Final Fantasy VII Remake had an enormous legacy to live up to. The original is widely regarded as one of the most important role-playing games ever made, so expectations for a modern reimagining were understandably high. Going into the remake, I was excited to return to Midgar, but I was also curious to see whether Square Enix could expand the story without losing what made it special in the first place.
From the opening moments, the remake made a strong impression. Midgar feels larger, more detailed, and far more alive, while familiar characters and locations are presented with an incredible level of care. The story still follows Cloud Strife as he joins Avalanche in its fight against the Shinra Electric Power Company, but the remake takes much more time to develop its world, relationships, and supporting characters.
I loved the experience overall. While the expanded structure occasionally affects the pacing, the additional story moments help make Midgar feel like a complete world rather than simply the opening chapter of a much larger adventure.
Graphics 10.0
The graphics in Final Fantasy VII Remake are incredible, especially when playing in Performance Mode at a smooth 60 frames per second. The improved frame rate makes exploration and combat feel much more fluid while still maintaining an impressive level of visual detail.
Midgar has been completely redesigned and looks better than I could have ever imagined. The environments, towering buildings, crowded streets, and industrial areas give the city a sense of scale and atmosphere that the original game could only suggest. Every location feels carefully crafted and helps bring the world to life.
The character designs are equally impressive. Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and the rest of the cast have been recreated almost perfectly, with highly detailed models, expressive animations, and designs that remain faithful to their original appearances.
Gameplay 10.0
The combat is extremely well thought out, offering a beautiful combination of fast-paced action and tactical decision-making. Basic attacks, dodging, blocking, and character movement happen in real time, but the game still gives you the freedom to slow everything down when choosing commands.
Opening the command menu places the battle into a dramatic slow-motion state, giving you time to select abilities, spells, and items. This is not only incredibly helpful during more difficult encounters, but also visually stunning as you watch the action unfold around your character.
The menus are slick, responsive, and easy to navigate. Each party member can be customized with different weapons, abilities, equipment, and combat roles, allowing you to adjust the team to match your preferred style of play.
The Materia system also makes an excellent return. It keeps the flexibility and strategic depth that made the original system so memorable while updating it to feel more accessible and modern. Experimenting with different Materia combinations adds another layer of depth and encourages you to regularly adjust how each character performs in battle.
Audio 10.0
The soundtrack does an incredible job of paying homage to the original game while adding new nuances that make each familiar theme feel fresh. Classic tracks have been beautifully rearranged and expanded without losing the emotion or identity that made them so memorable in the first place.
The environmental sound design is just as impressive. The subtle background noises throughout Midgar—from the machinery and crowded streets to the quieter ambient details—help make every area feel alive and believable.
The character dialogue is also top-notch, supported by some of the best voice acting you will hear in a video game. Each performance brings personality and emotion to the characters, making their relationships and story moments feel even more meaningful.
Value 10.0
Final Fantasy VII Remake offers plenty of content, even for players who choose to streamline the experience and focus primarily on the main scenario. The main story takes roughly 32 hours to complete, providing a substantial adventure without requiring you to explore every optional activity.
Each area also features a variety of side quests that allow you to learn more about Midgar and the NPCs who live there. These quests add extra personality to the different communities and make the world feel more developed beyond the main storyline.
Players who want to experience everything—including side quests, optional battles, collectibles, and mini-games—can spend close to 85 hours completing the game. With its lengthy campaign and considerable amount of optional content, Final Fantasy VII Remake provides excellent overall value.
Pros
- Incredible graphics that rank among the best in the series.
- Fast, engaging combat that modernizes the experience while still paying homage to classic Final Fantasy gameplay.
- A compelling story supported by excellent dialogue and outstanding voice performances.
- A memorable soundtrack that respectfully reimagines the music of the original game.
- A lengthy campaign with plenty of side quests, mini-games, and optional content.
Cons
- Some areas of the map could have been fleshed out further with more detail, variety, and opportunities for exploration.
Verdict
Final Fantasy VII Remake is one of the rare remakes that takes an already beloved game and manages to improve upon it. It respects the original while successfully modernizing its graphics, combat, music, characters, and world for a new generation.
With its stunning presentation, excellent voice acting, memorable soundtrack, engaging combat, and substantial amount of content, it delivers an experience that both longtime fans and newcomers can appreciate. We can only hope that others in the industry follow suit and treat their classic games with the same level of care, ambition, and respect.