Final Fantasy VII is so iconic that I’m not sure anyone needs to say anything about it, as everything that could be said about it has already been said. Some of us slightly older gamers remember when it came out, and certain scenes from the game are indelibly etched into our memories. That first time that Cloud looks up at the Mako reactor in Midgar, the sight of Sephiroth walking through the flames of Nibelheim, and of course the scene that reduced preteen and teenaged boys to tears. Don’t act like you don’t know which scene!

When Square released the Final Fantasy VII tech demo for the PS3 during E3 2005, fans lost their minds. We were all sure that this meant that a remake of this beloved classic was not far off. What fools we all were. Development would start on the remake ten years later, and we wouldn’t see much of the game for another four years after that. Throughout this time, I eagerly read all the news I could get my hands on. I was discouraged to read that the game would be episodic, and that the battle system would move away from turn-based to a more real-time system, but was still eager to get my hands on it. Last night the demo for it was released on the PS4, and I eagerly downloaded it overnight so that I could play it. Here are my thoughts.

Story

You are once again in the boots of the sullen protagonist, Cloud Strife. He has been hired by the eco-terrorist group named AVALANCHE which is headed by a gruff, foul-mouthed man named Barrett Wallace. Cloud is tasked with accompanying a small group of AVALANCHE members to the Shinra Electric Power Company’s power reactor in the city of Midgar and blowing it up. As you make your way toward the goal, Barrett explains that the reactor is draining the planet of its lifeblood, called mako. As a man who was once a member of Shinra’s elite fighting force, SOLDIER, Cloud is uniquely suited to this task.

The demo takes you all the way through the reactor and out again after placing the bomb. The remake faithfully follows the story of the original, which is great. SquareEnix has stated that they are going to pack the game with far more content than the original, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they add to a story that is already complex and a little convoluted.

Gameplay

This is where I was most hesitant. Were they going to ruin all my nostalgic memories by changing the turn-based combat to some hyper action mess? Thankfully, they chose a clever hybrid between action and turn-based fun. As you’re fighting, an ATB (Active Time Battle) gauge charges. Once it’s full, you can do special moves, cast spells, or use items. While it’s charging, you can do basic attacks, as well as move around the battlefield. You can also change between characters on the fly, as well as deliver orders to them. It’s a really great way to be faithful to the old way while providing something fresh.

Visuals

Keeping in mind that we have another month until this is released, the graphics are phenomenal. The framerate was buttery smooth the whole time, and the resolution is incredible. The opening cinematic opens with a close-up shot of Aerith, and it was mind-blowing in its realism and attention to detail. This is not really anything new for the series; they have always had great graphics. However, it was still great to see this classic game rendered with such love and care. Particle and magical effects are great as well, though admittedly I only saw three spells: Thunder, Fire, and Cure.

Expectations

The development of this game has been a roller coaster for me. I was excited, then dismayed, then pessimistic, then cautiously hopeful, and now I’m back to being hyped for this game. I can’t wait to relive all of those seminal moments in video game history and introduce my children to this game. I can’t wait to go to the casino in the game, Golden Canyon. I can’t wait to race and breed chocobos and finally, I can’t wait to see how SquareEnix delivers on one of the most long-awaited gaming experiences of all time.