• What we know about the Final Fantasy VII Remake


    Final Fantasy VII Remake's key developers Yoshinori Kitase and Tetsuya Nomura recently had an interview with Famitsu. Thanks to translation by Siliconera, we have their highlights of what had been discussed. So far they have touched on the cross dressing to the different eposodic entries. Check it out!

    • The official title is Final Fantasy VII Remake. Square Enix thought about adding some kind of subtitle that is related to the game’s story, but they decided not to, since they didn’t want to give the wrong idea of it being some kind of “Legends” or a sequel-type game. They thought of different ideas, but in the end, they figured that having “Remake” in the official title would make it easiest to understand.
    • Final Fantasy VII Remake will be done in multiple parts, rather than a single entry. The reason for this is because doing a full remake of Final Fantasy VII using today’s technology would be a lot of work. Kitase felt that having the “voluminous” feeling you get from Final Fantasy VII wouldn’t be able to work with just a single title for an HD remake.
    • Nomura also commented on the subject saying that they would also have to make a lot of cuts if they decided to make it all under one title, and they would have no choice but to make it into a Final Fantasy VII “digest,” and they felt that it would be pointless to do a full remake if they were going to do just that.
    • For example, you’ll get to explore various parts of Midgar that you weren’t able to in the original version; however, in order to do that, it would need to be pretty dense. Of course, that also means that some parts will be cut from the game, but overall they’re adding much more to it.
    • As far as models go, Visual Works director is taking care of it, but they’re also getting a lot of help from external sources. Roberto Ferrari, the Italian designer for Square Enix, is focusing his work on sub-characters like Biggs and the others that we saw in the recent trailer. Additionally, Square Enix will get help for roles such as programmers, planners, and other core members from external companies.
    • Some of the other companies that will be helping include CyberConnect2, who’ve also helped in the development of Final Fantasy VII: G-Bike.
    • Kitase says that CyberConnect2 have experience and great knowhow in action games, and he feels that they have a special sense for cinematics; however, since their production “taste” is different from that of Square Enix’s, along with some complaints from Nomura, they decided to make the latest trailer closer to their own style.



    • The characters we saw in the recent trailer looked very close to actual humans, and Nomura says that it’s their current goal to make it as realistic as possible.
    • Square Enix is not using models from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, as it’s something from over 10 years ago, meaning that its technology is too old, and that it looks a bit too “deformed” when they look at it now. For the remake’s visuals, they’ve done numerous adjustments and balances between realistic and deformed parts of eyes, nose, hair, and other parts. They were finally able to settle on something they all liked.
    • Everything that was shown in the latest trailer is from in-game footage, and not pre-rendered material. After the camera goes close up on Cloud when he’s on the train, it’ll throw you right into the game. Nomura says that as far as quality goes, they’re still brushing up on it, and they’re only going to keep making it look better from here.
    • Famitsu mentions that Cloud looks a bit thin in the video, but Nomura says that it’s likely due to lighting, and also because of his pale skin.
    • Next, they ask if that means we’ll get to see Cloud in his cross-dressing appearance. Nomura responds with a laugh saying yes, the cross-dressing scene is in the game, but they haven’t done the design for it yet.
    • Square Enix was originally going to go with Barret’s Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children design, but they decided on going with a new design from scratch. Nomura says that they’ve wanted to make all the party members revamped from the beginning.
    • When asked whether the battle system will be closer to Kingdom Hearts or Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Nomura says “if anything, it’s action,” and it’s completely different from Crisis Core. It might not be as much of an action title as say Dissidia Final Fantasy on arcade or the Kingdom Hearts series, but it leans more towards there.
    • There is an ATB gauge, but it won’t be like the original version where you get to attack when the gauge fills up, but an action-based system that can only be done through the Final Fantasy VII Remake. Kitase says that they may even change the name to something else other than ATB. Nomura also teases that the part you’ll want to pay attention to is how “the ATB gauge may also turn red.”
    • Parties will consist of three members, and you’ll get to freely switch between the characters, but it won’t be a requirement, as you can stay as the same character for the entire time.
    • As far as the battle tempo goes, Nomura wants to make it close to that of Dissidia Final Fantasy on arcade. He says that what we saw in the trailer is simply the base of Final Fantasy VII Remake’s battle system, and that he’s currently thinking of some kind of original structure for the battle system that adds a strategic element, in the midst of being able to switch through characters, an action that involves more than simply hitting enemies.


