**SPOILER WARNING**

Welcome Late to the Party, a series where I write about a game, often well after the game has been out, I have recently finished. Because of my hectic work and school schedule, it’s rare that I’ll complete a game in a timely fashion. While what I write will never be timely, I’d still like to express my thoughts on the game in some capacity. Think of it as a mini review, or just my thoughts on what I liked or disliked about a game. If you’ll indulge me, let’s talk about my long winded and extensive thoughts and ramblings about the Final Fantasy VII Remake.

Before I delve into my thoughts and take a quick trip down memory lane, I have to say that I can’t believe this game exists. There were so many moments between the music, character interactions, the combat, and the voice acting that I thought to myself, “Wow, they really nailed this game!” Or “Oh my goodness this part is even better than I remember.” So much love and passion went into this remake, and I think both the fans and the development team can see that. It’s nostalgic, but it also has room for new ideas and new interpretations and it’s such a beautiful experience. 

Here is a brief story about my history with Final Fantasy VII. When I was a freshman in high school in 2009 we had a severe snow forecast so the school decided to close for the next day to be safe. A friend of mine had already played VII and was pushing for me to play it, so my priority became downloading Final Fantasy VII on my PS3 and praying the power would stay on through the night. Luckily it did! So the next day I woke up when I normally would for school and I played Final Fantasy VII all day and it was glorious. To this day that still remains as one of my favorite gaming memories. Despite how much I loved it in 2009, I have to confess that I’ve forgotten most of the game as time has passed. But the idea of playing VII again knowing I’ve forgotten most of it at this point also made me even more excited for the remake.

After watching the nostalgia-filled trailers I came to the realization that I may end up enjoying Final Fantasy VII Remake more than the original, and I think the reason for this is because of how much more alive and fleshed out Midgar and the entirety of Part 1 feels. I already love the likes of Cloud, Tifa, Barrett and company, so this added exposition and screen time would only enhance my love for the game. When it’s all said and done, I think I’ll feel a deeper connection and love for one of the greatest video games ever. I think it’s one of those instances where the remake can be better than the original.

The combat in Final Fantasy VII Remake is easily my favorite part of the game. It’s fast-paced and hectic, and every character feels so distinct to play. Between chaining fierce punches into a dive kick with Tifa, and pelting ranged enemies with Barrett before briefly stunning them with an Overcharge special attack, this game is so much fun to play. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses against certain enemies and it’s important to utilize other party members to expose those weaknesses. Being able to change characters on the fly helps a lot as well; there are certain fights where I just want to sit back as Barrett or Aerith and attack from afar. I also really like the utility of each character. Aerith has a skill called Arcane Ward that puts down an aura that allows party members standing in it to cast spells twice and it can be devastating or essential depending on the magic you’re using. This is especially true for enemies that are weak to a specific spell or element, so exposing their weakness twice feels awesome. One of the more satisfying things for me is to repeatedly attack a boss with a character, and when the boss sets their sight on the character I’m actively controlling, I switch to someone else and give the newly freed character a break from the boss’s ferocious attacks. A lot of my enjoyment stems from the still incredible materia system and the new and semi-strategic weapon upgrade system.

Playing 7R, I’m reminded how incredible the Materia system still is. It’s simple to follow and so efficient. After enough AP is earned through battle, Fire turns into Fira, and your HP Up skill increases from a 10% boost to a 20% boost. The beauty is that anyone can equip the powered up materia at any point and as a slight bonus, the materia will increase your stats. Playing the game again, it’s now one of my favorite magic/skill systems in an RPG. I think the addition of Chadley, a young researcher looking to develop new materia, incentivizing you to complete various tasks for new and rare materia is a great touch. Doing tasks like staggering 25 different enemies or assessing 3 unique enemies will reward you with materia for the low price of 100 gil for your first purchase! I love the different ways you can customize your party and the different play styles you can set for your characters based on their equipped materia. For example, by the end of the game Aerith was my strongest magic user, and because I wanted to max out most of my magic materia, I would let her use Cura. Since I already had both a Curaga materia and a Cura materia, I could give Aerith the latter for similar healing potency while letting the materia gain AP to level up to Curaga. 

