Year In Review—Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Deserves More Love

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As a lifelong fan of Final Fantasy 7 and someone who has spent countless hours immersed in its world, I can wholeheartedly say that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a masterpiece. It’s not just another game; it’s a testament to the power of storytelling, combat mechanics, and character development.

2024 didn’t quite match the greatness of 2023, but it certainly delivered some outstanding hits. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth undeniably falls into the “outstanding hits” category. Although there may have been other titles that surpassed it in 2024, in certain aspects, Rebirth could be considered a “disappointment.

To begin with, let me clarify that one of the games I loved during my childhood was Final Fantasy 7. I’ve played it numerous times, enjoyed its battle system immensely, and became quite fond of the characters. Currently, the remake trilogy is at the top of my wish list, which means there might be a certain level of bias when it comes to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

However, this doesn’t mean I can’t be objective here, and I recognize why Astro Bot won Game of the Year (It was my pick too!) For all the effort and time that went into FF7 Rebirth though, the post-launch rewards didn’t justify the final product.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is The Perfect RPG

For the team behind “Could Strife,” achievements such as a 92 score on Metacritic, a 99% Critics Recommend rating on OpenCritic, and seven nominations at The Game Awards 2024 would typically be seen as a significant victory. However, I find myself here, feeling as if this potentially groundbreaking JRPG masterpiece is not receiving the attention it deserves from the gaming community, making it seem more like a quiet success rather than an all-time great.

In this reimagining, the narrative flows seamlessly with unexpected grandiose surprises, an intricate and instinctive battle mechanism, a stunning variety of expansive landscapes, and Red XIII humorously standing upright in a side-splitting tribute to its roots.

In essence, Final Fantasy 7 Remake might have struggled due to the high expectations set by fans. However, I firmly believe that this installment is crucial among the three releases, tackling one of the most debated chapters in video game lore. I contend that Rebirth skillfully portrayed these significant events and resonated perfectly: The Gold Saucer, Barret’s tale in Mt. Corel, and the integral weaving of destiny into the main plotline.

In terms of Game of the Year and Best Role-Playing Game awards, there seems to be a shift towards other games rather than giving recognition to the exceptional work done by “Rebirth.

Rebirth or ReFantazio?

In the same vein as Persona, created by Atlus, the game Metaphor carries strong imprints of Atlus’ distinctive style. Atlus’ latest creation has garnered reviews and acclaim akin to Rebirth, but is generally considered a superior title in nearly every aspect. Moreover, it snatched three Game Awards, even surpassing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for the prestigious “Best RPG” award.

After putting in more than 100 hours into Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and exploring most of its material, I must say Astro Bot is the only game this year that has outshone it for me – everyone’s taste differs, naturally. Shadow of the Erdtree may be DLC, but I’m already convinced; meanwhile, Metaphor: ReFantazio is an outstanding JRPG, and its unique elements are subjective, but many share my appreciation for its quirks.

It’s unlikely that the lack of acclaim for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is due solely to the nature of JRPGs, since Metaphor belongs to this genre too. However, it’s worth noting that Square Enix views their own game as falling short in certain aspects, specifically in terms of sales expectations. I can only hope that these disappointments won’t affect the release and success of the third and final installment of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series.

Was Rebirth perhaps not ideal for release during that season? Or could it be that the novelty of a new Intellectual Property (IP), ReFantazio, overshadowed the familiarity of the franchise, causing some to wonder if they made the right choice? I’ll be patiently waiting for part three before I can truly say if my suspicions are correct. Kudos to ReFantazio, but let’s not forget about the long-haired, sword-wielding adversary that could potentially reappear.

In 2024, did Final Fantasy 7 Remake warrant more acclaim, or was it outshone by another superior role-playing game that demanded more from the developers to boost sales? I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on this topic.

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2024-12-26 15:48