GamesRPGFinal Fantasy 7 RebirthIn every way, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth builds on the bonds that make Remake so specialWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesRPGFinal Fantasy 7 RebirthIn every way, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth builds on the bonds that make Remake so specialWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Square Enix)
As I set out into town, I see this first-hand while chatting to Tifa. After choosing a timed response, a pop up tells me my relationship with Tifa has changed. This signals that my actions will not only affect the bonds I form with my party, but that the strength of these bonds can even alter parts of the story depending on my choices. After I agree to meet up with Aerith not long after, for example, I see how my decision to spend a bit of time with her factors into a group conversation later on. I may have only gotten a small taste of the experience during my hands-on session, but from my time spent battling to talking to the characters, the emphasis on bonds is a constant highlight.
Synergy
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Old school(Image credit: Square Enix)Big in 2024:I was sold on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 27 years ago
Old school
(Image credit: Square Enix)Big in 2024:I was sold on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 27 years ago
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Big in 2024:I was sold on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 27 years ago
After Shinra soldiers make an appearance in Kalm, it’s time for Cloud and the gang to make their exit, which leads me to the Grasslands; an open-zoned area that instantly imposes its sense of scale. We’re no longer in the confines of Midgar, we’re now out in the world at large. As the party looks out over the verdant fields and I step into the landscape, I’m reminded of the way the original game opens you up to the overworld for the first time. It’s arguably one of the most memorable moments in the 1997 version, and it really does feel like Rebirth recaptures that for fans, with the promise of adventure on the horizon.
With a quest marker and few points of interest, I’m free to explore as I make my way through the area, with pockets of enemies spread around that let me get stuck into combat with my party. Crucially, it’s here that I see how the bonds factor into battle, and build on what I believe made theFinal Fantasy 7 Episode Intermission expansion so memorable: Synergy abilities. In Intermission, Yuffie and Sonon could make use of Synergy abilities that would combine their unique skills to perform a powerful attack. In Rebirth, Cloud and the party now also have Synergy abilities that two characters can team up and use, with each one playing to, and combining, a pair’s strengths and fighting styles.
Not only this, but there are also Synergy Skills that you can use while blocking with R1, which are unique to different sets of characters and activate combined moves that don’t require you to fill the ATB gauge to use. Using them in combat really makes the whole party feel unified, and it instills a sense of camaraderie that also effectively feeds into the way Rebirth is making bonds as one of its main themes.
Team work
(Image credit: Square Enix)
As you go about your adventure, overcoming challenges, completing tasks, and exploring as a group, you’ll increase your party level, which unlocks more skills and abilities for each character in your folios; which is essentially like a skill tree system that opens the way to more powers and increased stats. It’s only natural that bonds would grow and form as you go through hardships together, and I love the way this idea has been baked into the leveling system. The way the whole party levels up constantly makes me feel like the group really are in this together, working as a team.
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I couldn’t wait to try out combat as Red XIII, who moves with an agile fluidity as he jumps, twirls, and rolls towards enemies. Using a synergy skill known as Wild Charge, Cloud and Aeirth joined me as I barrelled towards a foe, which is just one example of how the new Synergy powers constantly make the fighting feel like more of a united group effort. Making use of the different powers each pair has gives the combat more variety than that of Remake, and with the promise of unlocking more as the story progresses – not to mention having new party members join the fray later on – I can’t wait to see what other moves await us.
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Square Enixhas said that Rebirth can be a standalone experience - with a recap of the events of Remake said to be in the menu - and it certainly does a good job of tutoralizing everything right off the bat so you can get stuck into the action. Even so, I still think you’ll get the most out of Rebirth if you have played Remake. I only got to check out the first chapter and began to make my way through chapter 2 before my time came to a close, but nothing quite beat the joy of seeing these characters I’d started to get to know in Remake once again.
With my demo kicking off with a flashback in Nibelheim that saw me control both Cloud and Sephiroth, Rebirth’s recreation of some famous scenes really is a sight to behold. And with chapter 2 then taking me to Kalm - which is brought to life with more detail than ever before - my time with Rebirth came to a close in the first open area of the game in the Grasslands. Home to some familiar locales, I just reached the Chocobo farm in the area when I had to finish up my hands-on session, but even the ranch felt like a delightful and modern reimagining of the one found in the original game.
Look ahead to all of the future releases on the way with our roundup ofupcoming PS5 games.
TOPICSSquare Enix
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CATEGORIESPS5PlatformsPlayStation
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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4
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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1
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
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3
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
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5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”