Keth Posted April 17, 2020 Posted April 17, 2020 (edited) Ok so, I just kinda want to talk about the shit I liked and didn't like in this game. I'll post some non spoilery stuff, and then tag the major plot stuff. Cause it's hard to talk about it without giving away too much. Not about the original. Everyone here should know Cloud dresses up in drag, and that Aerith dies halfway through the original game etc etc. But there are some pretty big.... surprises in this game. That shouldn't even be a spoiler because the sheer fact that this game even exists is a fucking surprise at this point! Anyway here's some of my random thoughts. I don't mean to post a big ol' long review, but this is a pretty huge game, and it gave me a lot of feels. So I'm pretty damn familiar with the original game. It wasn't my first FF game, and it isn't even my favorite. But I'm a big fan of it. So playing this new one is a total mindfuck. You have the story beats in your head, but then you have so much more going on here. I loved the new character development and new characters themselves. Biggs, Wedge and Jessie are fantastic, Barret has been given a big boost from a big dumb oaf to a charismatic leader with a lot of heart. Tifa and Aerith are charming as hell and it's awesome to see their friendship form here. And I like Cloud's subtle characterization. He tries so hard to be a badass, and he is. But he is also kind of a loser and I love that. Combat is equally impressive. It's feels very satisfying, especially Tifa. She plays very well and is just a badass. It's also surprisingly difficult. I never felt stuck, but some real tactics are needed here. I'd get killed by a boss then have to work out what I did wrong and what combo of materia/moves I needed. It made me feel smart for figuring out how to work around killing things more efficiently. The music is a mixed bag here. It's exciting to hear certain tracks and really gets you pumped. And I really like that the classic battle theme isn't what is used for EVERY fight. Some of the different areas re-purpose those themes as fight music. And works well. But some of the new, re-imagined music isn't all that great. I hate the new Wall Market theme for one. An I wish the boss fight music was worked in more/better. But mostly it's great. I feel like the game is a bit more padded than it should be. I really wanna know what it's like for people who haven't played the original. Ok time for heavy story spoilers. I love how some things are re-contextualized to give certain parts more depth. The train graveyard is fantastic. And then the battle at the pillar was one of the most harrowing moments in the game for me. It's a real gut punch. I also really love Sephiroth in this game. I've never been one of those who thought he was the best FF villain or anything. He looks cool, but he never had my favorite personality. I'ma Kuja guy. But here? He stalks you throughout the game with a real sense of glee. Like he wants to fuck with your head, and truly enjoys it. And it's CREEPY. They really did a great job of working him in, when he doesn't even fully appear until much later in the original game. BUT, once people finish this, we need to talk about the ending. How it basically erases the rest of the game from continuity. Maybe? I don't know. It certainly makes you want to think that once you leave Midgar, the story will take a dramatic hard left. It sorta does that a few times here, but the ending REALLY messes with you. I just hope that we don't have to wait as long for the next games, because that's such a cliffhanger. I see this game as the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood of video games. You've got an established timeline. You know what is SUPPOSED to happen... but it doesn't. And you then it leaves you wondering how the future shapes up. I'm also bummed that we don't really get to play as Red XIII. I get it, but I still would have loved to have him as a full playable character. Another reason I'm excited to see what's next. Edited April 17, 2020 by Axels Quote
The NZA Posted May 11, 2020 Posted May 11, 2020 easter eggs! gotterdammerung "A touching reunion" Quote Cloud's Punisher Mode is Sephiroth's Stance. Cloud's Operator Mode is Zack's Stance. more here Quote
Iambaytor Posted March 24, 2021 Posted March 24, 2021 So they added lensflare, fog, and cranked the brightness up a bunch so the image looks washed out and they want me to believe that that version looks better? 1 Quote
The NZA Posted January 31, 2022 Posted January 31, 2022 so i just finished INTERmission (the Yuffie DLC) and had a blast with it, i honestly wish we had more short campaigns in between big games like this sometimes (Uncharted Lost Legacy was great, for example). even trying to do everything i could, it's sub 10 hours. it made me wanna go back and replay the main game on hard, which i'm doing now & is forcing me to learn the battle system/juggling character commands more. looking back, i know a lot of folks wanted a 1:1 port (or something more akin to REmake 2) but i really dig the subervsive shit they're doing with this the main campaign's ending shows potential changes to big events in things like Crisis Core, which Yuffie's ending confirms the whispers felt like an annoying addition at times, but seeing where they may go with it is kinda cool. even the early/overuse of you-know-who feels meta towards the end. which is to say: i know this next one is prolly next year, but i can't wait. i've read folks talking about how it may only be a 2-parter, but given that the first chapter was all of Midgar/disc 1, i've no idea how that'd play out unless they sidestep a lot of stuff...down for the ride either way Quote
The NZA Posted February 1, 2022 Posted February 1, 2022 oh fucksake you literally can't use items anywhere on hard mode and benches don't restore MP either haha what have i done Quote
Visitant Posted February 1, 2022 Posted February 1, 2022 46 minutes ago, The NZA said: oh fucksake you literally can't use items anywhere on hard mode and benches don't restore MP either haha what have i done When I was playing on PS4 i was focused on the post game grind because you want to be maxed before hard mode. I haven't jumped into hard mode yet on PS5 - but I figure I have time before the next chapter. 1 Quote
The NZA Posted February 1, 2022 Posted February 1, 2022 yeah main characters are level 5, not all are level 5 on weapons yet - i'm reading some great materia combos to keep things easier, really thinking about the platinum in this one...lets see how far i get Quote
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