Final Fantasy 7 Remake 'bringing dramatic changes' to combat, but will still be 'recognisable'

Square Enix's Tetsuya Nomura teases that the upcoming remake of Final Fantasy 7 will contain numerous changes.

[Elda]

Great!...bring it on!

[breakpad]

i hope they dont get any element from FFXIII crap-battle system...IMO the best option is to update the combat and readopt the FF12's very well done combat system...its strategic ,its semi turn-based, its hardcore RPG and gives you a very nice sense of the battle

[Elda]

I like FF-XIII battle system it was fast & furious I just wished I could have controlled all characters.

[Crimzon]

I don't see why they'd change anything at all to be honest. People have been asking for this for so long, why give them something different that will probably upset fans when they find out it's not the same as the original? I guess it's a fine line they have to tread where they retain the qualities of the original but update it for modern gamers, but it seems like people will inevitably be frustrated and upset when they mess with things they should have just left alone.

[Ocsta]

Who disagreed with you? FF13's battle system played itself ffs! ZERO strategy involved! If the remake is even LEANING in that direction I will be a hard sell. And I absolutely adore Final Fantasy 7.

[carlingtat]

I think a mixed battle style of XIII and VII would work well. Have the fact that its not random battles and when you bump into a monster it goes into a battle like XIII but have the turn-based/ATB battle system of VII. And then they can move around the enemy while attacking like XIII instead of just staying still like VII.

[NukaCola]

All I want in the combat is an ATB that is advanced and with a lot of fluid animations. Also can increase the LIMIT BREAKS to 1000s.

[DemonChicken]

I honestly don't mind either way (my perference) whether a system similar to FF15 (that Ramuh summon!)or something on as similar level like ffX but noting in ffx case, the airship was merely teleporting so if a similar system we won't have the option of ramming ultima weapon with the highway.

World map side I hope something similar to FF15 for the buggy and airship!

[LightSamus]

If it takes anything from the XIII series, take from Lightning Returns. Much more involving than XIII or XIII-2 and really fast-paced. Instead of swapping costumes like Lightning did though, swap characters.

[nitus10]

Not sure why you got so many disagrees but from comments on forums when FF12 first came out I am not overly surprised.

Basically FF12 was a major departure from all the other FF games in that you fight in the area you are actually in and did not move into a battle arena.

I definitely do agree that the combat system was the best of all worlds in that if you liked micro-managing you could do that or you could opt for active turn-base like many FF games before it. For the more tedious parts you could just auto run assuming you set up your tactics properly and if you were getting overwhelmed you could pause and micro manage.

Another nice feature of FF12 was that there were no hidden encounters since you could see all enemy and avoid them if you were quick enough, also if you were of a high enough level lower level creatures would not attack unless you initiated contact.

The maps in FF12 that you traversed were huge unlike the on-rails paths that were common in FF10 and FF13 although later on you do get to traverse some fairly large areas in both games.

I do think the disagrees were by people who had on "rose coloured gasses" with regard to previous FF games.

If people think I am wrong then please don't hesitate to reply telling me why. Just saying it was different is not very constructive.

BTW: I have played all FF games from 4 through 8 (missed 9) then 10 though 13 (I did not include FF11 since that is an on-line only game). All IMHO are great although I almost gave up on FF8 but it definitely did improve.

[breakpad]

@ nitus 10 agree...you r probably old school like me and you understand the innovative and useful changes when they happen like FF12 combat system..many are young and alot of people missed FF12 entirely which was a majestic game superior to FF 9 and 10

[ShinMaster]

As long as it's not an action RPG (15) or plays itself while limiting party control (13). It should be fine.

[thekhurg]

Turn based combat or GTFO.

[Griever]

I agree with you but unfortunately majority of the RPG players today do not agree. As a result, SE will be forced to make it real time or face harsh criticism for using an "outdated slow, boring and unrealistic" combat system. People just do not like turn based today even though it used to be a norm. I wish they would feature both the classic and the modern battle system in the game and make it an option.

[Elda]

Agreed.

