Video Game Reviews (2020’s): Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4) (2020)

VIDEO GAME TITLE: FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE

TYPE OF GAME: JRPG

PLATFORM GAME REVIEWED: PS4

DEVELOPER: SQUARE ENIX

RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2020

---

I am a huge fan of “Final Fantasy” and I have always been a dedicated fan to JRPG’s in general.

But when it comes to “Final Fantasy”, I was an absolute hardcore fan of the original NES game, the releases for SNES and from then on the “Playstation” related games and have played various FF games on a variety of platforms since then.

For the original “Final Fantasy VII” game, I remember pre-ordering early for the game and when it came out, going to the midnight launch to get my free t-shirt.  And then getting the original Playstation demo in Japan not long after.

But it’s a game I was heavily invested in and it’s a game that I will not say it’s perfect, I felt that while I enjoyed the game, the music and characters, it left me feeling unsatisfied.  I think back to the past and I realize, perhaps I was too emotionally invested in the characters of Cloud and Aerith.

But having now completed the game in over 40 hours and now spending time of trying to get trophies I missed out on, I have came to the conclusion that I am more satisfied with Remake than the original.

And I know this may turn off purists, but the remake version is far more engaging.  Sure, while the original had the gameplay and long grinding sessions, while graphics are magnificent to look at, it’s the storyline that gets one engaged, to become emotionally invested and I felt this one did a much better job at it.

For one, the storyline has changed a bit, so those who played “Final Fantasy: Crisis Core” and watched “Final Fantasy: Advent Children”, will need to know that that this game will deviate from the original and these other two titles.  Think of it as it’s own story and while I don’t want to use the word “alternate timeline”, I get a feeling that there may be some of that in this new game.  It’s hard to say, as this is only the first arc but there are differences and for the most part, without getting into any spoilers, I’m all for it.

Who knew how awesome Team Avalanche Jessie, Biggs and Wedge would be?  Not to say I didn’t care about them in the original, but they really put time into the emotional connections.  We know Avalanche are a tight-knit group, but throw in the stoic, Cloud into the mix and will he eventually warm up to these rebels?

You have more emotional investment towards Barret, although I am familiar with some who have felt the character was too stereotypical, and some relating it to the old ’80s character Mr. T.  But should that have changed for a 2020 version?  If anything, that’s how Barret was and continues to be that way, always speaking with his mouth before thinking.  But now, we have an emotional element with a connection to his daughter.

Of course, the emotional connections between Cloud, Tifa and Aerith (and now Jessie) and the connection of friendship between Tifa and Aerith and if anything, I’m more conflicted on which pairing I would like to see more!

But the attention paid to the character dynamics is what I love.  Again, without spoiling to much, it’s the certain quirks, the little verbal jabs, the interactions, when a character holds each other and the hints of flirtation, there are some memorable moments, some small, some big, but you remember them.

But it’s one thing to have a good story, cool characters but what about the actual gameplay? You can select from Classic, Easy, Hard modes.

Of course, today’s “Final Fantasy” games are much different from the FF games of past.  The amount of walking is still there but not too large.  The amount of level grinding is there, but not to the point where you would spend an unbelievable amount of hours as in the past.

Equipping new weapons and equipping materia to them is still there.  Equipping outfits, amulets, protective gear is still there.  And of course, summoning Ifrit, Shiva and other well-known summons art of this game.

The evade button is not great, the ability to control multiple characters is good but the fight system is fine, If anything, control Cloud and Tifa feels more like a button mushing type of gameplay that one familiar with the Musou (Dynasty Warriors) games will be familiar with, albeit fewer monsters to fight.  Meanwhile, using characters like Barrett who would seem to be awesome fighters, don’t pack as much punch until you start getting better gear.  So, it wouldn’t be a surprise if people were using a Cloud, Tifa/Aerith combination during the game.

There are also a lot of filler side-missions in the game that can be a little aggravating, as there are times you want to fight, but you find yourself either finding kittens, looking for kids who are all over the town, looking for lost chocobo or traveling through underground areas or reactors that all look the same.  I’m not going to lie but I dozed off a few nights because these areas started to become monotonous.

I know it may sound like the gameplay is bad but I’m a Musou player, I’m also an old school “Final Fantasy” player and the way “Final Fantasy” games have changed from decade to decade, it’s all subjective but is it selfish for me to say that I liked how gameplay was for “Final Fantasy” was back then.  But I suppose with today’s style of gameplay, it makes it more, casual-gamer friendly.

But when you combine it all, from the visual and audio standpoint, which is great.  The story and characters are great and gameplay which is good, I found myself playing to see how the story evolved and that is where I found myself captivated with “Final Fantasy VII Remake”.

It’s important to note that this is not the full game series, this is just the first arc.  So, I hope those of us who enjoyed this game don’t have to wait too long to play the second arc and so forth with future arcs.

I definitely recommend this game as I feel those who enjoyed the original can enjoy it.  Purists may complain, but people do the same with superhero films and TV series, there are those who love them and those who are just not into the differences.  You can’t please everyone.

But I do feel that Square Enix did try to find a middle ground for today’s video gamers, with hardcore “Final Fantasy” fans and the casual gamers who may want to try the game because they heard so much hype about it.

Definitely give “Final Fantasy VII Remake” a try!

88/100

(C) Images are courtesy of Square Enix

---