“Growing Light”, Final Fantasy XIV ’s next big update, is right around the corner. Releasing on October 3rd, Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida previewed the patch in a special Letter from the Producer broadcast from Tokyo Game Show.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Gameplay Showcases Queen’s Blood, Piano Mini-Game and The Grasslands
Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has received new gameplay and details thanks to various hands-on impressions over the past few days. However, the development team hosted a stage event at Tokyo Game Show 2023 to show off even more, from The Grasslands and its mini-games to more combat. You can also check out more gameplay courtesy of Famitsu below.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – TGS 2023 stage event gameplay, Grasslands mini-games trailer
Square Enix showcased over 30 minutes of gameplay footage and a new trailer for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth focused on mini-games playable in the Grasslands during its Tokyo Game Show 2023 stage event.