Rebirth has a pretty herculean task, which is adapting the part of FFVII I am most rose-tinted on. That being the post-Midgar section of Disc 1. As a kid, I’d played this part the most on replays, but my attention span led to many a run being culled around some point here. Rebirth really nails the whimsy of being thrust into VII’s world as a kid, and I think its scale encapsulates it so nicely, and I absolutely appreciate its gameplay loop. You’re not forced to engage with non-story aspects, but they’re far higher quality than the ones in Remake, and often serve as great world building and excuses to see the world. Characterization and portrayals continue to be magnificent as does the use of compendium content. I’ll say I wish Vincent got more chemistry with the party, as how he’s handled feels in stark contrast to Remake making Red XIII fit so naturally in the last two chapters. It’s a shame, as Yuffie went from optional in the original game to such a core of the party dynamic here. I think gameplay is far more refined as well, with the new synergy skill system being a fun way of juggling ATB and party combos, and the new additions of Red XIII and Cait Sith being very welcome. Now, I’ll say that this game isn’t perfect with some technical stuff. Coming off of Remake’s 60 FPS on the PS5, it’s initially jarring to be put in 30 FPS and get told to settle with either 30 FPS and better graphic, or deal with pretty blurry visuals with 60 FPS. I adjusted to the 30 rather quickly, since it’s what Remake was designed around on PS4, and advise you do the same, but it’s still noteworthy. Also some texture pop in is real. Most notably I saw it in the Mythril Mines, and it took me out a bit. I will say that this game has also made me retroactively grow to love the Whispers as a concept, generally? The idea that they’re a part of the Planet’s defense systems, and Sephiroth tricked us into sabotaging them in Remake is extremely intriguing, with a faction now benefitting him. The ending of the game has a lot that will probably have to be elaborated upon, but I think the idea that the lifestream contains a multiverse of sorts is not too far of a reach given its capabilities to rejuvenate the mind? May just be me though. A story grievance I do have though, is changing the resolution to the Dyne plot point. Dyne choosing to kill himself because he can’t live with the monster he’s become is a haunting moment of the original, and Rebirth plays the depths of his delusion so well… until it doesn’t. Him being killed in a firefight, dying vindictive toward Barret, doesn’t really hit for me, at all. And that’s a damn shame when so much else of this game does. It sticks out when such a strong arc loses footing at the tail end. But I digress. Parts which were optional in the original, but now are mandatory, like Gongaga, are damn fantastic. The reimagining of this world has gone above and beyond, and I can’t wait to jump into it. If you ask me objectively, the tech issues make this a 4.5, even if they aren’t at all egregious. But, this is my review. I am suffering a hyperfixation from when I was 14 reviving when I was 22. So fuck you, it’s a 5/5. Also, amazing how these devs got even better at queerbaiting with Aerti and filling every Cloud and Sephiroth scene with sexual tension. Bravo.
Edit. Forgot to mention just how much in here is designed to make you soypoint. The amount of things that feed some aspect of the compilation, or just build on characters who were doing jack in the original is really something. Elena and Tseng went from having no fights in the original, with Tseng literally being seen as dead by English speaking audiences due to mistranslations, to Elena getting 3 and Tseng getting the best damn boss theme in the game.

This is gonna be a tough review for me. I am definitely going to have spoilers, at some point, and will indicate prior to dropping them.
This game is just about everything I wanted it to be, and despite my conflicting feelings about it, I will say. Anyone who outright hates this game or Remake is a crank. Probably mad about the time ghosts or the changing fate stuff they established in Remake. Boo. You're a nerd & if you want to play Final Fantasy 7 (1997) that's a game still, you can play that.
They continue to do the cast of FF7 so damn good. Tifa & Aerith's chemistry is FIRE this game, too, and I am delusional enough to pretend they are canon despite the remakes continuously cucking me with Cloud (seriously this guys a dork ain't no way he's pulling either girl when they could just date each other be so fr). The tone, for most of the game, is just the gang hanging out on a fun little adventure. I love that. That's what I'm here for. I cannot imagine not loving every character in this game. Lotsa minigames, places to explore, side quests to do, STUPID GOOD OST. I actually do want to 100% this game, which says a lot as it's not really my thing. I just have a few more things to do after finishing the story now, as I was pretty much completing each area as we went, just to get to play the game more. There were only two areas I found kind of annoying to navigate, but even those I did fully explore despite myself. Overall, my spoiler free review is you'll probably adore this game and have tons of fun with it so give it a go.

