Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade Review
Five years after it was announced at E3 2015, Square Enix has finally released the long-awaited Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Overall, the game met expectations, with Final Fantasy 7 Remake garnering widespread critical acclaim and being warmly received by most fans. And now that Sony’s next-generation PlayStation 5 console is out, fans can relive Final Fantasy 7 Remake with Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, a PS5-exclusive version of the incredible action-RPG. Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade basically offers the same experience as the PS4 version of the game, but with smoother gameplay, sharper visuals, and a few extra scenes. It brings the best of Final Fantasy 7 Remake to PS5 with significant improvements, but that means it also brings all the flaws of the original. The side quests of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade are still quite dull and repetitive compared to the main story content, there are still some sections that are obvious fillers to artificially extend the playing time, and still intact the changes in the story. In fact, the new Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade scenes double down on the story changes introduced in the original Final Fantasy 7 Remake, so those who aren’t excited about the direction the plot is going won’t find any redeeming qualities here. . But even with these flaws, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is an all-around phenomenal experience, with a fast-paced, fun combat system, captivating visuals, and a stellar soundtrack that make some shortcomings worth putting up with. this.
Those upgrading from Final Fantasy 7 Remake on PS4 to PS5 will appreciate new features like Photo Mode and after experiencing the game’s combat at 60 fps, it will be hard to go back to the PS4 version. It’s a little disappointing that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade doesn’t really take advantage of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback or adaptive triggers, but overall it’s worth the jump to the PS5. The PS5 enhancements are all well and good, but the real selling point for diehard Final Fantasy 7 Remake fans who have played the Remake to death on PS4 is the new Yuffie DLC, aka Intermission. This two-chapter DLC isn’t part of the free upgrade, bundled with new purchases of the $70 Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on PS5 or available as a separate $20 download. Those looking to get through the story may do so in a few hours, but the Yuffie DLC has a surprising amount of content overall. The Final Fantasy 7 Remake Yuffie DLC takes place midway through the base game’s story, and as one might have guessed, it features Yuffie as the main character. In the original Final Fantasy 7, Yuffie was a completely optional party member, and so some fans may question how much she can really bring to the table and if she’ll have what it takes to bring the DLC. alone. As it happens, Yuffie is easily one of the most entertaining characters in the entire Final Fantasy 7 Remake cast.
While Cloud in Final Fantasy 7 Remake spends most of the game meditating or being taciturn, Yuffie has a bubbling personality and is lively. His dialogue is fun to listen to and isn’t always weighed down by a bunch of deep lore babble. The Yuffie DLC in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade also proves that she has a surprising range as a character, with players witnessing some serious, emotional moments along with plenty of goofy, over-the-top ones. It will be great to see Yuffie integrated with the rest of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake cast when Part 2 comes out. And when Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 is released, hopefully, it lets players fully control Yuffie in certain section of the game, because he’s actually more fun to play with than Cloud when exploring the game world. Since Yuffie is a ninja, she can run up walls, swing from cranes, and generally have more options when it comes to traversal. He’s also able to destroy boxes at a distance with his massive shuriken, giving players more to do and encouraging them to look in places they might otherwise ignore. Yuffie also offers a new combat experience. Yuffie’s shuriken can be used as both a melee weapon and a ranged weapon, with players having to change how they approach each enemy encounter if they want to succeed. While there’s a big focus on Materia and spells in the base Final Fantasy 7 Remake game, Yuffie’s natural abilities are the real star of the show in the DLC, and learning how to use her abilities effectively skill is key to winning the tougher battles.
A major difference between Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the Intermission DLC is that Yuffie is the only playable character in battle. Yuffie’s partner Sonon joins the party fairly early on, but players cannot directly control him. They can tell her what abilities to use and the like, but players won’t switch between Yuffie and Sonon like they did with Aerith, Barret, Cloud, and Tifa in the main game. Even though Sonon can’t be controlled, he still has his own health bar, abilities, and weapons to use, so he’s a much more active participant than, say, Red XIII was in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Putting Sonon in one-man strategies adds an extra layer of depth to the DLC battles, as players can choose to “unite” with him to combine attacks. Additionally, Sonon will sacrifice herself to revive Yuffie if she engages in battle, effectively acting as a free Phoenix Down. Sonon is a great addition to the story of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and his relationship with Yuffie adds a great depth to his character that wasn’t necessarily there in the original game. Throw in some deep villains from some of the Final Fantasy 7 spin-off games and it’s clear that this DLC is more important than one might expect. This is not just a cheap cash-grab; it lays some important groundwork that will almost certainly be explored in the sequel. And it does this without actually going into Whispers from Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which is a huge plus for fans who aren’t crazy about that particular plotline.
While fans may be most interested in seeing how the main story plays out in the Yuffie DLC, it’s worth mentioning that it also has some useful side content. The entire first chapter takes place in Sector 7 Slums, where players are encouraged to complete side quests, explore the town, and try out the new Fort Condor mini-game, which is a surprisingly fun auto-battler. Exploring all the side content the DLC has to offer can easily tack on another two to three hours into the experience. The Yuffie DLC in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is definitely worth it, especially for diehard fans of Final Fantasy 7 and its related media. But it’s a bit of a shame that the PS5 console lack is keeping so many fans from playing it. The Yuffie DLC is exclusive to PS5, but doesn’t have the groundbreaking gameplay mechanic that requires the extra horsepower that the next-gen console provides, so PS4 owners are sadly being left out. Whenever Final Fantasy 7 Remake fans get the chance, they should definitely give the Yuffie DLC a chance. It’s not pointless filler like some DLC packs, but rather it provides substantial new story content and a fun time to boot. As for the base game, those who already own the PS4 version can enjoy the free PS5 upgrade, and while they may not want to revisit the entire game on the new console, they can use Chapter Select to – pop in. some spots and admire the improved visuals and 60 fps gameplay. Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is out now, exclusively for PlayStation 5.