Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Just an incredible game. Both narrative and gameplay are executed on such a high level, that it actually shocks you how much and how big it is. There are misses, particularly narratively to me, but again they feel like like seashells on a beautiful sandy beach. The battle system was perfect but having played Remake it doesn’t feel revolutionary, more reaffirming the series’ quality. What shocked me here was the world, and especially the towns. And it must be said, to get all of it on initial purchase with no need for DLC or micro transactions is so refreshing. Just wonderful.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a magnificent triumph that brilliantly expands upon the foundation of its predecessor. The combat gameplay is a masterful evolution, seamlessly blending real-time action with strategic command-menu tactical depth through the inclusion of highly rewarding synergy attacks. Exploration is equally phenomenal, offering a massive, breathtakingly vibrant world packed with diverse activities and addictive minigames that make every region a joy to uncover. The characters remain the absolute heartbeat of the journey. The deep bonds and banter between Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, and the rest of the crew are beautifully written, further elevated by a phenomenal, sweeping musical score that dynamically shifts to match the emotional weight of every single moment. While the overarching story beats are incredibly compelling and push the narrative into exciting directions, the pacing occasionally stumbles. Some of the most crucial, high-stakes scenes suffer from slightly convoluted delivery, where confusing editing choices and visual over-stimulation end up diluting the raw emotional impact of what should be devastating character moments. Nevertheless, these minor storytelling missteps cannot diminish what is otherwise a masterpiece of modern game design and a deeply moving love letter to fans.