A week ago, Final Fantasy VII Remake celebrated its 5th anniversary, having first released on April 10, 2020. It was a great year to be a Final Fantasy fan, but it was also a terrible time to be a human being — with the pandemic locking everyone indoors. At that moment, many of us were looking for ways to escape the despair of the real world.
And Final Fantasy VII Remake arrived at exactly the right time. It wasn’t just a remake — it was a reimagining of the original Final Fantasy VII, anchored in nostalgia. At first, many thought it was a straightforward remake in technical terms. But then director Tetsuya Nomura introduced narrative twists that pushed the story into more surreal, almost meta territory.
So while the Remake did reignite passion for the Final Fantasy VII universe, it raises the question: was it really a good idea to remake VII in this way? And more specifically — was it the right move to split it into three separate acts?
Was Remaking It a Good Idea?
Retelling the Final Fantasy VII story through a modern lens was ambitious from the start. As one of the most beloved and best-selling entries in the Final Fantasy franchise, fans expected more than just prettier graphics. This remake had to offer something fresh — something bold.
Square Enix’s decision to split Cloud and company’s journey into three parts was a risky one, especially considering the long wait between releases. Personally, I found it intimidating at first. As someone who played and loved the original, discovering that the Remake covered only the first few hours of the OG was a bit of a letdown.
But as I played, certain story beats started to click for me. The Remake format allowed for richer emotional depth and nuance — especially in the character interactions. The improved visuals brought new life to familiar faces: you could actually see the pain in Cloud’s eyes, or feel the warmth in Tifa’s embrace just from her expressions. That’s what hooked me — seeing these characters at their best, no longer limited by text boxes and blocky polygons.
Was Remaking It a Bad Idea?
Don’t get me wrong — I genuinely enjoy Remake. But that doesn’t mean it’s flawless. Each of the two entries so far has clear issues, starting with the fact that neither tells a complete story. Square’s decision to stretch the narrative into three games leaves each part feeling a bit... unfinished. Almost like a beautiful tech demo that ends just when things are getting good.
Remake told barely half of the original story, which left longtime fans like me feeling unsatisfied. On the flip side, it’s a great entry point for new players — giving them a modern way to dive into Final Fantasy VII without needing to revisit the PS1 classic.
Rebirth, the second entry, clearly took fan feedback to heart. But in doing so, it may have gone overboard. The open-world format introduced a lot of bloat — from a laundry list of side quests to minigames and Chadley VR missions that left many players burned out after just a few hours. That said, those who pushed through to the end were rewarded with a moment that every Final Fantasy fan will remember.
Then there are the so-called "Whispers" — the mysterious plot ghosts that either frustrate or fascinate depending on who you ask. Some fans found them off-putting, while others (like superfan Maximilian_DOOD) saw them as fuel for wild theories. Whether you see them as a clever narrative twist or unnecessary confusion, the truth is this: beneath all the new layers, it’s still the Final Fantasy VII story — just told with added fanservice and deeper character moments.
If that’s what you felt was missing in the original, then yes, this Remake trilogy was made for you.
Despite the criticism, Final Fantasy VII Remake was a major success. It sold over 7 million copies and will even be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. Clearly, Square Enix did something right.
These are just my personal musings, of course. But honestly, it’s hard to say whether remaking Final Fantasy VII was a good or bad idea until we see how the third and final installment wraps things up. Until then, we can at least say it was a safe move on Square’s part — to split the game into multiple parts and throw in a few mysterious plot ghosts along the way.
I’m still excited to see what’s next. If I had to guess, the final chapter might be called Final Fantasy VII: Return — as some fans are speculating. Whatever the title, I’ll be there for it.