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.