Final Fantasy VII Remake Overwhelms With Spectacle | Wired

Playing the demo currently available on the PlayStation 4, you can feel the effort—and money—that went into every second of this game.

[Imp0ssibl3]

Yep but the demo also felt too funneled to be a modern game...

[NovusTerminus]

Most tutorial areas are linear, a demo is meant to be just a sample of how the game play (combat) works and in that regard it was fantastic, the original game was super linear in the Mako Reactor's as well because they are just 'dungeons'

[jambola]

I hate linear being used like a negative
Not every game needs to have pointless open areas

[theKiller]

I remember FF7 remake was going to be released for PS3 at around launch time. now, ps5 is coming and the game is still nowhere to be seen.

I think my grandkids will be able to play FF7 remake

[jambola]

@thekiller
It was revealed without a release date 2 years into the ps4

[bouzebbal]

Where are all the trolls who were talking shit about this game 6 months ago??! They change opinion depending on what garbage media is saying..

[LiViNgLeGaCY]

@theKillee
No, they just showed a tech demo as to give an idea of what PS3 graphics were capable of. There was speculation that it was their way of teasing that a remake was in development, but SE shot that down. It wasn't until E3, 3-4 years ago that they officially announced a remake for PS4.

[RpgSama]

Where does it say that a game to "feel" modern it needs to be open world, quite frankly I'm getting tired of all the "Me Too" open world games filled with fetch quests and collectables just to artificially "fill" them.

[rainslacker]

Hmm....I don't see how they could realistically make that into some sort of open level design. It's basically a corridor to the reactor, and then you backtrack to escape.

I could see it being a problem if the whole game ended up like that, or something like what FFXIII ended up being, but we're not at that point yet. I imagine a decent portion of the start of the game will be pretty linear, and then Midgar is supposedly supposed to open up to do more things.

In any case, open world does not mean modern. Most games are actually not open world, and some games aren't better because they're open world....they're just more tedious because they try to make something open world where the game play doesn't support it very well.

[Muzikguy]

The original game, in Midgar, was linear. Not sure why you'd expect anything different

[FreeFallFrenzy]

This demo is a callback to the original FF VII demo, which is why I love it. I played that original demo probably fifty times before playing the game back in the day. This demo is exactly what it should've been

[Lionsguard]

What?? The word you're looking for is linear..and many many many modern games are linear. This whole section of the game MUST be linear..Were you expecting Skyrim or something? The city is explorable later on. Why would you expect this demo to be...you know forget it. I don't want to spend anymore calories trying to understand this.

[jambola]

No
A game is outdated now if every area doesn't have 10 times more space than it needs

[jambola]

Funneled?

[Exvalos]

How do you make a building into a open world game?? There inside a reactor genius

[Nebaku]

You do realize that the original FF7 popularized many conventions used by modern AAA games, don't you? Climbing along linear fixtures like ladders, pipes, stairs, etc., simplistic reactionary minigames like the buttons presses, tutorials at fixed points in time. The list goes on.

[Nicknasty]

Cant pass that damn boss fight! Im doing something wrong, didnt really read all that tutorial. Maybe thats the problem. Game looks pretty dang cool though.

[LiViNgLeGaCY]

You're using potions, right? Lol. Also, Barrett has a cure spell. Also, I abused the block button.

[CaitSith]

I played it on easy mode, making combat not as difficult. I'm more interested in the world, the characters, and how it holds up to the original. Seriously, the whole time playing the game, I was just staring and looking at every small thing. I was just in awe.

[Muzikguy]

I was imagining what the original game would have been like if we were to "drop in" to it. Pretty much like what we got in the demo. Pretty cool

[Nerdmaster]

They say exactly what you have to do. Hide behind the debris when they fall, attack him from behind when front attacks are blocked, and heal when necessary. That's it, essencially.

[GrubsterBeater]

Plus the “HEY, STUPID! USE THUNDER! HE IS WEAK AGAINST THUNDER!” prompts that are given to you as well. They also tell you how to stagger him to do extra damage...

[Jin_Sakai]

“Cant pass that damn boss fight“

It wasn’t easy at all! What I didn’t like is when getting hit while using a spell took the ATB gauge down but the spell never worked. It happened to me so many times when fighting the boss. I ended up using 25 potions. Lol

Really enjoyed the demo though. The graphics are amazing, framerate was great, and combat is solid. Will definitely be picking the game up.

[Kurisu]

As LivingLegacy states, potions are your friend. There are plenty available at your disposal. Just be sure you're not in the line of fire when you use them or else you won't feel the benefits.

The important thing is not to rush. Take time to study the boss and work out its patterns. It physically tells you what attack its about to do, so if you see it about to fire missiles keep blocking until the onslaught is over. Red target on your character? Block. AoE attack? Roll out of the way. Blocking also helps build ATB which will help plan your next moves.

