Is Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth value taking part in with out nostalgia?

Sq. Enix is again with one other installment within the iconic Closing Fantasy franchise. Following 2020’s Closing Fantasy VII Remake, Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second installment within the writer’s reimagining of its most iconic entry.

Whereas Sq. Enix might have up to date Closing Fantasy VII’s graphics from 1997 and referred to as it a day, the builders selected to additionally increase the story and overhaul the fight system. After all, this expanded story allowed the remake to be cut up into three separate entries.

It could be a gaming sin to confess, however I’ve restricted expertise with the Closing Fantasy sequence. I’ve performed Bravely Default, the non secular successor to Closing Fantasy Ways, and previewed the primary few hours of Closing Fantasy XVI. Moreover, I watched Closing Fantasy Creation Kids so I’ve some passing familiarity with key characters in VII’s story. It’s secure to say, my Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth expertise gained’t be coloured by nostalgia goggles.

This begs the query — is FFVII Rebirth value selecting up for newcomers to the franchise? I received an opportunity to play by the introduction and the primary a number of hours of Cloud and co.’s journey to search out out.

Staring with the sequel

On condition that FFVII Rebirth is the second a part of Sq. Enix’s three half remake, it’s not essentially one of the best beginning place to get the complete FFVII expertise. That being mentioned, the tutorial part covers key occasions that specify a number of the title’s backstory and the occasions of 2020’s Remake.

These occasions give gamers an opportunity to be taught extra about Cloud, his childhood pal Tifa and his rival/foremost antagonist Sephiroth. With out figuring out all of the twists and turns the story will take, it’s secure to say that you just’ll perceive why you’re preventing to foil his plans. Nevertheless, different protagonists akin to Aerith, Barrett and Crimson XIII don’t get as a lot rationalization.

General, Sq. Enix does a very good job of giving followers an choice to skip Remake. After all, nothing will change taking part in the primary part of the sport totally. So long as followers know they’re leaping partially method, there’s sufficient to know the basics.

Modernizing (and including) to FFVII

Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth’s fight system appears to mix the turn-based fight of the previous with extra trendy high-intensity motion. There are totally different management schemes that emphasize both of those choices. I opted for traditional controls to extra simply use expertise and spells.

Gamers trying to get their fill of frenetic motion with a sprinkling of technique shall be happy with FFVII Rebirth. Given the restricted window to play, I discovered it tough to choose up all the nuances. With extra time and apply, I’d anticipate combining spells, expertise and distinctive character mechanics to movement extra naturally.

For a contemporary reimagining of a gaming basic, sure mechanics felt pretty old fashioned. There have been a variety of unbreakable crates that seemed destructible at first. Moreover, climbing, shimming and transferring objects felt unnecessarily clunky and gradual.

That being mentioned, there’s loads of new actions added to Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth that weren’t within the authentic. Chief amongst these is the model new strategic card mini-game: Queen’s Blood.

The mini-game has gamers inserting playing cards in three lanes. Every card provides energy to the lane, but in addition unlocks new tiles to position playing cards in new areas. These unlocked tiles will be upgraded to position stronger playing cards by overlapping unlocked tiles. When no extra playing cards will be positioned, the facility of every lane is tallied. Solely the winner of every lane’s whole is added to their total rating.

Queen’s Blood jogged my memory fairly a little bit of the Witcher 3’s Gwent. It’ll be a enjoyable diversion, however skippable if it’s not your factor.

Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth sans nostalgia

After taking part in Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth’s opening hours, it’s onerous to advocate it as the place to begin for brand new followers. There’s quite a bit to like, however leaping right into a story-driven recreation a 3rd of the best way by isn’t best.

Skipping to the sequel means lacking out on studying extra about the principle characters, their fight talents and emotional funding of their tales. As an alternative, new gamers get an enormous data dump at first of the sport abruptly. For these pacing causes, followers that need the modernized expertise ought to most likely begin with 2020’s Closing Fantasy VII Remake.

That being mentioned, the expanded (and adjusted) story of the remake has its personal downsides. As an alternative of the streamlined 50-ish hour expertise of the unique, the story is being stretched throughout three video games. For followers that like turn-based RPGs over motion RPGs and aren’t turned off by 1997 graphics, the basic could be one of the best guess.

Closing Fantasy VII Rebirth launches on February 29, 2024 on PlayStation 5.