Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (2024)

I started REBIRTH last night/this morning and it's off to a brilliant start so far. I'm already enjoying it more than Intergrade. Granted, I've only just reached what feels like the ending of Chapter 1 - had to save and leave right as Cloud approaches the flame engulfed Nibelheim after Sephiroth's descent into madness - but what a great hook: we start the game by answering the burning question players of Intergrade are most likely to have: what the hell is the deal with Sephiroth and Cloud?!

Again, I didn't pay attention to the story of the original when I played it, as that was back in my trophy-hunting craze. So I definitely had that question and was curious as to the answer. And not only do we get an answer; we get to really flesh it out. Visiting Nibelheim and observing the playful banter between the veteran Sephiroth and the eager pre-traumatized Cloud, and wishing that could continue, while knowing it won't turn out that way, is a really great way to grab the player's attention.

Sephiroth, as a result, becomes more interesting as well. In the previous game and to players who don't know better, Sephiroth comes off as boogeyman, which is to say, a blank slate stand-in for "bad guy!". But here, we get to see the trigger that sets him off. It's not like this plot point of his fall, or the catalyst behind that fall, is anything new, but it's well done. With a little empathy, one can understand why Sephiroth would turn so cold and callous after discovering his origin. I imagine that learning you were created by a scientist divorces you, to a degree, of natural empathy. Conversely, having the knowledge and/or belief that you are a natural outcome of natural processes helps you feel connected and invested in social cohesion. Realizing that is a lie probably brings the conclusion that social cohesion itself is a lie. That which was forbidden or sacrosanct is no longer either. What's killing and wanton destruction when you have no connection to the very logic that prohibits those things?

I'm here for it. I'm really enjoying this. It's given me a new appreciation for Intergrade as well, and that says a lot about what amounts to the opening hour(s) of a game.

The PC performance is fucking awful in the first hour - stuttering is rampant - but that seems to have gotten better as I've played, which seems to be a relatively universal issue after a quick Reddit search. Hopefully it's not that much of an issue going forward.

Dyne has a penis gun.

Not too much a fan of how this scene is played out with some goofs and gaffs after Dyne's death. Fighting Palmer, Dio coming in, Yuffie being cheery over the buggy, theses little moments felt like they undercut what could be such an emotional highlight. I don't really see the point of placing Palmer's fight here.

also...

I want Tifa Lockhart to ram me with her buggy at 200cc speed killing me instantly.

There's so much I love about Chapter 5.

The Queen's Blood tournament for one thing.

Listening to the commentator as he commentates over your party members.

The receptionist having more Cloud related stuff on him the more rounds you win

Barret singing the usual Final Fantasy victory and game over themes when he wins/loses.

Beating that fucker, Chadley.

Red XIII.

Cloud smiling and singing the victory theme when he is deemed champion.

These will have spoilers for everything, since I've played the originals and spin offs and such. Chapter 1 End: So, I just finished chapter one. Gosh, this pulled on my heart strings. I honestly had no idea what was going on right at the start pulling people from the rubble and seeing Zack, my heart bleeds for that man. The hardest a game made me cry to that point was the original crisis core, the ending of it strung me so thoroughly that I cried off and on for two days. The new crisis core, despite minimal changes somehow felt more hopeful to me.

I love how both this and the previous game make cloud feel human, this was lacking of the original, and I know it was a technology constraint. The interactions feel genuine and they hurt.

My mind is blown that here I am looking around these sets in high definition. The world is lovely.

Seeing the whole chapter from 'clouds' perspective was quite hard.

I am locked in, and really excited for the rest but alas I have to sleep now, -Mumbles- and then paint some more tomorrow -UGH-

I was surprised they start the game with a full flash back, but I suppose those playing will have make it through the first game, so they did not need to lead with a fresh new shiny open world. The town they are telling the story in looks lovely. It's pulling at something nostalgic in my memory, especially seeing the mountain in the distance and the thing in the middle of town. I loved the small touches here, Not enough beds, the heady jazz walking out to a romantic balcony, the broken innkeeper. The "Going up the mountain" Felt slow, but I don't really find myself minding, it's a nice tutorial mountain.

Gosh I want to play more.... Alas~ Time to sleep

Today I over did it, diy is a lot easier in games, now I think i wanna see a nice achy character, like you swap out your floor and they just kinda limp upstairs or out the door. Strangely enough, it was the post floor laying mopping that did me in...

Tomorrow I need to paint and ...paint and paint but all I really wish to do is see if my pc can actually run ff7.2 wrap up and not move for 14-20 hours.

I am so excited for it, I really could not justify myself a ps5 to play it. I just hope I do not need to think about pc upgrades

New opinion column in spanish: Is it ethical to have fun at the Gold Saucer?

Is about how FFVII Rebirth show us how this theme park is helping destroying the planet but still want us to play minigames in it. I also compare it with how almost every product and service we consumme in real life is damaging the planet or society in some way or another.