When it's shield is up target the field generator at the back. Cloud's Fire magic works a treat. Once the generators down you can pummel it with attacks to start building it's Stagger. Barrets overcharge + focused shot + thunder (hint: You'll need to use Ethers at some stage so keep an eye on your MP) + Clouds focused thrust are pretty much the necessity for this.

If ever you feel overwhelmed just press X. Even with no available ATB charges you can still slow time down to take a breather and think things through.

Keep at it and let me know if you get through it!

[Nicknasty]

Great info, much appreciated!

[zypher]

I beat him, but I exhausted most of my potions, and that was on top of Barrett's cure spell. He wasn't hard so much as he was a damage sponge!

[Muzikguy]

I was a bit frustrated that with the boss I had to use so many potions. I usually have tons in my inventory when playing because I don't want to be left stranded. I felt like for a first boss having to use them even like I did just seemed odd. Other than that, I loved the demo. I'm really looking forward to part 2 even more now, When we should be out of Midgar and heading into the world map. I want to see what that's going to be like. The demo was better than I expected, but I can't help but feel I may be let down later on. Sort of like how FFXIII was with its open world. Not saying it will be that way. Eager to see what the game ends up being like

[Lionsguard]

The boss killed me once but I readjusted how I played and did far better the second and third time around. I only needed about 5 potions. Just use thunder a lot, block when it's firing it's rockets. When its tail goes up to shoot the laser, take that time to heal up if you can. Don't ever try to "main" one character. If you do, make sure to issue commands to the other characters.

[Nicknasty]

Awesome, thanks!

[VerminSC]

There is a trick. You have to target the scorpions weak spot (two different lock on areas) to break its shield then use lighting to hurt him. His weak spot is under its tail if I remember right.

[Kurisu]

You're welcome! Glad I could help.

[anonymousfan]

Looks good especially compared to the original but nothing special for a modern day AAA game... I havent played the original and the demo wasnt enough to interest me in more.

[Muzikguy]

That's so weird. I got the complete opposite reaction. My initial was "wow it's the tech demo from PS3" and then was loving being "down in" the game instead of running around pre rendered backgrounds.

[MadLad]

Gave the demo a shot, but I didn't exactly love the combat system.
As someone who can honestly say he's not even the biggest fan of old school, turn based combat, such as was seen in the original 7, I think I'd take the old system over the new system, just with the much improved graphics, any day.
That's with me also trying the "classic" mode.

[rainslacker]

I did like that it stopped things so you could do selections. That's always been an annoyance of mine with the Kingdom Hearts control scheme, which this seems to be heavily influenced by. I like that it was more interactive for fights that were going to be mostly selecting attack as well. There was a bit of strategy to the game play in the demo, so I'm hoping they expand on that further in the game. It's not a button masher completely, but has that same button mashey feel that a lot of action games have nowadays. I think it might have been good if they added some sort of lite combo system to the fray though.

[kyzer1978]

There actually is combos, but they're done with the team where you stack attacks with your teammates.

[Babadook7]

Yah, like you, a lot of Microsoft fanboys are not impressed with the demo. They are about the only ones though.

[MadLad]

I'm someone who only owns a gaming PC and a Pro.
I've bought around 20 games on the Playstation 4, and pay for PS+ and PS now.

The only money MS has seen from me this entire generation is for PC gamepass.

Then you take a look into your comment history, and it's nothing but promoting Sony, crapping on MS, and, as of recently, treating the remake that, and I'm so sorry for hurting your feelings, I'm not a giant fan of.

We only have one biased fanboy here. I'm just a gamer.

[jambola]

You people are the worst
"You don't like game I like? Fanboy fanboy!"

[Babadook7]

@TheRealTedCruz

Owning a Pro doesn't mean you're not a massive hater of Sony. Which you are. Me being a fan of Sony is irrelevant when you look at the bigger picture of this game and how many people have embraced it vs the tiny minority who are seemingly enraged by it (who to a very large degree, are just sour that it's an exclusive).

[MadLad]

So I'm a fanboy for being critical of certain aspects of Sony? Despite supporting them as a company, favoring Sony over the company that I am supposedly a fanboy of (MS)? That's pretty idiotic when broken down. Me liking a certain company; supporting them, but still being critical of certain things just makes me a free thinker.
So I can be called out for being a fanboy for MS, which I'm not. The only thing I've given them any credit for this entire generation is gamepass and how they handle backwards compatibility. Then you can turn around, be as biased as you want, but it's irrelevant to the conversation, according to you.

That's garbage logic, and you should know that.

The game being largely favored doesn't discount criticism I may have for it. I didn't even say it was bad. I said it wasn't for me. Sorry that that seemingly offends you, but that's not my problem.