[eddieistheillest]

Let's hope for an option for 2 battle systems and everyone will be happy. ( turn based for me though)

[Scar-]

LMFAO 'forced to make it real time' its a remaster of a cult classic its going to do numbers regardless. There are MILLIONS of gamers that want nothing more than a graphical update. Everyone's first console wasn't ps3 or 360, some of us played it launch day and have enjoyed it ever since.

I don't get the whole two option thing. Seriously if you don't like turn base rpgs YOU DON"T LIKE FF7 that simple. People want to change a game they most likely never played and that people already like.

[nitus10]

Actually prior to FF7, FF4 through FF6 had active turn-base although you could turn this off if you wished.

Many RPG's and that includes JRPG's also had action based combat although for a party active turn based with a pause and micro manage feature were fairly common.

Please note when I said "action based combat" I actually meant a single character was fully controlled by the player and other characters were controlled via the AI normally by simple settings such as "go all-out", "heal", "normal/balanced", "do nothing". FF12 had a fairly complex but interesting way of doing this.

[Relientk77]

Exactly

[-Foxtrot]

Yeah if you don't like the old system then you have FF15

Turn based was part of the classic FF games

[quaneylfc]

"Yeah if you don't like the OLD SYSTEM"

Lost Odyssey is not the old system. If they "tweaked" FFVII's battle system, it still wouldn't be the old system.

[-Foxtrot]

Turn based still works

Go play Lost Odyssey, they tweaked it a little, made it a tad faster and added the ring system which kept you more focused in battle instead of laying battle mashing the X button

[quaneylfc]

That's not what you said. It's not even what you implied.

Arlham Orgins's combat can't be compared to Arkahm City's in that way.

[Revengeance]

1000% agree. I can play both turn-based and action but this is one game that will not feel like FFVII to me if it's not turn-based.

[nitus10]

Actually FF7 was basically a departure from previous FF games such as FF4 though FF6 since they had active-turn-base although you could turn that off if you wished.

[babadivad]

Do something like what the Tales os series does. That's the best rpg fighting system IMHO. I'd buy ut in a second.

[josephayal]

best comment ever

[Pedantic91]

YES !

Can't wait to see what Nomura can cook up.

[Kalebninja]

Well to me that sounds like a new system most likely similar to XV but they'll have a lot of the same attacks which is what'll be recognisable.

[Relientk77]

It better be turn based

[Multiplatguy]

I really loved the turn based combat in VII, I hate that it's on it's way out as I don't enjoy modern JRPGs gameplay.

If they ditch Turn based, I don't think I could play this game.

[chrisx]

There's no way it can be turn based when they want to appeal to casuals too.The best they could do is to add in the option to combat in turn based

[LordMaim]

Not sure how being turn based would somehow make it *less* casual.

[nitus10]

FF4, FF5 and FF6 all had active turn-base and if you wished you could actually select turn-based only. FF7 and also FF10 were turn-based only (can't comment on FF9) although I did like the feature in FF10 were you could switch in different characters so all could get experience.

I am not sure what you mean by "casuals". Basically any RPG be it action, active turn-based or just turn-based will only appeal to gamer's who like RPG's and since most of these types of games are huge taking many tens or even hundreds of hours to complete that is if you really want to finish the game.

FF7 like many of the others in the FF series is basically a 40 to 60+ hour game. These types of games would not be that popular with so called "casuals".

[Germany7]

It should be turn-based...

[ZaWarudo]

I'm thinking it'll be ATB turn based, but more dynamic instead of simply standing still.

Just my guess.

[Summons75]

All you need to do is make it like FF13 with improvements...13 was the modern evolution of the ATB style and it worked very well, just change something, add some new things, and take out what didn't. Plus they even said that FF13's battle system was inspired because of the reception to the fast paced combat scenes in Advent Children so it couldn't be more perfect.

[-Foxtrot]

God no

NOTHING from FF13.....NOTHING

They've shoved that crap down our throats for years they better not shove it in this game

[-Foxtrot]

Shows what I know? After being hyped up for it for years only to finally get my hands on it and find out at it's core it's not a Final Fantasy game with all the things which make a FF game good have been changed or removed

That's not trolling. But nice to see you've went the immature, calling some names way instead of actually coming up with a decent argument.

