Final Fantasy VII Remake

With Final Fantasy VII Remake, Square Enix boldly decided not to retell the 1997 classic in a single game, but instead to expand only its opening section set in the city of Midgar into a full-fledged, several-dozen-hour title, supplemented with new characters, side content, and mysterious beings called Whispers that hint at a departure from the boundaries of the original story.

The combat system abandoned the turn-based mechanics of the older installments in favor of a real-time action system combined with tactical pausing for selecting spells and abilities via Materia, linking the dynamics of modern action with the tactical depth of classic JRPGs. Basic attacks fill an ATB gauge, spending it triggers abilities in slowed time, and the player switches between party members, each with a different role - Cloud's switchable stance, Tifa's rapid combo-based aggression, Barret's ranged fire support. Enemy weaknesses lead to staggering them and a brief window for a devastating combo, so even an ordinary fight carries the rhythm of a small tactical puzzle.

Cloud Strife, Tifa, Aerith, and Barret all received deeper characterization and fully voiced dialogue, with Aerith in particular getting much more screen time, sparking tense anticipation among fans of the original regarding her fate given the Whispers' role in preventing deviation from the original script. Nobuo Uematsu's iconic soundtrack was rearranged with an orchestral emphasis while preserving its signature motifs. Midgar's skyscrapers and slums were fleshed out to an unprecedented level of detail, turning what was roughly a five-hour opening in the 1990s classic into a self-contained world with its own political and social subtext. Critics praised the combat and the emotional depth of the relationships, though stretching out a short section drew questions about pacing from some fans; commercial success then paved the way for the sequel, Rebirth.