Final Fantasy VII Rebirth stands as the second installment in the remake trilogy of the classic RPG, delivering an action RPG experience filled with adventure on PC. This title expands the story beyond Midgar, where Cloud Strife and his allies venture into a vast world threatened by corporate exploitation and ancient forces. With real-time combat, deep customization, and open exploration, it appeals to those seeking a blend of narrative depth and engaging mechanics in a reimagined fantasy setting.
Gameplay
Combat in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth mixes action with strategic elements, building on a system that includes pressure and stagger mechanics to exploit enemy weaknesses. Players manage an Active Time Battle gauge to execute attacks, spells, and abilities, while switching between party members like Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Aerith, Yuffie, Red XIII, and Cait Sith, each with unique fighting styles such as Tifa's agile combos or Red XIII's vengeance stance for fast attacks.
Customization comes through the materia system, allowing players to equip orbs that grant magic, stat boosts, and passive skills. The folios system lets you spend skill points to unlock new abilities, including synergy skills for on-the-fly team maneuvers and synergy abilities that deliver powerful joint attacks, extending stagger windows or filling limit break bars.
Exploration involves traversing regions on foot or via chocobo, using abilities like bouncing off mushrooms or chaining boost pads. A grappling hook aids in climbing and swinging across gaps, while activities include tracking lifesprings to reveal intel for summon battles or side objectives, and digging for treasure with precise timing.
Game Modes
The main story mode follows Cloud and his companions as they navigate a world divided into regions like the Grasslands, Junon, Costa del Sol, Corel, Gongaga, and Cosmo Canyon, uncovering threats from Shinra and awakening guardians known as Weapons.
Sidequests appear on community noticeboards in towns, offering multiple objectives that boost party bonds and provide additional context to the narrative. These often involve combat challenges with specific conditions or pursuits like chasing protorelics for unique stories.
Minigames add variety, from stealth sections to unlock regional chocobos, to box-throwing challenges with Cait Sith or crate-moving puzzles. The Gold Saucer features entertainment options, blending into the overall adventure.
Story and Characters
The narrative picks up after escaping Midgar, with Cloud's group riding chocobos across plains while facing Sephiroth's schemes and the planet's lifestream depletion by Shinra. Flashbacks delve into events like the Nibelheim tragedy, and new elements intertwine fates, including Zack Fair's struggles and mysterious black-robed figures carrying Jenova's remains.
Characters grow through interactions, with bond levels increasing via dedicated sidequests. Aerith emerges as an emotional anchor, strengthening ties with Tifa, while Barret confronts his past, creating a party dynamic that drives the journey forward.
Is It Worth Playing?
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth earns strong praise with a Metacritic score of 89 on PC and a 9 out of 10 from major reviews, highlighting its challenging combat and expansive world that can take over 80 hours to fully experience. Players appreciate the depth in character progression and the blend of action RPG elements, though some note performance issues like pop-in and stutters on less powerful hardware.
It suits fans of story-driven action RPGs who enjoy tactical battles and exploration, especially those invested in the Final Fantasy series. With PC enhancements supporting 4K resolution and up to 120 FPS, plus features like NVIDIA DLSS, it offers a polished way to continue the remake trilogy, making it a solid choice if your setup meets the demands.
