Sq. Enix is again with one other installment within the iconic Ultimate Fantasy franchise. Following 2020’s Ultimate Fantasy VII Remake, Ultimate 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 Ultimate Fantasy VII’s graphics from 1997 and known as it a day, the builders selected to additionally broaden the story and overhaul the fight system. After all, this expanded story allowed the remake to be break up into three separate entries.
It is perhaps a gaming sin to confess, however I’ve restricted expertise with the Ultimate Fantasy collection. I’ve performed Bravely Default, the religious successor to Ultimate Fantasy Techniques, and previewed the primary few hours of Ultimate Fantasy XVI. Moreover, I watched Ultimate Fantasy Creation Kids so I’ve some passing familiarity with key characters in VII’s story. It’s secure to say, my Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth expertise received’t be coloured by nostalgia goggles.
This begs the query — is FFVII Rebirth value choosing up for newcomers to the franchise? I acquired an opportunity to play by way of the introduction and the primary a number of hours of Cloud and co.’s journey to search out out.
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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 the most effective beginning place to get the complete FFVII expertise. That being mentioned, the tutorial part covers key occasions that designate among 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 good friend Tifa and his rival/foremost antagonist Sephiroth. With out understanding all of the twists and turns the story will take, it’s secure to say that you simply’ll perceive why you’re preventing to foil his plans. Nevertheless, different protagonists reminiscent of Aerith, Barrett and Crimson XIII don’t get as a lot rationalization.
Total, Sq. Enix does a superb job of giving followers an choice to skip Remake. After all, nothing will substitute taking part in the primary part of the sport totally. So long as followers know they’re leaping partially manner, there’s sufficient to grasp the basics.
Modernizing (and including) to FFVII
Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth’s fight system seems to mix the turn-based fight of the previous with extra fashionable 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 will probably be happy with FFVII Rebirth. Given the restricted window to play, I discovered it troublesome to choose up all the nuances. With extra time and follow, I’d count on combining spells, expertise and distinctive character mechanics to stream extra naturally.
For a contemporary reimagining of a gaming basic, sure mechanics felt pretty old-fashioned. There have been quite a lot of unbreakable crates that regarded destructible at first. Moreover, climbing, shimming and shifting objects felt unnecessarily clunky and gradual.
That being mentioned, there’s loads of new actions added to Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth that weren’t within the unique. Chief amongst these is the model new strategic card mini-game: Queen’s Blood.
The mini-game has gamers putting 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 could be upgraded to position stronger playing cards by overlapping unlocked tiles. When no extra playing cards could be positioned, the facility of every lane is tallied. Solely the winner of every lane’s complete is added to their general 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.
Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth sans nostalgia
After taking part in Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth’s opening hours, it’s laborious to suggest it as the place to begin for brand spanking new followers. There’s lots to like, however leaping right into a story-driven sport a 3rd of the best way by way of isn’t perfect.
Skipping to the sequel means lacking out on studying extra about the primary characters, their fight skills and emotional funding of their tales. As an alternative, new gamers get an enormous data dump at the start of the sport unexpectedly. For these pacing causes, followers that need the modernized expertise ought to in all probability begin with 2020’s Ultimate 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 is perhaps the most effective wager.
Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth launches on February 29, 2024 on PlayStation 5.
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