Final Fantasy 7 Remake finally released after years of speculation, months of delays, and a generation's worth of hype last year on April 10th, 2020. The game was the result of a monumental undertaking, remaking one of the most treasured titles in all of gaming. Luckily for fans, Final Fantasy 7 Remake delivered on nearly every front. The gameplay was a fun and faithful recreation of what was originally a turn-based system. The story was a laced-with-love retelling of a tale known by most gamers, but still rife with possibility for changes in the future. And the game set up what will likely be a resurgence of one of Square Enix's most popular properties.
In a year now famous for delays and various disappointments in the gaming landscape, FF7 Remake had gotten pushed from an early March release to early April in a last-minute delay that had many fans who had been waiting years for a remake of FF7 worried the title may not see the light of day. But the title released on time for its April 10th street date. Now a year later, and with the FF7 Remake PlayStation exclusivity coming to a close, it's a good time to look back at what made the ambitious remake so popular with fans and critics.
Even before such a high-profile release like FF7 Remake, remaking and remastering games was not a new trend. It seems like every other month there comes a release of a classic game that has been either remastered or remade from the ground up. From faithful remasters like Spyro Reignited Trilogy and completely rebuilt titles like the Resident Evil 2 remake, the industry has definitely been capitalizing on nostalgia. For many fans, however, Final Fantasy 7 Remake was on a pedestal of higher expectations, from how long fans had waited for the remake and theories about what could change in Final Fantasy 7. The title was controversial before it even released, with many veteran fans doubtful that Square Enix could recapture the magic of the original.
Luckily, Final Fantasy 7 Remake was well-received by both critics and fans. The game isn't perfect, with some panning small technical issues and some others unimpressed by the higher difficulties in FF7 Remake in a time rife with Soulslike titles. Overall, though, the game has been received as a faithful and ambitious retelling of one of gaming's most iconic stories, and reintroducing some of its most recognizable characters. The game stands high above other remakes, which only adds to its importance.
What Final Fantasy 7 Remake Got Right
The original Final Fantasy 7 comes up in many discussions about the greatest Final Fantasy titles. The original Final Fantasy was steeped in lore and rules pulled almost directly from Dungeons and Dragons but went on to distinguish itself from the slew of RPG titles that were beginning to flood the gaming market. FF7 marked the series first entry into the 3D space with the advent of the original PlayStation and almost immediately became a phenomenon. The game spanned some of the series first spin-off titles, movies like Advent Children, and an extensive universe fans were eager to explore.
Square Enix was evidently aware of the task ahead and, to many, delivered in spades. One of the biggest ways that many fans feel the remake delivered on was its combat systems. The original FF7 was built around a traditional turn-based system with some tweaks like the ATB (Active-Time-Battle) system and the use of materia. The remake was able to take what was a system designed around turn-based combat and integrate it into a real-time battle system through its adaptation of the materia system. Alongside a revamped version of the summon system from the original FF7, most fans were happy with the blend of old and new gameplay mechanics.
The combat was fast, tactical, and satisfying to most in a way that exceeded expectations after a somewhat lackluster reception to FF15. Interestingly, one thing the two titles share is part of another aspect of what fans found engaging in FF7 Remake. Tetsuya Nomura, who was the original character developer for FF7, has let elements of the former Versus 13 game influence titles like Kingdom Hearts and FF7 Remake. Elements of that title are part of what makes the new story in FF7 Remake engaging. The game kept an otherwise faithful retelling of the original's first act, as players still join Tifa, Barret, and the other members of AVALANCHE in their quest to undermine the Shinra Power Company. However, the remake took liberty in expanding the stories of side characters like Jessie, and built a much more realized version of the city of Midgar.
Final Fantasy 7: A Refresh
The story then continued to take some left turns with players encountering the enigmatic Whispers, agents of fate dedicated to maintaining the events of the original game to the point that they even resurrect Barret after a surprising death at the hands of Sephiroth. The remake presents several interesting subplots that fans may not have been interested to explore in the original FF7, while staying true to the spirit of the original source material. Some fans were of course miffed by any deviation from the source material, but overall, the remake was lauded for taking steps to refresh a story that is still poignant, but over twenty years old.
Refreshing a story so long examined by fans was a monumental undertaking, but most fans believe Square Enix did a good job with doing so in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Bringing together disparate elements of its combat, story, and future, FF7 Remake has simultaneously created a game that feels nostalgic and new. With so much of its future still in flux, fans are likely to be replaying the game ahead of the release of its FF7 Remake Intergrade and exploring theories about the next chapter. Luckily, even new players who decide to pick up FF7 Remake have a lot to look forward to the future of one of gaming's most iconic tales in history.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade releases June 10th, 2021 for PS5.