Are you able to imagine it’s 2024 and Closing Fantasy 7 remains to be an enormous entry throughout the bigger Closing Fantasy sequence? It began in 1997, when Sq. Enix launched the unique FF7 on PlayStation 1, full with 3D graphics. Quick-forward roughly 27 years and it’s now probably the most acclaimed video video games of all time and has seen quite a few diversifications and spinoffs since its preliminary launch.
Right here’s a brief sampling of the choices out there to Closing Fantasy 7 followers. You’ll be able to play the unique RPG, which has been ported to fashionable consoles. There’s the gloriously corny CGI film Creation Youngsters, which is ready two years after the occasions of the unique sport. Aspect character Zack Truthful even has a whole dang prequel set earlier than the occasions of Closing Fantasy 7 that Sq. Enix remastered. Different characters like Tifa and Aerith don’t have their very own video games, however they do have complete novels devoted to telling their backstories. And none of those examples contact the assorted rereleases of the unique Closing Fantasy 7 and its associated spinoffs.
The discharge of a lot Closing Fantasy 7 media may immediate a kind of… disaster… for followers. The creators haven’t clarified what’s canon and what’s not, and it has gotten to overwhelming Marvel ranges of intricacy. Nonetheless, it doesn’t must be so sophisticated. With the discharge of Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth, now is usually a nice time to revisit older video games with the intention to put together. On this checklist, we’ll provide you with a spoiler-free rundown of what associated media may assist enrich your expertise of Rebirth based mostly on characters and plotlines within the sport and what the story touches on.
Closing Fantasy 7 Remake
Picture: Sq. Enix
The place to play: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
As an alternative of simply updating graphics, the event crew at Sq. Enix opted to make use of the unique Closing Fantasy 7 as a supply of main inspiration and cut up it into three totally different video games for a full-on remake trilogy. The primary two titles are Closing Fantasy 7 Remake and now Closing Fantasy Rebirth. (Sq. Enix hasn’t launched any particulars on the third installment but, however builders say it’s on its manner.) Out of all of the video games on this checklist, Remake is an important sport it is best to play earlier than diving into Rebirth, which picks up proper after the occasions of Remake.
Closing Fantasy 7 Remake follows the story of Cloud Strife and his involvement with the rebel group Avalanche within the metropolis of Midgar. Along with introducing gamers to the primary forged of characters you’ll be enjoying as in Rebirth, it additionally supplies an intimate have a look at Midgar and the residing circumstances that outcome from Shinra’s rule. Rebirth picks up in the midst of the motion from Remake, simply as Cloud and pals flee the town.
Rebirth doesn’t hassle to provide gamers a full-fledged recap of who’s who and what you could know, though you don’t essentially must play Remake to get pleasure from Rebirth. You do get snippets of what occurred earlier than, so it’s seemingly simply sufficient to get an thought of the key actors on this world and the crew’s bigger mission. Nonetheless, there are simply so many emotional beats that may hit more durable or will make extra sense in case you do play it, and in case you actually wish to save time, you’ll be able to skip Remake’s DLC, Episode Intermission. I personally loved it, however Rebirth does a good job of exhibiting the additional Yuffie backstory.
Closing Fantasy 7 (1997)
Picture: Sq. Enix
The place to play: Home windows PC, Nintendo Change, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
Closing Fantasy 7 Remake departed from the unique story instructed in Closing Fantasy 7 in a number of methods, zooming in on the primary part of the sport set in Midgar. Rebirth departs from the unique story much more by simply utterly switching up the order the crew visits sure areas and among the occasions. Due to this, the unique model of the sport shouldn’t be wanted to play and luxuriate in Rebirth. Actually, I’d argue Remake is each extra necessary to play to grasp Rebirth’s story and likewise extra gratifying.
Nevertheless, enjoying the unique provides you with a strong basis of the characters and world that impressed your entire franchise. These video games nonetheless share the identical major forged of characters and most of the locales that seem throughout video games. Additionally, fashionable ports of the sport for consoles like Nintendo Change comprise loads of quality-of-life options — you’ll be able to velocity up fights or use battle enhancements — that make it comparatively simple to beat with out having to grind ranges or fear about logistics.
Disaster Core: Closing Fantasy 7 Reunion
Picture: Sq. Enix
The place to play: Home windows PC, Nintendo Change, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
Disaster Core: Closing Fantasy 7 Reunion is a remastered rerelease of Disaster Core: Closing Fantasy 7, a prequel Sq. Enix launched on PlayStation Transportable roughly 16 years in the past. Each variations of the sport inform the identical story roughly and comply with the lifetime of Zack Truthful, Cloud’s pal from the military, and the occasions that led as much as the start of Closing Fantasy 7.
The connection between Disaster Core and Closing Fantasy 7 is usually a bit complicated. Remake and Rebirth are actually taking the story down a distinct route, so it’s unclear if it’s a prequel to the unique FF7 or the newer trilogy of video games. Sq. Enix’s web site describes it as a prequel to the unique sport, however Tetsuya Nomura additionally stated in an interview that the crew was “positioning Disaster Core Reunion as a prequel” to your entire three-part remake trilogy and that the story is necessary.
No matter the place it stands within the timeline, it is best to nonetheless play it. Its story reveals why Zack performs such an necessary function within the bigger Closing Fantasy 7 world and divulges much more about his relationship with Cloud. It additionally supplies an awesome window into Sephiroth’s life earlier than the occasions of FF7 as nicely, which issues as a result of, nicely, his motivations information your entire destiny of the planet.
My solely caveat is that this: When you’ve solely performed Remake and are unaware of the key story beats from the unique FF7, then you definitely may wish to maintain off enjoying Disaster Core. Sure elements is perhaps finest skilled with the newer reimagined story, nevertheless it’s at all times there if you wish to dive in.
Different shoutouts
Picture: Sony Footage Residence Leisure
Rebirth pulls generously from the forged of characters that seem within the wider Closing Fantasy 7 universe. You is perhaps assembly individuals and scratching your head questioning what the hell is up or the place someone got here from. There’s Glenn Lodbrok, who seems as a personality within the now-shuttered battle royale spinoff sport Closing Fantasy 7: The First Soldier, and seems within the free-to-play gacha sport that collects a number of tales from throughout video games, Closing Fantasy 7 Ever Disaster. These aching for extra Vincent Valentine can choose up Dirge of Cerberus: Closing Fantasy 7, nevertheless it isn’t out there to play on fashionable consoles, which makes it onerous to get. Hell, you’ll be able to even brush up on a few of your Midgar historical past by enjoying the Closing Fantasy 7 Remake maps in PowerWash Simulator.
And these are all simply video video games. You may get even deeper with other forms of media. Superfans of Tifa Lockhart and Aerith Gainsborough can learn a whole novel about them and dive into their full histories as characters. Final however not least, there’s Creation Youngsters. I personally adore that film and all its foolish antics, however I’d say keep away in case you haven’t performed the unique and have been as soon as blissfully unaware of a sure main plot level like I used to be.
In the long run, although, approaching a sport with a lot “required studying” is usually a bit a lot, and albeit, it’s simply not possible relying on how a lot spare time you have got. Due to that, I wouldn’t put an excessive amount of stress on experiencing all of it. Begin with the tales and gameplay that curiosity you, and you may go from there. I personally advocate to my pals that they only play Remake, sans its DLC. It’s all non-obligatory, and generally the most effective Closing Fantasy expertise is one while you’re stepping into on vibes solely.