Summary
TheFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy continues to justify its renown as one of the purest examples of a video game remake, asFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second entry in the trilogy, has improved upon its predecessor while still honoring the originalFinal Fantasy 7. WhileFinal Fantasy 7 Remakewas praised for its faithfulness to the original game and simultaneous boldness to step ahead of it,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthhas continuously received universal acclaim for its improved combat, breathtaking semi-open world, satisfying character development, and some of the most enjoyable mini-games in recent memory. There is still one more game ahead ofRemakeandRebirthto tie up the story, but it’s currently unclear what it may add to (or subtract from) the trilogy.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthis undoubtedly ambitious. From the various liberties it takes with the original game’s story to the gameplay and visual upgrades fromRemake,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthis truly massivein more than one sense of the word. Despite all the good that it brings to the table, however, it could be an arguably unfortunate sign of things to come in the trilogy’s final installment. Specifically, ifFinal Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3is significantly better thanRebirth, then it may inadvertently leave Part 1 of theRemaketrilogy in the dust.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Can’t Afford to Make Part 1 Irrelevant
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 1 Is Already Showing Signs of Irrelevance
Despite the praise thatFinal Fantasy 7 Remakereceived after its release, thanks in part tothe success ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, it is already showing signs of irrelevance. In other words, sinceRebirthis an improvement over the first game, players are less likely to return toRemakein the future. Otherwise, they would subject themselves to mechanics that are now dated because of what was introduced inRebirth, althoughRemake’s memorable and worthwhile story will remain largely untouched.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s most notable improvement overRemakeis in its gameplay.Rebirthnot only introduces Synergy Attacks to its combat, which allow two characters to perform devastating combos, but its combat overall has been improved with new basic attacks being given to each party member and some ofRemake’s other combat maneuvers, like dodging, receiving a much-needed overhaul.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s explorationis also a significant improvement overRemake’s, as it offers players several sizable semi-open world areas to explore, whereasRemake’s exploration was very limited.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s minigamesare another one of its major highlights, primarily due to its story taking the team to the Golden Saucer. WhileRemakehad several fun minigames for players to enjoy,Rebirthis chock-full of these engaging side activities, with Queen’s Blood taking the crown as its best.
There are several other improvementsRebirthmakes over the first game, and while they are welcome enhancements, they have putRemakein a rather difficult position by making it a rather lackluster experience to return to. Now,Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3can’t afford to further establishRemakeas the forgotten child of the trilogy.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Should Play it Safe to Avoid Trivializing Part 1
It might make sense forFinal Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3to improve even more in some areas, but if it happens to go too far with those improvements, Part 1 could end up in the grave. It would be a shame since the three games are meant to be one culmination, but not much can be done to salvage that experience if each game continues to make its own name for itself. As such, it would arguably be better for Part 3 of theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogyto play it safe—stick with the improvements thatRebirthmade and simply add a thin layer of polish.
