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[Nickolaidas]

More or less finished with the Gongaga main quest and now I am exploring before going to the airport. The whole area gave a lot of attention to Tifa and Cloud and their relationship. I must admit, I did not expect

Spoiler

Sephiroth screwing with Cloud's head to the point that he tried to murder Tifa also took me by surprise. Tifa also connecting to the Lifestream was a huge boost for her character and really gave her protag vibes. And THEN Sephiroth tries to kill her! That really had me going. It shows you that Sephiroth is fully aware of how dangerous Tifa is to his plans since she is the one who brings Cloud back and heals his psyche. He's not treating her as one of Cloud's tag-alongs, and he realizes she's almost a threat to his plans as Aerith is. All in all, one of my biggest complaints with the original Sephiroth was how he literally cannot see anyone past Cloud and Aerith in the original and only spares two single lines to Tifa. More of that please. I have a lot of things to say but I will wait until I finish the game.

 

[mèx]

I forgot to say, the soundtrack is fantastic. So many good tracks all round, they aced both the emotional and fun songs.

It's gonna be on my playlist for a while for sure.

 

[Alex11]

The final fight is some major BS. You go through the whole game, changing party members at will and sticking to the ones you want, only for at the end to be stuck with whatever the game gives you, I'm guessing based on affinity.

And I don't know, I noticed some stuff for the bosses where if you take a second too long to think stuff or play a tiny bit defensive you might as well start over. They almost all got that BS 1 shot or almost 1 shot that for me, it takes me out of the game, it's really the most hated thing for me in games.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

 

[Bojji]

The final fight is some major BS. You go through the whole game, changing party members at will and sticking to the ones you want, only for at the end to be stuck with whatever the game gives you, I'm guessing based on affinity.

And I don't know, I noticed some stuff for the bosses where if you take a second too long to think stuff or play a tiny bit defensive you might as well start over. They almost all got that BS 1 shot or almost 1 shot that for me, it takes me out of the game, it's really the most hated thing for me in games.

It's horrible. They forced me to use members of the party that I didn't use in main game (outside of forced sections).

It's way too long and last battle and time timing is fucked up.

 

[mèx]

It's horrible. They forced me to use members of the party that I didn't use in main game (outside of forced sections).

I liked all the sections where you are "forced" to use different characters together. It shakes things up from you usual optimal party composition. Otherwise most people would use the same party throughout the game (I know I do). This applies to the final part too. But I'm also a fan of "everyone contributes to the final battle".

I agree with Alex11 regarding the BS attack though. First time I didn't have any ATB bar so I got fucked almost immediately after. Maybe there is a way to dodge it but in the end I just had to make sure I had some ATB bars to pop some elixirs.

 

[Touch fuzZy. get BizZay]

I liked all the sections where you are "forced" to use different characters together. It shakes things up from you usual optimal party composition. Otherwise most people would use the same party throughout the game (I know I do). This applies to the final part too. But I'm also a fan of "everyone contributes to the final battle".

I agree with Alex11 regarding the BS attack though. First time I didn't have any ATB bar so I got fucked almost immediately after. Maybe there is a way to dodge it but in the end I just had to make sure I had some ATB bars to pop some elixirs.

Every party member is actually great and I love the different styles. Kinda hard to not love Tifa, Cloud, and Yuffie the most with their fast aerial based styles though, so that's why I like when the story focuses exclusively on other characters to play as. In the post game VR battles each character has a personal solo challenge which is really good also.

When you have no atb remember there are synergy skills that evade big attacks which don't cost atb like Tifa's Slip n' slide

 

[Alex11]

It's horrible. They forced me to use members of the party that I didn't use in main game (outside of forced sections).

It's way too long and last battle and time timing is fucked up.

I don't have a problem with how long it is, didn't have major problems in wining either, it's not a flex, I'm an average player.
I died twice, once because I didn't know what the fuck was happening with too much shit on the screen on top of forced changed party members and another to the last phase to that BS one shot attack, think you know the one.

I liked all the sections where you are "forced" to use different characters together. It shakes things up from you usual optimal party composition.

I like the idea of you playing from another character's perspective, but think it should be optional or somethin brief, absolutely hate when I'm invested in my main character and I like the skills, moves, etc. and then I'm forced into something else entirely. Sure, most here were fine, I liked the Yuffie section, but Cait, Jesus, I wanted to strangle whoever decided that section.

Otherwise most people would use the same party throughout the game (I know I do). This applies to the final part too. But I'm also a fan of "everyone contributes to the final battle".

Well, yeah, that is the point of having varied, multiple companions, no? It's a cool concept "everyone contributes to the final battle", but I think it's better done when a la Mass Effect 2, you still chose who to bring with you and you're still controlling the main character through and through, not even mentioning the decisions that affect the party.