    So that's what they've shared so far. Thoughts? Opinions? They haven't made cross dressing Cloud YET but it will be coming. Anyone think he'll look pretty?
    This article was originally published in forum thread: What we know about the Final Fantasy VII Remake started by Freya View original post
    Comments 38 Comments
    1. Sephiroth's Avatar
      Sephiroth -
      Quote Originally Posted by Fox View Post
      The Weapon fights could be half-battle, half Shadow-of-the-Colossus style climbing puzzles.

      Hold me I would die of joy xD
      That is pretty much what it would end up like probably. Not really climbing around the same style, but attacking several parts on several levels.
    1. Elpizo's Avatar
      Elpizo -
      Quote Originally Posted by Skyblade View Post
      Quote Originally Posted by Elpizo View Post
      As far as the battle system goes, being able to switch on the fly to other party members is good, but I hope we'll be able to set AI for the ones we are not controlling. And I don't mean XIII's poor paradigms, but a return of XII's gambits, if nothing else. Preferably with even more gambit options for an even higher degree of customizing the AI.

      Not sure how the fight against Safer Sephirot would work in an action-based battle system, though.
      Funny. I remember this awesome game where I had full control over all my party members, and could direct them to attack whichever targets I wanted or heal me when I needed freely.

      What was it called again..?

      Oh, that's right!

      Final Fantasy VII
      Don't have to tell me, I would have preferred just classic ATB over another action-RPG title. But now that we're stuck with it, being able to freely control each of your three party members on the fly is at least something. It, sadly, could have been worse.
    1. Aerith's Knight's Avatar
      Aerith's Knight -
      If this really is an action RPG, they've already lost me. I don't really want to play a FF game that is not turn based.

      And no, I'm not a grumpy old grandpa. I'm just grumpy.
    1. fat_moogle's Avatar
      fat_moogle -
      Quote Originally Posted by Aerith's Knight View Post
      If this really is an action RPG, they've already lost me. I don't really want to play a FF game that is not turn based.
      That's a shame. Aerith will be disappointed in you, Sir "Knight".
    1. Aerith's Knight's Avatar
      Aerith's Knight -
      Quote Originally Posted by fat_moogle View Post
      Quote Originally Posted by Aerith's Knight View Post
      If this really is an action RPG, they've already lost me. I don't really want to play a FF game that is not turn based.
      That's a shame. Aerith will be disappointed in you, Sir "Knight".
      Dang it, stop pressuring me! I just don't have the faith in action RPG's anymore. It all went downhill after KH2, and the battle system was the weakest part of that game.

      In action RPG's, there is no strategy, it's a whack-a-mole simulator with some combo's. At least, most of the time.
    1. Mirage's Avatar
      Mirage -
      With high enough levels, no RPG needs strategy.

      It's been quite a while since I played an action RPG where a good strategy didn't greatly increase my chances of success.

      Of course, an action RPG allows you to replace some stratey with good timing and reflexes. But then again, knowing exactly when to execute a skill or attack kind of goes back to the strategy part of it.
    1. Fox's Avatar
      Fox -
      And I also think it's easy to give the original FFVII more credit than it deserves on the tactical front just because it was turn based. There's a reason the 'Attack' command was at the top of the list and not in a menu somewhere - because it's what you would use 80% of the time. And of course in FFVII your MP didn't regenerate over time, and Ethers weren't anywhere near as plentiful as potions, so you were encouraged to be somewhat frugal with spending it.

      So with battles heavily utilising the 'Attack' command, a lot of the depth of FFVII came from building your stats and your gear to best take advantage of that. That side of things is unlikely to be affected by a transition to an action RPG
    1. Del Murder's Avatar
      Del Murder -
      Yeah FFVII was not super strategic. I just prefer the flow of turn-based combat, but there was nothing about FFVII that was any more strategic than Secret of Mana or Kingdom Hearts. It was a fairly easy RPG as they go. Attack/Limit Break most of the time, and pepper in some magic for enemies that resist physical or come in large groups.
    1. Mirage's Avatar
      Mirage -
      Yeah, basically just build your characters for a single type of attack, then spam that attack and heal/buff as necessary. Unless you're playing a challenge of some sort (like low level), that gets you through almost all battles.
    1. Fynn's Avatar
      Fynn -
      Quote Originally Posted by Aerith's Knight View Post
      Quote Originally Posted by fat_moogle View Post
      Quote Originally Posted by Aerith's Knight View Post
      If this really is an action RPG, they've already lost me. I don't really want to play a FF game that is not turn based.
      That's a shame. Aerith will be disappointed in you, Sir "Knight".
      Dang it, stop pressuring me! I just don't have the faith in action RPG's anymore. It all went downhill after KH2, and the battle system was the weakest part of that game.