Another example, I tried to make Barrett my party’s tank so I’d equip him with HP Up materia and any other skills that would best maximize his damage reduction and ensure that he could survive the heavy barrage of attacks I intended for him to take. I also really like how weapons and materia can complement one another to further enhance the style of play you desire. Its overall convenience allowed me to tinker with builds that called for materia that enhances physical attacks or improves the strength of magic depending on the boss or set of enemies I was about to encounter.

The weapon upgrade system is new to the remake and I loved this addition. Killing enemies rewards you with points that can be used for upgrades like extra materia slots (If this wasn’t your first upgrade for a new weapon then what are you even doing?), increased HP, damage reduction from elemental attacks, and more. Weapons can level up, unlocking new trees with more stat increases and I think it works really well with materia. For Cloud, some of his weapons favor physical damage and others present more of a balance between strength and magic. I found it useful to change my equipped materia to enhance my current weapon’s capability. It definitely incentivizes trying to play the characters in different ways and I really appreciate that. My interest in Barrett grew significantly by the end of the game because of his weapon variety. I also have to mention each weapon having its own unique skill that can be permanently unlocked after maximizing its proficiency. By the end of the game I felt accomplished being able to choose from a number of skills to crush those Shinra bastards. Overall I wish new weapons were acquired sooner but I love the flexibility they add and how much they can change combat.

On the flip side though, my biggest complaint about 7R is how it handles your characters’ moves being interrupted. The most common instance of this was when I would begin to cast Cure to heal a gravely wounded ally, but while my character would begin casting the spell, an enemy would attack and it would cancel the spell entirely. The frustration mainly came from losing both valuable MP and a bar from the active-time gauge. I’m fine with an attack being cancelled, but in an intense fight where every magic point feels much more valuable, or the time saved by already having an ATB gauge filled can make or break a fight, it’s annoying that these are essentially thrown away. Even more egregious was instances where the stagger meter would reset during boss fights. I remember fighting the Hell House in Chapter 9 and I was likely one spell or ability away from staggering it and being able to inflict massive damage. Unfortunately, a transition occurred during the fight and its nearly full stagger meter reset. A similar instance happened in a Chapter 17 boss fight where the boss was nearly staggered and I unleashed Barrett’s Limit Break. But before I could fire off the explosive shot, and likely stagger and maybe defeat the boss, it transitioned into preparing a powerful move. Again, the stagger meter reset and more annoyingly, Barrett’s Limit Break went away and my attack was all for nothing. I stared at the TV and mumbled “What the fuck?” Bottom line, I hope instances like this can be addressed in Part 2 because it can kill the momentum of a boss fight.

One of the aspects I was most eager to see in the remake was how the side characters, mainly Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge, would be treated. And Square absolutely knocked it out of the park! The core of Avalanche is given plenty of screen time and while I loved them in the brief time they were in the original, someone like Jessie’s predetermined fate was even more difficult to swallow in the remake. The extended screen time and added depth work well to make you care even more about these characters. There’s an early chapter in which we come to understand what motivates Jessie and why she fights for the cause of Avalanche. The added context adds a layer to the character that I greatly appreciated. In between the attacks on reactors 1 and 5, instead of Jessie just showing up with the detonator we see how she acquired the necessary materials and I think this is a great touch to show how important these operations are.

Charlie Sheen… I mean Biggs, and Wedge are given more background as well and I really came to love this group as the outspoken rebels trying to bring the deeds of evil corporations to light. Also, a quick shout out to the Turks, Hojo, the Shinra executives. The last two are just as terrible, greedy and power hungry as they are in the original and the remake versions of these characters are awesome. I think the Turks are so well done and credit to the voice actors, they absolutely nailed the characters. They sound exactly how I think they would and they were such a fun dynamic for Part 1.

Overall I think this game is a beautiful recreation and expansion of Midgar. The setting of Part 1 and an early part of Final Fantasy 7 is such a distinct and iconic location. The original version of Midgar is an impressive set piece, and the remake fully brings it to life. From Shinra HQ to the Wall Market, each area is meticulously realized and I think how remake looks now is what the creators saw or envisioned when the game originally came out. I also imagine it’s how people saw the game when they first played it in 1997.