[Ravenheartzero]

Agree foxtrot.

Been a gamer for over 20 years and never have I felt my stomach sink so much after realising what a bad game FF13 was.

If you enjoyed FF13 then lucky you, but it was the most divisive FF for a reason, a huge part of the fan Base hated it. I really hope it's nothing like FF13 battle system, the worst imo. Turn based or even FF15 style would be great.

[Elda]

I agree...control all characters.

[Kalebninja]

Mother of God... if only.. if only.

[nitus10]

Sounds good but unless you want to micro-manage a party with turn-based only then I hope you have the patience for playing it.

Take a look at the combat system in FF12. You could easily manage a party of three plus a guest (they had their own AI) and you could select anyone except the guest as the main character. You could if you wished micro-manage (ie. turn base) each character and switch them in and out of combat with another character.

Also the maps in FF12 were huge and you could go anywhere within reason although if your characters weren't strong enough you would die very quickly usually with one hit kills.

[DragonKnight]

Oh yeah, that's what we want, FFVII to play itself. Where all you have to do is auto-battle your way through boring and dull repetitious battles while controlling only one character. That's the best thing they could ever do for Final Fantasy VII, a game where you control all the characters, with a system (Materia) that's deep enough to make every battle different. Great idea.

You FFXIII fans man, you fight for the right to have the worst taste in games.

[Ravenheartzero]

+bub for well said.

FF13 truly an awful battle system.

[Elda]

You are entitled to your opinion but your opinion is not a fact.

[DragonKnight]

In this case my opinion is fact. You are in the minority. Final Fantasy XIII's battle system has been almost universally panned for the reasons I've stated. It is shallow, it is self-playing, it is boring, and it is repetitious. This isn't just me saying this, this is most people who played the game. This is reflected in how XIII-2 and LR sold by comparison. FFXIII is a terrible game. That is a fact, that is not an opinion. Where opinion comes in is your instance on ignoring that it is a terrible game and believing it is a good game. You're entitled to enjoy what you want, but it doesn't dismiss that FFXIII is a terrible game.

[Elda]

Again your opinions are not facts & I'm in the majority.First hand in Japan Lightning was voted favorite FF character.FF-XIII sold almost 7 million copies world wide & a review score of 83 among all critic reviews.Just because you didn't like it stop preaching that everyone else didn't like it too.Only the whiners were vocal about their dislike for the game,possibly here on N4G but knowing a lot of people approved of the game.

[DragonKnight]

Japan votes for the most current character as the best character. They did it with Yuna in FFX as well when it was around. Polls about characters don't mean a game is good.

FFXIII sold 7 million copies across 2 consoles because people expected it to follow in the tradition of other FF games that were the first FF game of a new generation of consoles. That tradition held that said FF game would be a masterpiece of work because FFIV, FFVII, and FFX all were just that. But then you look at games like FFVII, which sold 9+ million units pre-PC launch on just the Playstation 1, and FFX which sold 7+ million on PS2 and you know that if they'd been available on other consoles, the sales would eclipse FFXIII in such a way as to render FFXIII a foot note at best. The results of how terrible a game FFXIII was are reflected in the abysmal sales of the sequels because people were tired of Square Enix trying to push a terrible trilogy on us.

You want to talk about critic scores? Critics routinely give the cookie cutter, same experience every time games in the Call of Duty franchise 9s out of 10. We've seen over the past year that many critics, especially those in the larger gaming journalism sphere, are not actually gamers. One critic from Polygon was sent to preview Rockband 4 and was wholly disinterested in being there at all. These are the kinds of people scoring games. Then you look at gamers actually talking about Final Fantasy XIII and it's never good save for when graphics are brought up. The only thing FFXIII has going for it is graphics.

Combat? Shallow, repetitive, boring, self-playing.

Story? Overly convoluted and delivered very poorly. Assumes the player already knows what's going on before anything happens or is explained and necessitates the use of an in-game log to actually explain the story better than the game itself does.

