Handing over Final Fantasy VII Rebirth the Most Anticipated Game award barely scratches the surface of the immense anticipation brewing among fans for this release. However, as the Final Fantasy communities are abuzz with joy, it’s not hard to see why newcomers to the series would find themselves puzzled by the multiple games sharing the same title. If you’re on this boat, don’t worry, we’ve got your back! So, without further ado, let’s have a look at the difference between Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
How Are Final Fantasy VII, Remake, And Rebirth Different?
Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth are part of a trilogy of remakes for the original Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997. The remakes not only breathe new life into the original narrative but also spend much more time exploring the characters’ backstories.
Announced on Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII 25th Anniversary Celebration Livestream in June 2022, Remake was confirmed to be one of three games being reimagined as a high-definition trilogy of the original game. The second installment, Rebirth, is set to hit the shelves on February 29, 2024.
The third and final game of this trilogy is still a bit of a mystery, with its details still under wraps. All we know is that the game might also start with an “R”, just like Remake and Rebirth. But let’s not get too carried away with speculation! For now, let’s have a look at the game’s journey so far and explore everything that sets these three games apart.
Differences Between Final Fantasy VII And Final Fantasy VII Remake
Here are all the differences between the original Final Fantasy VII and the Final Fantasy VII Remake:
- Expanded story and characters. The remake explores the story and characters of the game in much more detail, giving more screen time to characters like Jessie, Wedge, and Biggs.
- New enemies and battles. Players get to face off new antagonists and take part in many more battles in Remake. For instance, Roche, a 3rd-class Soldier member, appears as a new enemy in the remake.
- New battle system. You can directly control your character and their actions during battles in Remake.
- Refined weapon system. Remake introduces a new weapon system in the series, with each weapon now having its own stats.
- Bigger Midgar. The city of Midgar is expanded in Remake, unlocking new facets of the iconic city and opening up the possibility of encounters with new characters.
Differences Between Final Fantasy VII Remake And Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth, both inspired by the original Final Fantasy VII, offer a unique experience of the beloved game. Here’s how these two installments differ:
- Improved graphics. Rebirth takes a leap forward in terms of graphics, offering more detailed textures, improved character models, and much more refined facial animations.
- Expanded character roster. Red XIII, Yuffie, and Cait Sith are all now fully playable characters in Rebirth.
- New gameplay elements. The game introduces new features like Red XIII’s Vengeance Mode, Yuffie’s elemental ninjutsu, and Cait Sith’s Moogle summon.
- Playable Sephiroth. Yes, we can finally walk in the shoes of Sephiroth in a flashback sequence.
- Diverse locations. Rebirth broadens the game’s scope by adding new locations like Junon and Costa Del Sol.
- Bigger world. Not compromising on the open-world aspect of the remake trilogy, Rebirth offers a landscape and gameplay experience even larger than that of Rebirth.
Can You Play Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Before Remake?
You can absolutely jump straight into Final Fantasy VII Rebirth without playing Remake first. In fact, the game’s co-director, Motomu Toriyama, himself has assured fans that newcomers won’t feel like they’re lost in the wilderness, as the game kicks off with a prologue that recaps Remake and weaves in elements from Crisis Core and the lives of Cloud and Sephiroth.
However, since Rebirth continues the story right where Remake left off, we’d recommend that you play Remake first. Otherwise, it would be kind of like watching The Godfather Part 2 without seeing the first movie. Sure, you could do it, but it’s just not quite the same, right?
Can You Carry Over Saved Game Data From Remake To Rebirth?
The game data you’ve saved in Final Fantasy VII Remake won’t be transferred to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. This means that all the equipment, abilities, or Materia you’ve gathered in the previous game won’t be available in Rebirth.
This is partly due to the fact that, despite being a continuation of Remake, Rebirth has been designed to be a standalone experience, as explained by the game’s director, Naoki Hamaguchi. But don’t worry, if you’ve completed Remake on your PS5, you’ll get some bonuses in your Rebirth playthrough.
Final Thoughts
It’s a good time to be alive for Final Fantasy fans as Square Enix continues to release these absolutely remarkable remakes of the classic Final Fantasy VII. Now, speaking of these remakes, what’s your top pick for the most impressive change between Remake and Rebirth? Do share it with us in the comments below!