In 1997 Sony Playstation was a new competitor in the gaming console race trying to establish itself as a true alternative or even successor to Nintendo, it was holding its own, but it was the exclusive launch of a cutting edge, cinematic JRPG that won over that generation. That game was Final Fantasy 7, before it, JRPG’s were not well known, almost non-existent to most, only known amongst the most hardcore gamers. It was in this moment that a whole generation fell in love with the fantastical world of JRPG’s.
Final Fantasy 7 marked a whole generation of gamers, including my brother and myself. It was the catalyst for a renaissance of RPG’s across the gaming industry, a landmark moment in gaming history. It was seen as a classic, similar to the best movies of the past that can be cherished without redoing them, but then in 2005 Square Enix unintentionally sparked a fire that never let out to this day. They released a technical demo for the PS3 of FF7 with modern graphics just as a showcase of what the PS3 was capable of, but then the fanbase demanded a full remake of their beloved game with modern tech, it seemed like a dream that would never come true, but 15 years later dreams do come true.
What once seemed impossible, became possible. In a time when uncertainty and doom looms for many because of a world epidemic, this has come as a ray of hope and relief for many. As a fan of the original it makes me feel like a kid again when I was watching my older brother play and be mesmerized by its deep story and relatable characters, and without hesitation I can say this new modern take on the classic evokes the same feelings. The production values are through the roof, the acting and writing spot on, gets you excited, tearful, attached, and the gameplay engaging, fun and deep.
The added depth to the personalities of each character makes fans of the original appreciate even more these beloved characters and will get newcomers understand why they’re so cherished. They also remixed what was already an outstanding soundtrack and made some of it even better while keeping it true to the original. The world feels more alive and relatable than ever thanks to those things and also thanks to some new characters, side missions and NPC’s that feel alive.
I wanna give a shoutout to the incredible voice actors of the main cast of the remake. Cloud has the depth and personality we all imagined he did, Tifa has the right balance between strength and sensitivity, Barret is more relatable than ever by being over the top at the right moments, and Aerith is not just a damsel in distress anymore and has more charm and wit than ever before. Briana White, the voice actress of Aerith is a fellow gamer and you can see her passion in her work, give her a follow on Twitter and Twitch @TheStrangeRebel
Many were worried about drastic changes and shortcomings because it only set in what is the beginning section of the original game. But, as a fan I am relieved to say that it does not disappoint. It is a different take on the classic story, but also a breath of fresh air as we don’t know what to expect all the time. It maintains the overall flow of the PS1 version but amplifies it by 100 fold! I for one welcome the idea of not knowing everything that’s about to happen.
As the first in a series of entries in this remake franchise I’m extremely excited for its future installments. For those that know what’s coming next and how the world opens up even more, I can’t fathom how amazing it’s gonna be, and for those that have yet to play the PS1 version I recommend you do so that you get an appreciation for what they’re accomplishing. This is the dream remake of a generation, and the renaissance of a new one. The reunion is here at last! My full review will be up in the next couple weeks!
