After years of waiting and under the strong impression of the first part of the three-part Final Fantasy VII Remake project, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has arrived. The game shone last year on PlayStation 5 and showed the limits to which Square Enix can go when given free rein. Now, after the timed-exclusive chaos that Sony loves to orchestrate, the game has finally seen the light of day on PC.
What does this mean for us? From a graphical perspective, this game has definitely set a benchmark for other developers, as the details and environments will almost blind you with their beauty. Whether it’s vast plains, factories, abandoned quarries, or similar settings, you can see at every moment how much love has been poured into the design of this game. With the graphical treats available on PC, and considering the game’s demands, even on low settings, the game will still look very good.
Looking for a more original game? Check out our Avowed review!
How Does Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Measure Up?
A big commendation also goes to the optimization for the Steam Deck, which, although not widely used here, can handle this game and provide a more than satisfactory experience. Framegen is, of course, available and can somewhat disrupt the game and some mechanics (block and perfect block have been known to cause issues), but aside from that, it justifies how such a beautiful game can shine on your computer.
It’s worth noting that while you’re in for an extraordinary adventure, there’s also a bit of a cold shower for those who have been eagerly awaiting the second part of the most popular Final Fantasy game. Instead of the extremely linear adventure that was its predecessor, you now have open-world mechanics, which feel like an attempt to inject something new and innovative into an already good game. It’s best described as a perfect dish into which the chef has tossed popcorn. No one asked for it, it’s partially edible, and you’re constantly coughing because you’re choking on the shells, realizing it could have been done without it.
We had this strange issue where all the sword sounds are muffled, and found other people on reddit complaining the same. Swinging, hitting and sheathing your sword sounds terribly flat and muffled out, almost as if the audio is heavily compressed. The music, voices and environment sound fine, the only issue seems to be with weapon sound effects. And we know it wasn’t the headset as we didn’t have an issue on any other game and used multiple Panther headsets to test it out.
The Combat
The combat mechanics will quickly awaken habits from the first part, so you’ll shine until you discover, for some reason, the increased difficulty of Rebirth, all in order to “showcase” all these mechanics. Characters progress as in old JRPGs – as slowly as a clerk before a break. To enjoy the game stress-free, for monsters that are a few levels above Cloud and the team, hours of farming and grinding are required, which was once actually the trademark of such games. Adapting to defeating enemies will be quite a shock compared to Remake, as you’ll often be treated to the sight of enemies wiping the floor with your characters because you didn’t approach each battle tactically and in detail.
The block and perfect block mechanics are unfortunately another plague of this JRPG, which further speaks to the identity crisis Final Fantasy has been experiencing lately. If they want to be like Sekiro with endless perfect blocks and deflects, then this is entirely the wrong approach to the game, as this way of functioning is akin to producing a neck massager that also wants to be a “toy for adults.” Nothing works as it should, but it can serve a purpose.
The Worldbuilding of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
The map design is somehow like the game itself – it has no idea what it wants to be. The continent map is good and clear, but finding passages or navigating cities with this kind of map can be quite confusing, which is unexpected for JRPG veterans like Square Enix. Even with all this, the game is so fun that it lures you into playing, effectively glossing over the shortcomings due to the identity crisis.
But let’s look at the brighter side of what Square Enix has managed to do here. The story continues from the first part, and Cloud is still in pursuit of Sephiroth with his team, with whom he has some scores to settle. The dialogues in the game are extremely charming and charismatic for a JRPG of this caliber, so you’ll rarely want to skip any conversation, which again speaks to the amount of attention and effort put into this extraordinary project.
One serious criticism of the game is definitely the plethora of mini-games, which, on one hand, are a very high-quality escape from the madness of chasing enemies across the map, but some of these games can be more exhausting than the battles. Also, the forced (albeit very good) card game is extremely irritating, as it’s at the level of fishing – almost every developer wants to include it in their game, as if it’s a MANDATORY sewer level in game design.
In Conclusion
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth represents the pinnacle of Square Enix’s love and attention in portraying one of their most legendary stories from the Final Fantasy franchise. With a little adaptation to the combat mechanics, you’re in for an extraordinary, massive JRPG adventure that you can now play without any issues on PC and portable devices.
Rating: 9/10
The game earns a 9/10 due to its stunning visuals, charismatic characters, and excellent optimization, though it suffers from confusing map design, exhausting mini-games, and some clunky combat mechanics.
Recommended Age: 14+
I recommend this game for kids aged 14 and older due to its complex mechanics, mature themes, and occasional difficulty spikes that may frustrate younger players.