After nearly countless years of anticipation, Final Fantasy VII Remake has finally been released to the public. The original game came out in 1997, making it older than a significant portion of the audience playing the new take on the series’ first 3D entry. Because of this, some details may fly over their heads.
To the game’s credit, it is still wholly enjoyable without any knowledge of the source material. There will be some spoilers going forward, however, for both this remake and the first game. Given the multi-part nature of this remake, people still have time to experience the original game before the second part even has its first trailer.
10 PHS
Late in the game the heroes split up and the player switches between two parties in order to unlock different parts of the other’s path. To communicate with each other, they talk through intercoms labeled “PHS.” Fans of the game will recognize this acronym from the original as the same device used to switch up party members once they reach the world map. It will be interesting to see if party management will be the same in the sequel.
9 Avalanche
The remake actually shows other portions of Avalanche, and not just the several characters making up the group who bomb the reactors and hang out at Seventh Heaven. They are even shown to be in conflict with Barret and his crew, who are considered too radical for the main group’s tastes. It is hard to argue with them, considering Barret sees innocent lives as expendable for the good of the planet.
8 Braver
The battle system is slightly different this time around, though it still holds some remnants of the classic ATB gameplay. After landing several normal attacks and the the ATB gauge fills, players can either use an item, ability, or a spell.
One of Cloud’s first abilities is Braver, which many will recognize as the character’s first Limit Break in the original title. Limit breaks are still a part of the game, however, and Cloud starts out with Cross Slash, which was his second Limit Break in the original.
7 Bosses
Most of the bosses in the remake are reimagined versions of classic encounters. The Guard Scorpion gets plenty of time in the spotlight simply because it is the first boss of the game. There are several additional encounters absent from the source material, but pretty much every encounter from the original is present in the remake, and some twists spice up familiar encounters.
6 The Last Showdown
The last battle between Cloud and Sephiroth plays out in a cutscene. Before they lock swords, the camera flashes several shots of both of them in fighting position. These shots almost exactly mirror the ending bout between the two from the 1997 game. It makes one wonder just how they will finish the last game in the series, then. It would be weird to use the same shot. Then again, so much time will have passed by the time the last entry comes out, using the same technique will feel more like a callback than a rehash.
5 The Breeding Scene
The original game features a slightly controversial scene where Hojo tries to have Aerith procreate with Red XIII. The remake alters this while still retaining the scientist’s sick, maniacal nature.
Instead of breeding with Red XIII, he suggests continuing the Cetra bloodline by breeding Aerith with a Soldier. It is still an unsettling thought, but it doesn’t go down a completely uncomfortable alley.
4 Biggs, Wedge, And Jessie
Because the first part of the remake extends what is a six or seven hour portion of the original into a thirty-hour epic, certain supporting characters receive significantly more time to shine. Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie, the other members of Avalanche, are more fleshed out and have significantly more dialogue. Some of their demises also play out differently and, due to the ending’s radical departure, at least one of them survives.
3 Cait Sith
While the Sector 7 plate crashes down upon the slums, players are treated to one glimpse of a cat looking upon the destruction and falling to its knees in grief. Those with no knowledge of the what happens after Midgar are left scratching their heads in curiosity as to who that was, while avid fans would recognize Cait Sith from anywhere.
He is arguably one of the least celebrated characters of the epic, and in the original is only introduced in the Gold Saucer, making one wonder if the remake’s interpretation will salvage the cat’s reputation.
2 Wutai
A war with Wutai is heavily mentioned during the campaign. Fans know the name as Yuffie Kisaragi’s hometown. The party eventually visits it during an optional quest, where they discover the war with Midgar devastated its wealth and prosperity. Given the changes set to come in the future, a new war with the city is possible in the future.
1 The Flash Fowards
The first hint at something amiss comes in flash forwards Cloud has during the game. Without prior knowledge of the game’s events, these moments mean nothing or could just as easily be interpreted as flashbacks. They show some of the game’s most vital moments, too, making it all the more intriguing. By the end of the game, players are left wondering if these iconic scenes will still play out in the same way.