Characters? If it's even possible to be less than one dimensional, FFXIII's characters are that. There is literally no reason to care about a single one of them. There are only 2 that provide even a modicum of personality, Fang and Sazh, and you don't really have a good reason to care about them either.

Pacing? "Fast" and boring with progression locked leveling forcing you to let the game play itself. You are consistently made to see that you are not actually a part of the story, you're just observing it and moving it along when necessary.

World? Linear and bland until, depending on play style, a minimum of 12 hours to a maximum of 20 hours into the game, then it opens up to a beautiful world that you find out is still just as bland but less linear. The game has no life to it. Hell, the one location in the game that's the most memorable is a dead town.

All of this and so much more is the truth of the game, and the majority of people who talk about the game bring at least one of these truths up every time. There are countless accounts everywhere about how terrible this game is, how it's the worst in the franchise. So sorry, accept the fact that my opinion is fact and you just want to maintain your terrible taste. That's your prerogative, but you liking terrible games doesn't make them any less terrible.

[Elda]

Majority of your comments are being disagreed proving that this mess you're saying is just bull & is your opinion..again that is NOT FACT.Please...you are no critic & stay living in your fantasy.FF-XIII was a decent game not your traditional FF game but a decent one.I'm sorry you can't except that FACT..if anything is horrible is you trying to project your negative views on everyone else claiming majority of people that played this game is saying the same as you...you're delusional....smdh.

[DragonKnight]

No. I have people who follow me around to disagree with me. The agree/disagree system on this site is meaningless until you get to the higher double digit numbers. I literally have said "water is wet" and have been disagreed with here on this site. So no, sorry it doesn't work like that.

And no, you're wrong. Final Fantasy XIII is a terrible game, you can find thousands of accounts attesting to that online if you care to look. You don't want to, and won't, because you insist on defending your terrible taste, but it is factually a terrible game. My opinion is fact, based on evidence and testimony. Your opinion is just that, based on your own feelings. FFXIII would have to work very hard indeed to be considered even a decent game outside the FF franchise, within the franchise it's the game that should have never been made.

[Quickstrike]

I would like to see a modified version of XIII's system where you give commands to everyone. XIII'S wasnt perfect but it was way better than XII's.

[Elda]

You will always be wrong & delusional about this & your opinions will NEVER be a FACT...you sound like a mental case & you really need to see someone professional perhaps a psychiatrist....smh.

[DragonKnight]

"You will always be wrong & delusional about this & your opinions will NEVER be a FACT...you sound like a mental case & you really need to see someone professional perhaps a psychiatrist....smh."

Yeah, no. You wish I were wrong, but I'm not. I'm completely correct and have stated facts. You just don't like them and think that what you like is perfect. Too bad, get over yourself. FFXIII is the worst game in the franchise and a terrible game all-round.

[Adrian_v01]

You don't seem to know what fact means...

[jambola]

It doesn't matter if 99% of people don't like the game, saying it's bad is still opinion.
If you really think that just because someone likes a game you don't like it means they like a bad game then there's just noo hope for you.

[Adrian_v01]

Also, you bash FFXIII because it 'plays itself' but under another article you wrote that you love Suikoden. I don't quite get this since Suikoden also has an Auto option which is used for most random encounters. I don't see the logic there.

[Pazto]

Nomura is working on it, not Sakaguchi. Is gonna be a kingdom Hearts like game, we all know that.
FF died when Squaresoft became Square-Enix. This remake will not have the soul of the game we loved. I'm pretty much sure of it.
You can disagree, but if you do, probably you are too young to get what I'm talking about.

[Pedantic91]

Quite a lot assumptions there. This was the first game my parents bought for me back in 1997.

Loved it to death, still do. But having the remake play exactly the same but with a fresh coat of paint sounds really dull. Is it so wrong to have something different for once ?

Btw, nice use of fear montering.

[DragonKnight]

"Is it so wrong to have something different for once ?"

You mean like FFXV.

This isn't a new Final Fantasy game. This is an old Final Fantasy game. There is no reason to change it to suit people who either didn't care to play the first time, or don't know anything about it because they're too young to have played it in the first place.

