5 moments from FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH that live in our heads rent-free
To describe FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH as ‘memorable’ would be an understatement.
From shocking plot points to poignant character moments, the game overflows with incredible moments that stick with you long after the credits have rolled. It’s no wonder that it’s one of the most critically acclaimed games of the year!
With the game now a few months old, we thought we’d share some of the moments and sequences that we can’t stop thinking about.
A found family in Junon
Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith plan to infiltrate the city of Junon disguised as Shinra security. Their plan hits a small snag when they’re roped into participating in new CEO Rufus’s inauguration parade.
Cloud’s impressive agility comes to the fore, not for the first time in the series. His co-ordination and agility impress the top brass, and he’s immediately promoted to Captain and ordered to amass the Midgar Seventh Infantry ahead of the march.
You’re let loose in upper Junon as you search the shops and streets for your new comrades. It’s an area that is packed full of detail and fun (and funny!) things to discover – bars for the bald, sultry jazz bars, specialist model shops to name a few. It’s a joy to explore as you build your squad.
Then, it’s time for your performance. You choose your formation and routines and then it’s simply a matter of wowing the crowd by hitting button prompts. Do well enough and you’ll even get the coveted Outstanding Performance Award.
Eventually, however, all hell breaks loose thanks to an assassination attempt on Rufus Shinra’s life. Cloud races through the city for an escape, unable to shake the fiercely loyal members of the Seventh, who refuse to even entertain the possibility he may not be on the level.
It all culminates in a heartfelt farewell with the team, who thanks to Cloud’s begrudging leadership feel more like a family than ever. Be honest – who didn’t shed a tear for these nameless, yet lovable, NPCs.
All said, the sequence is a perfect representation of FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH as a whole – imaginative, quirky, exciting, and surprisingly emotional.
Victory in the cards
After all the excitement in Junon, a break would be welcome for both the team and the player. And what better way to relax than with a high-energy Queen’s Blood tournament?
FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH’s card game is incredibly fun – easy to learn, strategically deep, and accompanied by a sensationally jazzy soundtrack. So, when you discover that the ship between Junon and Costa del Sol is hosting a Queen’s Blood tournament, it’s pretty exciting.
Unless you’re Red XIII of course – our four-legged friend is denied entry and none too happy about it…
What follows is a concentrated burst of card game fun, as you face off against friends, familiar faces, and some new opponents to boot. I must admit, it feels particularly good to take down Chadley – cyborg he may be, but he’s got nothing on Cloud’s card skills.
But the best moment? When Red XIII crashes into the tournament at the last possible moment in a cunning disguise.
Two legs? Nothing to it.
Us? Gongaga!
Like FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE before it, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH jumps at the opportunity to expand the story of the original game, from adding new details to iconic moments to introducing new scenes altogether.
The party’s visit to Gongaga is a perfect example of this. After resting in Gongaga Village, the team is woken by mysterious sounds from the destroyed mako reactor nearby. Having experienced a similar incident near North Corel, Cloud, Barret, Red XIII and Cait Sith race off to investigate.
Unfortunately, they’re not the only ones. Shinra executive Scarlet is also on the way, and she’s coming armed. It’s a tense standoff in the ruins of the reactor as the boys are confronted with the company’s latest biological horrors – and as if that’s not stressful enough, the concentrated mako in the air seems to be having a… negative effect on Cloud.
It’s up to Tifa, Aerith and Yuffie to race to their rescue. It’s a thrillingly exciting action sequence with some exceptional boss fights – but it’s what happens next that truly makes this segment unforgettable.
If you’ve played the game, you’re already nodding. If not… well, go find out for yourselves!
The trial of Red XIII
Red XIII has some pretty serious daddy issues.
On his return to his hometown of Cosmo Canyon, we learn of his deep shame for his father, who fled when the Gi Tribe attacked the Vale.
Of course, things are rarely so black and white, and his grandfather, Bugenhagen, decides he’s old enough to learn the truth… provided he can overcome a treacherous trial first. This test puts you in control of Red XIII, using his impressive ability to traverse the treacherous caves by way of ground… and the walls.
The freedom of movement makes for a great change of pace – as does teaming Red XIII with Barret for this section. The pair’s spikey banter makes for great entertainment as they bicker their way through the dangers ahead.
All said, it’s a tremendously fun section of the game – and one that ends with a true emotional gut punch.
A lot of love for Loveless
Loveless is a fantasy epic that has echoed through the FINAL FANTASY VII games from the very beginning.
There are posters for the play adaptation everywhere, the CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- REUNION antagonist Genesis regularly quotes it, and there’s even a street named after it in Midgar. But its biggest appearance yet is in FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, where you not only get to see the play… but star in it!
In this VR production, Cloud takes the role of Alphried, who is broken out of prison by his love Rosa (played by Aerith, Tifa or Yuffie) to face off against the Dragon King Varvados and his hound Garm.
What follows is a brilliantly choreographed series of battle scenes, where you get some control over the order of scenes and even how they play out. Seeing our heroes in this more traditional fantasy setting is a hoot, especially when coupled with the stilted, awkward line delivery. The game’s talented actors do an amazing job pretending to be bad ones!
But even better is when it gives you the opportunity to go off-script. Why not profess your love to Varvados instead of Rosa?
All said, it’s an amazing time at the theater. But Cloud’s night is just beginning…
Those were just five of our favorite moments from FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH – but there could be 50. The game is packed full of unforgettable sequences and scenarios – teaming up with Mr. Dolphin, fun in the sun at Costa del Sol, arriving at the Gold Saucer for the first time, the iconic Nibelheim flashback… the list goes on and on.
You can experience them all for yourselves in FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH – available now for PS5.
If you’re yet to experience the series, you can also get both FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH and its predecessor FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE together as a twin pack. That previous game is full of incredible moments of its own too:
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