Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s gorgeous visuals and storytelling often feel cinematic, woven into its gameplay in a way that shows care for the medium.
There’s no doubt that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a stunner in the visual department, but there’s much more to games than their visuals. While recent years have seen the AAA industry reach new heights in graphical fidelity, some arguably lean too heavily into the cinematic, so much so that gameplay might be compromised as a result. As an inherently interactive medium, the ability for games to feel driven by the player’s efforts is key in their experience, and Rebirth manages to skillfully balance itself in this regard. Cinematic and interactive in equal measure, both Rebirth’s bombastic and mundane moments feel well-integrated into its gameplay, letting players feel as though their efforts are driving the narrative forward.
The vistas beyond Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Midgar are a treat to take in, full to the brim with environmental storytelling. From the abundant Grasslands to the steel sky of Under Junon, the world of FF7 Rebirth feels cultivated in a way that promotes exploration and interaction. The same can be said for the game’s more linear sequences, interspersed within its different regions to progress the narrative, though not without their own sense of player agency. Often, moments that could have been relegated to simple cutscenes take shape through player choice and input, like the Junon parade, which seeks to enhance the original FF7’s rendition.
