Final Fantasy VII Remake Review

Publisher: Square EnixDeveloper: Square EnixGenre: RPGPlatform: PS4Release Dates Out Now (Worldwide)

- Harry Fritsch

I remember Sony’s 2015 E3 press conference like it was yesterday. It was one of those magical moments in gaming – one where every announcement felt like it had years of anticipation bubbling away in forums and group chats, accentuating their impact when they finally landed and taking everyone’s breath away. And in 90 minutes that saw the reveal of The Last Guardian, Horizon: Zero Dawn, and Shenmue III, it was the reintroduction of gaming’s most talked-about JRPG that stole the show. Final Fantasy VII was getting a remake, and the standing ovation showed how two decades of waiting can bring a fanbase to tears of joy.

That was five years ago, and at last I got to sit down and spend a week playing through Final Fantasy VII Remake on PlayStation 4. The influence of the 1997 original cannot be understated: it brought a celebrated genre to the mainstream in the West while remaining a dearly beloved entry in that genre’s most prestigious franchise. That’s a lot for this game to shoulder, especially coupled with a roller coaster history of fans yearning for a remake to exist in the first place. That’s why it brings me so much joy – and honestly, more than a tiny bit of relief – to say that Square Enix have done this classic proud.