By Ronald Gordon

Final Fantasy VII is a timeless classic that was always meant to be bigger and better. Much like a moment referenced in the 1997 game, the bran new Rebirth rises from the ashes like a brilliant phoenix. And this time around, it’s more massive in scope than fans could have imagined. 

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a continuation of Final Fantasy VII Remake, making it the second in a series of three brand new renditions of the world-renowned offering that some think is the best of all iterations in the series. The adventure of Cloud Strife and the Avalanche gang seems like a tale as old as time, but Rebirth sees it as a tale ready to be retold in a way that hasn’t been done before. The world has so much more to explore; the combat is fleshed out and handled well; and more importantly you actually have to interact with characters in order for them to call you friends. 

Rebirth brings a more personal side to the story of the Avalanche Gang. The parts of the story that kept me hooked were some regarding characters’ memories that offered deep insight. Whenever flashbacks are referenced, it’s always brought up that some parts of the memory are hazy for people, especially for Tifa, who supposedly grew up with Cloud in the same village. This is of course a reference to a big part of Cloud’s backstory, and the connection between him and Zack Fair, the previous wielder of the giant Buster Sword and protagonist of the Crisis Core games. The importance paid to this memory makes it less of a confusing tidbit and more of an enthralling mystery that unravels as you play, the climax of which isn’t any less painful but all the more engaging. 

One of the things I love about these new Final Fantasy games is the change to RPG combat. While many people may still enjoy the classic feeling of turn-based scenarios, which the game still allows you to use should you want to, I love feeling entirely in control of what the character does more often than not. With this change continuing into Rebirth comes a deft overhaul to the combat system, making it easy to understand – and with many facets to exploit. Abilities, spells, limit breaks and summons are all available through the flip of small menus. More importantly, you can synchronize with your party and launch combined attacks. Synergy Attacks are a new mechanic in Rebirth that not only have amazing animations but also show off just how powerful of a team the Avalanche gang can be. But I feel the best thing about Synergy attacks isn’t the damage. It’s the friendships we make along the way. 

This time around, the Avalanche gang isn’t just a bunch of NPCs that you can control. They have their own likes and dislikes, dialogue options, and relationship meters to gauge just how close you’re getting to them. While resting in the various areas around the world map, you have plenty of time to chat, engage in side quests, and expand your friendships beyond being travel mates and fellow freedom fighters. Personally, I loved this aspect because there was always a chance to strengthen the bond between Cloud and the others and carve away that stoic nature of his. The two I most often found myself engaging with were Barrett and Red XIII, who seemingly shared Cloud’s tough and stoic nature but were softer individuals deep down. With Barrett’s playful attitude shining through in rare moments and the fact that Red XIII was actually younger than he pretended to be, they were my favorite team mates to keep around and chat with. They somehow eased my tensions as we talked outside of the devastating Shinra, the tyrannical power company that is the embodiment of many things evil. 

With the level of graphical detail and vibrant color that Rebirth displays in its seamlessly blended gameplay and cutscenes, it’s no wonder that it was launched as a PS5 exclusive,. The amount of glamor and wonder the game displays leaves me craving more, pushing me to find every nook and cranny of color I can just to see what else it has in store. Even more, the characters’ models are so pristine they look as though I could touch their skin and feel warmth. The music fuels a lot of my exploration, especially since they brought back the massive chicken-like riding creatures called Chocobo. The Chocobo were my favorite part of Final Fantasy XV, and hearing another rendition of the Chocobo riding song almost made me spend much of my time on the road riding it. Outside of exploration, the battle music left me surging with power as I threw myself into fights, wanting nothing more than to hear the epic instruments with the sounds of battle in between.

Final Fantasy VII may be a timeless of yore, but Rebirth shows us how a piece of video game history can capture the public’s attention yet again through the technology of today. The combat, the open world, the character bonds, and the Chocobos make Rebirth more than just another entry in a series of remakes. It’s a whole new experience to be had with familiar characters. Fans old and new can rejoice as Square Enix treats these games as more than just a cash grab. They’re putting love and attention into retelling what could be the best story in Final Fantasy history. 

Ronald Gordon is a New York Videogame Critics Circle Member & Mentor. He was the first of our writers – or any intern anywhere – to complete an internship at Rockstar Games.

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