Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

“The graphics are gorgeous, the combat system vastly improved from remake, and the characters are beautifully done.”

“Graphics have been noticeably updated for the PS5, and the entire game is a visual feast.”

“From a more objective standpoint, the combat was so much fun with so many different possibilities, so many unique and fun minigames, excellent sound and visuals, and the story and characters are unmatched.”

“The synergize mechanic from the first game's DLC returns in Rebirth, where two party members team up to do a strong attack or give buffs to each other.”

“The gameplay is fluid and way more accessible with the new additions to the combat and traversal.”

“A multitude of small tweaks and gameplay changes add up to an impressive experience that feels like a giant leap forward, while continuing a great story with characters that find new ways to hook you.”

“The music is absolutely epic and includes several new renditions of the classic theme songs we all fondly remember.”

“Add to that the riveting narrative that delves into the world and its characters deeper than before, the stunning visuals that bring so many familiar locales to life, and a soundtrack that easily stands out as one of Square Enix’s best, and you’ll quickly find that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is simply one of the greatest RPGs that has ever been released.”

“[strikes the perfect balance between retelling a familiar tale and telling its own captivating story, and does it while also standing on its own two legs; delivers a constant stream of unforgettable moments, from stellar boss fights to jaw-dropping set-pieces to heartfelt character interactions and more; boasts an incredible cast of characters, from the heroes to the villains; deviates from the original game's story in bold and exciting ways; excellently fleshes out the original FF7's world and characters, and does so without compromising its pacing; lets players explore a massive, excellently designed open world that touts impressive visual and mechanical variety; a vast amount of things to do, with different kinds of optional quests and activities feeling enjoyable and rewarding in their own unique ways; a staggering amount of minigames, the majority of which are enjoyable, especially the dangerously addictive queen's blood; stellar combat builds on an already incredible system with smart additions and improvements; multilayered progression mechanics boast surprising depth; looks gorgeous; incredible soundtrack.]”

“The first game (original) kind of made you work a little to advance in certain ways - like using a ribbon to nullify poison in a specific boss battle or adjusting stats through materia optimization to get a little edge to come out on top in a difficult battle.”

“Whether in graphics or performance mode, the quality of the experience remains the same: top tier presentation with exceptional gameplay.”

“Performance mode can leave something to be desired but I found no issues playing in quality mode throughout my entire gameplay.”

“It has a much larger scale, deeper emotional story beats, expertly crafted world, flawless soundtrack, and an even more thrilling combat system.”

“The character relationships and development of those characters is one of the best things in the game; the raw emotional damage that happens throughout the story is so well conveyed.”

“Square captures and recontextualizes 1997's opus with an unyielding vision of world building that has a keen eye for modernity but never compromises in maintaining the emotional core that has resonated with players for decades.”

“But I do recommend doing the green side quests at least since they offer great world building and character development.”

“From the powerhouse OST to the masterclass in storytelling and wonderful character development.”

“From the character development to the combat, the exploration of the world of Gaia, to the minigames, and the overall emotional impact this game has, makes this a must play in my opinion.”

“In an era where games take themselves too seriously, I appreciated the humorous banter and comedic moments.”

“Plenty of mini games and a good dollop of humor, but also solid story and character progressions.”

“Amazing cast of characters, both funny and captivating.”

“The affinity system, allowing for unique scenes and dates with the character with the highest affinity, adds another layer of replayability.”