(Video Games) Final Fantasy Remake: Intergrade
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
So, long time followers of my blog know that I don't usually do Video Game reviews. Part of this is because the WTM/STF format doesn't really apply to video game story telling. Movies/Films top out at 3-3.5 hours. Modern video games with a story even worth exploring start at 10-12 hours. There's usually just too much there there to keep up with. The other major reason I don't review video games is that fun is such a subjective and evolving concept.
In 1972, Pong was the greatest game ever. It was two sticks passing a digital ball back and forth. In 1980, Pac-Man was the greatest game ever. It was a big yellow circle eating small white circles and running away from multi-colored ghosts; pretty much indefinitely. In 1991 Street Fighter II was the greatest game ever. It was pick one of 8 people (well, 7 people and whatever the hell Blanka is) and beat up the other 7 and then 4 more. In 1992 Mortal Kombat was the greatest game ever with pretty much the same idea, just doing so with full motion video capture. So, in 2024 what is the greatest game ever? It depends on who you ask. That's my point, gaming is a subjective art form, and what I think is the greatest game ever (BioShock probably still holds that title for those who care) could be dull and uninspired/too hard. So it's in that perspective, that I begin this first ever Video Game edition of WTM/STF, and I talk about a rendition of a game that is most certainly atop a non-zero number of gamer's greatest games ever list; Final Fantasy VII.
A VERY brief history.
There are a LOT of great articles, essays, reviews, and especially YouTube videos about Final Fantasy VII and what it means in gaming. It was; without question, the killer app for the original PlayStation upon release in 1997. I say this from experience because when I bought the PC Port a year or two later, waited in vein for two patches to fix the known issue that caused the game to lock up during the opening video, only to have it STILL not be fixed, my solution was to go to Toys R' Us and buy a PlayStation and a copy of FF VII. When I say this story matters to people; believe me, I know exactly what it mean.
In 2005, the PlayStation 3 was announced. Sony was going head to head with Microsoft and their competing generation Xbox 360 in the modern day console wars. Knowing what Final Fantasy VII meant to gamers at this point (I'm assuming they eventually got the PC version to run), Sony realized they would be the talk of the gaming world if they showed everyone how big the PS3's nuts were and ran a tech demo of the AWESOME opening scene from FF VII on modern hardware.
Sony's plan worked a little too well. To say that Final Fantasy VII fanboys and girls got a little excited about a potential full game remake would be a vast understatement. So when Sony and SquareEnix went all "Oh no, it's not a full game, it's just a simple tech demo to show what a game would look and feel like!" To which the fandom responded, "Sweet, so make that game please and thank you" After a lot more back and forth and some hand wringing, Final Fantasy VII Remake finally entered full production in 2015. Given the size and scale of the project, it was decided that rather than one full game, Final Fantasy VII Remake would actually consist of a series of 3 games. The first in the series was simply Final Fantasy VII Remake, released for the PlayStation 4 in 2020. Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade; the version of the game I'm discussing in far more detail than I originally planned, was released a year later for the PlayStation 5 and PC formats. The second game in the remake trilogy; Final Fantasy VII Remake: Rebirth will be released on February 29, 2024 for PlayStation 5 and is heavily rumored to be released for PC on May 24, 2024. The third and final game has no title or release date as of this writing, but I would not at all be surprised if it 4-5 year time frame and naming scheme is kept and we see Final Fantasy VII Remake: Reunion came to pass sometime between 2027 and 2030.
From this point on, I'm assuming you have actually played the original FF VII or this remake, as some knowledge of one or both of the games will be necessary; and while I do my best to avoid serious story line spoilers, there are one or two additions to the remake lore that I will be discussing.
What I Like
The Graphics: With more than a quarter of a century between the original PlayStation release, it would go without saying that Final Fantasy VII Remake looks a lot better than the original, however, exactly HOW much better can not be overstated. Climbing up and down ladders in the Mako reactors, looking down a the destroyed portion of the plate over Sector 7 from outside Shinra HQ, the cutscenes, and especially the character models (more on this in a minute) all look absolutely top shelf. Clearly a lot of effort was put into meeting the expectations of the fan base, and boy howdy did they get met.
The Music: I cannot overstate how much the music matters in every Final Fantasy game and the seventh installment is no exception. People much more eloquent and informed than I am have discussed the brilliance of Nobuo Uematsu so I would highly recommend Googling him or just "Final Fantasy Music" to learn more. That said, the reworked and remastered renditions in FF VII are chef's kiss perfect. For example, I will never not tear up or feel like I've been gut punched whenever Aerith's theme fires up, and if it doesn't affect you, then sorry for your soul bro.
The brilliance of how music is used in this game, both the original and remake version is very difficult to put into words; it's just something you know when you experience it. It's like the old saying, those who were there can't explain it, those who weren't will never understand.
The Characters: This is perhaps the biggest difference in the storytelling process from the original game to the remake. As great as Final Fantasy VII OG was, it's very difficult to effectively develop the personalities of the character when they look like geometry problems come to life take for example this side by side image of Barret:
In the OG game, Barret is hot headed and distrustful of Cloud, he swears a lot and generally has one emotion, anger. In the remake, Barret is still extremely distrustful of Cloud, but given his more realistic rendering and voice acting, the player can connect with Barret on a deeper level. He's not just a man on a mission, he's a full blown true believer and in a lot of ways, a cult leader. And he's just one example.
Cloud is much more stoic and composed in the remake. When he says he's just an indifferent mercenary who would sell his grandmother out for 50 cents, you believe it. That was never really true in the first game; it just felt like no matter what, he had nothing else besides AVALANCHE. The OG Cloud's relationship was symbiotic, this Cloud's relationship is parasitic, hence Barret's hostility.
