Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Brings Back the Adventure but Doesn't Know When to Slow Down

Leaving Midgar was one of the most memorable moments in the original Final Fantasy VII. After spending hours trapped inside its enormous industrial city, suddenly having an entire world to explore felt like a huge change. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth brings back that excitement, letting players revisit familiar locations on a scale the original could only dream of.

Released in February 2024, Rebirth picks up where Final Fantasy VII Remake left off, following Cloud and his companions as they pursue Sephiroth. Square Enix has done an excellent job developing these characters, and the combat is some of the best the series has seen. But for all its strengths, Rebirth often gets carried away with optional activities, interrupting an otherwise compelling adventure just when the story starts getting interesting.

Leaving Midgar Still Feels Like a Proper Adventure

Stepping into the Grasslands after leaving Midgar feels like the beginning of a much bigger adventure. Familiar locations such as Junon and Costa del Sol have been completely reimagined, while the Gold Saucer is now an enormous amusement park that's easy to get lost in.

The larger environments make the world feel more alive. Towns are filled with people going about their daily lives, and places that were once little more than stops on a map are now worth exploring on their own.

Seeing these familiar locations brought to life is one of Rebirth's highlights, although getting around isn't always as enjoyable. Some regions introduce awkward traversal mechanics that make reaching your destination more complicated than it needs to be.

Cloud's Friends Are Still the Best Reason to Keep Going

Cloud's relationships with the rest of the party remain one of Rebirth's biggest strengths. Aerith has a way of drawing him out of his shell, while Tifa's quieter concern brings out a different side of him. Barret's blunt personality adds some welcome humor, especially when the group starts taking itself too seriously.

Rebirth gives these relationships more time to develop outside the main story. Side quests and optional conversations reveal more about each character's personal struggles, and some of the best moments come from simply watching the group interact.

The story is less convincing when it gets tangled up in mysteries surrounding fate and alternate possibilities. These new plotlines sometimes complicate moments that were already powerful in the original. I often found myself more interested in the characters' smaller interactions than whatever major revelation the story was building toward.

The Combat System Finally Feels Like a Team Effort

Rebirth keeps the fast-paced combat of Remake, but makes better use of the whole party by encouraging you to switch between characters during fights. Cloud handles enemies up close, while Barret can attack from a distance. Each character builds ATB charges for spells and special abilities, so relying on Cloud alone means missing out on much of what the combat has to offer.

The new Synergy Skills and Abilities make working together even more satisfying. Characters can combine their strengths to defend against attacks or unleash powerful moves, and pulling off a well-timed team attack can make a difficult battle much easier.

There's also room to experiment with Materia and different party setups. I particularly enjoy how Rebirth encourages you to use the entire team rather than stick with one favorite character. The action can become difficult to follow when the screen fills with effects, but the added teamwork makes an already excellent combat system even better.

Queen's Blood Might Be the Best Distraction in the Game

Rebirth contains an enormous collection of minigames, including chocobo racing, musical challenges, and the excellent Queen's Blood card game. The latter is particularly enjoyable, using positioning and card abilities to create a surprisingly tactical competition.

The Gold Saucer brings back the excitement of the original game's famous amusement park, while smaller diversions give the world a playful personality. It's easy to appreciate the effort involved in creating so many different activities.

The problem is knowing when to stop. Certain minigames interrupt important story moments, and not every activity deserves the attention it demands. Some are clever distractions, while others feel included simply because the game needs another challenge.

Chadley Has Far Too Many Things for You to Do

Chadley seems to have a task waiting around every corner of Rebirth's open world. Activating towers reveals more World Intel, sending you off to complete combat assignments or investigate nearby locations. The rewards can be useful, but the routine quickly becomes familiar.

At first, these activities give you a reason to explore. After a while, though, you're following map markers and repeating the same objectives in different regions. Finding another tower rarely feels exciting when you already know exactly what comes next.

It's a shame because Rebirth's world is interesting enough without constantly telling you where to go. I'd rather stumble upon something unexpected than spend another hour working through Chadley's checklist.

A Wonderful Reunion That Sometimes Overstays Its Welcome

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is at its best when it lets its characters take center stage. Seeing Cloud and his companions explore the world beyond Midgar is everything I hoped for from this remake, and the excellent combat makes even familiar encounters enjoyable.

Unfortunately, Rebirth often seems determined to fill every spare moment with another activity. The repetitive side content and increasingly complicated story can make an already lengthy adventure feel unnecessarily drawn out. Still, there's an excellent RPG underneath it all, and I'd recommend it to anyone invested in Cloud's story. I just wish Square Enix had been a little more willing to leave some things out.