It's Happening - Final Fantasy VII Remake Reviews Just Went Live

If you told me 5 years ago that the first part of the re-imagining of the 1997 classic Final Fantasy VII would come out on 2020, I would laugh and dismiss it. Well, we are just days away from official release and the reviews coming in from critics make it all too real.

To put it simply, most of the initial reviews are giving the remake high praise for a variety of reasons while some aren’t too keen at the side quests and camera issues. As of this writing, Final Fantasy VII Remake currently has a Metacritic score of 87. We compiled briefly what critics are saying and kept it spoiler-free as possible, even though most of us know the story…or do we?

Gamespot (10/10): “Regardless of your history with the original game, Final Fantasy VII Remake is an astounding achievement. The wait for its release was a long one, but in gameplay, story, characters, and music, it delivers--the wait was worth it.”

Easy Allies (9/10): “ Final Fantasy VII is an ambitious retelling that updates its systems and story for the modern era.The new battle system is fantastic and does a superb job of blending strategy and action.”

Games Radar (4.5/5): “Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a spectacle from start to finish. You can tell how much care has been taken to bring this story back to life for modern audiences. As a retelling of a classic with plenty of surprises in store, the Remake offers engaging experiences for longtime fans and newcomers alike.”

Destructoid (9/10): “Even if the combat system isn't getting you going, a lot of the emotional narrative appeal of the remake spills through to the combat. Hearing Barret shout the victory fanfare theme song as you rush from fight to fight is enough to make you smile. The key here is that like pretty much everything Nomura does, it looks absolutely fantastic at all times and errs on the side of emotion.”

Game Informer (8.75/10): “Final Fantasy VII Remake finds an impressive equilibrium between its past and its present. Square Enix nods to the original without depending on that familiarity, crafting a distinctive world and exciting combat system that feel modern.”

IGN (8/10): “Apart from additions that work toward making the world of Midgar and its people feel more real, the theme behind most of FF7R’s newly inserted plot points is one of uproarious spectacle with very little thought.”

US Gamer (3.,5/5) : “Truthfully, it's not really the approach I wanted or expected, but like I said, I can't really begrudge Final Fantasy 7 Remake being bold in an era of incredibly safe blockbusters. I just wish the execution were better.”

Telegraph (3/5): “Detractors might claim that actually captures the feel of vintage Final Fantasy VII perfectly but while the original was certainly sprawling the open world format carried it. Remake’s tight third-person camera angle and determination to do away with loading screens makes the going laborious. The compulsion to progress is strong but it’s often exhausting. “

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