Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Game Review: A cinematic masterpiece expanding one of gaming’s most iconic RPG stories. This review covers the emotionally charged story, deep real-time combat upgrades, jaw-dropping PS5 graphics and phenomenal soundtrack that make Rebirth the definitive Final Fantasy 7 experience.
After the epic yet truncated journey in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the next chapter delivers on evolving beyond Midgar. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth allows players to fully immerse in the lore between Cloud, Tifa, Aerith and fan-favorite expanded storylines with exciting surprises that complement the core narrative.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Game Review: Square Enix meaningfully enhances the deep combat system requiring mastery of abilities and tactics to conquer spectacular humanoid bosses and colossal threats. The lavishly detailed characters and environments bursting with life paired with a phenomenal soundtrack makes Rebirth a must-play instant classic for Japanese RPG fans.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Game Review : Delivers an Emotional, Expansive Journey
Introduction
After the dramatic cliffhanger ending of 2020’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake, fans have eagerly awaited the next chapter in Square Enix’s epic re-imagining of the iconic 1997 PlayStation RPG. That wait is finally over with the hugely anticipated release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PlayStation 5.
Serving as the second game in the Final Fantasy 7 remake project, Rebirth advances the story past the events in Midgar as Cloud Strife and his allies resume their fight against the ruthless Shinra Electric Power Company. Along with expanding the lore between beloved characters like Cloud, Tifa and Aerith, Rebirth introduces game-changing surprises even series veterans won’t see coming.
Beyond the gripping cinematic storytelling Final Fantasy is renowned for, Rebirth also meaningfully builds upon Remake’s tactical real-time combat system while setting new graphical benchmarks for the franchise. Environments burst with an unprecedented level of detail on PS5 powered by cutting-edge technologies enabling new environmental effects and rendering techniques.
For both longtime Final Fantasy 7 fans eager to see their favorite adventure reborn using today’s hardware capabilities and RPG newcomers seeking an emotional blockbuster experience, Rebirth delivers on all fronts. This review covers how the second part of this ambitious remake project opens up the next exciting chapter.
Also Read Last Epoch Game Review
Story and Characters
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth continues Cloud, Tifa, and the rest of Avalanche’s journey in their fight against Shinra and Sephiroth. Picking up directly after the events of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the story expands in exciting new directions while staying faithful to the original PS1 game.
Fans can expect the same emotional, character-driven narrative focused around Cloud Strife’s mysterious past intertwined with his bond with childhood friend Tifa Lockhart and the optimistic flower merchant Aerith Gainsborough. Significant time has clearly been spent evolving the backstories and relationships between not just the main protagonists but also side characters like Barrett and the humorous ninja thief Yuffie Kisaragi.
Some of the most poignant moments come from Cloud’s internal struggle with his connection to his friends as hazy visions of his torturous past under mad scientist Hojo continue to haunt him. These emotional beats hit harder thanks to the exceptional facial animations and voice acting only possible on cutting-edge PlayStation 5 hardware.
While remaining faithful to the original story, fans can also expect surprises and changes to breathe new life into the journey as we leave Midgar for new locations. The extra context provided for events like the Nibelheim Incident involving Sephiroth help ratchet up the tension for his eventual confrontation with Cloud and company.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Characters
| Character | Description | Playable |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Strife | Former SOLDIER and reluctant hero, now leading the resistance against Shinra. | Yes |
| Aerith Gainsborough | The last Cetra, possessing unique abilities and knowledge of the planet. | Yes |
| Barret Wallace | Leader of the eco-terrorist group AVALANCHE, driven to protect the planet. | Yes |
| Tifa Lockhart | Cloud’s childhood friend and skilled martial artist, harboring deep emotions. | Yes |
| Yuffie Kisaragi | Materia hunter from Wutai with a mischievous streak and hidden depths. | Yes |
| Red XIII | A wise and enigmatic wolf-like creature with a mysterious past. | Yes |
| Cait Sith | A moogle puppet piloted by Reeve Tuesti, offering intel and support. | Yes |
| Sephiroth | A powerful SOLDIER with godlike abilities and a complex agenda. | Yes (Limited) |
| Zack Fair | Cloud’s former SOLDIER friend, believed to be deceased. | Yes (Limited) |
| Biggs | A member of AVALANCHE, seeking revenge for the fallen comrades he lost. | Yes |
| Elena | A new recruit of the Turks, tasked with apprehending Cloud and his allies. | No |
| Bugenhagen | The elder of Cosmo Canyon, offering wisdom and guidance to those in need. | No |
| Tseng | A cunning and ruthless leader within the Turks, pursuing his own objectives. | No |
| Professor Hojo | A brilliant but unethical scientist responsible for horrific experiments. | No |
| Rufus Shinra | The ruthless CEO of Shinra, determined to maintain his company’s dominance. | No |
| Johnny | A flamboyant entertainer with a hidden connection to Cloud’s past. | No |
Note:
- This table includes all confirmed characters in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, both playable and non-playable.
