When Last Fantasy VII Rebirth received the award for Most Anticipated Sport on the Sport Awards final yr, it wasn’t too shocking. All the things I’ve seen in regards to the recreation thus far has been nothing in need of spectacular – a feast for the eyes in each sense of the phrase. That was certainly one of my takeaways once I had a possibility to play the sport some months in the past.
That feeling was renewed in full power most not too long ago once I was given one other probability to pattern Rebirth earlier than launch, a closing preview, because it have been, earlier than the sport was launched to the wild and the remainder of the world.
This time, the parents at Sq. Enix have been letting us have an in depth go at every part in a extra structured method – 4 hours of playtime, which was far more than the primary press demos reduce from two earlier segments within the recreation. So, with earlier data in hand, I sat right down to play Last Fantasy VII Rebirth as soon as once more from its first chapter.
For these versed in all that’s Last Fantasy VII, Last Fantasy VII Rebirth opens with a well-known scene. Following immediately after the occasions of Last Fantasy VII Remake, we see our hero Cloud, however he’s not alone. He’s at the moment touring along with the sequence antagonist Sephiroth and it’s right here we study that that is in actual fact a flashback of an occasion that occurred 5 years in the past.
Because the Cloud of the current tells the story, the pair together with some Shinra grunts are on their strategy to Nibelheim to cope with a state of affairs on the reactor stationed there atop Mt. Nibel.
It’s all acquainted, with fight being very a lot what I noticed within the demo I performed again in September, nonetheless this time, there’s way more of a lead-in. The primary chapter opens proper up after the preliminary scenes with Cloud and firm arriving to the village of Nibelheim itself, and it’s right here the “remake” adjustments hit full power.
They’re not adjustments within the story, per se, however the depth and format of Nibelheim itself has been expanded to such a level that it’s astounding. The city is now absolutely realized, absolutely modeled, and absolutely decked out with precise folks (NPCs) milling about. It feels lived in, in a manner that was by no means attainable within the authentic Last Fantasy VII, and simply wandering round listening to folks chatter reinforces the exponential distinction.
There’s additionally much more for Cloud to really work together with right here, and I feel that helps actually promote this place as someplace that’s essential, each to his character and to the story at massive.
Mentioned story continues and it’s up the mountain with our trusty information Tifa. Varied battles occur alongside the way in which and that is the half the place I discovered they provide a good quantity of respiration room to actually grasp the controls and the battle system – each for its new and returning mechanics from Last Fantasy VII Remake.
Following the occasions of Chapter 1, I additionally had a while with Chapter 2, which returns to the current and digs actually into the meat of Rebirth correct.
Cloud and the remainder of the celebration (Aerith, Barret, Tifa, and Pink XIII) are taking a cease within the city of Kalm, which, similar to Nibelheim, has been fleshed out like by no means earlier than. It’s really fairly large and I used to be stunned simply how huge the place is now in Rebirth, what with numerous streets, retailers, and tales you’ll be able to stroll round in.
The NPCs right here even have a bit extra to inform. It’s right here you’re launched to Rebirth’s new card recreation – Queen’s Blood. Queen’s Blood is a minigame which you could problem round city (and later in different places), that includes dealing with a singular opponent whereas inserting down playing cards to win sections of the board which can be assigned values. Gamers take turns and whoever has extra factors racked up by location wins.
It is simple sufficient and all through Rebirth you’ll be capable of accumulate new playing cards and problem others to realize additional rewards.
In Kalm, we’re additionally launched to a brand new system that facilities round Cloud’s companions – the Relationships system. What this implies is that Cloud’s actions have an effect on his relationships with every of the celebration members, and the power of those bonds can alter parts of the story.
Relationship standing is indicated by an emblem above every character’s head and may be seen by a press of a button. To me, this seems like a much more detailed model of what we noticed within the authentic FFVII, what with among the decisions you made resulting in whichever celebration member went with Cloud on his date to the Gold Saucer. That can absolutely be the case right here if what they’ve proven thus far is any indication.
The instance I noticed concerned Aerith eager to go up and see the view atop a constructing in Kalm, and you’ll select if you wish to go or not. Doing so appears to extend your relationship factors along with her, and she or he even makes a comment about this being a form of date. So they’re pushing that angle, and it does come up later with Tifa.
I’m left questioning what the opposite aspect of that coin really is, when you refuse Aerith, and the way completely different that consequence might be. Actually, it’ll support in plenty of Rebirth’s replayability to see how all these decisions can alter the story, even when they’re these sorts of quiet moments.
As soon as out of Kalm, the demo shifts to the open-world space of Last Fantasy VII Rebirth. Once more, that is one thing that I received to fiddle with within the earlier demos, however as an alternative of Junon, the story continues first on the Grasslands location.
From right here it’s the primary actual have a look at Rebirth’s open world and it’s stunning. Every bit of the terrain appears to be expertly crafted, from the timber, rocks, and shrubbery to the lighting and texture element – it’s spectacular work, and a brand new commonplace for Last Fantasy and maybe different open-world video games to observe.
Extra items of the gameplay loop open up right here too, and never simply with fight, however within the sheer quantity of issues you are able to do out within the open space.
From what I received to expertise, there are different minigames, aspect quests, gathering for crafting, activating location towers, and on prime of that, the principle quest introduces chocobos, which have their very own set of micromanaging that you are able to do with their gear and even catching them.
There’s a lot to do in Rebirth simply from this little slice, I can solely think about how the total recreation will work out. The Grasslands seems to be like a spot I may most likely spend greater than three hours in by itself, it’s that large.
However we received’t have to attend an excessive amount of longer to get our palms on Last Fantasy VII Rebirth. The sport is out on the finish of the month on February 29, and although I’ve solely seen the tip of the iceberg right here, there’s little question in my thoughts that it’s going to be one thing particular past creativeness.
TechRaptor was invited to preview Last Fantasy VII Rebirth by the writer.
