FINAL Fantasy 7 is one of the most culturally impactful games of all time, having been the first major 3D JRPG to be successful across the world.
The game, originally released on the first PlayStation, was praised for its inventive mechanics, strong storytelling, and expansive world, all of which hold up to this day.
In the decades that followed, the game has been expanded with prequel and sequel games, movies, comics, and more.
Not all of these expanded universe projects have been well-received, but they all form part of a big, connected universe that makes up the greater Final Fantasy 7 mythos.
Square Enix set out to rewrite and expand upon that mythos in 2020 with Final Fantasy 7 Remake on the PS4, and now the sequel to that game is finally here.
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We’ve been playing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on the PS5 for a couple of weeks now, and it’s been an absolutely incredible experience.
The story takes place right after the end of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, after Sephiroth and a lot of ghosts caused a tornado to rip through the city of Midgar.
There are some strange shenanigans taking place in terms of the timeline and how this game fits into the greater Final Fantasy 7 saga, but we’ll try to avoid spoiling anything so you can experience it for yourself.
It’s safe to say, though, that there are some big, world-changing additions to the Final Fantasy you know and love, and Rebirth doesn’t pull its punches in twisting what you think you know into something new.
After the calamity in Midgar, Cloud, Barret, Aerith, Tifa, and Red XIII make their way to the town of Kalm, where they relax for a while before starting to follow some mysterious men in black cloaks.
Most of the story after this pretty closely mimics the original game — you make your way through the Mithril Mine, hide among Shinra officers in Junon, battle monsters on a cargo ship, and visit the Golden Saucer.
There are some changes here and there, some small and others big, like Yuffie officially joining the party without needing to seek her out as an optional party member.
Pretty much every part of the story is expanded, too, with a great amount of depth added to each and every scene throughout the game.
For example, the nameless cargo ship in the original game has been transformed into a luxury cruise ship in Rebirth, filled with minigames and party vibes, to give that area a little more memorable character.
Almost every area has been overhauled like this, with more character across the board, in most cases both respecting the original vision and creating something new and fresh.
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The combat will feel very familiar to anyone who’s played Final Fantasy 7 Remake, but it too has had a bit of an overhaul, with some extra actions added between major attacks to make everything feel more fluid.
Cloud’s moveset in particular is an absolute joy to use in combat, with some incredible combos that come through attacking, dodging, and switching combat styles in a way that’s very satisfying.
Combat takes a bit of DNA from Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion too, and anyone who enjoyed that game will find plenty to like in Rebirth too.
Graphically, Rebirth shines on the PS5, with rich, detailed environments and high quality character models mixed in with some very pretty effects.
You can choose between two graphics modes, performance and quality, with the latter aiming for 4K30 and the former targeting 60fps.
Performance mode does suffer a little bit in the fidelity department, with some soft, sometimes even blurry visuals, but it still looks great even at the worst of times.
My only real complaint with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is that there’s often too much filler between the important story moments.
Rebirth is absolutely packed with minigames, side quests, areas to discover, and more, and while not all of it is necessary, most of it feels like it should be completed to get the most out of it.
The result is a game that’s sometimes exhausting, filled with busywork that sometimes gets in the way of an otherwise great story and solid combat.
Granted, those feelings of exhaustion are definitely rare, but there’s only so many times you can climb an Ubisoft-style tower before it starts to feel like a chore.
Despite those shortcomings, there’s no doubt that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be included in end-of-year discussions for awards, and it’s well and truly earned its place there.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is everything a Final Fantasy fan could ask for, and so much more — delivering on every promise its lofty ambitions made and going above and beyond to make the experience almost perfect.
Score: 5/5
Written by Oliver Brandt on behalf of GLHF.