The Wall Market is far and away my favorite location in the game. I love how it’s vibrant, scummy, risque, and judgment free all at the same time. Nestled in its many corridors and hidden spots is the Honeybee Inn, where Andrea reminds you that you can be whatever you want and whomever you want when you’re here. People escape the stresses of life, work, or to find a new fulfillment in life. Its fictional Las Vegas vibes are more present than ever. But you can’t discuss the Wall Market without Don Corneo, and this is where I’m unfortunately conflicted. At least in regards to the remake, I liked the idea of this slimy crime lord running Wall Market from behind the scenes more than I liked the man himself. Much of the time is spent hyping up the character and I like that aspect; he remains a mystery and you’re led to believe he is menacing and scary and is a figure that is untouchable within the Wall Market. Unfortunately though I found his performance to be lacking. I’m not sure if it’s the hype and expectations not being met or what, but I think he underwhelmed when it was time for his big reveal. His slimy and creepy demeanor just didn’t resonate as strongly and I think he was better presented in the PS1 version.

You can’t discuss Final Fantasy 7 without mentioning the relationship between Cloud and Aerith and their opposing personalities. She’s so innocent, pure and curious, while Cloud is cold and irritable. I think the remake does an excellent job emphasizing their unlikely relationship; when you’re escorting her back to her home after escaping the church she peppers Cloud with questions, only to receive short and uninteresting answers. But she keeps trying to break down his walls and the entire time I was more annoyed with Cloud because this wholesome person is being friendly and he’s just dismissing her. But I love how their relationship evolves and while the original already did an excellent job developing their relationship, the remake only enhances it.

I just want to give a quick shout out to a few specific chapters in the remake. As serious and intense as the game can be at times, there are instances that help break the tension. Chapter 4 and 11 really stuck out for me. I don’t know if anyone has seen the movie Torque, the terrible action movie from 2004 involving street bikes with Ice Cube and Adam Scott, but the entirety of chapter 4 reminded me of that. The fight with Roche is just so absurd and wacky, and I appreciate a sequence like this as a palate cleanser after reactor 1 was just destroyed. Chapter 11 also stuck out with the ghost trainyard. In what I thought was a mundane and tedious section in the original, it’s heightened here as ghosts looking for a friend to play with trick people passing by with graffiti and spooky manifestations of objects. It’s another section that doesn’t take itself too seriously and I appreciated the light-hearted moments.

There is a part of me that is thrilled that I barely remember all of Final Fantasy 7. Playing through the remake I’m reminded how incredible this game is. When I used to think back on the game, obviously I liked it, but I never held it in the regard that many people do. But those feelings have changed. Everything about this game, both the original and the remake, are fantastic! The characters are deep, passionate and nuanced; the story is engrossing and the setting and world are so distinct and memorable. The music! Both the original soundtrack and the remake are amazing. I would hear a track that I vaguely remembered and I’d be reminded how fun the songs are. This game is also fascinating to play in 2020 because the world is unfortunately dying because greedy corporations only care about profits and the parallels between Shinra and the real world are very present.

Before I completely wrap up my thoughts (If you’re still here, bless you), I wanted to discuss my thoughts, reservations, and questions for this game going forward. To start, new game plus is a great feature to include. Hard mode completely changes how you prepare and strategize for playing through this game, and I love that you can play any chapter at any point. Next, I’m most curious how progression will carry over into part 2. Undoubtedly people have already reached the level cap, maxed out materia, etc. So how much of this will carry over into Part 2? Also, when will it come out, and how far into the story will that go? I think Part 1 was such an impressive beginning to such an ambitious project. How much detail will go into all of Part 2? I can’t imagine everything in the next section will be as fleshed out as Part 1. It’s understandable how much love and care went into the remake of Midgar, because it’s such an important part of the game. But will everything in Part 2 be as fleshed out? I’m just rambling at this point, but it’s because I’m dying to play the next part. I had so much fun and I want to see how this remake progresses.

