Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

About Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth continues the remake saga that began with Midgar. Square Enix Creative Business Unit I released this title on February 29, 2024. It serves as the second act in a three-part project retelling the classic story. Players control Cloud and his squad including Barret, Tifa, Aerith, and Red XIII. They chase Sephiroth across the vast planet after fleeing the city. The game launched on PlayStation 5 first and later arrived on PC. It stands as a massive adventure RPG that expands the scope far beyond the original's boundaries while keeping the familiar cast at its center.

Gameplay

You explore open zones filled with side quests and mini-games between story beats. Combat blends real-time action with command-based magic and limit breaks. You switch characters instantly to chain attacks or heal allies. The world map uses fast travel via chocobos, though you can still ride on foot to discover hidden paths. Battles feel fluid but require constant switching of party members to manage cooldowns effectively. Minigames like darts, horse racing, and poker appear regularly to break up the main narrative flow. You manage materia slots to customize abilities for each character. Session lengths vary wildly depending on how deep you go into optional content or if you rush straight through the plot.

What Players Think

Critics and players love this entry with an IGDB score of 89.5 out of 100 based on 136 ratings. The community mood stays overwhelmingly positive throughout the release window. Average playtime hovers around 65 hours for a main story run, but completionists spend over 120 hours hunting every collectible. Review snippets praise the expanded world design and character development. Completion rates show that 78 percent of users finish the game, with many replaying it to see different endings. The community notes that side content rivals the quality of the main quest. Achievement data reveals players often grind for rare drops after the credits roll.

PlayPile's Take

This title demands a full commitment given its length and price point. It works best for fans who already know the original plot or those willing to invest time in character building. The achievement list offers plenty of challenges for completionists who want to unlock every trophy. You pay a premium price but get dozens of hours of content in return. Some pacing issues exist during travel sections, yet the combat keeps you engaged. Skip this only if you dislike long RPGs with heavy side quest requirements. Finish it if you want one of the most polished action-RPG experiences available on modern consoles and PC.

Storyline

For years now, the Shinra Electric Power Company has been providing the world with energy at the expense of the lifestream, the “river” whence all life flows and whither it returns. After storming the company’s headquarters and engaging in a series of battles for the ages, Cloud and his companions leave Midgar behind and set out for the wider world. Once in the grasslands, they hop aboard chocobos and embark on a journey with an unknown destination. Meanwhile, Zack—beaten and battered from his fight against an army of troopers—hobbles across the wastelands into Midgar with a mako-poisoned Cloud on his shoulder. Though he has managed to escape death for now, the ominous rift in the sky gives him little reason to rejoice. That is hardly the only threat facing the world, however. The Shinra Resistance Committee, backed by Wutai’s interim government, declares war on the company; figures shrouded in black robes carry with them the corpse of Jenova, a veritable calamity from another world; and the Weapons—fierce and monstrous guardians of the planet—have recently awakened. Amid this chaos, Sephiroth has set his plan in motion, thus ensuring myriad fates intertwine and are birthed anew.