[Pedantic91]

I never said a new final fantasy game.

And there's no reason to keep it the same to suit the fans of old just because of your fear of change.

What if I wanted it to be FF7 but play differently ?

What if i belive whatever Tabata makes\ currently making pale in comparison to what Nomura can come up with ?

I much prefered Nomuras idea of FFXV than Tabata.

But no, let's keep on playing the same old game we've been doing several years because you nostalgia fans refused to remove your rose tinted glasses.

[Quickstrike]

Capcom allowed changes with DmC and look how that turned out.

[DragonKnight]

"And there's no reason to keep it the same to suit the fans of old just because of your fear of change."

Plenty of reason. Who do you think were the ones clamoring for FFVII to be remade in the first place? Wasn't "new" fans or people who didn't like the combat system. And with FFXIII trilogy, we have good reason to fear SE's kind of change.

"What if I wanted it to be FF7 but play differently?"

Then you don't get to whine when the gameplay is shallow and boring.

"What if i belive whatever Tabata makes\ currently making pale in comparison to what Nomura can come up with ?"

Then you prove my point that change isn't good.

"I much prefered Nomuras idea of FFXV than Tabata."

And the overwhelming majority of the pre-existing FFVII fanbase much prefers turn based for FFVII than FFXIII or FFXV's combat.

"But no, let's keep on playing the same old game we've been doing several years because you nostalgia fans refused to remove your rose tinted glasses."

Again, this isn't a NEW game. This is a remake of an old game. We wanted the graphics to be updated but we wanted the game to remain true to the '97 release. You don't fix what isn't broken.

[LordMaim]

I'm 40. I disagree. Your move.

[Pazto]

Well, maybe you are 40 and liked Crisis Core more than FFVII, or FFXIII more than FFVI, is pretty much about what you like, I guess. I love traditional Jrpg for example, and I think that a "reamake" should keep the gameplay of the original.
And.. lol... "your move", so childish :3

[LordMaim]

I did like Crisis Core more than VII, because VII had a terrible story. XIII was awful, all of them. My favorite was IV with VI a close second. I've been playing JRPGs since Phantasy Star on the Master System.

You've made a lot of assumptions in your reply, all of which are wrong. You call me childish, however you're the one so set in your opinion that you can't consider the possibility that you may be wrong. Just like your original statement. Perhaps you should consider other possibilities and wait to see what the finished product actually turns out to be before judging it unfairly.

[Pazto]

Well yeah, we all have to wait to see if it will be terrible, or good. I just expressed my opinion, and I dont see why we have to keep on arguing. You liked crisis core more than original VII and thats pretty much it, I dont have anything more to say. Different point of view bro, both are cool, peace.

[LordMaim]

Because it had a better story.

[Ocsta]

ATB for ever! We love you and miss you ATB. Forgive these fools who denounce you...

[Ristul]

Turn based or not, it's a day one for me! ;)

[jambola]

Agree'd
I guess we like the game for more than just its battle system, i think if peopl say "no turnbase no buy" they are basically showing that they don't love the rest of the game.

[Chaosdreams]

As long as what I am given, doesn't play itself.

I would prefer turn based (since it's been forever since I've played one.)

[SoulWarrior]

I'm all for change, but don't change TOO much, I would prefer turn based/atb style like FFX-2 or something like that, but don't make it like the FFXIII trilogy.

[Availation]

I know most people hate Lightning Returns but, I think most of us can agree that it had a excellent combat system. If they have to change things up a bit, I believe building upon that combat system would be a delicate balance between action and strategy. Instead of switching schemata, you'd be switching characters.

[DragonKnight]

FFVII needs to stay away from all things FFXIII trilogy.

[tweet75]

On these classic remakes with tweaks there should always be an option to play like the original

[dohji]

Good get rid of that turn based bull crap. I want to fight the same way they did in advent children and I didn't see them taking turns. I want real time, fast, action packed combat not that turtle speed turn based bull. I wasn't even interested in the game until I heard this news.

