Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a rollercoaster of highs and lows that left me both exhilarated and, at times, frustrated. On the bright side, its battle system is, without a doubt, the best among recent Final Fantasy titles. Each character offers a unique combat style and a distinct skill set that not only makes battles feel fresh but also turns mastering every nuance into a fun and rewarding challenge. Even though the game forces you to swap out your favorite heroes during key story moments—seemingly an unnecessary restriction—it ended up encouraging me to experiment with different strategies and truly appreciate the diverse mechanics at play.
However, where Rebirth truly stumbles for me is the narrative. While the cast is undeniably charismatic and their interactions sparkle with personality, the main story felt undercooked. The decision to have the plot revolve around simply following hooded figures fell flat, and the attempts to deepen the original's sparse dialogue only highlighted a lack of genuine decision-making. There came a point when my curiosity for the main plot waned, and I found solace in the side quests and exploration instead.
Speaking of exploration, the open world of Rebirth is visually stunning but practically disappointing. It serves more as a hub for a barrage of minigames and side quests than as a reactive, immersive environment. Despite the beauty of its landscapes, navigating without relying on fast travel quickly becomes an exercise in frustration. The mechanics—like the limited gliding points in the desert, the hard-to-find jumping mushrooms in the jungle, and the climbing zones marked with yellow paint—feels limiting, especially after experiences like Breath of the Wild set the bar so high.
The game does offer an impressive variety of minigames, ranging from clever twists on classic card games (which quickly became my personal favorite) to rhythm challenges and even chocobo racing. Yet, for all their charm, many of these side activities feel overextended. What begins as a fun distraction soon turns into a marathon of filler content that, while adding dozens of extra hours, doesn’t necessarily boost the overall enjoyment.
Lastly, the joy of discovery is sorely lacking. The map practically spells out every secret and treasure, and what little mystery remains is underwhelming—most of the hidden items turn out to be basic Hi-Potions, Elixirs, or “hidden” optional weapons placed so obviously that it almost feels insulting.
In summary, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth delivers an outstanding battle system that truly shines and pushes players to explore a variety of combat styles. Yet, its narrative and open-world mechanics struggle to keep pace with this innovation, making for an experience that is as much about what it could have been as what it is. It’s a game that dares to mix brilliance with mediocrity, and while I cherished its combat and character diversity, I couldn’t help but wish for a deeper, more immersive world.