Ever for the reason that launch of Remaining Fantasy VII Remake again in 2020, followers of the unique have been questioning how the following installment of Sq. Enix’s reimagining of the landmark 1997 recreation would deal with the various iconic setpiece moments, reveals, and twists but to come back. The Nibelheim Incident, which facilities round Cloud’s consequential return to his hometown 5 years earlier, has been an particularly fertile floor for hypothesis. The unique recreation and its many spinoffs revisit this mission quite a few instances to point out off the various views of the important thing gamers. It’s an overused analogy, however The Nibelheim Incident is basically FF7’s equal of the Rashomon homicide scene. With every barely completely different retelling, we inch a bit of bit nearer to the reality.
FF7‘s save-the-world story wasn’t revolutionary in 1997, and it definitely isn’t at this time. However the palpable sense that one thing is “off” with Cloud and his mentor-turned-nemesis Sephiroth elevates it into one thing way more memorable and enduring. For a lot of the sport, the destiny of the planet kinda takes a backseat to discovering out what the deal is with these guys. On the similar time, with Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth, the builders at Sq. Enix face the daunting process of attracting newcomers to the second chapter of a trilogy, those that might primarily know Cloud and Sephiroth as cool badasses with enjoyable hair from the Tremendous Smash Bros. Final roster.
So after I booted up the sport at a current media preview occasion, I used to be delighted to see that Chapter 1 of Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth instantly begins with Cloud telling his model of what occurred at Nibelheim. Rebirth throws you in on the deep finish and delivers excessive stakes proper up entrance—and it’s precisely what longtime followers need and newcomers want.
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Déjà vu over again
I’d performed a smaller phase of this part at a preview occasion a number of months again, however that slice was extra combat- and traversal-focused. True to the unique recreation, the total model of Rebirth’s Nibelheim incident is a sluggish burn, a comfy night with pals winding down after the frantic escape from Midgar. Current-day Cloud narrates over this prolonged interactive sequence the place you play as his youthful self, and his storytelling is punctuated by interruptions from Barrett, Tifa, and Aerith. Many of those exchanges are taken beat-by-beat from the unique recreation, and it’s good to see them return right here to inject some levity and sense of camaraderie into Cloud’s suspenseful and gloomy story.
Rebirth’s tackle Nibelheim largely sticks to that of the unique FF7. (Principally.) The explanation for Cloud and Sephy’s mission stays the identical—they’re despatched to research a malfunctioning mako reactor at Mt. Nibel, and take care of any monsters alongside the best way. We get a clearer sense of Sephiroth’s renown and superstar—we’re largely advised, not proven this within the authentic—as townsfolk breathlessly gossip about him and jostle for photographs. As earlier than, you get the possibility to regulate Sephiroth in fight in the course of the climb, and he’s absurdly robust and enjoyable to play.
Ascending Mt. Nibel capabilities as a lightweight tutorial for Rebirth’s new traversal mechanics, together with leaping and climbing. It’s nothing difficult, nevertheless it does convey that Mt. Nibel is harmful sufficient to require a information’s help higher than the unique recreation did. Talking of guides, we get fairly a bit extra of younger Tifa on this part of Rebirth (Nibelheim is her hometown too, in spite of everything), full along with her lovable cowgirl outfit. And there are some very intriguing penalties of that, which I’m not going to get into right here.
On that be aware, Chapter 1 of Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth is a veritable bonanza of jaw-dropping spoilers for people who haven’t performed the unique recreation. Regardless of realizing precisely what was coming at sure moments, the impeccable visuals and environmental design blew me away. And, as was the case with Remake, when Rebirth’s soundtrack is firing on all cylinders, it’s the stuff of real-deal goosebumps in your arms. Because the flames attain larger and the music shudders like a terrified coronary heart, all of the sudden I’m 11 years previous once more, sitting cross-legged on the ground subsequent to my older brother in entrance of a CRT with a skateboarding sticker on the aspect, unable to say something however whoa.