[DragonKnight]

Well then prepare to cry because you're not going to get Advent Children level combat. You'll likely get, at most, FFXV combat.

[dohji]

I didn't say I was dying for the game so I won't be crying, I said I'm interested now that it most likely won't be that boring turned based crap. Also how do you know what they will do? Even if it's kingdom hearts style that's 100x better than their original combat system imo.

[DragonKnight]

Do everyone a favour and don't buy the game. You're not a fan of it clearly, you're only a fan of combat systems.

[lategamer]

You never know, with Nomura directing we might get a KH/Original Versus 13 type combat system.

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

Kool I'm pretty much into most of the battle systems for Final Fantasy except for XII.

[dohji]

@DragonKnight
You're right I'm not a blind fan who just buys anything because something I like is slapped on it. Maybe people like you can but I refuse. I love DBZ but I didn't buy every crappy game they made just because Im a fan of DBZ. You have to have a good combat system to get my money, which is why you won't find Ultimate Tenkaichi and Battle of Z in my collection. Why don't you do yourself a favour and relax bro. I'm sorry turn based is gone for you in FF7 but move on bro and stop being mad that people like me are happy about it.

[Scar-]

Its never really the comments that bother me its the up votes. Well any hype I had for this game is deflated, and dramatic changes to combat sound like something that should be in a remake not a remaster.

All in all time to find a new gaming site.

[dohji]

This game is a remake though, not a remaster. You said it yourself that dramatic changes in combat sounds like something that should be in a remake which this game is, so what's your point?

[Quickstrike]

If it was a remaster then things are allowed to change. Capcom did the RE remake right and just updated the graphics and kept the core gameplay.

That is what the fans want with FF VII remake.

[Rumb13stiltzkin]

To the folks praying that the battle system isn't like XIII's because "all you do is stand around and hit auto-attack":

How is that different from VII's battle system? You wait for a bar to fill, then you select "Attack" and your character attacks.

It's the same in XIII, but you have more control.

Hitting "Auto-attack" is no different from hitting "Attack"...

[dohji]

@Quickstrike
Lmao capcom made one of the worst remakes I've ever seen when they made DMC. That game was a remake though which did what it's supposed to do, remake things like this game. Why would a remastered game like GOW3, GTA5 and and DMC4 on current gen consoles change up the whole core game mechanics like the new ff7 is just to remaster them? That's the problem, that people don't understand what remastering and remaking means and why some people are upset with this game. Once they understand they ain't getting ff7 remastered they can move on I hope.

[Adrian_v01]

It's FFVII Remake...not Remaster. A Remaster is already happening.

[Quickstrike]

DmC was a reboot, not a remake.

[Gardenia]

I'm worried in the end FFVII will be a lot different than we all hope it will turn out to be. All these years of hoping and dreaming and then a huge disappointment

[The_BlackHeart__]

Let me save her. That's all I'm asking.

[quaneylfc]

It'll just be Final Fantasy XV's combat system.

[PaleMoonDeath]

FF15 like gameplay as I've been talking about then? I wonder how Materia will work though.. it's kind of a big deal for the original's battle system.

We'll see, I have many fears for the remake, the biggest being the emo-esque Advent Children style I wa shoping they would avoid.

[Zero109]

It's a "Remake". Not a Remaster/Ultimate Edition/Re-Release. I (and most gamers) "this generation" prefer real time combat over the out dated turn based one. There has been a re-release for almost every platform for those looking for the "same exact game".

SE need to reach as many people as possible to going for a middle ground would work as well. The game will sell to new and old school gamers. I'm looking forward to the changes as I'm a person who prefers RTC.

[Avalanche]

"Recognizable"

yeah i recognize this is the same shitty system as FF12,13, 13-2, and Lightning Returns.

i hope who ever makes these decisions gets in an accident so he can no longer destroy this franchise.

[Adrian_v01]

Except 12, 13 and LR didn't have the same system.

[jambola]

Yeah? how can you have the same batte system as 3 games with completely different battle systems?

[Azzanation]

Hope they don't change too much, one thing I loved about FF& was its old school style.