      In action RPG's, there is no strategy, it's a whack-a-mole simulator with some combo's. At least, most of the time.
      Someone hasn't played the later games, like Birth by Sleep or 3D
    1. Formalhaut's Avatar
      Formalhaut -
      I'm fine with turn-based, and I'm fine with Action RPGs. The main thing I look for is a way to pause the action so I can assess the situation and figure out what to do next. I'm not necessarily the best at thinking fast, so some way which stops the gameplay while I scan the field would make me happy. A Mass Effect/Dragon Age style method where you can issue commands while under the spell of strategic pausing would suit me best!

      From what I'm seeing so far, the game looks good! The episodic format is new, but if done well could really flesh out the characterisation and plot some more than what we saw in the original. I'm more focused on the story to be honest; as long as the gameplay is half-decent I wouldn't mind.
    1. Skyblade's Avatar
      Skyblade -
      Quote Originally Posted by Mirage View Post
      With high enough levels, no RPG needs strategy.
      It sounds to me as though someone hasn't played Bravely Default. Grind all you want. Those bosses will eat you alive if you don't use good tactics when you take them on.

      It's been quite a while since I played an action RPG where a good strategy didn't greatly increase my chances of success.

      Of course, an action RPG allows you to replace some strategy with good timing and reflexes. But then again, knowing exactly when to execute a skill or attack kind of goes back to the strategy part of it.
      It's been quite a while since I've played an action RPG where reaction time was less important than tactical thinking.
    1. Mirage's Avatar
      Mirage -
      Quote Originally Posted by Skyblade View Post
      Quote Originally Posted by Mirage View Post
      With high enough levels, no RPG needs strategy.
      It sounds to me as though someone hasn't played Bravely Default. Grind all you want. Those bosses will eat you alive if you don't use good tactics when you take them on.
      I have, actually. Just not to completion.
    1. FinalxxSin's Avatar
      FinalxxSin -
      There are some pros and cons to the multi-part release. One pro would be that all the intended content would make it into the game, especially the "expanded" content. A con to this is that the game would be broken up and pauses may occur between each installment, which may kill interest. For now, I am going to wait and see how the execution goes, because that is going to extremely vital. I don't mind the changes to the game. I played the original, but it didn't leave a lasting impression with me. It had a good story imo though. The changes me enjoying the remake more than the original are fairly high.
    1. Ayen's Avatar
      Ayen -
      Quote Originally Posted by FinalxxSin View Post
      There are some pros and cons to the multi-part release. One pro would be that all the intended content would make it into the game, especially the "expanded" content. A con to this is that the game would be broken up and pauses may occur between each installment, which may kill interest. For now, I am going to wait and see how the execution goes, because that is going to extremely vital. I don't mind the changes to the game. I played the original, but it didn't leave a lasting impression with me. It had a good story imo though. The changes me enjoying the remake more than the original are fairly high.
      Agreed about the execution. I'm curious to see how they go about it.
    1. Baked Moogle 420's Avatar
      Baked Moogle 420 -
      Hopefully the mini games at gold saucer will be there too! Including the moogle one!
    1. fat_moogle's Avatar
      fat_moogle -
      Quote Originally Posted by Baked Moogle 420 View Post
      Hopefully the mini games at gold saucer will be there too! Including the moogle one!
      I was humming the Gold Saucer theme to myself on the bus this morning to town xD
    1. Mirage's Avatar
      Mirage -
      I just hope that if it's one game split into several episodes, playing each new episode lets you backtrack to anywhere you could go in the previous episode. I don't want to have to exit the game and start a different episode to go to a certain area, or anything. I haven't played many episodic games so you'll have to excuse me if this is how it usually works.
  • EoFF on Twitter

  • Square Enix on Twitter