Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is one of the largest adventures in Square Enix's long-running RPG franchise due to its massive world size and the sheer variety of activities that players can do after escaping Midgar. Although Cloud and Avalanche remain focused on their mission to stop both Sephiroth and Shinra from wreaking havoc on the planet, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a title that rewards players who explore it thoroughly and punishes those who don't.
Although Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's open world can be daunting for players at first, the game's various activities ensure there's something for anyone to enjoy. Even with all the content in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, there are still some "cardinal sins" that players should avoid committing to enjoy the game to its fullest potential. While some minor sins seem obvious on the surface, breaking the four most severe tenets can lead Final Fantasy players towards an unpleasant experience and more questions about the game's complex plot going into the upcoming third chapter.
Final Fantasy 17 Combat Wish List
Final Fantasy 17 has a lot to consider when it comes to its combat mechanics, especially following Final Fantasy 16 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
The Biggest Pitfalls To Avoid in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Don't Skip The Main Story Cutscenes
Like any entry in the Final Fantasy franchise, the story is what drives players to come back for more, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is no different in that regard. Although Rebirth picks up immediately where Final Fantasy 7 Remake left off, players should still pay attention to the details and musical cues that the game's myriad cutscenes offer.
Both Remake and Rebirth deviate heavily from the original Final Fantasy 7 in some segments, so players who pause and skip through some intense moments of dialogue will miss out on what motivates characters like Tifa or Barret to keep going. Playing Remake is recommended before heading into Rebirth for the first time, but a five-minute recap of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is an acceptable alternative that players can watch after booting up Rebirth.
Don't Use The Same Party Members And Materia
Though Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth puts the focus primarily on Cloud, the rest of Avalanche and other supporting characters have their roles to play in both the story and in combat. While Cloud and Tifa excel at close-range combat, having covering fire from Barret against flying foes, or some surprising Ninjutsu from Yuffie could turn the tide of any encounter.
When paired with various Materia that grant access to different spells and abilities, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth players should take care not to use the same party members without giving others a second thought. Some party compositions in Rebirth favor certain trios, but mixing up both the party and the materia they use can yield a more enjoyable game experience.
Don't Neglect Chadley's Intel Missions
Though his constant reminders and calls can be grating for some Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth players, Chadley's battle and exploration intel missions are essential for gaining valuable experience points and Gil. Additionally, some side quests can only be unlocked by filling out Chadley's intel logs, along with the opportunity to battle and earn the right to call upon various Summons like Titan and Bahamut Arisen.
Given that Chadley and his assistant, Mai, also provide some insight into different regions, like Gongaga and Corel, neglecting his requests for intel is just as big a detriment to players as going into a boss fight under-leveled and unprepared—as the saying goes, knowing is half the battle.
Don't Rush To The End
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is not a short game at all, so treating it like one is among the worst sins a player can commit. Between the emotionally charged cutscenes that have become part of gaming history, the various mini-games like Queen's Blood and Chocobo Racing, and the exploration opportunities to learn more about the planet, being a thorough player is part of what makes Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth enjoyable. Because the third part of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy is still in development, players should take as much time as they need to explore all that the first two entries have to offer.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- February 29, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- PC Release Date
- January 23, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- February 29, 2024
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- How Long To Beat
- 40 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
