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Ever because the launch of Last Fantasy VII Remake again in 2020, followers of the unique have been questioning how the following installment of Sq. Enix’s reimagining of the landmark 1997 sport would deal with the various 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 instances to point out off the various views of the important thing gamers. It’s an overused analogy, however The Nibelheim Incident is actually FF7’s equal of the Rashomon homicide scene. With every barely completely different retelling, we inch a bit of bit nearer to the reality.
FF7’s save-the-world story wasn’t revolutionary in 1997, and it definitely isn’t immediately. 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 identical time, with Last 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 after I booted up the sport at a latest media preview occasion, I used to be delighted to see that Chapter 1 of Last 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.
Pre-order Last Fantasy VII Rebirth: Amazon | Greatest Purchase | Goal
![Sephiroth and Cloud ascend Mt. Nibel as jagged peaks loom ahead.](https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/e8c995282e1402ebae613e2c24fb78d1.jpg)
Déjà vu another time
I’d performed a smaller section of this part at a preview occasion a couple 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 gradual burn, a comfy night with buddies 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 analyze a malfunctioning mako reactor at Mt. Nibel, and take care of 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 authentic—as townsfolk breathlessly gossip about him and jostle for images. As earlier than, you get the possibility to manage Sephiroth in fight through the climb, and he’s absurdly robust and enjoyable to play.
Ascending Mt. Nibel capabilities as a light-weight tutorial for Rebirth’s new traversal mechanics, together with leaping and climbing. It’s nothing difficult, 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 word, Chapter 1 of Last Fantasy VII Rebirth is a veritable bonanza of jaw-dropping spoilers for people 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, instantly I’m 11 years previous 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.
![Kalm is a far more charming and intricate city in Rebirth than the original game.](https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/e1596e606b0b3ac68aae71529e4f24c4.jpg)
A complete new world
After Cloud offers his buddies 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 cause to return when you’d progressed to different locations. This time round, its cobbled streets, overgrown flower bins, and rabbit-warren format ooze a tranquil attraction that’s worthy of the title.
![Cloud and his pals have a new slate of double and triple attacks this time around.](https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/a2e89599cbeef4dd951d3ccff91978ac.jpg)
You gained’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. Essentially the most notable of those are celebration relationships and celebration degree, which let you strengthen your bond along with your teammates by dialogue decisions and optionally available 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 individuals are going to be totally obsessive about this minigame, although I sadly am not one in every of them. (Pleased for you guys, although!) This part additionally affords a short rundown of talent timber, weapon upgrades, and merchandise crafting. I stay unconvinced that Last 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 optionally available fights afterward, however I hope it’s extra of a “take it or go away it” mechanic.
However we are able to’t keep in Kalm for lengthy, and it’s quickly time for our merry band of weirdos to hit the street looking for adventures, pocket cash, and finally Sephiroth. Rebirth’s model of the unique sport’s huge open world is greater and extra stunning 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 reducing down on the ponderous backtracking of the 1997 sport. As a substitute of enormous swaths of empty house 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 growth of scope relatively 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 primary story, a Ghost of Tsushima-esque inexperienced Mako path will seem to nudge you towards your vacation spot. It’s a considerate design selection that avoids the immersion-breaking “map sport” vibes which have develop into a bit too commonplace in open-world design.
![Holding down the basic attack button for Red XIII will allow him to do a continuous "Sonic spin" attack.](https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/a7c9a10484aa1d4ba2c292a083e8af4c.jpg)
Naturally, when you get out into the massive extensive world, you’re gonna be performing some combating. Last 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 celebration members to select from at any given time, and every distinctive duo or trio can workforce up for a novel particular assault. On paper, this feels like Chrono Set off, which is terrific. In apply, it kinda looks like one factor too many to maintain observe of. Remake’s fight had a satisfying cadence of managing cooldowns to tug 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 basic, turn-based mode as an alternative. (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: Purple XIII’s surprisingly Sonic Spinball moveset is extraordinarily enjoyable to play.
The massive 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, thus far, the primary three chapters are a helluva good signal for what’s to return.
Last Fantasy VII Rebirth launches February 29 on PlayStation 5.
Pre-order Last Fantasy VII Rebirth: Amazon | Greatest Purchase | Goal
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