When Square Enix unveiled Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on the final day of February 2024, they weren’t just releasing another sequel—they were expanding the scope of a beloved classic into a sprawling journey. This follow-up transforms what once was a concise ten-hour segment into an expansive adventure that now stretches well beyond 100 hours, giving players an immersive dive into the world of Final Fantasy VII like never before.
Gameplay – 9/10
The combat system in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth takes the solid foundation laid by the 2020 remake and injects fresh energy and speed. While familiar, battles feel snappier and more responsive due to smart tweaks that enhance the flow without overcomplicating the core mechanics.
One of the more noticeable improvements is Cloud’s dodging ability causing him to unleash brief gusts of wind, enabling quick follow-up attacks after evading. This subtle change reduces downtime and keeps you actively engaged rather than pausing to reposition.
This addition epitomizes Rebirth’s general design philosophy: fast-paced encounters that don’t drag on unnecessarily. Whether you’re cruising through weaker foes or locked in intense boss battles, the pacing keeps the adrenaline flowing.
On top of that, materia and magic feel significantly more impactful. Unlike the rather predictable weaknesses in the original remake, enemies here present a broader range of elemental vulnerabilities and pressures, compelling you to experiment with differing materia setups continually.
Moving around the expansive world is surprisingly smooth. Thanks to fast travel options like chocobos, numerous waypoint markers, and Cloud’s ability to effortlessly vault over obstacles, exploration feels much more like a comfortable jog than a slow slog.
Altogether, this results in one of the most seamless open world experiences you’ll encounter in a JRPG in recent memory.
Side Content – 10/10
The reason traversing Rebirth’s world feels brisk is largely due to thoughtfully designed side content that integrates naturally into the main journey. While the map may feature collectible towers and crystals reminiscent of Ubisoft-style icons, you rarely have to veer off course just to hunt them down.
Each area houses just a handful of side quests—typically four or five—so the game avoids overwhelming you with busywork. Plus, these quests often lead your path toward various points of interest, making exploration a natural byproduct of progressing storylines.
There’s also a clever use of environmental cues like flocks of flying birds or shimmering magical stones that nudge you toward undiscovered landmarks, encouraging curiosity-driven exploration without forcing it.
Rebirth shines when it comes to minigames, taking inspiration from the original Final Fantasy VII’s charm by cranking it to eleven. Each locale—especially the iconic Gold Saucer—is packed with diverse challenges, all offering multiple difficulty tiers and varied rewards that genuinely invite replayability.
If you’re a fan of intricate card games, you’ll find a real gem in Queen’s Blood. It strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and strategic depth, winning over even those who might normally shun FF-style card battles.
Of course, we can’t talk about the minigames without bringing up a surprisingly stand out part of Rebirth: Queen’s Blood, one of the best card games in the franchise. Being both simplistic and full of depth, I have seen friends who hate FF card games somehow fall in love with this minigame!
Graphics – 10/10
Rebirth doesn’t just look good—it sets a new high bar for visual presentation this console generation. Though the original Final Fantasy VII made waves with its jump in graphical standards, this sequel pushes with a polished realism that doesn’t shy away from vibrant, eye-catching colors.
The art style strikes a wonderful balance, creating stunningly warm environments—from sunlit oceans and lush grasslands to glowing green mako streams floating through the air—that make you feel fully immersed in this living world.
The world of Rebirth feels very warm, from the sun shining down on the ocean and grass to the green streams of mako in the air, this game gives off warm summer vibes as you watch your party of visually distinct character navigate these grasslands.
While real-time and pre-rendered cutscenes show a clear contrast, the latter showcases Square Enix’s mastery in animation, offering awe-inspiring moments, with the Gold Saucer sequences being especially memorable.
Overall, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a masterpiece of visual design and easily ranks as Square Enix’s finest looking game this generation.
Performance – 7/10
Running on PlayStation 5 hardware, Rebirth mostly delivers a smooth experience despite its vast, near-seamless world. Both Performance and Graphics modes maintain a consistent frame rate at 60 and 30 fps respectively.
However, until a patch addresses it, Performance Mode comes with an unflattering filter that, frankly, doesn’t do the visuals justice—so Graphics Mode is the better pick for now.
During extended play, frame rate dips were extremely rare, only cropping up amid the most chaotic Gold Saucer battles packed with particle effects. If anything, this highlights just how well optimized the game really is.
A minor visual hiccup occurs in grassy areas such as the Grasslands and Under Junon where ground textures sometimes pop in during cutscenes. Thankfully, this fades away as you move into less dense locales like Cosmo Canyon and Nibelheim.
Music – 10/10
One of Rebirth’s standout features is its sprawling soundtrack—boasting over 400 tracks, including unique remixes and area-specific themes.
Even minor quests get exclusive songs that you likely won’t hear again, adding layers of depth to the audio experience that feel incredibly personalized.
One particularly delightful touch is distinctive chocobo themes per region, ensuring the joy of riding these iconic birds never wears thin across the long adventure.
The music style varies wildly, switching from orchestral main themes to funky vocal numbers with an ease that keeps the soundscape fresh and engaging.
Moreover, soundtracks dynamically transition between exploration and battle versions, maintaining immersion and pacing with subtle fluidity that few games achieve.