Final Fantasy VII Remake - Preview, Square Enix excites and worries

Let's not hide too much, Square Enix lately it's getting quite arguing. The development house, now famous for its delays, seems to have entered a sort of limbo where, in one way or another, it manages to offer games of fine workmanship but that fail to satisfy the palate of all users. The latest titles of great depth, that is Final Fantasy XV e Kingdom Hearts III, in one way or another have divided critics and fans, and this schism seems to be happening also with regard to the highly anticipated Final fantasy VII Remake. The original game, released in 1997, had united the entire audience, acclaimed as one of the products that made the history of the videogame medium. Precisely for this reason the announcement of the makeover had made the whole sector rejoice, but the problems began after the disclosure of the episodic publication of the work. In fact, as widely discussed by the majority of the public, this new way of selling your product has not been received in a good way, but to be able to express more on this topic we will necessarily have to wait for E3 this year.

All very nice to see

The first thing that immediately stands out is certainly the technical level of the work: Final Fantasy VII Remake abandons its original graphic design, with cartoon tones and brighter colors, in favor of a more captivating, realistic and somber design. Everything is made even more engaging by the setting, by the facial animations of the various characters, an even clearer step forward than what we had seen in the now past fifteenth chapter of the saga. The latest trailer released is a small glimpse of the first moments of the game, almost comparing some of the video game's iconic scenes with the past, like that of the first meeting between Cloud and Aerith. Given the images of the game that we have available, and also considering the episodic nature of the work now confirmed for some time, we can be sure that the title will keep this level of detail, as well as a development - we hope - more peaceful. This choice to break the narrative into several parts could have positive implications for everything related to the production of the video game, but on an ongoing basis some new fans may not find all the events clear right away. A double-edged sword that could be really unpleasant, especially if you tend to differentiate the various chapters also at the level of general experience like the episodes of Final Fantasy XV.

To engulf fans even more, the trailer highlights some of the historical characters of the chapter, making it clear right away that, based on who we check, the gameplay will also undergo substantial changes, it can be changed freely according to the members present in the party. It will also be very interesting to see how we can deal with the bosses. It all ends with a first look, albeit from behind, of the only villain who, at least in terms of fame, managed to surpass the protagonist of the game: Sephiroth. While the look we were able to give the antagonist was really fleeting, we expect to see something much more substantial during this year's E3, since what was shown all seemed like a kind of teaser of something much bigger.

What emerged from all this, however, in addition to the natural positive notes, is also another aspect that may worry some fans, perhaps eager for an experience in some ways more "free": Final fantasy VII Remake seems to lack this feature , as if it tended to make the player navigate a sort of narrative corridor which, arrived in 2019, seems too forced. We realize, however, that what we have seen is the first phases of the game and that it reflects what we have seen in the original work, and that the latter at some point opened giving space to discovery. The Game Director Nomura he specified that exploration will be a part of the experience, but from what we have seen now it seems absent at least to a large extent, as hidden areas or areas could easily be present.

Pyrotechnic combat

The fact that Nomura is in charge of the game, at least for some fans, did not fully convince, given the fear that the Director could develop the game's combat system based on his background, and transform it all in Kingdom Hearts style. Although we cannot fully judge from the trailers that have emerged, it is undeniable that the management of the menu at the bottom left is very similar to that seen in the kingdom of hearts saga. Surely everything seems perfectly in line with the action direction now taken by the saga, and we hope to be rewarded in terms of visual spectacularity from the moves (and what is shown bodes well). The Limits shown as the Cross Slash appear to be elegant, smooth and give a full sense of power. As you can always see from the same HUB of the attacks, by using the back buttons, you can change the character, so as to be able to break a hypothetical monotony of the clashes and range between the techniques of the various characters also on the tactical level.

Unfortunately, we cannot say much more about the gameplay, for the simple reason that we have no further information. What is seen from the side of the combat system is therefore not much, although pyrotechnic and heavily choreographed, nevertheless it is still very little to be convinced that everything works at its best. Something perplexes us, like the fact that in most of the fight scenes He cheers both within the group without actually appearing, this could be a symptom of a state of development that is not yet advanced. Another obvious thing is the fact that each action has its own specific button and there is also a sort of secondary menu, still unknown.

In conclusion we can say that Final Fantasy VII Remake seems to be quite a challenge for the development team, which tries to modernize the product trying to give the same sensations of the past in terms of the plot. We have seen very little of the game yet, but we are very confident to see something new, and hopefully substantial, at E3 this year. Square Enix, after the recent past and the splits of fans regarding the judgment of titles such as Final Fantasy XV e Kingdom Hearts III, can not afford to be wrong. Portraying such an important and significant work is indeed a very delicate mission, and the information in our possession, at the moment, does not help to navigate in calm waters.