As I sit here reflecting on the game - it came out in February, so I’m putting my old brain to task - the things that instantly come to mind are not the obvious story beats or characters. Sure, if I close my eyes I can see Sephiroth stepping out of the flames, I imagine Tifa and Cloud having many a heart-to-heart, and my soul hurts for Cait Sith as he endangers the crew. However, what instantly springs to mind are the regions ofFinal Fantasy VII: Rebirth, places that were embedded in my identity back in 1997 when I first played the original game.
It was a shock to see how these iconic places were reimagined for the second part of the remake trilogy, and not in a bad way at all. Places like Costa Del Sol came alive with sun-kissed landscapes and busy crowds of tourists, Golden Saucer, while streamlined, was a cacophony of wonder; and the return to Cloud’s home of Nibelheim brought about an overwhelming sense of nostalgia.
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I was fearful of how much I would enjoy and appreciate this part of the remake, but those fears were laid to rest when the time came to play, and it’s left me feeling confident for the next instalment because like this entry, I expect it to be a comforting return home.
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That’s the overwhelming sense I get now, looking back at February. Exploring the world with Tifa, Aerith, Barrett, Red XII, etc, felt like a comfort blanket spread across my soul. I was seeing characters I’d loved for decades brought to life once again, using technology far advanced from the first time around, injecting a new element of beauty. My eyes were treated to some of the best visuals of this generation; the soundtrack is banger after banger played with wonderful talent, and the voice cast delivered every line of dialogue with emotion and weight.
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I came away from the game then with even more love for one of my favourite games of all time, and I do so again now after revisitingFinal Fantasy VII: Rebirthbriefly here. It’s an outstanding achievement and one that shows with the right level of love and care, remakes can be a truly wonderful thing.
Topics:Final Fantasy,Final Fantasy 7,Features,PlayStation,PlayStation 5