Lumping anyone who didn't like the game, whether that be due to any exclusivity or, in my situation, just didn't like the feel of the new combat, is plain childish and pure biased assumption.

[Babadook7]

You're a fanboy for a well documented constant criticism of any well received Sony game. As such you fit a consistent trend of people who are critical of FF7R due to personal bias. The difference between your bias and mine is obvious. I'm excited about a game that almost every reviewer is excited for. The appearance of bias involved there is pretty minimal. On the other hand you (like is often the case) are critical of this highly anticipated Sony game and feel the need to point that out in a thread titled "Final Fantasy VII Remake Overwhelms With Spectacle". The appearance of bias in that is pretty stark, when compared with overall consensus. I'm fine with you giving you're opinion, but of course that opinion appears to be damage control.

[MadLad]

Yeah yeah. I get it. I wasn't blown away by a game that is a Sony exclusive so, saying so, I'm a MS fanboy. I literally have to like everything they put out, and should never have a negative opinion towards products they're affiliated with. Even if I support Sony far more, and am more critical of MS' contribution to gaming.

Also I shouldn't call you out on your hypocrisy because .... reasons. And it's also not even a big deal, you self-evaluated that your bias isn't even a big bias and things.

I didn't like an element of the remake, you did. So I'm biased, and you're not.
Message received, buddy.

[Kostche]

same, i never used barret once accpet the part where u had to shoot the turrets up high, never even bothered changing to him when fought the boss... the combat player changing is lame, who ever you go on the other becomes weak and does crap damage, they should have just had two modes, one orginal turned base and the other kingdom of hearts style.. other games do double modes this could have done also easily

[AK91]

The demo is amazing and it has me excited for the full game.

[CaptainOmega]

I liked the Demo... but damn, i don’t see why this will take so long to complete; is it the cutscenes? The combat and level design isn’t anything to right home about to warrant it taking 10+ years to finish

[Tekken66634]

it was originally co-developed by CyberConnect2 for over 2 years then it was canned. look it up.
all of the work that belonged to them needed to be redone. which set the whole project back.
the next part shouldn't take as long.

[CaptainOmega]

"shouldn't take too long"

So 2 years?

[Muzikguy]

Changed the engine too, to Unreal. A lot happened during the process of making this game. Should be smooth sailing now one would think

[Kurisu]

Midgar in the original Final Fantasy VII is at max takes 5 hours.

Now think of all the characters that are in this section of the game in the Remake. Fully voiced with more character depth, new scenarios, new characters, side quests etc I mean. This is a huge project. There are going to be so many cutscenes too and I can't wait.

[Artemidorus]

I'm not convinced so far but maybe because it felt very small and quick also didn't like the combat very much but again hopefully will see some improvement during gameplay on the retail.

[clouds5]

I'm looking forward to playing ff7 remake. But I think I'll wait for the full release of all episodes. Don't like split up games..

[lellkay]

Really enjoyed the demo. Hype level maximum!

[silenthillstrangler]

It felt rather.....dead for a modern game, very linear, looks great but outside of the flash it was a bit empty feeling but it was a demo so I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

[shauzy]

looks like a mortal kombat character portrait

[gold_drake]

not gonna lie, i did cry a little ha.

[nommers]

“It's all smooth edges, with combat that's fast but maybe a bit dysfunctional underneath”

Yeah, keep tip toeing making up crap, Plays very satisfying.

[Noxxicity]

Super stoked for the game to release! The boss fight in the demo was a lot of fun and was actually a bit challenging with the amount of health it had. Can't wait <3

[Ascalon94]

Looking forward to this game I just hope once it ends they have some type of small ending/resolution instead of a huge cliffhanger. We all know this is only part 1 of 3/4 but some type of ending maybe foreshadowing the huge adventure head would be nice instead of leaving us all hanging for 3/4 years for the part 2.

[MWH]

Great but i noticed some poor attention to details. Nitpicking some would say but it's always beautiful and satisfiying when you see such effort put in a work.

[cluclap]

Ki

[dragonrage00]

The author just has no idea what he's talking about...

"how you'll feel about Final Fantasy VII Remake won't rely on what you thought of Final Fantasy VII. It'll rely on what you thought of Final Fantasy XV"

1 - First off, the art style in XV was composed of mostly open, natural landscapes, with small towns here and there. Nothing to do with Remake part 1, which is literally one big city with a cyberpunk style.

2 - The combat feels like a massive improvement over XV's, with magic actually being important, and some degree of balancing to the use of items. Also, summons will be handled much better from what we've seen, and wont be random "I win" buttons, like they were in XV.

3 - One of the biggest issues with XV was the complete lack of exposition of the story. The original FFVII doesn't have this problem, and nothing so far indicates the remake will mishandle the story.

So no, the Remake is not really that similar to XV, that you can have an accurate idea of the former by playing the latter