Savouring the Final Fantasy VII Remake
In a very unNait-like display of superhuman restraint, I’m not chewing through the latest Final Fantasy like it’s a piece of cake I’m afraid one of the children will come steal if I leave it sitting unattended too long. I finished Final Fantasy XV in the span of a long weekend, by way of example.
Now, I know. I know that no matter how slowly I take this — there is still going to be a reasonable wait before the next part of FF7R is put into our hands. Best case I reckon, a year. More likely — going on the precedent of the FFXIII, XIII-2, XIII-3 chain of games is about 2 years between releases.
But even so, I’d like the experience to last. To savour it at least a little bit. And so far? It has been very much worth it.
I’m perhaps a dozen hours in now. And it has been rather amusing attempting to dredge from the distant reaches of memory whether something is new to the remake or merely forgotten. Not everything — there are some fairly iconic memories from the original experience and it seems that Square has done a dang impressive job of identifying those moments and faithfully recreating them. They save the more liberal use of the creative-license brush for expanding on moments between the scenes more clearly remembered.
Without spoiling anything for anyone; I’ve caught up with Aerith, made it back to her place and started on a number of the tasks that follow. Including some of the side content unlocked for the area.
I heard a number of complaints about the side content in reviews; but (so far) I’ve not found it so bad. Don’t get me wrong — it is most certainly side content tier quality in terms of the story, and I may well tire of them before I’m done with the game as a whole — but the rewards are sufficient to keep me going with them for the time being. And in a way; it helps me further pad out the length of time the game will last me.
My only complaint so far? Aerith is meant to be Aeris dangit!
In FF7 Original, in my region at least, the original translation was Aeris. As it turns out? Aerith is the more ‘correct’ translation against the developer’s intent. But it was initially quite an adjustment to make and struck me as wrong ever time I saw her name.
Fortunately though, the new name has grown on me quickly enough.
This was a post for Blapril 2020, the annual blogging event (albeit usually as Blaugust), brought forward to help bring a sense of community during the challenging time of COVID-19. Blaugust is an event aiming to welcome new blogger blood into the fold and revitalise those who’ve been at it a little longer.
The Blaugust Discord is still available to join in, year round!
