Final Fantasy XIV is popular among many fans for its story, but you always have to wait 3-4 months for the continuation of the MMORPG. Our author Irina Moritz has filled this time with the remake of Final Fantasy VII.
Even though FFXIV regularly delivers new content to its players, it’s possible to quickly play through certain parts of it. This includes, for example, the ongoing story of the MMORPG.
I have emphasized several times in the past that I always follow the story of FFXIV with great interest.
- I celebrated the story of the Shadowbringers expansion
- and I enjoy speculating about future lore, such as about the Bozjan quest line
Therefore, I always experience a kind of “story withdrawal” during the waiting period between patches. But this time, the remake of Final Fantasy VII helped me.
And if you feel the same way I do, then as FFXIV players, you should definitely play FFVIIR. You can check out gameplay from the remake here:
Suitable for Veterans and Newcomers
Recreating such a large and well-known game as Final Fantasy VII is no easy task. Not only do you have to ensure that long-time fans get their money’s worth, but also that newcomers do not feel lost.
In my opinion, the developers of the remake have succeeded well in this.
That’s why the remake is suitable for newcomers: If you have never played the original Final Fantasy VII, you don’t need to be afraid of the remake. On the contrary, you will be guided through the various lore aspects of the game.
You will be thrown directly into the action at the beginning of the game, but that’s not a problem. In conversations and quests, the characters will provide you with the background information you need to understand what is happening in the story. Essentially, you are following a “red thread” in the form of the main scenario, just like in FFXIV.
While I played the remake, my friend sat next to me, who has absolutely no idea about FFVII, and his reactions to the plot twists made me somewhat envious. He was surprised, angry, sad, laughed, and I secretly wished I didn’t know what was going to happen next.
Moreover, you can play at your own pace in the remake, just like in FFXIV. The difficulty is variable, and if you really just want to experience the story of the remake, you can easily do that in easy mode.
That’s why the remake is suitable for veterans: However, this does not mean that veterans will be bored with the remake. While it adheres very closely to the original in many aspects, there are plenty of novelties. Although I have played FFVII countless times, there were still many things for me to discover.
This included the many new NPCs and side stories that filled the world with more life and provided new perspectives on the story of FFVII.
Especially in the area of character development, there were some really cool surprises that led me to feel even more attached to the characters of FFVII, or in the case of the villains, to have an even greater disgust and aversion toward them.
The remake loved to play with my nostalgia and emotions, and I found that great.
Much Love for the Characters
The story of Final Fantasy XIV primarily lives from the many beloved NPCs we have encountered in the MMORPG over the last 6.5 years.
And there are plenty of great characters in the remake of Final Fantasy VII. In addition to the purely technical overhaul, they have also received more personality.
What was great about the characters: The technical aspect is the first thing that catches your eye in the remake. Thanks to the new technical possibilities, the various emotions and subtle reactions are well conveyed. But it was the interplay of technology and personality that worked well.
To give an example: My favorite moments were primarily related to the main character Cloud. He always behaves cool and distant towards others, but there were always scenes where he opened up.
Although it happened only briefly and the changes in his facial expressions were subtle, that’s exactly why they left a greater impression. You could tell that Cloud might not be as cold as he seems and that he suppresses this other side of himself.
Through the new technical possibilities, the developers were able to visually portray the various layers not only of Cloud but also of the other characters in the remake.
Especially the old side characters like Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie received a lot of love in the remake. You get deeper insights into their personalities and learn more about the motives behind their actions.
Even some “evil” enemies from Shinra appeared much more human due to how they reacted to different situations. I have always really liked Reno and Rude, two Shinra agents for dirty work. Since the remake, I love both of them.
This has led to the various story twists, which I already knew from the original, hitting even harder. And for new players who are not yet familiar with the story, this will be even more true.
Midgar Feels Like a Living City
The world-building of the FFVII remake was one of the aspects I was most looking forward to beforehand. Midgar is a massive city, full of people, buildings, and junk.
What I found cool about Midgar: I think if I had to say spontaneously what feeling I associate with Midgar, it would be overwhelming. After I played through the first mission, I landed in the city and it hit me like a ton of bricks, and not in a positive way.
Midgar is a monster of concrete and metal, and the remake effectively conveys this massiveness. While I was traversing the game, I always felt as if I were being crushed by the concrete masses of Midgar.
The city consists of two “levels”:
- The slums on the ground, where the poor people live
- The plates, which are about 200 meters above the ground, supported by pillars, where the wealthier and more privileged residents of Midgar live.
I stood around for about 10 minutes at first, staring up because I was trying to grasp the size of the plates. It’s one thing to be told that several hundred thousand people live there, but another to see it for yourself.
However, size is not all that Midgar has to offer. The streets and districts are extremely detailed. Especially in the slums, you really get a sense of the poverty that prevails there.
- The buildings are poorly constructed from various materials and look like they could fall apart at any moment.
- Everywhere on the streets, debris and junk lay around, which the people don’t really notice because it is part of their daily lives.
Accordingly, the design of the environment on the plates stands in stark contrast to the slums. Especially the shiny building of the evil corporation Shinra with its polished “glass-and-marble” look seems like a different world.
The details, contrasts, and multitude of NPCs on the streets make Midgar feel like a real city that reacts to everything happening within it.
Enough Story to Satisfy the Hunger
Of course, not everything about the Final Fantasy VII Remake is sunshine and rainbows. The game has its rough edges. While I suffered and cheered with the characters, I also got frustrated with some aspects while playing.
The journey through Midgar is definitely an experience I would recommend. Especially if you are fans of good stories and cool characters like those from FFXIV. It distracts and shortens the waiting time for the next narrative segment of the MMORPG.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Review – Fantastic Preview
So if you are currently just like me starving for new story content, then check out the remake of Final Fantasy VII. It will make your waiting easier.
In addition, Final Fantasy XIV is known for borrowing elements from other Final Fantasy games to play with fans’ nostalgia.
And who knows, maybe in the distant future, one of the shard worlds will feature Midgar as a city, and then you will all understand the references and Easter eggs as true pros. Like the new battle against Ruby Weapon.
