Among the games I played earlier this year, Final Fantasy VII Remake (the first game of the new trilogy) was one of the big ones I finally tackled. Late, you say? I know, but timing never seems to line up for these longer games, especially ones with the scope and density that FF7R has.

Final Fantasy VII was one of the defining games of my childhood, right alongside Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger, so seeing it return with modern visuals, new technology, and revamped gameplay was genuinely awe-inducing. It felt surreal to experience a world I loved so long ago in a completely new form.

Even after nearly 30 years, the core premise remains relevant:
on one side, a dying world choked by pollution and corporate greed under the iron fist of Shinra; on the other, the rebel group Avalanche, trying to stop that exploitation, though not fully understanding the consequences or scale of what they’re stepping into.

Caught in the middle is Cloud Strife, a former SOLDIER turned mercenary who's willing to work for whoever pays. It’s clear early on that Cloud’s memories and sense of identity are… off. The remake hints at this constantly, but just like in the original, the real answers come much later.

As the story progresses, things escalate beyond just fighting Shinra, as is tradition for JRPGs of this era, and the stakes eventually become planetary, metaphysical, and far more personal for the characters involved. The remake only covers the Midgar arc, but with vastly more detail. What was once a short opening segment in the original now becomes an entire full-length game.

And then there’s the biggest twist: it’s not just a remake.
The presence of the mysterious, ghost-like Whispers suggests the story is diverging from the original timeline, maybe slightly, maybe dramatically. There’s a sense that everything familiar is being guided or resisted by forces trying to maintain (or break) fate itself. It’s a fascinating way of revisiting a classic while keeping long-time fans on edge.

Tifa and Aerith are just as wonderful as ever, and the high-fidelity character work makes them even more endearing. And admittedly, this also makes it harder to move on to the second game, knowing exactly what awaits near the end, one of the most iconic (and heartbreaking) scenes in JRPG history. I will play it, but I’m considering waiting until near when the third part releases on PC as well, just so the gap between games isn’t too long.

Either way, FF7 Remake has been a fantastic return to a world that shaped my early gaming years, and I’m excited to see where the new direction leads.