Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: A Remake That Rewrote the Rules

by

Summary

  • Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth redefined what a remake can be by taking bold risks and expanding the game’s world.
  • The game deviated from traditional norms of remakes and embraced new plot points and character arcs.
  • Reception of its ambitious semi-open-world exploration was mixed, but it remains a groundbreaking remake.

In the gaming and entertainment worlds, the term “remake” often elicits mixed reactions. It’s commonly perceived as suggesting that the end product might lack originality or creativity, even being seen as an unnecessary use of resources at times. Yet, when executed skillfully, a remake can surpass its predecessor in popularity, as demonstrated by Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which garnered significant success upon its release in 2020. Four years later, the sequel, titled Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, dared to take risks to prove that remakes can offer much more than just a fresh coat of paint.

Following industry norms, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth stands out as one of the most daring video game remakes to date. It skillfully blends respecting its origins with establishing its own unique persona and paving the way for its future in today’s era. Unlike many other remakes, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth presents veteran Final Fantasy 7 players a nostalgic journey through their beloved world, while offering newcomers a contemporary reinterpretation of a game that is almost three decades old. In essence, this strategy has redefined what a remake can achieve, establishing a benchmark for future projects in the genre.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Proves More Remakes Should Take Risks

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Defied Remake Conventions and Its Own Traditions

As a devoted gamer, I’ve noticed that when it comes to video game remakes, the industry often seems to focus more on enhancing graphics and improving quality-of-life aspects, with perhaps a few additional quests thrown in for good measure. This approach is largely driven by developers wanting to preserve the familiarity of the original game for its longtime fans, avoiding any significant changes in rules, narrative, or gameplay that might alienate them. In some cases, remakes are even marketed based on nostalgia, betting that a strong following of the original game’s fanbase will support the remake to ensure its success.

In a departure from typical remakes, when Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was released last year, it wasn’t simply an updated version of the classic game we all remember. It wasn’t just a facelift with modern mechanics, user-friendly features, and enhanced graphics. Instead, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth demonstrated that remakes don’t have to be tethered to the past in terms of gameplay, world, story, or any other aspect. Rather than sticking to familiar patterns and adhering to the norms of modern remake practices, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, perhaps even more so than its predecessor, exceeded these expectations.

According to industry norms, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth stands out as one of the most daring video game remakes due to its ability to pay tribute to its origins while also establishing a unique presence and paving the way for its evolution within the current era.

One notable feature that sets apart Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is its daring departure from the traditional timeline, a move that could be seen as a significant risk for such a legendary role-playing game. Yet, it took this step fearlessly and without reservation. The ending of Final Fantasy 7 Remake hinted at this approach, but it’s in Rebirth where this concept is fully realized with distinct character journeys and fresh plot twists – elements rarely seen in the remake genre. Although some of these risks stirred controversy, many gamers still acclaimed Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth as one of the top games of 2024.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Redefined What It Means to Expand a Game’s World

Instead of merely revising and reorganizing certain aspects of its storyline and characters, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth significantly broadened the concept of expanding a game’s universe. Unlike most remakes that sprinkle in minor new elements to cater to returning players, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth extended the original game’s world, presenting players with expansive semi-open exploration, rather than the restricted settings of the initial Final Fantasy 7. The upcoming final installment of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series is expected to be even more extensive, featuring Cid’s airship for travel.

Indeed, the response to the semi-open-world exploration in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has been mixed. Many critics have aimed their critique at its perceived repetition.

Essentially, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth wasn’t merely a simple remake; it defied traditional expectations of what a remake should be. It demonstrated that paying homage to a classic doesn’t necessitate being bound by its past. Instead, it broadened the game world, reimagined characters, and reinvented the narrative in ways that were unforeseen. This showed that innovation can coexist with respect for tradition. Even now, over a year later, its influence is still palpable not only within the Final Fantasy series but also throughout the gaming industry as a whole. If there’s one lesson that the industry has learned from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, it’s that a successful remake doesn’t just improve a game aesthetically, but redefines the boundaries of what can be achieved with the existing tools.

Read More

2025-02-28 14:24