Five years after it was first talked about in 2015's E3, Square Enix finally put out the highly anticipated Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Overall, it met expectations well, with many people praising it and fans generally liking it. Now, with Sony's new PlayStation 5 console out, fans can play Final Fantasy 7 Remake again with Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, a version just for PS5.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is pretty much the same as the PS4 version, but it's smoother and looks better, plus there are a few extra scenes. It brings the best parts of the original to PS5 with some improvements, but that also means it keeps the original's problems. The side quests are still kind of boring and repetitive, there are parts that feel like they're just there to make the game longer, and the story changes that some people didn't like are still there.
Actually, the new scenes in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade double down on the story changes from the original, so if you didn't like where the story was going before, you won't find anything new here. But even with these problems, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is still a great experience overall. The battle system is fast and fun, the visuals are impressive, and the music is fantastic, so it's worth it despite its flaws.
People who upgrade from Final Fantasy 7 Remake on PS4 to PS5 will like the new stuff, like the Photo Mode. Once they try the game's combat in 60 fps, going back to the PS4 version might be hard. It's a bit disappointing that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade doesn't really use the DualSense controller's special features, but overall, moving to PS5 is worth it.
The PS5 improvements are nice, but what really stands out for hardcore Final Fantasy 7 Remake fans who've already played it loads on PS4 is the new Yuffie DLC, called Intermission. This DLC with two chapters isn't part of the free upgrade; you either buy Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade for $70 on PS5 or get it separately for $20. You can finish the story part pretty quickly, but the Yuffie DLC has a surprising amount of content overall.
The Final Fantasy 7 Remake Yuffie DLC happens around halfway through the base game's story, and, as expected, Yuffie is the main character. In the original Final Fantasy 7, Yuffie was optional, so some fans might wonder if she could really carry a DLC on her own. Turns out, Yuffie is one of the most entertaining characters in the whole Final Fantasy 7 Remake crew.
While Cloud in Final Fantasy 7 Remake spends most of the time being serious or quiet, Yuffie is full of energy and personality. Her dialogue is lively and doesn't always dive deep into complicated lore talk. In the Yuffie DLC for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, players see that she's not just all fun and games; she has some serious and emotional moments too, alongside the goofy ones.
It'll be exciting to see Yuffie interacting with the rest of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake crew in Part 2. Hopefully, in the next release, players can control Yuffie more often. She's honestly more enjoyable to play as than Cloud when exploring the game world because of her ninja skills. She can run on walls, swing from cranes, and do more than Cloud can. Plus, she can smash boxes from far away with her big shuriken, adding more to do and encouraging exploration.
Yuffie brings a fresh approach to combat as well. Her shuriken works as both a close and long-range weapon, so players need to mix up their tactics for different enemies. While the main game focuses a lot on Materia and spells, Yuffie's natural abilities shine in the DLC. Mastering her skills is crucial for winning tough fights.
A significant difference between Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the Intermission DLC is that Yuffie is the sole playable character in combat. Though Yuffie's partner, Sonon, joins the party early on, players can't directly control him. They can instruct him on abilities and such, but there's no switching between Yuffie and Sonon as with Aerith, Barret, Cloud, and Tifa in the main game.
Even though players can't control Sonon, he still has his own health bar, abilities, and equipable weapons. He's more actively involved than, for example, Red XIII in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Incorporating Sonon into strategies adds depth to the DLC's battles, as players can choose to "synergize" with him for combined attacks. Additionally, Sonon will sacrifice himself to revive Yuffie if she goes down, essentially acting as a free Phoenix Down.
Sonon contributes significantly to Final Fantasy 7 Remake's story, bringing depth to Yuffie's character that wasn't as apparent in the original game. The inclusion of lesser-known villains from Final Fantasy 7 spin-off games indicates that this DLC is more important than initially thought. It's not just a quick money-grab; it lays essential groundwork likely to be explored in the sequel. Notably, it avoids delving too much into the Whispers plotline from Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which is a positive for fans who weren't enthusiastic about that particular aspect.
While fans are eager to see how the main story unfolds in the Yuffie DLC, it's worth noting that it offers some engaging side content too. The first chapter, set in the Sector 7 Slums, encourages players to do side quests, explore the town, and try out the new Fort Condor mini-game, which surprisingly turns out to be enjoyable. Engaging in all these side activities can add another two to three hours to the DLC experience.
The Yuffie DLC in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is definitely worth it, especially for diehard fans of Final Fantasy 7 and its related works. However, it's disappointing that the PS5 shortage is preventing many fans from playing it. The Yuffie DLC is exclusive to PS5, but it doesn't introduce any groundbreaking gameplay that necessitates the extra power of a next-gen console. It's a letdown that PS4 owners are excluded.
Whenever fans of Final Fantasy 7 Remake get the opportunity, they should give the Yuffie DLC a try. It's not just a meaningless addition like some DLC packs tend to be; it offers significant new story content and is enjoyable too. As for the base game, those who already own the PS4 version can enjoy the free PS5 upgrade. While they might not feel like replaying the entire game on the new console, they can at least use Chapter Select to revisit some parts and appreciate the improved visuals and 60 fps gameplay.