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD

While 90% of this game has the magic, somehow MORE than Remake, the other 10%...is downright offensive to me. For once I can say I DO relate to the nerds mad that they change FF7's story for Remake because what even was that ending. From the get-go, even back when Remake came out, the story suggested CHANGING YOUR FATE. WE ARE MORE THAN OUR DESTINY. Wow, what a fun little idea! I love that! It's stupid that Aerith has to die, I think that could be a great twist to the original FF7 story!
and god did they FUMBLE THAT HARD. I should preface this with saying that I kinda expected something like this, given they went SO HARD on pushing this idea even in the trailers for Rebirth (come on they had the sound of Cloud saving Aerith in the last trailer for Rebirth) and I know the writers are sickos so they are going to lull their dumb audience into a sense of safety just for shock value (which btw is dumb as shit, terrible idea, only made worse by the execution).
ANYWAY remember when Aerith died in FF7 (1997)? Really powerful scene, everyone had their own unique reactions, no silly RPG WE WON victory dances after the fight, it was very sad, very powerful.
Rebirth thought that this was a silly idea. Wouldn't it be cooler if instead we did some couple hour long boss rush with Zack, the gang, & Cloud & Aerith (all on their own, separate instances) after a vague suggestion that Aerith may have been saved? Or maybe she's not? Iunno Cloud's an unreliable narrator (which, I get what they were getting at here, cool in concept horrible in execution) so who can say for sure? It left me confused through the whole fight, then post fight, Cloud is delusional as hell acting like Aerith is THERE (which tbh is actually hilarious in concept, like Cloud out here yapping to a dead girl that's not even here and everyone in the gang is too uncomfortable to say anything about it....hilarious. not really the tone I would've gone for tho) while everyone else is vaguely upset (again, not like the original, its like a brief, confusing flash of Aerith being with Cloud and everyone else looking sad but not really communicating much else).
Cloud's delusional ass waves goodbye to Aerith while everyone's on board the plane like "hey should we say something? that guy aint well" but no one has the guts to break the delusion because he DID try to kill Tifa not that long ago, my dude is unhinged. There's a crack in the sky? Uh seems like Zack hopped to another universe maybe? I have no clue. I spent a long time reading other theories and opinions on this wild ending just trying to cope. My general takeaway for now is maybe Aerith is alive in another universe or w/e, which like. who gives a shit if no one else can talk to her or see her? I want her in my universe with my party. Also it is my understanding these other universes eventually fall apart, so does it really matter if she's alive there?
It just seems like a stupid idea in the way they executed, I did not feel sad that Aerith maybe died, I just felt frustrated and confused at what was going on and I wanted to be done with the game (something I hadn't felt until literally this weird ass boss rush confusing nonsense that was Aerith's death). If they were going to kill her anyway, I honestly would've preferred to have an impactful scene like the original. And damn during this boss rush (especially where the gang -Cloud is fighting) we're hearing all the silly little "Run like a chocobo...sting like a tonberry" and what have you battle quips like. I assume the gang saw Aerith die, so what's up with that? shouldn't we be dead ass silent consumed by grief? Just overall a weird and confusing tone for a once powerful scene. Yeah whatever I'm a crank, I knew in my heart they didn't have the guts to follow thru with their "change your fate" bit they were doing, it was still hard to see.
Maybe Part 3 will prove me wrong, iunno, maybe they'll bring her back via multiverse nonsense I have no clue. You can see my star rating, this game went so hard a colossal fumble this hard didn't even cost it a star. That's how much of a simp I am for this series. That's how much stupid fun I had playing it. I got A BEACH DATE with AERITH AND TIFA. You have no idea how hard it was to dock the half star for this hot mess ending. I look forward to Part 3 lmao hoping for the best. Would be cool to get a Vincent DLC or something to hold me over while I wait.