Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is an expanded version of the reimagining of the legendary 1997 RPG, released as a launch title for PlayStation 5. The game retells the story of the mercenary Cloud Strife and the eco-terrorist group Avalanche, fighting against the megacorporation Shinra that controls the city of Midgar, but instead of a turn-based system it offers dynamic real-time action combat supplemented by a tactical pause and a clear command menu for individual characters. The player switches between party members, combining regular attacks with magic, special abilities, and summoning eidolons, with each character having their own combat style, so Tifa attacks up close with fast combos while Aerith wields a staff and magic at range. The original linear story is expanded with new characters, side quests, and a longer, more elaborate rendition of Midgar, turning the first installment into a standalone, many-hours-long game.

On PS5 the game runs at high resolution with support for 60 frames per second and shorter loading times, significantly changing the experience compared to the original PS4 version. Visually it is one of the most elaborate reconstructions of Midgar, with music reworking Nobuo Uematsu's classic themes into orchestral and rock arrangements that shift dynamically depending on the combat situation and the environment. The edition also includes an episode featuring Yuffie Kisaragi, which expands the story with a standalone storyline taking place in parallel with the main adventure and offers a different combat style built around materia and shuriken.

The remake attracted major attention from both fans and newcomers upon release, as it dared to enrich the well-known story with new plotlines and philosophical questions about fate and memory without betraying the emotional core of the original. Critics and players alike praised the combat in particular, which successfully combined action dynamics with the tactical depth of classic Final Fantasy games. Today it is seen as an example of how sensitively a classic can be modernized without losing its character, and serves as an introduction to the trilogy continuing with Rebirth.

Why play it: For fans of the original and newcomers alike, who will appreciate a sensitively modernized story and combat combining action dynamics with the tactical depth of classic Final Fantasy games.