Final Fantasy VII Remake

Square Enix tells a smaller, more personal Final Fantasy 7 tale and marries it with a smart mashup of action and RPG gameplay to deliver a must-play experience. Its PS5 version realizes the world of Midgar with stunning new detail.

For the PS5 version upgrades in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and the the Episode INTERmission DLC, read our separate review here.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is beautiful, a ton of fun, and manages to bring one of the jRPG classics up to modern standards with few issues.

Let’s get one thing straight right now: Objectivity will be nearly impossible here. I have a history with Final Fantasy VII that spans multiple decades. The original game changed how I looked at games, in general, for my whole life going forward. These characters, this story, and this world are permanently embedded in the marrow of my bones. The opening cut-scene had me reaching for tissues in seconds. I was a crumpled ball of feelings, I was hooked, I was enthralled. The best I can do is to measure this game beside other Final Fantasy titles. Even other RPGs feel like they’re from different p...

Much like its predecessor, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is far from perfect. Its linear design and difficulty spikes may be off-putting for some, but stick through the rough bits and there's another incredible story and wonderful world waiting.

If you're willing to keep an open mind, you'll be able to enjoy Final Fantasy VII Remake for what it is at its core: a gorgeous, well-made, and fun RPG that successfully retells one of the best video game stories ever told with a few twists.

Taking one of the most genre defining and well loved games of all time and rebuilding it from the ground up was a tall order, but Square Enix pulled it off with modernized gameplay and a fleshing out of the world and many characters compared to the original. While only featuring a portion of the story fans know and love, Final Fantasy VII Remake still manages to feels like a complete game, yet still part of a larger narrative to come, and will have fans waiting anxiously for the next entry as soon as they finish.

To say Final Fantasy VII REMAKE has been hotly anticipated is putting it mildly. Check out our review of the long-awaited remake of one of Square Enix's most beloved JRPGs of all time.

This is still one of the most excellently presented games I’ve ever experienced, and with a few tweaks for the next installment, that excellence might extend to gameplay and story too. Whatever misgivings I may have going into future releases, it’s undeniable that this was an enjoyable 42 hours marred by a single bad one. Even so, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is arguably the best non-MMO Final Fantasy game released in a very long time. Despite my qualms, it’s been a welcome Reunion.

It’s hard to remake a beloved game. Balancing nostalgia with new ideas is a tricky conundrum to overcome, especially when it comes to a game like Final Fantasy VII. So many have fond memories of that game and it’s impossible to replace those. Instead, Square Enix has crafted a new game that successfully utilizes the best parts of the original story, adds in new elements and delivers a whole new battle system. Final Fantasy VII Remake provides the characters, settings and plotlines players expected, expanding them with a greater focus on character development. The new combat mechanics perfectly...

Republished on Wednesday, 13th July, 2022: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of July's PS Plus Extra, Premium lineup. The original text follows.

“...although the complete Final Fantasy VII storyline is a fascinating, emotional globetrotting adventure, this first 40-hour romp is anything but.”