Earlier this year, Square Enix made a bold promise about how much content Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will have. With only months to go before its release, The Game Awards’ Most Anticipated Game is shaping up to a massive adventure, perhaps much more so than initially promised.
In a recent interview with Game Informer, FF7 Rebirth’s director, Naoki Hamaguchi, confirmed that the sequel promises an immersive 40 hours of main storyline gameplay. However, the true scale of the game becomes more apparent when considering the side content, which is estimated to make up about 80 percent of the exploration-based content. As a matter of fact, those intent on exploring every nook and cranny of the game, a playthrough could extend beyond the 100-hour mark, offering an experience that is both vast and immersive.
Hamaguchi’s vision for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is ambitious, to say the least. Creative Business Unit I is designing it to be able to cater to a broad range of players, from those focused exclusively on the main storyline to those who want to put themselves deep into the exploration and completion of side quests. This expansive approach and commitment towards delivering a rich, multi-faceted experience all but guarantees that the sequel is more than just a rehash of events previously already experienced.
FF7 Rebirth will feature a seamless open world complete with different regions and brand new cities, although it labels them as separate areas on the map. The best part? You can traverse to-and-fro without interruptions. This approach to exploration aims to give players a sense of freedom and agency. This is part of Square Enix’s strategy to deepen the narrative and offer fresh perspectives within the game’s universe.
The sidequests are more than just added content; they play an integral role to the game’s storytelling. These quests are designed to offer insights into the world, its inhabitants and even the party members, enriching player understanding of the game’s universe. Each sidequest will feature specific secondary protagonists alongside Cloud, providing an opportunity to deepen the relationship between characters and add layers to the narrative.
Of course, importance doesn’t guarantee quality. While Final Fantasy 7 Remake did an excellent job retelling the classic JRPG tale for modern audiences and hardcore fans, it, just like the original, fell short in certain aspects. The relative lack of meaningful and engaging sidequests, in particular, is a massive issue. This problem with side quests feeling like filler content is common among recent entries. By deliberately padding the game’s content, the side quests can detract from the main storyline instead of adding more to it. But, Square Enix promises that things will be different for FF7 Rebirth.
Ultimately, the development of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth within a span of approximately four years, alongside the ongoing development of the third part of the remake saga, is a notable achievement. It showcases the team’s ability to balance ambitious game development with maintaining the essence of the beloved franchise. This balance is crucial, especially in the wake of the evolving expectations of gamers in a post-Zelda and Elden Ring era, where the quality of open-world content is scrutinized more than ever.
With its expansive world and rich narrative, FF7 Rebirth should be everything that Square Enix promised that it will be – and then some.
