It’s been a long time since Final Fantasy VII changed the childhoods of an entire generation. The 20th anniversary of the game passed us by in 2017, and 2019 has brought exciting news. A new version of the game called Final Fantasy VII Remake will be released on March 3, 2020.
Whether you sat on the floor mashing buttons on your Playstation controller in 1997 or are brand new to the Midgard craze, there are plenty of reasons to add this to your preorder list. Here are eight reasons to be excited about Final Fantasy VII Remake.
A Full Voice Cast
A lot has changed in video game capability since 1997. One of those changes is the availability of a voice cast. Not only is the voice acting industry attracting bigger and better talent, the industry itself has expanded. With higher sales and an expansive fanbase, budgets are larger.
The technology has evolved to allow a talented voice cast to bring the characters to life, and that can only enhance the experience. Voice actors for Final Fantasy VII Remake include Cody Christian as Cloud Strife and Tyler Hoechlin as Sephiroth.
Episodic Release
Due to the sheer size of the game, Final Fantasy VII Remake will be released in episodic parts. This is a bit surprising given that the original game fit on one CD, and most games of this nature can at least fit on a modern game disc. But since the first part alone takes up the equivalent of two Blu-ray disks, it was decided that Final Fantasy VII Remake will be released in episodic parts.
Why should this excite you? It means there is more material to the story. Creators have announced that they don’t want this to be a simple rehash of the old game. We’ll get to experience scenes that happened offscreen in the previous version.
Better Graphics
It goes without saying that better graphics are a huge draw for the remake. When the original came out in 1997, those polygon blocks were the height of modern graphics. Most games still existed as flat 2D pixels, so branching into 3D was very impressive.
Polygon modeling hasn’t aged well, however, so the creators scrapped the designs and started over from the ground up. Everything from backgrounds to battle sequences to character motions will be redesigned, shiny, and beautiful.
Different Combat Style
Different isn’t always better, but in this case it is. Turn-based fighting was all the rage in the late ’90s, and it made sense for the battle system in the original. But with games becoming hyper-realistic, turn-based fighting fails on a style level.
What we see of the combat style in the trailers for Final Fantasy VII Remake is a style reminiscent of the engines used for games like Kingdom Hearts 3. You’ll still have plenty of options when it comes to fighting. You aren’t playing a first person shooter and just mashing buttons. But the fighting is a lot more fluid for that real-time feel. There are even little touches like a visual glow at the end of Barrett’s gun arm after a rapid fire.
Nostalgia Factor
Who isn’t a sucker for the nostalgia factor? It’s fun to play a game that you haven’t picked up in 20 years. There will be parts you completely forgot about or hadn’t explored before. There will also be pieces of the game that you didn’t understand when you played it the first time.
Or if you did understand them, perhaps you will understand them differently now. Either way, seeing a game you loved playing over 20 years ago getting a facelift is always a lovely feeling.
Different Story
In addition to getting more story, we’re also going to get a bit of a different story. Since the creators don’t want this to be just another rehash of a story you already know, they’re going to mix things up a little. We don’t know exactly how yet, but it promises to be exciting.
The main plot points of the story will remain the same, but that still leaves plenty up for speculation. Will we get to see new parts of the world? Given the advancement of video game capabilities, the possibilities seem endless.
More Character Interactions
While the action and the plot are a lot of fun, at the end of the day this is a character game. Final Fantasy VII is about a bunch of characters interacting with each other and reacting. Tifa with Cloud, Cloud with Barrett, and even Aerith with Sephiroth. With the new expanded episodic content, we’ll get even more of that.
Characters that seemed minor before will get more lines and therefore more depth. One particular announcement talks about the expanding dialogue between Barrett and Cloud. There was tension between them at the beginning. With the new content, we’ll get to see that tension underscored.
It’s Going to Be a Lot of Fun
Final Fantasy VII Remake is going to be a ton of fun. It has a little something for everyone. Amazing action scenes, Cloud dressing in drag, heartbreaking sacrifice, and the story of a small rebellion doing its part to save the world from a psychopath with a giant meteor. How could you pass this up?
What are you most looking forward to about Final Fantasy VII remake? Sound off in the comments below!
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