This is the odd remake that basically makes the original version of the game completely obsolete but also doesn't change so much that it becomes a different game. The game's graphics are amazing (they made Cissnei the cutest ngl), the remastered music is great and the gameplay is greatly improved but without retaining its essence. Some people have gripes with Zack's VA, I guess, but I never was bothered by it.
Now, being such a straightforward remake means some flaws of the OG carry over.
The story is mostly whatever with some great moments strewn about, with some parts feeling like filler despite being such a short game. Angeal is lame as hell and makes no damn sense. The little time Aerith is on screen is mostly just awkward-feeling dialogue between her and Zack which doesn't sell me on their relationship. Genesis is mid but at least he do be looking slick, boy. Credit where its due, the fact that they made the ending so good has to be commended. Specially because you should already know the game's ending before you play it (but I guess things are different now in a post-Remake world...)
Gameplay-wise, leveling materia is still fucking garbage and entirely random, tho at least leveling up rolls don't actually need to complete before you end a battle. Missions are still mostly mindless shit up until the game starts requiring you to use OP nonsense to break it to get by (which is fun to me but it takes a while to get there).
Still, gotta give a shout out to how much they improved the combat's feeling without making a new combat system. Materia quick use slots alone are a huge change, not having to scroll through the materia bar anymore. Then there's also how much smoother Zack's movements feel and the added mechanics such as Battle Stance. The game is still unbalanced as fuck in a way that's fun to me, but the new mechanics make the combat less one dimensional. Oh yeah, you're also not forced to use Limit Breaks as soon as you roll them anymore, which is another one of those relatively-small-but-impactful changes to the combat.
Honestly, every grievance I have with this game is one I have with the original as well, but most of my issues with the original's combat are gone. The game is just straight up an improvement in everything it does and nothing is worse than the original. Unless you're a crybaby about Zack's voice, but just play on PC with a mod if you're that much of a whiner. I recommend just getting used to it, tho, since that's Zack's voice now if they make more use of him.
Honestly, if you still decide to play the PSP original over this version, despite the gameplay, music and graphical improvements, you're an idiot.
Now, being such a straightforward remake means some flaws of the OG carry over.
The story is mostly whatever with some great moments strewn about, with some parts feeling like filler despite being such a short game. Angeal is lame as hell and makes no damn sense. The little time Aerith is on screen is mostly just awkward-feeling dialogue between her and Zack which doesn't sell me on their relationship. Genesis is mid but at least he do be looking slick, boy. Credit where its due, the fact that they made the ending so good has to be commended. Specially because you should already know the game's ending before you play it (but I guess things are different now in a post-Remake world...)
Gameplay-wise, leveling materia is still fucking garbage and entirely random, tho at least leveling up rolls don't actually need to complete before you end a battle. Missions are still mostly mindless shit up until the game starts requiring you to use OP nonsense to break it to get by (which is fun to me but it takes a while to get there).
Still, gotta give a shout out to how much they improved the combat's feeling without making a new combat system. Materia quick use slots alone are a huge change, not having to scroll through the materia bar anymore. Then there's also how much smoother Zack's movements feel and the added mechanics such as Battle Stance. The game is still unbalanced as fuck in a way that's fun to me, but the new mechanics make the combat less one dimensional. Oh yeah, you're also not forced to use Limit Breaks as soon as you roll them anymore, which is another one of those relatively-small-but-impactful changes to the combat.
Honestly, every grievance I have with this game is one I have with the original as well, but most of my issues with the original's combat are gone. The game is just straight up an improvement in everything it does and nothing is worse than the original. Unless you're a crybaby about Zack's voice, but just play on PC with a mod if you're that much of a whiner. I recommend just getting used to it, tho, since that's Zack's voice now if they make more use of him.
Honestly, if you still decide to play the PSP original over this version, despite the gameplay, music and graphical improvements, you're an idiot.