A new adventure is coming in early 2024, but despite the enormous anticipation, the game director, Naoki Hamaguchi, has not yet provided details or dropped hints about what will happen in the new installment. However, the little he has revealed has sparked a great debate about Iris’s fate.
The Story of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
After years of rumors and fan requests, the new version finally came out: Final Fantasy VII Reborn is part 2 of the Final Fantasy VII remake project, developed and produced by Square Enix. It was released on April 10, 2020, and revisits the RPG story, redefining the genre across three different games.
The story follows the mercenary Cloud Strife and the eco-terrorist group Avalanche as they fight against the corrupt conglomerate of Hre and the legendary ex-soldier, Sephiroth. The game combines real-time action similar to Dissidia Final Fantasy with other strategic elements.
Iconic characters like Tifa, Aeris, Red, Cloud, and Barret escape the utopian city of Midgar in search of Sephiroth, the vengeful character from Cloud’s past believed to be dead.
The narrative reveals that after many hours in the suburbs of the place (Shinra’s reactors), the episode changes the scenery: there will be different locations, free zones, and new cultures and characters.
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This new installment warrants the development of the plot:
Claude Striff was a former soldier and a member of Shinra Electric Power Company’s elite soldiers. Shinra uses refined forms of Earth’s spiritual energy produced in large reactors to promote the development of the metropolis of Midgar. Disenchanted by Shinra, Tiff Lockhart’s childhood friend, and in response to Ren’s request, Claude accepts a job as a mercenary for the eco-terrorist organization Avalanche led by Wallace. But Barrett believes that Mako overexploitation is harming the planet and initiates an attack on the Mako reactor.
Later, Claude is haunted by the memory of the mysterious veteran Sephiroth and meets the florist Alice Gainsborough. However, ghostly creatures intervene, alternately helping and hindering Cloud throughout the game. For this reason, he is recruited for another mission and then disappears.
On the other hand, Cloud reunites with Aeris and protects her from Shinra forces. After meeting Tifa, the three learn that Shinra is planning to drop a “plate” on the slums of District 7. Avalanche fails to stop Shinra’s plan, and the “plate” falls. Iris helped evacuate most people and Barrett’s daughter, Marlene Wallace but was later captured by Shinra.
At that moment, Cloud, Tifa, and Barrett infiltrate Shinra’s headquarters to rescue Alice, used as an experiment by Shinra’s scientist Hoyo. They discover she is the last descendant of Setra, an almost extinct pioneer race that inhabited the “promised land” coveted by Shinra for its unlimited Mako reserves. The group encounters a wolf-like creature named Red Thirteen, who explains that these ghostly creatures are called “ecos” ensuring that the course of destiny does not change.
Meanwhile, Sephiroth infiltrates HRE and steals a mysterious device called “Jenova” involved in Setra’s destruction.
The plot continues, and during the conflict on the top floor of Shinra’s headquarters, Sephiroth kills the Shinra president. Shinra’s son, Rufus, takes control of the company and fights Cloud but is defeated. Cloud and his allies flee the scene on the Midgar highway, only to find Sephiroth waiting for them.
After defeating the Harbinger, a unit formed from the combination of these forces, Cloud’s group fights Sephiroth. Sephiroth separates Cloud from the group and asks him to join and challenge destiny, but Cloud refuses and defeats Sephiroth. As Cloud’s team leaves Midgar to stop Sephiroth, the eleventh soldier Zack Fear defeats Shinra’s army and joins Cloud.
During the interlude, an additional final scene is added, where Cloud and his team reach Kali Village after their journey with Chocobo Bill, and Zack enters the Church located in Sector 5 in search of Aeris.
On the other hand, four key staff members return to assist with the remake: the original character designer Tetsuya Nomura returns as director and also the main character designer, the original director Yoshinori Kitase becomes the producer, and Kazunari Nojima returns to write the script. Additionally, Nobuo Uematsu will be the composer for this saga. Rebirth promises a noticeable change in the development and setting of the adventure, with more monumental and epic scenarios.
This new adventure can be enjoyed by players, including those who have not played Final Fantasy VII Remake or the original PS version.
Given the large scale of the project, the team decided to release the new version in multiple games to not dilute the original content. They also decided to add new content and modify original character designs to balance realism and stylization. The second part of the new version, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, is expected to be released on PlayStation 5 in early 2024.
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Which characters will we see in this Final Fantasy release?
One of them is Dion Lesage, the heir to the Holy Empire of Sanbreque and the undisputed leader of the knightly order called “the dracónidos,” the most feared and noble.
He is a highly respected and beloved person, especially for his ability to change events even if the battle is being lost.
Another new character joining this new installment is Barnabas Tharmr, a titleless and landless wanderer who ended up winning his kingdom through his combat skills. This king has a luxury army from the city of Valisthea and will feel very connected to the place where the fiercest fighting takes place.
The truth is that these two new characters will cross paths with Clive, the sole protagonist of Final Fantasy.
Will Final Fantasy VII Rebirth be exclusive to PS5?
The answer is yes. The release of the original Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was confirmed to be available only for this model, and those who are users of the previous version will have to take the opportunity to make a generational leap.
Prices and editions of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
There is much anticipation surrounding this new release. As we mentioned at the beginning, it is scheduled for early 2024, more precisely for February 29.
The title, which can already be pre-ordered, will have three editions: the standard version, the deluxe version, and a collector’s edition that will cost around $349.99.
How many hours of gameplay does Final Fantasy VII Rebirth have?
As revealed by director Naoki Hamaguchi, players of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth can enjoy 100 hours of gameplay, making the most of the universe of possibilities it offers.
An expanding world, epic battles, and the opportunity to explore everything lie ahead!
