Final Fantasy VII Remake: Everything you need to know

The original Final Fantasy 7 released all the way back in 1997. Now, 23 years later, we are on the edge of our seats as we await the release of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

This is a true reimagining of arguably not only the greatest title in the famed franchise but also one of the best JRPGs ever made.

In anticipation for the release, we've got you covered with everything you need to know about the Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

Please note: We've kept this article spoiler-free for those who've never played the 1997 classic.

Release date and editions

Square Enix recently assured fans the game won't be delayed again. Final Fantasy 7's release date is still set for 10 April 2020 on PS4.

To be clear, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake hasn't been officially revealed for other platforms. However, it is a time-exclusive, meaning it will remain a PlayStation exclusive for one year.

At the time of writing, no next-gen plans have been revealed, but the PS5 will be backwards compatible, so you can continue to enjoy the game on your PS5.

There are a few editions to choose from when pre-ordering the game. These include the Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition and Collector's Edition (dubbed the 1st Class edition).

Check out the Deluxe and 1st Class editions below. The latter is exclusive to the Square Enix store.

FF7 Remake Deluxe Edition:

(Picture: Square Enix)

FF7 1st Class Edition:

(Picture: Square Enix) 

Those who pre-order any edition will receive a Summon Materia DLC as a pre-order bonus.

Digital Standard Edition pre-order:

If you pre-order the game's Standard Edition on the PlayStation Store, you will receive the following:

• Chocobo Chick Summon Materia DLC
• Exclusive Dynamic Theme

Digital Deluxe Edition:

If you pre-order the game's Digital Deluxe Edition on the PlayStation Store, you will receive the pre-order bonuses listed above in the Standard Edition, as well as:

• Digital Artbook
• Digital Mini-Soundtrack
• Cactuar Summoning Materia
• Carbuncle Summoning Materia

If you are looking to get a physical copy of the game, then heed the warning in the next section.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake delayed?

The Final Fantasy 7 Remake has not been delayed. The game will make its 10 April release date but there is a chance physical copies in some countries might arrive later.

This is due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, as well as restrictions put into place. Countries which are in full or partial lockdown could see a delay in physical copies making it to their stores.

If you absolutely need to get the game at launch, the safest route might be to pre-order digitally. After 23 years of waiting, however, it might be okay for some gamers to wait a bit longer for a shiny physical copy.

At the time of writing, it remains uncertain if everyone who pre-ordered will get a copy on release day. Of course, if your country in on lockdown on 10 April, the possibility of getting a physical copy will decrease.

So far, Square Enix has sent out two tweets on the matter, which you can view below.

Hopefully, more details will become available soon, so gamers who can't wait to play the game can make the necessary arrangements to get it on release day, if at all possible.

Is it a full game?

Some might be a bit confused about the Final Fantasy 7 Remake and if it is a full game or not. Well, to put it clearly, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake is the first chapter of the saga.

It isn't a complete remake of the classic released back in 1997. Instead, it focuses on the first disc and will be set in Midgar. At the time of writing, it has not been announced how many chapters there will be.

Midgar is, of course, one of the most iconic video game areas ever. Fans who played the original might remember the Midgar section taking roughly 10 hours to complete. However, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake builds upon characters, story and even introduces entirely new areas for players to explore.

It will be a fully-fledged RPG, which will take players dozens of hours to complete.

In an interview, producer Yoshinori Kitase explained:"In the original game, there were a lot of breaks in the game, where the screen went black, and then the game continues in a different  location.

“In other words, there were a lot of parts in between sections of Midgar that were implied but never seen. That was something that we wanted to address with the remake - to fill in all those gaps, show how the different parts of the city are connected, and make it a continuous experience.”

The question remains how many chapters there will be, and if fans will be satisfied. From our experience with just the first mission, however, it feels like a vastly expanded and fleshed out title that does the original game justice.

According to the game's co-director, Naoki Hamaguchi, it is designed as if it were a standalone game. It is comparable in size to other mainline Final Fantasy games.

The Final Fantasy 7 Remake demo

The best way to see for yourself what the Final Fantasy 7 Remake is all about is to play the free demo. Square Enix made the Final Fantasy 7 Remake demo available to all PS4 owners on 2 March and you can play it right now.

