Ever because the launch of Ultimate Fantasy VII Remake again in 2020, followers of the unique have been questioning how the subsequent installment of Sq. Enix’s reimagining of the landmark 1997 sport would deal with the numerous iconic setpiece moments, reveals, and twists but to return. 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 sport and its many spinoffs revisit this mission quite a few occasions 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 little bit bit nearer to the reality.
FF7‘s save-the-world story wasn’t revolutionary in 1997, and it actually isn’t in the present day. 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 Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth, the builders at Sq. Enix face the daunting job of attracting newcomers to the second chapter of a trilogy, those that could primarily know Cloud and Sephiroth as cool badasses with enjoyable hair from the Tremendous Smash Bros. Final roster.
So once I booted up the sport at a current media preview occasion, I used to be delighted to see that Chapter 1 of Ultimate 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 once more
I’d performed a smaller section 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 sport, 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 sport, 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 cope with any monsters alongside the best way. We get a clearer sense of Sephiroth’s renown and superstar—we’re largely informed, not proven this within the unique—as townsfolk breathlessly gossip about him and jostle for images. As earlier than, you get the prospect to regulate Sephiroth in fight throughout 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 sophisticated, however it does convey that Mt. Nibel is harmful sufficient to require a information’s help higher than the unique sport 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 together with her lovely 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 Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth is a veritable bonanza of jaw-dropping spoilers for folk who haven’t performed the unique sport. 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 increased and the music shudders like a terrified coronary heart, all of the sudden I’m 11 years outdated once more, sitting cross-legged on the ground subsequent to my older brother in entrance of a CRT with a skateboarding sticker on the facet, unable to say something however whoa.
An entire new world
After Cloud offers 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 fuel station—a spot to choose up some potions, low cost gear, and a fast snooze on the inn. There was by no means a lot purpose to return when you’d progressed to different locations. This time round, its cobbled streets, overgrown flower packing containers, and rabbit-warren format ooze a tranquil appeal that’s worthy of the title.
You received’t spend too lengthy right here in Rebirth both, however it does provide an opportunity to get acquainted with a number of new gameplay additions. Probably the most notable of those are social gathering relationships and social gathering degree, which let you strengthen your bond together with your teammates by way of dialogue selections and non-obligatory 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 totally obsessive about this minigame, although I sadly am not considered one of them. (Comfortable for you guys, although!) This part additionally presents a short rundown of talent timber, weapon upgrades, and merchandise crafting. I stay unconvinced that Ultimate 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 non-obligatory fights afterward, 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 highway in the hunt for adventures, pocket cash, and finally Sephiroth. Rebirth’s model of the unique sport’s huge open world is larger and extra lovely than I’d hoped, with loads of nooks and crannies to discover. You’ll achieve entry to each menu-based fast-travel and chocobos just about instantly after leaving Kalm, mercifully chopping down on the ponderous backtracking of the 1997 sport. As a substitute of enormous swaths of empty area 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 somewhat 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 principle 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 sport” vibes which have turn into a bit too commonplace in open-world design.
Naturally, when you get out into the large large world, you’re gonna be performing some combating. Ultimate 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 social gathering members to select from at any given time, and every distinctive duo or trio can crew up for a singular particular assault. On paper, this feels like Chrono Set off, which is terrific. In follow, it kinda appears like one factor too many to maintain observe of. Remake’s fight had a satisfying cadence of managing cooldowns to drag 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 move finally, however I’m additionally curious if this all would possibly really feel higher in traditional, turn-based mode as a substitute. (Fortunately, it’s an on-the-fly toggle within the full sport.) Quibbles apart, I’m nonetheless having fun with the heck out of the fight and the demo left me hungry for extra. Professional tip: Crimson XIII’s unusually 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 sport? That is still to be seen. However, up to now, the primary three chapters are a helluva good signal for what’s to return.
Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth launches February 29 on PlayStation 5.
Pre-order Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth: Amazon | Greatest Purchase | Goal
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