I’m going to discuss the last two chapters and my thoughts on how everything played out. But I want to preface this by saying that I haven’t watched or read any discussions or conversations regarding the ending and where the rest of the story could go. I wanted to write these thoughts without any outside influence. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so excited to go back and read theories, listen to podcasts, and hear fan analysis. But for now, I wanted to share my own thoughts.

To start, I REALLY like where the story could go.The final chapter playing out the way it does was a big surprise for me, and I’m all for it. I appreciate that the remake isn’t just a one to one retelling and that everything is exactly like the PS1 version. It leaves me with so many questions and ideas for where the story could go. What exactly are Nomura and Kitase trying to achieve with this retelling, albeit with some changes and possible detours? Whatever it ends up being, I’m excited to see it play out.

I found the Whispers to be a fascinating addition. They exist through most of the game and we’re told these spirits control fate and keep the planet’s destiny and lifetime, from its beginning to the end, on a straight, uninterruptible path. How are they going to play a role in Part 2 and beyond? Will something within the story change down the line or will their omnipresence alter what we already know in some capacity? Is this something the creators just threw in to justify preventing Cloud’s quest to face Sephiroth so early on? I’m just spitballing here. Obviously Barrett doesn’t die in the original so I like the idea of his fate not being decided in Part 1, and that Cloud isn’t meant to kill his greatest rival just yet.

Can Aerith, to a degree, alter fate and destiny herself because she’s a descendant of the Ancients? Before the party ventures to the other side, she makes a speech saying that if they chase after Sephiroth, their own fate may be forever changed as well. What exactly will change and does this “destiny’s crossroads” she mentions explain why Zack and Cloud intertwine?

The entirety of Zack’s presence in the remake is interesting as well. During his big, heroic sacrifice there are numerous whispers floating around Shinra soldiers. Maybe he doesn’t die here? The whole idea of us seeing Zack alive there is crazy to me. Maybe we’ll see a branching storyline, one where Zack lives and another, the one we know, where Cloud is the hero in charge? And maybe Aerith will somehow be caught in between these two scenarios and she has to choose? At the end the fates disappear so maybe Zack’s fate is now his own to control since he didn’t die? Also please make him playable in Part 2! It would be such a tease if he weren’t.

Sephiroth. Fuck, he is just so cool. I love how he antagonizes Cloud throughout the game. He’s one of the most infamous villains in video games, but his power and presence are made even greater in the remake and I really like that. It’s pretty clear that he is above fate in some capacity. So does this mean he is going to destroy the world or take its power, knowing he can because he isn’t tied to the fate of the world? It looks like he can control Whispers in some capacity as well. Also, the fight against him is exhilarating with his theme playing in the background. You get a real sense of his power and how dangerous he can be, but it feels like he’s holding back and it’s terrifying. 

Now hear me out on this next part. What if Sephiroth is the harbinger of fate? And what we know and see in the remake is just his physical manifestation? When Cloud attacks him and he goes through a wormhole, what if he is traveling through one thread of fate or dimension? And what he travels through is the story or fate we know in the original game or just the fate of the world in that instance. Does Cloud find himself in a hub or an epicenter where Sephiroth can watch over everyone and everything?  Like he is seeing various dimensions and possibilities, some yet foreseen and unwritten. Forgive me, these are merely my initial and likely incoherent thoughts but I just have so many questions going into Part 2. Their fight at the end beautifully caps off the beginning of what could potentially be a wildly different interpretation from what we’ve come to expect between Cloud and Sephiroth.

Overall, I was completely enamored with Final Fantasy 7 Remake. So much love and care went into so many aspects of this game and it’s evident. I am so happy this game exists because it gives newcomers a more modern and engaging way to play it, and longtime fans can see how their favorite characters and settings look today. The new and different interpretation of the story is exciting and bold and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Hopefully Part 2 comes sooner than later, I know many of us are dying to see what happens next and what these changes could mean in the grand scheme of the story. Whatever Square Enix does, I am fully on board. Playing this game again, albeit with new ideas and interpretations, I have fallen in love with these characters and the story. Final Fantasy 7 Remake is my favorite game this year, and I don’t think it will be topped. Like I said in the beginning of this writing, I think I may end up liking the remake more than the original. I can’t wait for Part 2!