Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade (Switch 2)

 

Back again!

So I've played through the first part of the Remake trilogy of Final Fantasy VII (spoilers for the whole story).  It contains the Midgar part of the story. and graphically and musically it's good. Voice acting is great and some of the expanded stuff are rather great, I really like more from Avalanche crew, Biggs, Wedge and Jessie. What I don't particulary like is the combat gameplay, I struggled with it up to the very end. I did it on normal and when Rebirth comes out I think I will play on easy cause I was just frustrated when for example I'm fighting Rufus and I don't know what to do (apparently recommended to use a certain materia, but it was on Tifa so no can do), and then followed another boss fight without being able to change equipment meaning you have to go back several bosses if you die so you just gotta tough it out, and that is a pain.

So it's a bit of a mixed bag and I don't know if I really like it. The original feels better (it's also a complete story) and maybe because I like old stuff, but I think it holds up. Especially the Switch version where you can speed up the gameplay. But it was fun doing side quest and get to know the other people in Sector 7, but in the end I just wanted it over. I didn't clear Jules pull-up challenge (apparently people said it was better to take away the voices and sounds since they just distract you) or the Shinra VR battle simulator, they beat me up on the solo run so I just quit that after a couple of tries, getting the EXP materia. The game is very well paced though, you fight monsters pretty much enough to always have a challenge but still doable if you know what you are doing (which I'm bad at).

Then, the last point of discussion regarding the game itself, the changes to the story, a multiverse theory... god I hate that. On one hand, yes, it would be nice if Zack survived... or the other of Avalanche (still don't know if Wedge and Jessie made it or died). But the Whispers as enemies and obstacles just feel obnoxious and maybe if it have a pay-off in the third game, but I have my doubts. And finally, yes I got this game as a Game Key Card... and it made me get more... so that genie is out of the bottle. And later this year (as of writing) Rebirth comes out for the Switch 2. I gotta get it and then we shall see when the third game appears.