Final Fantasy VII Remake: The Game Dreams Are Made From

Final Fantasy VII Remake is the long-awaited and much-delayed release from Square Enix, which is a re-telling of the classic Final Fantasy VII released on the PS1 back in 1997. Before I get into my review of the remake, I will give some context on what made the original FF7 so special in the eyes of many gamers, including myself.

So, what made the original FF7 so special?

First, Final Fantasy 7 was one of the first games that I remember that had a fully fleshed-out story with twists, turns, and revelations. To add to the story, there is real and identifiable character development in all of the characters. Secondly, FF7 was one of the games that pioneered 3D graphics. Although the graphics are ridiculous to look at now, they were a remarkable sight back in 1997. The graphics (as well as the soundtrack), assisted in making the story-telling and character development feel more multi-dimensional. Lastly, FF7 played a large role in popularizing the Japanese RPG (JRPG) genre within western markets. There were other great JRPGs around, such as Chrono Trigger and Secrets of Mana for the SNES, but FF7 brought the JRPG genre to the limelight due the graphics bringing the game to life.

I am happy to report that the FF7 Remake feels similarly revolutionary to the original in terms of the presentation. The graphics (especially in the cut-scenes) are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen, and I am glad that Square Enix took the extra time to fine-tune the visuals. The music feels similarly astounding, with remixed songs from the original with the familiar riffs. Overall, the presentation of the FF7 Remake is among one of the best I have seen in video gaming. 

Now, I should point out that the FF7 Remake only covers the Midgar portion of the original game, which is a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing because Square Enix has truly expanded the lore and the community within the city, giving it fresh life. The sectors feel alive, and you can interact with many characters. It is a curse because you do not see the character development with the original game in the remake. Much of the character development (especially for Cloud) occurs after you leave Midgar.

The combat system feels solid, dynamic, and sometimes frenetic. However, I feel that the controls do not feel natural to me, especially when trying to block or dodge. Square Enix should have gave the player the option to re-map their combat controls so that the controls do not feel as overwhelming. Other issues I had with the game include the pacing within some of the chapters. There are chapters where it is simply story-driven with no combat, so playing those chapters felt like a slog. There is also sometimes a long wait between when you press triangle to interact with a character and when the character actually speaks.

Side note: I want to mention some of the voice actors I have recognized while playing this game. The voice actor for Wedge is actually the actor who plays 'Badger' from the show 'Breaking Bad'. The voice actor for Jessie is also the voice actor of 'Kaori Miyazono' from the anime 'Your Lie In April'.

The Final Fantasy VII Remake is the release that many gamers dream about playing. It is incredible that we get to see the re-imagining of these characters (in true HD) in a realistic setting and as well as to see the true expansion that the story needs. Although the FF7 remake is not quite as special as the original, it carries the spirit of the original game all the same. To put the remake in another way, this game feels eerily similar to Final Fantasy XIII, but with a more engaging story, likable and complex characters, and slightly lesser linear gameplay. Regardless, the FF7 remake is a video game that will blow your mind, and is necessary on anyone's game list.