Contents
Introduction
Latest News: Release date?
Final Fantasy Thoughts: The FFVII Remake Demo
Final Fantasy 101: Cloud Strife & an overview Midgar
Welcome to Final Fantasy Friday Feature, yeah I just can't get enough of those F words!
This will be a weekly post talking about news on the game and some background information ready for it's release, then continuing the weekly posts as I journey through the entire game. I hope you will join me... Well, it's something to do isn't it.
(note: I know this has been published two days late - due to a slight ill patch, i'm afraid. The next post will be this Friday!)
Latest News
With regard to recent world events, Square Enix have stated that although the game will still be released as scheduled, not everyone will be able to get hold of it on this date.
Do remember the game will always be on the store as a digital downloaded at any time, and the physical copies will still arrive, albeit a little late for some. There is always the option of course to cancel ones physical copy on amazon etc, and buy the digital version instead.
I may just have to wait a little longer for my Cloud and Hardy Daytona!
Final Fantasy Thoughts: FFVII Remake Demo
For this first issue I will be talking about my thoughts and impressions after playing through the new demo released on the Playstation Store. Here is an edited down version (approx 30mins) My thoughts are below:
One of the first things that hit me loading up the demo was the new version of Final Fantasy VII's "Prelude". I wont lie, it actually brought a tear to my eye. And this is before I've even started the game. It isn't in the video above, but it's too gorgeous to miss. So below is a 6 minute edition, click on it and have a listen while you read, if you would like..
In the demo we got to see a fair few characters, and had a chance to play with two - Cloud and Barret. It reminded me of the first time I watched Advent Children and wished the game could be updated to look like it. Well now it does, only even better.
We see enough of the AVALANCHE group to get a sense of how much more they are fleshed out. It's great to know they will be with us for the majority of the game, rather then just the first ten hours or so like before.
Seeing President Shinra and one of his henchmen this early in the story was a great surprise, as it never happened in the original, we hardly got to see him at all apart from a few key moments. Just like the AVALANCHE team, I cant wait to see how they flesh him and his men out in the newly revised story.
Battle System
The best way to describe the Battle system is action RPG, but with the emphasis on RPG. The game cleverly introduces a whole new battle system but does it in such a way it feels like an extension of the original.
In the original you would wait for your ATB gauge to fill up before you could make a move, be it attack, magic, item, summon etc. In the Remake you can perform basic attacks freely, and this is what builds your ATB gauge up. Once it's full you can perform special attacks, cast magic and use items. You can also switch between Cloud and Barret with a tap of the directional pad, utilising Cloud for close up assaults and Barret for long range attacks. It makes the game feel comfortable enough for someone who's first major Final Fantasy was XV, but it also retains the strategy of the original.
Expanding the Story
One of the most interesting aspects of the story from this demo is it now clearly shows it wasn't actually AVALANCHE that caused the mass destruction, but Shinra themselves. This changes the dynamic somewhat from the original, showing Shinra's hand much earlier, and the lengths they will go to get what they want.
Final Thoughts
If the demo is anything to go by then we should all be happy, old fans and new players alike. They have kept the feel and all that was great about the original whilst modernising the systems, visuals and gameplay to make it a truly exciting new world.
Final Fantasy 101
Think of this as a sort of beginner's guide to get an understanding of the basics of the world before its release next month. Each week I will delve a little into one of the characters we've seen and explain a little about the world of Final Fantasy.
This week we look at the main protagonist, Cloud Strife, and the location where the game is set, the city of Midgar.
Name: Cloud Strife
Gender: Male
Age: 21
Birthday: August 11
Blood Type: AB
Height: 173cm
Home Town: Nibelheim
Weapon: Sword
"At the age of 21, cloud Strife leads the life of a mercenary for hire. As an ex member of Shinra's elite squad known as SOLDIER, his fighting skills are in high demand. Cloud joins the rebel group AVALANCHE for their first strike against one of Shinra's huge Mako Reactors that surround the city of Midgar" - taken from the official final fantasy strategy guide
Though Cloud comes across as the stereotype moody quiet dude, he has a really interesting past. In the original game we didn't get to see much of this until we left the confines of Midgar and explored the outside world. However, from the trailers and other small bits of information, it seems they may be bringing at least hints of this forward to this first part. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds on screen.
"The largest metropolis in the world. The Shinra Company's towering headquarters thrusts up from the centre, and eight Mako reactors circle the surrounding urban zones. The Wealthy elite live above, on the plates, while the destitute occupy the slums below. A train line running around the central tower connects the plates to each other. The city was known as Zamal in the early stages of development" - extract taken from Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive volume 2
In the original version of FFVII we never got to explore much of the upper plate, or indeed some sectors of the slums beneath. We are told that we will get to see a lot more in the remake, so with that in mind, here is a small guide to the few places we could explore in the original:
The Upper Plates
Sector 0 - Shinra Headquarters, the huge tower that stands at the centre of Midgar
Sector 1 - This is where the game begins, Cloud jumps off the train and heads for the Mako Reactor.
Sector 8 - Loveless Avenue, Where we see Aeris the flower girl in the opening cinematic.
The Slums
Sector 5 - The Church, the only place in the slums where flowers grow
Sector 6 - Wall Market, The Honey Bee Inn & Don Corneo's Mansion
Sector 7 - 7th Heaven Bar and AVALANCHES base of operations
Looking at this list even I am surprised at how little we actual saw, it will be great to get out there and explore all the old places and hopefully many new ones.
Next Week
we take a look forward at some of the best moments to come in the game, there's a classic track to listen to and in FF 101 it's the turn of Barret and his rebel group AVALANCHE.
Until next time my friends, be seeing you x
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