The demo gives players a taste of what's to come, focusing on the game's first mission (Mako Reactor 1 bombing). You get introduced to some of the memorable characters from the game, including the iconic Cloud Strife. The demo showcases the electric, steampunk theme, as well as the first boss battle.

If you decide to play the demo before 11 May, you will also receive an exclusive PS4 theme. With the demo weighing in at only 8 GB, there's really nothing to lose by trying it out.

Download the demo from the PlayStation Store now.

The story and characters

"What I have shown you is reality. What you remember, that is the illusion.”

If the quote above sends chills down your spine, then you've played the 1997 classic. If you have no idea what the quote means, then good, as we won't spoil the story for you. To give you an idea of what you will be heading into come April 10, a short explanation of the opening story sequence is below.

The Shinra Electric Power Company controls the entire planet's life force as "mako" energy. In the city of Midgar, a mercenary named Cloud Strife joins an anti-Shinra organization called Avalanche. This resistance group employs Cloud to help them take down the Mako Reactor 1. This is where the epic journey, full of surprises, friendship and electrifying twists kicks off.

As mentioned earlier, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a reimagining that will have new areas, quests and even characters. The story is expanded on while retaining the elements that made it so great in the first place.

Square Enix is filling the gaps where the screen faded to black in the original. Pivotal moments of the story occur earlier, and certain story elements have been fleshed out.

Those who don't mind some mild spoiler and character reveals can check out the two videos from Square Enix below. These videos are deeps dives into the creation of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake. The first video focuses on an introduction to this reimagining, while the second video focuses on characters and story.

If you want to go into the Final Fantasy 7 Remake completely blind however, then you should casually skip over the videos below.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake gameplay

At first glance, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake gameplay might look a whole lot like Final Fantasy 15.

In essence, it is an evolution of the action-orientated gameplay seen in Final Fantasy 15, from our experience with the demo. However, there's a whole lot more to the gameplay in Final Fantasy 7 Remake than just hacking and slashing, and there are options for those who prefer the old-school gameplay.

First up, there is a "Classic Mode" that players can use. The Classic Mode will let you automate the action elements, which allows players to focus just on issuing commands in the same style that the original game had.

Even though the game does have a Classic Mode for those just focused on tactics, the standard gameplay isn't just all about action.

Square Enix made sure to make the gameplay feel similar to that of the original. You will still need to fill up your ATB bar to utilize special abilities, the iconic Limit Breaks, as well as spells and Materia, with the action pausing to give you the opportunity to do so.

After playing the demo, there is no doubt in our minds that the Final Fantasy 7 Remake gameplay still has the same heart as the original. However, things do get frantic in the midst of combat, which will push both the player not only to focus on tactical thinking but their split-second decision-making and reflexes as well.

Watch Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith battle a gargantuan sewer beast in the depths below Midgar.

Will there be endgame content?

With the Final Fantasy 7 Remake being only the first instalment of this reimagining project by Square Enix, one has to think it is unlikely that there will be endgame content, right?

At it turns out, there will be endgame content, which is speculated to include secrets and hidden bosses.

While the game's co-director, Naoki Hamaguchi, couldn't say exactly how much endgame content there is, as the developer wants to keep things a surprise, there definitely will be.

Naoki Hamaguchi dropped this exciting news in a recent interview published on the Square Enix website, stating: "I don’t want to say precisely what’s in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, but if you’re expecting endgame content, you won’t be disappointed."

It isn't a lot to go on, but since Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a full game and comparable to other mainline Final Fantasy titles. Still, it exciting to know that Square Enix has some surprises in store.

Closing Thoughts

We simply can't wait to get our hands on the Final Fantasy 7 Remake. From our demo experience, it is clear Square Enix did an incredible job of not only recreating the iconic settings but also the memorable characters.

The gameplay options should appease both fans of the original and a new generation of gamers. It remains to be seen exactly how big the first chapter will be, but it will be comparable to a full mainline series entry. Everything Square Enix has shown so far looks incredible and 10th April can't come soon enough.