A complete new world
After Cloud provides his pals the rundown of what occurred with Sephiroth in Nibelheim, we resume the present-tense story within the metropolis of Kalm. And golly, what a glow-up. In 1997’s FF7, the city was little greater than an RPG gasoline station—a spot to select up some potions, low cost tools, and a fast snooze on the inn. There was by no means a lot motive to return when you’d progressed to different locations. This time round, its cobbled streets, overgrown flower containers, and rabbit-warren structure ooze a tranquil appeal that’s worthy of the identify.
You received’t spend too lengthy right here in Rebirth both, nevertheless it does provide an opportunity to get acquainted with a number of new gameplay additions. Probably the most notable of those are celebration relationships and celebration degree, which let you strengthen your bond along with your teammates by way of dialogue decisions and elective actions. The unique FF7 had a much less fleshed-out model of this that culminated within the notorious Gold Saucer date, and it’s good to see that the devs are discovering new methods to let gamers spend extra time with their favourite characters.
The innkeeper at Kalm will introduce you to Queen’s Blood, Rebirth’s reply to card video games like Witcher 3‘s Gwent and FF8‘s Triple Triad. I can already inform a great deal of persons are going to be completely obsessive about this minigame, although I sadly am not considered one of them. (Blissful for you guys, although!) This part additionally affords a short rundown of ability timber, weapon upgrades, and merchandise crafting. I stay unconvinced that Remaining Fantasy 7 wanted a crafting system, and I didn’t discover a lot event to make use of it throughout my demo. I can see the way it could also be helpful for some elective fights in a while, however I hope it’s extra of a “take it or go away it” mechanic.
However we will’t keep in Kalm for lengthy, and it’s quickly time for our merry band of weirdos to hit the street seeking adventures, pocket cash, and ultimately Sephiroth. Rebirth’s model of the unique recreation’s huge open world is larger and extra stunning than I’d hoped, with loads of nooks and crannies to discover. You’ll acquire entry to each menu-based fast-travel and chocobos just about instantly after leaving Kalm, mercifully slicing down on the ponderous backtracking of the 1997 recreation. As a substitute of enormous swaths of empty house for random encounters, now there are small farms, hamlets, and ruins between cities and dungeons. This makes Rebirth’s open world really feel like a pure enlargement of scope fairly than only a concession to the expectations of followers. After hitting up the Chocobo Farm, you’re free to probe for some time, however when you’re able to return to the primary story, a Ghost of Tsushima-esque inexperienced Mako path will seem to nudge you towards your vacation spot. It’s a considerate design alternative that avoids the immersion-breaking “map recreation” vibes which have turn out to be a bit too commonplace in open-world design.
Naturally, when you get out into the massive large world, you’re gonna be doing a little combating. Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth provides one other layer to Remake’s real-time fight system, and I’m nonetheless not completely positive how I really feel about it. You’ll have greater than three celebration members to select from at any given time, and every distinctive duo or trio can staff up for a singular particular assault. On paper, this feels like Chrono Set off, which is terrific. In apply, it kinda seems like one factor too many to maintain monitor of. Remake’s fight had a satisfying cadence of managing cooldowns to tug off magic spells, heals, and particular assaults. However within the early hours of Rebirth, even mundane fights have a noticeably stop-start really feel to them. I’m hoping to settle right into a stream ultimately, however I’m additionally curious if this all would possibly really feel higher in basic, turn-based mode as an alternative. (Fortunately, it’s an on-the-fly toggle within the full recreation.) Quibbles apart, I’m nonetheless having fun with the heck out of the fight and the demo left me hungry for extra. Professional tip: Purple XIII’s surprisingly Sonic Spinball moveset is extraordinarily enjoyable to play.
The large query heading into Rebirth and its unnamed successor is: can it recapture—and even exceed—the magic of the unique recreation? That is still to be seen. However, thus far, the primary three chapters are a helluva good signal for what’s to come back.
Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth launches February 29 on PlayStation 5.
Pre-order Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth: Amazon | Finest Purchase | Goal
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