I used to consume Final Fantasy games by watching cutscene compilations instead of playing them, and I kinda wish we'd just done that with this one too and saved ourselves 36 hours of repetitive gameplay and half-baked minigames.

I'm upset because I don't want to be a hater and there was lots here I loved - seeing the main characters interact (Barrett and Yuffie MVPs), the Loveless play was amazing and tons of fun, and ofc watching my boy Zack radiating positivity in his doomed timeline(s?). But idk, the central plot of following comically weird slow dudes to random places "Because Sephiroth" or whatever really wasn't doing it for me, and I spent a lot of my time being frustrated that the plot and the characters kept dancing around providing any proper motivations or answers for things. I felt let down a lot with the main story in this, and left feeling confused, but not in a way that made me excited to learn more (like the end of the last game).

In Remake I understood the themes, the emotions they were trying to elicit, and i felt them! In this one i could see the ideas (because they spelled them the fk out) but i didnt actually feel them or see the payoff with the characters or the plot. This very much felt like a long introduction to another game, and while I will definitely play (or watch) the next, i cant say i feel that same excitement i had waiting for this one. Not yet at least. Im hoping after sitting with it and watching it again I'll feel differently.

Also I'm rambling now but Sephiroth has lost his scary edge majorly. He was just A Dude Who Kept Showing Up to say cryptic shit, cackle, and leave. When Rufus showed up for the gold saucer fight I have never been more confused, why the hell did he do that? Theres this focus on doing things that look cool than actually telling a proper story.

I'll wrap it up but, in summary, I just dont think i should be leaving your game with the same questions I had at the end of the last one, this had no business being an open world game, vincent valentine im objectifying you, and zack fair i will love you until the end of time.