I could go on, but I think I've made the point. The more realistic character models and voice acting lead to better storytelling. You feel the conflict in Barret as he doesn't trust Cloud, but he does trust Tifa, and Tifa trusts Cloud (at least, she thinks she does), so he's willing to chance it. On a much smaller, but just as affective scale, when Aerith and Cloud are navigating the collapsed parkway and they take turns trying to high five the other, when they finally get it right the player appreciates it, because who hasn't been in that situation?
The Gameplay: This may not make much sense to anyone who has never played other Final Fantasy games beyond VII, but Final Fantasy VII remake is very subtly a composite of the other games in the series. The weapons upgrade system is very reminiscent of the Sphere Grid from FFX. Each character being able to carry only one red (Summoning) Materia feels a lot like the junction system from FFVI. We've seen in the Remake: Rebirth trailer that the card game from FFVIII and FFIX is making an appearance. The combat is real-time as in more recent games in the series, but the ATB meter is implemented to the combat allowing the player to make hard choices. I had the following scenario more than once play out.
I'm controlling Cloud and I'm nearly dead, but so is the thing I'm wailing on. Tifa has revive materia and Barret has a maxed out healing materia joined to magnify so he can almost fully heal the entire party. However, they both have empty or nearly empty ATB bars so it's going to be a minute before I can take advantage of either. Cloud has one full ATB bar. Do I use an ability and try to kill the foe, or do I throw in a quick mega potion and ensure survival? Neither answer is particularly right or wrong, it's just a personal choice and a reaction in the moment more often than not.
That said, if they find a way to implement a draw system AND make it fun, they've worked miracles.
Tifa: Tifa rules. Her character rules. Her combat system rules. Everything about Tifa is incredibly delightful and fun. She is by far the most FUN character to control in battle, because her speed and agility make her so versatile. Knowing where her story goes from the original game makes her a tragic figure, and if that continues in this narrative then she's even more likeable, but if it goes where it's rumored to go....
Barret and Red XIII: I don't remember Barret and Red XIII being a thing in the original game, but these two in the remake are FUCKING GOLD! Consider this exchange from the escape from Shinra mini-game.
Barret: Don't they see the piece of shit we're in?
Red XII: Says the 300 pound sack of it.
These two are just awesome together.
What I'm Not Sure About
The Mini-Games: One of the drawbacks of the original game was that at a certain point, it felt less like a narrative and more like an excuse to put a mini game in place. In the remake, putting these mini-games into action were done better, but still seemed a little gratuitous. Doing squats in the gym was a lot better now that I wasn't constantly hearing about "Bro" and there was a sense of satisfaction when you get into a rhythm on the button combination. Still, they took me out of the story more than deeper into it.
Roche: Speaking of mini-games, the remake has a second instance of the motorcycle mini-games where Roche is introduced. I *think* they were going for kind of a respectful rivalry with a little madness thrown in a'la Batman v Joker, but Roche at the end of the day just seems to be more thirsty for attention than anything. The game makes NO qualms about it's "Be who you are" messaging (and this includes if you are queer/bi-curious whatever, but Roche is just so over the top about it. I'm curious to see where they go with him in future instances.
Chadley/Side Questing: Chadley's character sucks, but he's a devil that you ultimately want to do business with and he's a reason to try new things and avoid turning the game into mindless button mashing. His stuff and side questing aren't terrible on the first play through, because hey, you're turning 4-6 hours of the original game and making it into a full 40+ hour campaign. In the end I suppose it's more engaging than just XP grinding, but it still feels like filler, especially when you near the end game and remember just how much of that story took place in the Shinra Building.
What I Don't Like
The Turks: Hear me out. The Turks are AWESOME characters, and the remake brings them even further to life. However, they are also incredibly overpowered, especially Reno. As characters they rule, as opponents I dread every encounter with them.
The Filler: Why in the world do I get to customize my fight with the Air Buster? I know it's ultimately going to end with Cloud waking up in the Sector 5 church? Why are there more side quests after the party has finally convinced Elmyra to let them break into Shinra and go after Aerith? Why do I get to trek through the sewers beneath Wall Market, TWICE? The story is why I'm here, and you could easily shave a good 8-10 hours of fluff and be perfectly fine.
Shinra: We get it. Shinra is evil. Everyone associated with them is evil.... well except the everyday people just trying to eek out a living from the biggest employer worldwide, and Reeve. The character development that is such a benefit for our heroes just makes our villains way too far over the top. For all the subtlety in the relationships between AVALANCHE, the Shinra relationships are about as subtle as a dentist using a jackhammer.
Red XII being a "Guest Party Member": Red XIII rules. He's a talking lion-wolf-dog thing that kicks all sorts of ass. He's also an NPC in this game. I get WHY they did it, I also don't care. He was playable for the entire time in the original game, he needs to be playable here.
Dementors ERRR Whispers: How J.K. Rowling hasn't sued Square Enix for this shit I do not know. As an idea, Whispers are actually really awesome. The fact that the look, move and act just like Dementors is not. Just make them look like the arbiters of fate from the end of the gamer, or really anything else that's not so lazy and derivative.
The Bottom Line
Remakes are always a touchy subject. If you differ too much from the source material, you lose a lot of what made the original special enough to remake in the first place. If you change NOTHING, then you end up being a pointless waste of time. See also, Psycho (1998) for an example of this. I've always said that the best way to remake/retell a story is to retell it as though it were being told today, keep your plot beats the same, but make it true to the time and place of when it's made. James Bond films do this very well, as do most film versions of Batman. Obviously, Final Fantasy VII Remake:Intergrade does this perfectly.
I've cared about this lore for years. Hell, I named my cat Aeris for crying out loud! This game made me care more. That's all you can ask for in a remake.
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