Topic: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade

@NintendoByNature I really don't want them to remake FF9 and overwrite collective memory yet again like they have with FF7. Let sleeping dogs lie please...

@NintendoByNature
Best part of the Omnislash mod is, no models are blocky anymore. They all match the new Remake models (obviously not pushing as many polygons, but they genuinely look the same, with same proportions and everything, down to the last detail).

My favorite has always been FFX, but I've only beaten FFX, FFXII, FFXV (not quite beat but close), and played some of the others. Could never get into FF7 due to blocky polygons but this Omnislash mod that makes it look like the Remake... chef's kiss! Literally fixes my biggest issue. Even has new cinematics with the new models and everything. The remake is dope, but I may play them simultaneously.

FFIX needs a remake. Cause there's no mods for that one on Switch. But so does FFVI. I'd always wanted HD-2D for it, but the style of DQ7 Reimagined would be fine by me as well.

@OmnitronVariant I just love that game, so the more the merrier for me. But I get your point.
@JaxonH I only played 10 for 7-8 hrs, couldn’t get into it honestly. 6 was ok for me, but I’d revisit it with HD2D for sure. I liked 4 much more. Still need to play 5, 8, 12, 13, 15, and 16. I own some of those so I still can. If 16 comes to S2 that’ll be a day one for me.

I love the streamlined progression options in settings. Learning a weapon proficiency ability after one use allows me to not grind weaker weapons just to gain their ability.

And maxing out all current materia helped me get my MP-Up upgraded to +50% way faster. As well as getting my Cure spells up to that final level quicker.

It's just nice. Especially when bouncing between the remake and the modded original. Tend to want to get through each without excess grind as much as possible. The options provided in each actually make that a reality, and I'm here for it.

I sunk a ton of time into the game today ( flying 20 hours for work) - and I ultimately had to stop playing because everything is blurry 😂. I’m probably 15 hours in. This game is a masterpiece. I haven’t had this much fun with an rpg in a long time. I’m constantly blown away with how good it looks. The story is excellent and interesting, and I feel like the time they are taking to flesh out the sectors is a great addition. It’s just stunning.

Just realized last night how padded this 3 part trilogy is.

I finally reached the point where I fell in the flower bed. Got quite a bit further than that, actually. I'm now in some entertainment sector trying to stop Tifa from getting pimped by some rich dude.

One thing that bugs me is the "PS gamer-centric design" with agonizingly slow "seamless in-game cutscene" animations shimmying between walls to get to a back alley or a kids' secret base. I love the game, I really do, but sometimes I get so angry at that stuff, knowing they only included it to cater to the cinematic whims of their original target audience. It's actually infuriating when they make you do it 7 different times back and forth, and it takes like 20 seconds each time.

But that aside, I'm having a great time.

@JaxonH what difficulty did you end up choosing? I chose normal and the crab warden was tough as nails. Flew through potions, phoenix downs and curagas

I am playing on normal, and the Crab Warden was pretty tough. But I’ve been dying more in the Cloud/ Aerith sections than anywhere previously. I haven’t figured out how to use her effectively. I like that in normal mode, it’s still tough. And when you die, you can respawn directly from the start of the battle. Leveling up the Cure spell to Curaga is key.

@JaxonH Some of the quests in that section are a bit tedious. I think you nailed it, the game leans into the cinematics. I haven’t minded it much, but it would be nice to shimmy through those nooks and crannies faster after the first time through. But it really does look fantastic while you’re doing it 😂

@JaxonH
the cinematic stuff feels like something japanese gaming in general was leaning into for a bit since a lot of western AAA gaming trends tend to show up in japanese releases oddly late to the party at timeswhich is unfortunate since even on ps4-5 those kinds of things weren't too well recieved when the game came out (though to be fair despite the stereotype on nintendo forums on gamefaqs of sony fans only playing games like uncharted there was a pretty big part of the ps3 and ps4 fanbase into japanese games/rpgs/etc) , it feels like one of those things in games which show up repeatedly yet you will be hard pressed to find many who enjoy them, see also things like following-missions, ive seen those pop up in several games from BOTW, to FFXIV and even the newer Trails games and they are often considered the weakest part of the game by many.

Those 2 aspects (the cinematic segments and the sidequest pacing) are elements i found improved quite a bit in rebirth, the cinematic parts are still there but they are spread apart much better for the most part so the dungeon design has more chances to breathe and the sidequests are spread throughout the game rather than clumped together in designated sidequest chapters. The game does jump on a different trend, being the open world segments, but they do at least incorperate more stuff like the combat system and since progress with them is saved between playthroughs they can be done at your own pace.

