This PS5 port of Final Fantasy VII Remake is certainly more in-depth than what fans were expecting. The main game has all the bells and whistles one would expect from a next-gen port such as better graphics and load times. The most surprising thing was Square Enix adding in DLC starring Yuffie, which takes place during the middle section of the game.
It adds her as a new playable character as well as introduces a new sidekick for her, Sonon. On top of that, it furthers the story after the original’s ending. The DLC isn’t that long either. Not everything is great about this re-release though as some fan-requested elements are still missing.
10 Best: Yuffie And Sonon
Yuffie controls exactly as one would expect her to given the nature of her character from Final Fantasy VII. She is both an up close and personal attacker as well as a fighter that works well in long-range. In terms of how her character acts in the game, she is a great addition, as well as her newfound comrade, Sonon. The only real problem with the characters is that the DLC is so short that not enough time is given for them to shine.
9 Fix: Make Sonon Playable
Another downside to Sonon is that he is a non-playable character. Players can still issue him to assist Yuffie in battle via the pause command menu. Plus players can activate a mode wherein Sonon sticks to Yuffie like glue, performing devastating synchronized moves. These commands look flashy but they are not as good as being able to wield his staff personally. His moves might translate into how Cid will work whenever he enters this remake series.
8 Best: Photo Mode
It was bizarre for this remake to launch in 2020 without a photo mode. It wasn’t even patched in. It looks like Square Enix was just waiting for this PS5 re-release in order to properly integrate it into the experience and the wait was well worth it.
Capturing the spectacle of battle in a screenshot is very cool. This game may not have as many features as other photo modes in games but it is still a welcomed addition.
7 Fix: Needs A Jump Button
In the original release of Final Fantasy VII Remake, there were some light platforming sections. One of the more key examples involved Tifa jumping on chandeliers in Shinra HQ. This was done via prompts in the environment and not with an actual jump button. These prompts return for Yuffie although her campaign has her acting through more agile situations such as running along grates and climbing. As cool as these moments can be, it might be better if there was a dedicated jump button.
6 Best: New Music
Square Enix could have just as easily used the exact same soundtrack as in the original release and have been done with it. However, they went above and beyond expectations with almost an entirely new set of songs. There are some repeats, but for the most part, it is a brand new score and it is bumping. One of the best examples involves many variations on the Turtle Cafe theme including a rock version reminiscent of Final Fantasy X’s opening.
5 Fix: Map Waypoints
There is still no way to mark objectives on the map. To the game’s credit, points of interest will direct players on where to go via the top compass bar. It’s not as good as having a guiding beacon like in Dead Space, but it is better than nothing.
For Yuffie’s campaign, this isn’t a big deal since there aren’t many side quests to keep track of but for the main game, it is still quite the pickle.
4 Best: Fort Condor
Fort Condor was an area of the game a little ways after players exited Midgar in the PS1 original. In this area, players could hire troops to protect a giant bird from invading Shinra armies who wanted its Materia. It seems like the remake series will not feature the literal area but didn’t cut it out completely. It now returns with this DLC in a similar RTS mini-game, but in the form of a versus battle against NPCs sort of like how card games work in other entries in the series. It’s actually pretty fun.
3 Fix: Boss Rush
Not many modern games have modes that feature a Boss Rush. It certainly isn’t as common as a Photo Mode. However, this should not be the case with an example like Final Fantasy VII Remake as it has some spectacular bosses in it. It would be just as ideal to fight them in this game’s Wall Market arena as it would be in a separate mode from the campaign altogether.
2 Best: The Doors/Graphics
The doors are just one example of how terrific this updated version on PS5 looks. They are a thing worthy of pointing out in memes, but jokes aside the doors really do look and act better. There are also not as many noticeable JPEG-looking backgrounds, and on top of that, the loads are lightning-fast. The game still has some bugs and/or glitches in it, but it makes one realize just how good Square Enix is going to make the next remake (as hopefully, a PS5 only game).
1 Fix: Materia Loadouts
Along with the absence of a Photo Mode from the original release, gaining the ability to create Materia loadouts was another big fan request. Taking Materia in and out of slots for boss battles, as one example, does not break the enjoyment of the game. Fiddling with Materia is time-consuming though, and it would have been a nice addition to this PS5 port. There is always hope it will be added to the next remake entry.