When Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade was announced for the Nintendo Switch 2, I couldn't contain my excitement as a long-time fan of the original 1997 game. However, as I finally got my hands on the game, I found myself feeling frustrated and disappointed. This was not the experience I was hoping for.
You see, the original Final Fantasy 7 was a game that held a special place in my heart. It was not just my favorite Final Fantasy game, but it was the game that defined my gaming life in the late '90s. So, naturally, I had high expectations for the remake.
When I first started playing, I was blown away by the stunning graphics and the nostalgic music. The Midgar fly-over scene gave me chills and I was transported back to the unforgettable opening sequence that I remembered so vividly. For a brief moment, I was completely sold on the game.
But then, the problems started. Unfair criticism alert: the characters didn't sound like I imagined they would. I know it sounds ridiculous, but as someone who played the original game at the time, you probably know what I mean. I had subconsciously created my own versions of these characters over the years, complete with their own voices. So to hear them fully voiced for the first time was jarring and felt wrong. It wasn't that the voice acting was bad, it just didn't match my expectations. For example, Barrett's voice was much heavier and gruffer than the jovial and boisterous version I had in my head.
Another issue I had was with the incredible graphics. While they were undeniably impressive, they also felt too realistic for a game like Final Fantasy 7. The original game was heavily stylized and had a certain charm to it, but the remake's hyper-detailed visuals took away from that charm.
And then there was the combat. It was overwhelming and confusing for me. I tried using the "Classic" option, but even that was too much for me to handle. There were numbers flying everywhere, commands I didn't understand, enemies attacking in real-time, and constant movement and timing to think about. It simply wasn't what I was used to or what I played Final Fantasy for.
This made me question who the remake was really aimed at. While there is a huge audience for action-focused Japanese role-playing games, I couldn't help but wonder why Square Enix chose to retell this specific story instead of creating a new one with fresh characters. It felt like the remake was trying to cater to a different audience, and as a long-time fan, I couldn't help but feel left out.
I know I'm in the minority, and it's great that the remake has found a new audience, but it made me realize that modern Final Fantasy may no longer be the series for me. And that's okay. For those who feel similarly, I highly recommend games like the Octopath Traveler series, which prove that Square Enix can still create amazing turn-based Japanese role-playing games.
But if Square Enix ever decides to remake my other favorite game, Final Fantasy 6, I'm terrified. Please, don't do the same thing to that game!
One important thing to note is that the character Yuffie was only added in the Intergrade version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. This may have influenced some players' opinions of the game, as Yuffie was not present in the original version.
In the end, I understand that my experience with Final Fantasy 7 Remake may not be shared by everyone. And that's okay. This is just my personal take on the game as a long-time fan of the original. I may no longer be the target audience for modern Final Fantasy games, but I will always cherish the memories and nostalgia of the original game.
