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GoNintendo @[email protected] · 2026-07-19 · 17:25 UTC

Square Enix shares new Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy X tidbits in anniversary interview:

https://gonintendo.com/contents/62968-square-enix-shares-new-final-fantasy-iv-and-final-fantasy-x-tidbits-in-anniversary

A Chocoboatload of info

#finalfantasy #squareenix

GoNintendo @[email protected] · 2026-07-19 · 16:40 UTC

Square Enix commemorates Star Ocean's 30th anniversary:

https://gonintendo.com/contents/62964-square-enix-commemorates-star-ocean-s-30th-anniversary

An ocean of memories

#squareenix

Professional Moron @[email protected] · 2026-07-19 · 16:00 UTC

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: Second FFVII Remake Entry is Epic ☄️

After the glorious Final Fantasy VII remake kicked off in 2020, the second instalment of this trilogy launched in early 2024. A Switch 2 and Xbox port arrived in June 2026 and we picked up the former.

This continues the updates to the 1997 classic Final Fantasy VII, with a massively overhauled experience. It’s another brilliant time of it, with players leading eco-terrorist group AVALANCHE on a mission to save the world.

The Cosmic Drama of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Okay, so the first remake takes place in the slums of Midgar city. Rebirth drags the experience out into the open world genre. Visually, it’s much more dynamic and vibrant as you’re traversing lots of different scenery.

Once again, players lead Cloud Strife and his group to defeat the incredibly powerful entity Sephiroth.

After a tepid start where we were a bit uncertain about things, after a few hours Rebirth really kicks in. Japanese developer Square Enix has done it again, vastly overhauling the original PlayStation FFVII into a modern, thrilling, highly detailed world.

We’re massively impressed by what the studio has achieved. This is no lazy remake, it’s a major reimagining that follows the original plot, but isn’t afraid to add many and varied new developments.

Core to it all is Cloud and his troop of friends. The FFVII story is Shakespearian in its vision, going from Cloud taking a one-off mercenary job to getting involved in a life or death struggle for the future of the planet.

He becomes friends with Barrett, Tifa, Aerith, and the dog Red. This dominates the experience as you get to know these characters, with the enigmatic and happy-go-lucky Aerith our favourite of the lot.

Although Cloud is great, the super hunky main character who’s almost autistic in his approach to life (stilted communication, social awkwardness, sensory quirks, loner personality etc.).

The Arrival of an Open World

One downside to Rebirth is its open world. If you’ve played something like Nintendo’s classic Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023), the FFVII remake is a bit ham-fisted in comparison.

In other games like this, another example being the awesome Elder Scrolls: Skyrim (2011), you can spend many hours completing side quests. In fact, in Zelda we abandoned the main quest and spent about 100+ hours just going around exploring.

Full credit to Square Enix for trying to replicate that, but the end result falls flat.

It’s just all a bit awkward and joyless. You go into towns and NPCs set you predictable tasks to complete. You do them, it’s not much fun, then you get a reward. It’s very formulaic. Plus, just getting around the world is a bit weird, a janky experience where Cloud seems to judder over polygon landscapes.

Anyway, none of it is mandatory. The driving force behind Final Fantasy VII is its fantastic story, so we largely stuck to the main quest and that made it all rather glorious indeed.

Especially once you start reaching some of the fantastically detailed villages and towns. There’s the gorgeous Gongaga region in the jungle, then you reach our favourite. Cosmo Canyon with its beautiful setting and excellent adapted score.

Believe it or not, people who don’t video games, the FFVII experience is a very emotional one. The plot plays with concepts of death, loss, grief, betrayal, acceptance, understanding etc.

All to the tune of a cosmic, death-defying plot where you have to stop a genetically modified genius/lunatic.

But at its core, there’s also a surprising pertinent message that resonates from 1997 through to now. How you must also stop the evil mega corporation Shinra, which is destroying the planet in the name of profits.

A tad bit of relevance there to late-stage capitalism and what it’s doing to society, and the environment, almost 30 years after the original game launched.

FFVII Rebirth is Magnificent

It’s no surprise this was hailed as one of the best games of 2024. A few issues aside, everything about Rebirth represents video games at their very best. Its scope and emotional impact as a story are incredible, complemented by the lush world FFVII Rebirth’s wonderful adapted score by Masashi Hamauzu and Mitsuto Suzuki.

There’s about 40+ hours of gameplay here and it leaves an indelible impact on you. The characterisation is very thoughtful, the escalating nature of the narrative well paced, and combat sections are thrilling.

Downsides? The open world doesn’t quite deliver the goods, but you can side pass almost all of it anyway to stick to the core story. And that’s grand game design there.

The even better news? The third instalment is well on the way. It’s called FFVII Revelation and is set for release in 2027. Something to massively look forward to there.

#actionRolePlayingGame #Art #Artistic #Fantasy #FFVII #FinalFantasyVII #FinalFantasyVIIRebirth #FinalFantasyVIIRemake #gaming #Lifestyle #RPG #SquareEnix #VideoGames

#actionroleplayinggame #art #artistic #fantasy #ffvii #finalfantasyvii