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Wondering if there are differences between the original FF7 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth? You’re not alone. We’ll answer the question at hand and provide meaningful comparisons between the first release and the the latest entry in the remake trilogy.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth marks the next installment in the remake trilogy, launching later this week. The new saga visually overhauls the original FF7 while remaining true to the source material, introducing new mechanics and quality-of-life improvements in a familiar setting and story. Fans of Square Enix’s beloved franchise have already received a taste of what’s to come with the drop of the game’s playable demo, which was recently updated to include exclusive content. Series veterans have voiced their approval of apparent similarities between the next entry and the original FF7, but are there differences? Let’s dive in.
- The Amazon Exclusive Edition includes a limited edition FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH PS5 Controller Skin featuring Cloud and Sephiroth. This PS5 controller skin provides full coverage without buttons or sensor interference.
- Pre-order now to unlock the Midgar Bangle Mk. II Armor, a bracelet worn by travelers leaving Midgar.
- An Expansive World: As the party searches for Sephiroth, explore the beautiful, expansive regions of the world and open up new areas to discover through unique forms of transportation.
- An Evolved Battle System: Combine strategic thinking with thrilling action combat alongside your comrades, including newly added characters. Deepen their relationships to unleash powerful team-based combos.
- Beyond the Walls of Fate: In this standalone adventure for fans and newcomers, Cloud and his comrades venture across the planet, their fates unwritten, making each step outside the dystopian city of Midgar fresh and mysterious.
How Are the Original FF7 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Different?
Released in September of 1997, the original Final Fantasy 7 included complex gameplay and standard graphics for its time. Since, the title has received a complete overhaul with Square Enix’s remake project. FF7 Rebirth follows up Intergrade, maintaining the integrity of original story elements while implementing necessary upgrades to combat and visuals. While the longtime developer and publisher has described the 2024 installment as a “reimagining” of the original, series fans have cited quality-of-life improvements as the biggest difference between the two titles.
This only makes sense, considering Square Enix has gone above and beyond in the graphics department. As it currently stands, Final Fantasy is a visually striking series that seems to improve with each new release. While subtle, Rebirth’s graphics trump even Intergrade, implementing new textural details in character design and throughout the open world.
With the demo for Rebirth as a basis for comparison, some fans have even drawn parallels between the Nibelheim flashback scene in both the original FF7 and the new entry. Play by play, the two cuts are almost identical in terms of dialogue and pacing, culminating in fierce battles that mirror one another. Thus far, it seems like there are more similarities between the two installments than there are differences.
Differences Between FF7 Remake and FF7 Rebirth
Now that players have gotten a taste of what’s on offer in Final Fantasy 7 rebirth with the release of the demo, some key differences between the new entry and Intergrade are already apparent.
- Visual improvements, especially textural
- Newly explorable locations like Junon and brand-new cities
- Sephiroth is now playable
- The world is more open without loading screens between areas
- New combat mechanics, including Synergy Abilities and Skills, and new Summons
For more on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, check out these guides from our team: