Like in any open-world game, travel is one of the most important aspects of , and there's one key element that the game does better than just about any competitor. The world of Gaia presented in is a huge one, translating what was originally an overworld map into a series of large open-world zones filled with activities and decorated in detailed terrain. Not every corner of the map is as exciting as the more bespoke content in the game, but it does manage to smooth over some potential annoyances in a smart way.
As was the case in the original, offers a suite of options for travel that crop up at different points in the game. Simply running from point A to point B is usually an option, but there's also a fast travel system, the situational availability of vehicles, and the series staple of Chocobos to mount and ride. Although they're always endearing, Chocobos are more useful in some games than in others, and might make the best case for them yet.
It doesn't take long to notice a huge quality of life feature when it comes to Chocobo riding in — it's possible to do a lot of key activities without dismounting. From picking up crafting materials littered throughout the world to chatting with random NPCs, pressing the triangle button on the back of a Chocobo takes care of most interactions. It's a significant improvement to the way that most video game mounts work, and it ends up saving a lot of time over the course of the adventure.
A big part of this advantage is simply a fortunate result of the long-standing Chocobo design, as a beaked creature bending over to peck at something makes a lot more sense than expecting a horse to manage a similar task. All the same, it isn't something that games have consistently taken advantage of. While let Chocobos open chests way back in 2001, the feature was absent in and It's nice to see it make a return in, and it shows that the game isn't just coasting off the approach of its direct predecessors.
Chocobos also get some mechanical involvement in questing through the use of their strangely effective olfactory senses. Sniffing out secrets isn't always one of the game's most engaging tasks, but it once again benefits from the same strong principle — when the location of a buried object is found, Chocobos can peck it out of the ground rather than requiring a dismount. Although their utility in this regard might elicit a bit of jealousy from Red XIII, it helps make summoning a Chocobo have a lot more allure than the basic appeal of picking up the pace in travel.
The inclusion of region-specific Chocobo abilities is the last major addition to their utility, actively necessitating their use in navigating certain areas. Chocobos in Junon are capable of climbing sheer cliff
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As 's direct successor, takes it upon itself to improve in a variety of areas where the previous game was lacking. did a largely admirable job of translating the first segment of the classic RPG to a modern format, but it also had its fair share of shortcomings that sometimes threatened to overwhelm its strong points. Since sustaining momentum throughout a trilogy is necessary for the remake project to fully succeed, failing to take some strides forward could easily lose the goodwill that the first game generated.
has a large variety of crops to grow for the authentic farm simulation experience, but the 1.6 update puts the spotlight on one choice in particular that can yield higher profits than ever before. With fruits, vegetables, flowers and more, there's plenty to grow all year round, and deciding how to optimize a high-performing farm can be difficult. As the game has grown in complexity over the years, the sense of overwhelming options has only increased, making knowing a few tips and tricks more essential than ever.
Getting to go on a date at the Gold Saucer is an exciting moment in , but this iconic event doesn't get to properly play out on the first trip to the amusement park. From a narrative standpoint, it's probably a good thing that Cloud's break time is interrupted, as the sequence running from Costa del Sol to the Gold Saucer has quite a lot of downtime for an intense plot. All the same, it's hard not to spend a lot of time wondering when there is another chance to go on a Gold Saucer date.
has all kinds of crucial interactions between characters peppered across the story, but there's one essential piece that can easily get passed over in a playthrough. As an expansion and modification of the original story, one of the main things that does with its vastly extended runtime is offer more memorable moments involving Cloud and his party. Although some can be minor or even questionable additions, others flesh out emotional beats and deep relationships in meaningful ways that help make the game a worthy successor.
offers a choice of swimsuits for Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith at Costa del Sol, and there's a reason to pay attention to the options at hand. Acquiring one vacation get-up for each character is a mandatory part of progression, as the beach doesn't allow anyone to step out onto the sands if they're not dressed for the part. Barret has this covered with his iconic sailor suit that he first dons in Junon, but for the others, this can be a somewhat more involved task.
Yuffie pops up several times throughout the earlier parts of , but she can't actually join the party until Costa del Sol, where the party is presented with a choice regarding the Materia-obsessed ninja. Here, she challenges Cloud to a fight to prove who should be the leader of the party, to which the mercenary can respond with either "" or " Unlike most decisions, this one can be a bit intimidating, as the implied possibility of failing to gain Yuffie as a party member could be disappointing.
Protorelic quests might not seem like critical content to play in , but there's one in particular that's well worth completing. As unique objectives that make up a part of the World Intel checklists found throughout the game, Protorelic quests task Cloud and company with tracking down pieces of ancient armor. Although this can lead to unlocking a powerful summon and gear late in the game, anyone uninterested in committing to the long haul could easily decide to ignore all the quests in favor of focusing on the main story.
Costa del Sol is home to a wide variety of minigames in , and there's no way to make it through the area without playing at least some of them. As a tropical beach getaway, it's not surprising that Costa del Sol has a lot to do, even if the original didn't pack as much into the area. As is the case with most side content, however, not every entertainment option in Costa del Sol is equal.
improves on in a lot of ways, but not every change made between the titles is a good one. As updates to one of the most iconic RPGs of all time, the remake games have a lot to live up to, and translating the strengths of the original games to a modern format comes with plenty of challengesWhile takes up this task to frequent success, it also has its fair share of pitfalls that are often different from the ones found in
is filled to the brim with World Intel to discover, but it can often be unclear just how much of a reward is in place for taking on this exhaustive task. As a somewhat open-world game that divides the giant map of Gaia into distinct but major zones, isn't shy about unfurling long checklists of activities to do. While some can be fulfilling in their own right, it doesn't take long to start questioning whether there are any rewards in place that could make some of the more tedious activities worthwhile.
has its fair share of unusual challenges, but one side quest that has caused a particularly notable amount of frustration doesn't necessarily have to be all that hard. Like many RPGs, focuses on delivering a consistently manageable main story experience while packing more difficult tasks into the optional content. The big difference, however, is that a lot of the hardest trials aren't based around combat at all, instead following in the original 's tradition of relying on unique mechanics that shake up the general course of gameplay through minigames or random challenges.
Although isn't a particularly choice-oriented RPG on the whole, the game has its fair share of moments that present Cloud with a decision. One that seems like it could be big lies in deciding which party members to help in Costa del Sol, a junction point that comes up without much warning. The beach location starts out as a relaxing getaway, but par for the course, it doesn't take too long for things to go south.