The first three chapters of the FF7 Rebirth demo blew my socks off

Since the introduction of Final Fantasy VII Remake Back in 2020, fans of the original were wondering what the next part of Square EnixThe reimagining of the groundbreaking 1997 game would handle the many iconic set pieces moments, revelations and twists to come. The Nibelheim Incidentthat revolves around CloudThe consistent return to his hometown five years ago was particularly fertile ground for speculation. The original game and its many spin-offs revisit this mission several times to show the different perspectives of the key players. It’s an overused analogy, but that’s essentially what the Nibelheim Incident is FF7is the equivalent of Rashomon Murder scene. With each slightly different retelling we get a little closer to the truth.

FF7The story of “Save the World” wasn’t revolutionary in 1997 and it certainly isn’t today. But the palpable feeling that something is wrong with Cloud and his mentor-turned-nemesis Sephiroth makes it something far more memorable and lasting. For much of the game, the fate of the planet sort of takes a back seat when it comes to figuring out what’s going on with these guys. At the same time with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Developers at Square Enix face the daunting task of attracting newcomers to the second chapter of a trilogy who may primarily know Cloud and Sephiroth as cool badasses with funny hair Super Smash Bros Ultimate Roster.

When I launched the game at a recent media preview event, I was excited to see the first chapter of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth immediately begins with Cloud telling his version of what happened in Nibelheim. Rebirth throws you in at the deep end and offers high stakes from the st art – which is exactly what long-time fans want and newbies need.

Pre-order Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: Amazon | Best buy | Goal

Déjà vu again

I had played a smaller portion of this section at a Preview event a few months ago, but this section was more focused on combat and traversal. True to the original game, the full version of RebirthThe Nibelheim incident burns slowly, a cozy evening with friends that comes to an end after the hectic escape from Midgar. Present-day Cloud narrates in this extended interactive sequence where you play as his younger self, and his storytelling is punctuated by interruptions from Barrett, Tifa and Aerith. Many of these exchanges are lifted bit by bit from the original game, and it’s nice to see them return here to add some levity and a sense of camaraderie to Cloud’s exciting and dark story.

RebirthNibelheim’s interpretation remains largely faithful to that of the original FF7. (Mostly.) The reason for Cloud and Sephy’s mission remains the same – they are sent to investigate a broken Mako reactor at Mt. Nibel and deal with any monsters along the way. We get a clearer sense of Sephiroth’s reputation and fame – we’re largely told, not shown, in the original – as the townspeople breathlessly gossip about him and jostle for photos. As before, during Ascension you have the opportunity to control Sephiroth in battle, and he is incredibly strong and fun to play as.

The climb to Mt. Nibel serves as an easy tutorial for RebirthThe new traversal mechanics, including jumping and climbing. It’s nothing complicated, but it conveys that Mt. Nibel is dangerous enough to require the help of a guide better than in the original game. Speaking of travel guides: There’s a lot more to see from young Tifa in this section of Rebirth (Nibelheim is also her hometown, after all), complete with her adorable cowgirl outfit. And there are some very This has fascinating consequences that I will not go into in detail here.

With that in mind: Chapter 1 of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a goldmine of jaw-dropping spoilers for people who haven’t played the original game. Even though I knew exactly what was coming at certain moments, the impeccable visuals and environmental design blew me away. And as it was New editionWhen RebirthThe soundtrack is firing on all cylinders, giving you goosebumps on your arms. As the flames grow higher and higher and the music trembles like a frightened heart, I’m suddenly 11 years old again, sitting cross-legged on the floor next to my older brother in front of a tube TV with a skateboard sticker on the side, unable to say anything else as Wow.

A whole new world

After Cloud gives his friends an overview of what happened to Sephiroth in Nibelheim, we continue the present story in the city of Kalm. And my goodness, what a shine. In the 1997s FF7

, the town was little more than an RPG gas station – a place where you could buy a few potions and cheap gear and take a quick nap at the inn. There was never any reason to go back once you had gone to other places. This time, the cobbled streets, overgrown flower boxes and arrangement of rabbit enclosures exude a tranquil charm worthy of the name.

You won’t stay here too long Rebirth Neither, but it does provide the opportunity to familiarize yourself with several new gameplay additions. The most notable of these are Group Relationships and Group Level, which allow you to strengthen your bond with your teammates through dialogue options and optional activities. The original FF7 There was a less polished version of this, culminating in the infamous Gold Saucer date, and it’s nice to see the developers finding new ways to give players more time with their favorite characters.

The innkeeper in Kalm will introduce you to Queen’s Blood, Rebirthis the answer to card games like Witcher 3‘s Gwent and FF8‘s Triple Triad. I can already tell that a lot of people will be completely obsessed with this mini-game, although unfortunately I’m not one of them. (But I’m happy for you!) This section also provides a brief overview of skill trees, weapon upgrades, and item crafting. I’m still not convinced of that Final Fantasy 7 I needed a crafting system, and I didn’t get much chance to use it during my demo. I can imagine it could be useful for some optional combat later on, but I’m hoping it’s more of a “take it or leave it” mechanic.

But we can’t stay in Kalm for long, and soon it will be time for our merry band of crazy people to set off in search of adventure, pocket money and finally Sephiroth. Rebirth

The original game’s version of the massive open world is bigger and more beautiful than I’d hoped, with plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. Right after you leave Kalm, you gain access to menu-based fast travel and chocobos, mercifully saving you the clunky regressions of the 1997 game. Instead of large empty spaces for random encounters, there are now small farms, hamlets and ruins between towns and dungeons. That makes RebirthThe open world feels like a natural expansion of the scope and not just a concession to fan expectations. After you reach Chocobo Farm, you can explore for a while, but once you’re ready to go back to the main story, a Ghost of TsushimaThe green Mako path seems to lead you to your destination. It’s a thoughtful design choice that avoids the immersive “card game” vibe that has become a bit all too common in open-world design.

Of course, once you go out into the big wide world, you’re going to have some fights. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth adds another layer New editionis the real-time combat system, and I’m still not entirely sure what to think about it. You can choose from more than three party members at any time, and each unique duo or trio can team up for a unique special attack. On paper it sounds like this Chrono trigger, which is great. In practice, it somehow feels like one thing too many to keep track of. New editionThere was a satisfying rhythm to battles in managing cooldowns to perform spells, heals, and special attacks. But in the early hours of the morning Rebirth, even everyday battles have a noticeable stop-start feel. I’m hoping to get into the flow at some point, but I’m also curious if this might all feel better in classic, turn-based mode. (Thank goodness it’s an on-the-fly switch throughout the game.) Minor niggles aside, I still enjoy the combat and the demo left me hungry for more. Pro Tip: Red XIII is weird Sonic Spin Ball Moveset is extremely fun.

The big question before us Rebirth and its unnamed sequel is: Can it recapture or even surpass the magic of the original game? That remains to be seen. But so far the first three chapters are a damn good sign of what’s to come.

---

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will be released on PlayStation 5 on February 29th.

Pre-order Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: Amazon | Best buy | Goal

.