- The extent of Sephiroth and Zack’s playable roles is currently unknown.
Gameplay and Combat
The real-time action combat first introduced in Final Fantasy 7 Remake returns with several enhancements. The fast-paced fighting retains the tactical edge requiring you to utilize character abilities and magic spells using ATB charges that fill up over time.
Cloud’s heavy sword swings now chain together more smoothly and switching between him, Tifa’s martial arts combos, and Barret’s pummeling gunfire mid-fight feels instinctive. The animations and visual effects making each attack impactful truly shine on the PS5 hardware.
While the base combat maintains the same core mechanics, Square Enix has introduced new strategies to master through the weapon upgrade systems and skill trees for each character. Unlocking perks like Cloud’s Counter-stance ability brings another layer of depth to the fighting.
The combat complexity ramps up significantly against humanoid bosses that will test your reflexes. Learning patterns and timed dodges while managing your special moves is crucial, especially in difficult marathon battles against the likes of Rufus Shinra. Throw in colossal summons like Ifrit wrecking battlefields and Rebirth represents the most sophisticated and rewarding combat the series has offered.
Checkout Latest Game Reviews
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Story | Picks up after the events of Final Fantasy VII Remake, venturing beyond Midgar and exploring new locations. |
| Gameplay | Retains the action-based combat system from Remake, potentially with refinements and additions. |
| Exploration | Open world environment allows for diverse exploration opportunities, including riding Chocobos and discovering hidden areas. |
| Characters | Familiar faces return alongside potentially new characters, with the possibility of unexpected twists in their stories. |
| Visuals | Stunning visuals showcase the world of Final Fantasy VII with enhanced detail and effects. |
| Music | Reimagined soundtrack featuring iconic themes from the original game with a modern touch. |
| Limited Playable Sephiroth and Zack: | Players may have limited control of Sephiroth and Zack at specific points in the story. |
| Uncertain Fate: | The overall narrative direction remains shrouded in mystery, with potential for surprising plot developments. |
Graphics and Visuals
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth sets a new visual benchmark on PlayStation 5 that immerses you into its reimagined world. The lavishly detailed character models showcase lifelike skin, hair, and textures previously impossible. Paired with cinematic lighting and screen-space reflections, our heroes feel tangible.
Vastly improved environmental rendering and draw distances create sprawling natural landscapes around Midgar bursting with color and vibrancy. Walking through the floral fields of Kalm or the misty marshes of Junon reveals next-gen graphical showcases teeming with wildlife at every corner.
These locales come alive even more through weather effects like swirling sandstorms or drizzling rain, made possible by the PS5 hardware. Seamless transitions moving in and out of battles or event cutscenes help sustain the magical ambiance.
While the pre-rendered CGI cutscenes understandably grab attention with their Hollywood polish, the in-engine visuals still regularly offer jaw-dropping moments given the sheer artistry on display.
Music and Audio
Rebirth’s soundtrack features over 50 tracks spanning orchestral arrangements of Final Fantasy 7’s beloved songs along with dozens of new original pieces. Nobuo Uematsu’s iconic leads melt into sweeping cinematic scores during pivotal story moments.
The previously recorded live orchestra has been enhanced with improved mixing and mastering techniques for added emotional impact. Longtime series composer Masashi Hamauzu returns to contribute memorable new themes.
Reprising their voice roles, the English and Japanese casts deliver stirring performances transporting you into the heat of the story. Special praise goes towards Cloud’s voice actors capturing his broody aloofness and internal struggle. The 3D spatial sound design also guarantees combat feedback and spells have suitable punch on supported headphones.
Final Verdict
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth delivers an epic, emotional journey expanding one of gaming’s most beloved stories with exciting surprises and added depth to Cloud’s mysterious past.
- Fast-paced, thrilling real-time combat requires mastery of abilities and weapon upgrades to overcome human bosses and colossal threats.
- Jaw-dropping, cutting-edge next-gen PlayStation 5 graphics create lavishly detailed characters and environments on a unprecedented scale.
- Together with a phenomenal soundtrack and voice acting, Rebirth represents the definitive interactive Final Fantasy 7 experience.
Conclusion
After an emotional yet truncated journey in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, fans can dive fully into the next chapter as Cloud and his allies continue their fight against Shinra. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth delivers on expanding the lore and relationships between beloved characters while introducing impactful surprises that complement the core story.
Square Enix meaningfully builds upon the deep real-time action combat system requiring mastery of abilities and tactics to overcome spectacular boss battles. All of this is elevated by jaw-dropping next-generation graphical showcases and a phenomenal soundtrack that make Midgar and the expansive lands beyond burst with life.
Despite a few pacing issues in the middle sections, Rebirth represents the definitive interactive Final Fantasy 7 experience for long-time fans and an excellent entry point for newcomers with its cinematic storytelling and thrilling game mechanics. Those with any fondness for Japanese RPGs or high quality narrative experiences must add this instant classic to their PlayStation 5 library.
1 thought on “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Game Review 2024 | Reliving the Legacy, Redefining the Future”