FF7R - post demo thoughts

[porina]

So the demo hit a couple days ago. I downloaded it. I played it. Now, I never got on the hype train on this one, even though FF7 was my first FF ever and remains the only main series game I ever finished. Many in the FF fandom are imploding over this, so I feel a bit of a minority here.

 

Am I unnecessarily downbeat on this? I don't expect this to be a Hollywood style remake, that usually doesn't end well. This is not the game I remember, and at the same time it is not expected to be. Elements need to be bought to current day standards, but by having that name connection I feel a discontinuity between nostalgia and the remake.

 

I suppose my biggest turn off is the combat. Ok, it's not the same as FFXV but is of that general direction, not the old school ATB style. I think this alone ruins it for me, in exactly the same way I couldn't play FFXV. Note I haven't tried the "classic mode" in the demo, but it is meant to be easy mode without controlling the fighting. Easy mode already has most enemies melt away after a couple hits, so essentially it takes combat out of the game. By that point, you're left with the story, and you might as well watch a shouty Irish person on YouTube play it instead. (I still find it curious that Yakuza: Like a Dragon went the other direction going from action combat to turn based. Looking forward to Western release of that).

 

Graphically, with a standard PS4 on 4k TV (PS4 outputs 1080p), the environments looked stunning but the in game characters lack definition. Cloud's hair in particular looks weird. Like they tried to use a dither transparency but all it really does is make it look weirdly blurry. I don't know if the game support 4k output but I'm not buying a Pro for this... Aerith was also a bit "uncanny valley" in the opening video when face on, although looks fine from other directions. 

 

This is not a game for me, but not every game will be. Still interested to see where it goes.

[ObsidianAura]

It's being released in 2 parts isn't it, I'm holding out till part 2 is released.

 

I thought you could turn on ATB mode though?

[porina]

10 minutes ago, ObsidianAura said:

It's being released in 2 parts isn't it, I'm holding out till part 2 is released.

They said it will be released in parts but I don't recall if they said how many parts.

 

10 minutes ago, ObsidianAura said:

I thought you could turn on ATB mode though?

That's the classic mode option in combat settings. I haven't tried it, but the game describes it as easy mode without you needing to combat movements (only activating things) so I think it'll dumb it down so far it'll be pointless.

[ObsidianAura]

1 minute ago, porina said:

They said it will be released in parts but I don't recall if they said how many parts.

 

That's the classic mode option in combat settings. I haven't tried it, but the game describes it as easy mode without you needing to combat movements (only activating things) so I think it'll dumb it down so far it'll be pointless.

Just looked and its in 3 parts... I'll pass on the whole game then possibly.

 

ATB was what all JRPGs used to be i'd prefer that mode, but if they cant be bothered to rebalance the game for it then that may be another reason to pass

[Giorno Giovanna]

played it,i feel like it cant compare to the og but i feel like its good way for people to experience the story without the tedious grinding (Imo)

1 hour ago, porina said:

Cloud's hair in particular looks weird.

it looks like teddy bear stuffing to me

[Engineer.AI]

Seems that even after..what.. 5 years in development hell, the game is being delayed to better accommodate next gen capabilities. I really loved the music though, I must say. And i'm not just talking about the score, but the quality as well. After seriously getting into the KH franchise, I really am growing fond of this new gameplay format that SE is going for.

Possibly the biggest release of 2020 (if it actually drops in 2020 i.e.!).

 

Also, dont really mind the game being in two parts, as long as the good ending sees Aeris being alive lol.

~Engineer.AI

[ObsidianAura]

11 minutes ago, Engineer.AI said:

Seems that even after..what.. 5 years in development hell, the game is being delayed to better accommodate next gen capabilities. I really loved the music though, I must say. And i'm not just talking about the score, but the quality as well. After seriously getting into the KH franchise, I really am growing fond of this new gameplay format that SE is going for.

Possibly the biggest release of 2020 (if it actually drops in 2020 i.e.!).

 

Also, dont really mind the game being in two parts, as long as the good ending sees Aeris being alive lol.

~Engineer.AI

5 years is nothing! FFXV went over 10 years didn't it? This is speedy for a FF game.

 

It does seem like Japanese game devs (or at least the big ones) have real trouble getting games out in a reasonable amount of time.