One aspect of Rebirth did feel oddly more like something out of the 2000s and that was the large amount of minigames, and while they can be hit and miss a lot of them are optional and i didnt feel like many outstayed their welcome.

Either way glad to see others enjoying the game.

@NintendoByNature
Normal. And it's been very difficult at times. Like certain enemies with Barriers you can only hit with spells, of which they're only weak to one, and if I only have Cloud and Aerith and only one of them has the element needed (say, Cloud for example) then I have to build ATB to use the spell, but can't build ATB without attacking.

So the recent Materia where you hit L+R to gain ATB was a Godsend, as it allowed me to get around those kinds of dilemmas.

@Mgalens
It's not that big a deal, just irritating at times. Having Cloud walk super slowly chasing Sephiroth in the beginning was the worst offense by far, similar to Tomb Raider reboot forcing Lara to walk slowly while injured. Like. When are devs gonna recognize, "holding up on analog for 5 straight minutes to crawl at a snail's pace while blocking all other actions" is the antithesis of fun?

Still, it's a fantastic game and is giving me the same vibes I got with Final Fantasy X (my first traditional JRPG I beat after Fire Emblem Awakening got me into SRPG and turn-based games, which I beat on Vita and Switch and remains my favorite traditional turn-based JRPG to this day).

@Lazz
For Aerith I try to use her ability that puts that rectangular zone on the ground allowing double casting. Then any spells she uses casts twice.

I'm fairly certain the tight spaces are there to hide loading. Similar to what Metroid Prime does with its corridors that connect larger rooms as well as doors that can sometimes take way longer to open because you were too fast. The game loads its next chunk while the player is not looking. Simple and effective. Use a long corridor when places can be further from each other (road from town to Aerith's house), use tight spaces when places need to be close to each other (town center to hideout). When it comes to the hideout, it also makes thematically sense. There's a cost for looking this good. Imagine if they'd used loading screens instead.

I am in love with this game. It's impeccably built, fun and engaging, and the graphics.

When Rebirth comes out for S2, that'll be a day one for me.

I just defeated the Crab Warden - not too difficult, but long. The progression is really well paced, and there are a lot of story beats that keep you engaged. It’s funny, I enjoyed my time with it when I played and beat the game twice on PS4/5, but playing in handheld enhances my experience.

The game isn’t without its flaws — there is excessive padding, and the slow walking segments can be tedious — but those minor complaints don’t overshadow the brilliance of the game overall. I’m really excited to see how Rebirth does, and what compromises there are.

One thing I will say is that I think my third time playing the game has only solidified my feelings on the combat: it is arguably my favorite in any game ever. I know that sounds hyperbolic, but it has the perfect blend of real time action and turn based mechanics. It works incredibly well. When you get the hang of it and have a good chemistry with your party members and their materia, it’s an absolute delight.

@Kraven
The combat is 👨‍🍳 💋

Combat, visual presentation and voice acting are all top-shelf.

@JaxonH no doubt man. I just beat air buster last night. It was tough but only died once. What’s that materia called that fills up the ATB gauge

@NintendoByNature
ATB Boost.

Also highly recommend Binding Materia on every character, fully leveled up. Provides resistance to sleep, silence and berserk, as well as allowing casting of all 3.

Also, an Elemental Materia with either Fire/Ice/Thunder/Wind in a connected 2-slot armor not only nullifies damage for that element, it actually heals you. I keep an Elemental + Fire Materia on Cloud's Caliginous Bracelet for immunity + heals from fire damage. And fire can be swapped if needed against a specific enemy (like Shiiva in the VR Battle Simulator- swap for ice and she can't touch you).

@JaxonH good call. I’ll try to do the same. As long as I have all the necessary equipment

@NintendoByNature
Btw, the most non-negotiable Materia, IMHO, is using a Magnify Materia with a Healing Materia in a connected slot.

Any time you use Cure/Cura/Curaga/Regen it will apply to the entire party but with 25% less efficacy. You can toggle the Magnify effect on or off with L in the ATB menu (if you want to heal just one person with full efficacy outside battle or something).

This is absolutely clutch. Idk how many Magnify Materia exist in the game, but I'd slot these in for every single character if I could.

@JaxonH that’s great stuff man. I’ll be on the hunt for them too now. That’s probably the only slow down for me is needing to heal in some of those boss battles. So if I can without the extra steps, that’ll be dope.

Still working my way through. I’m nearly done with chapter 15 and I’m trying to finish before RE9 hits. I haven’t been gaming as much as of late, but I think I’ll manage.