When the “Remake Saga” of a key Square Enix saga was announced, many weren’t sure what to make of it. On the one hand, fans were pumped that one of the greatest RPGs ever was getting reborn into the modern era. However, they weren’t sure what that would truly look like, play like, and so on. Those who remember the “early years” after that teaser will know that the game had plenty of development issues, and when it was announced to be coming in parts, gamers were skeptical of the results. However, the first entry and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth easily put those fears to rest.
While the games weren’t perfect, for reasons we’ll touch on in a second, the games did rebuild what the world of Gaia looked like and gave new looks and voices to some of the most iconic video game characters ever. The battle system was also overhauled to feel more modern while also playing to those who liked turn-based stylings. In the end, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was a success in certain ways, and now, gamers are looking forward to the final entry that’ll close out the retold story like never before.
Game director Naoki Hamaguchi is also looking forward to it, and in an interview with a fan YouTube channel, he noted that his goal was to “finish [the remake trilogy] off and make it the best experience it possibly can [be].”
A worthy goal and something that fans would definitely ask him to do. He didn’t stop there, though. He also praised the second entry and noted that he was particularly happy with how things went with it:
“Really, I’m proud of what we managed to achieve on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in terms of going away from that more traditional […] linear gameplay experience and really creating that exciting […] look at a more free, open-world. That’s definitely something that will pay dividends in the future.”
Many are hoping that’s true. The open world was never more expansive than in this game, and it helped win over many fans and critics. Gamers expect the third game to be just as open, especially since it’s been confirmed that the Highwind will be around to fly players all over the map.
The real question will be about the game’s story and its overall sales. The story of the “Remake Saga” is easily one of its more divisive elements, and the ending will help sink or float everything as a whole. As for sales, the second entry didn’t do as well as the original. So, can the third fix that, or will it follow the same pattern?