I agree with Alex11 regarding the BS attack though. First time I didn't have any ATB bar so I got fucked almost immediately after. Maybe there is a way to dodge it but in the end I just had to make sure I had some ATB bars to pop some elixirs.

Look, I adore the combat system, it could be even better, but some Boss fights are just BS with this "oh, you took too long, now it's time for the 1 shot kill", you know the ones, especially in this last fight, it's like a slap in the face.
And as I said, it's not a difficulty type thing, it's just lame, maybe it's just me, don't know.

 

[Kazdane]

I like the forced party battles (even the final one) because it makes you use the characters you may have not used that much. For me, everyone except Cait Sith is fun to use. Cait just feels weird due to how his playstyle changes based on the moogle being around or not, and some attacks relying on luck (the dice throws, for instance). I'm looking forward to playing the whole game in Hard mode, which I didn't on PS5 purposefully, as I wanted to reserve that for the PC playthrough.

"oh, you took too long, now it's time for the 1 shot kill"

I tend to think about those as just a test to see if you understand how the game works. Every enemy in-game can be pressured and staggered, and Scan tells you how to do it, and how to avoid getting 1-shot by unavoidable attacks (such as some of the summon's ultimates, but I do agree that they shouldn't happen in a fight as long as the final one (although I believe if you die you can restart from that particular segment, I think I did die at some point the first time I went through it and I didn't start back from the beginning).

 

[MikeM]

Just finished it in dynamic mode in about 110 hours. Im burnt out so not going back for the platinum.

Spoiler: Ending related

I loved the final fight. Was interesting seeing Bizarro Sephiroth earlier than the OG. I hated that we can’t adjust materia in the final fight- had no idea Aerith would be with me so she had almost nothing. Still beat him after a couple attempts since i stacked Cloud with everything.

I would like to see the end of the cutscene stuff in battles though. The amount of times where my limit damage would be negated to zero because of it drove me crazy.

Otherwise- great game with a ton of side quests if you're into that. Can’t wait for the final game.

 

[Alex11]

I tend to think about those as just a test to see if you understand how the game works. Every enemy in-game can be pressured and staggered, and Scan tells you how to do it, and how to avoid getting 1-shot by unavoidable attacks (such as some of the summon's ultimates, but I do agree that they shouldn't happen in a fight as long as the final one (although I believe if you die you can restart from that particular segment, I think I did die at some point the first time I went through it and I didn't start back from the beginning).

I know how the game works, It isn't a skill issue, I finished it, it wasn't hard , but it burned me hard, you need to play how the game wants you to play, fast, aggressive, even more so for the bosses, there you have to do exactly how and what the game wants, also the Assess is useless at the end fight for all the phases, it doesn't read anyone.

But that isn't the point, for me it's counterintuitive in an RPG to kill a boss or an enemy as fast as you can for fear of a 1 shot. So what if anyone takes their time, be more defensive, should they be punished for this?

 

[asdasdasdbb]

But that isn't the point, for me it's counterintuitive in an RPG to kill a boss or an enemy as fast as you can for fear of a 1 shot.

The only true 1 shot in the game is Odin's Zanktussen (sp).

Now the final boss fights can get a little chaotic. On normal, the Item Master materia comes in quite useful. If there's one thing that's annoying, it's that you only get one opportunity to change materia/equipment, and that's right after the first segment is over.

 

[Kazdane]

I know how the game works, It isn't a skill issue, I finished it, it wasn't hard , but it burned me hard, you need to play how the game wants you to play, fast, aggressive, even more so for the bosses, there you have to do exactly how and what the game wants, also the Assess is useless at the end fight for all the phases, it doesn't read anyone.

But that isn't the point, for me it's counterintuitive in an RPG to kill a boss or an enemy as fast as you can for fear of a 1 shot. So what if anyone takes their time, be more defensive, should they be punished for this?

I didn't mean it was a skill issue, sorry if you thought that's what I meant. As I said, I understand that the final boss can be frustrating at times, especially if you die towards the end. As for the pace of combat... I'm afraid that's something you'll find in ARPGs in general.

 

[Nickolaidas]

Aw, man. A month later and the game basically dropped to 25-30% of its player base. Not sure how normal that is, but I guess it IS a single player game and it's unlikely that people will play it again after beating it.

I wonder how Veilguard is doin-

Jesus Christ.

 

[mèx]

Aw, man. A month later and the game basically dropped to 25-30% of its player base. Not sure how normal that is, but I guess it IS a single player game and it's unlikely that people will play it again after beating it.

Player retention is pretty good. It's tracking above the average when it comes to similar games at least.

Steam pre-order ranking
First Sunday: 40.5K (peak)
Second Sunday: 35.8K
Third Sunday: 29.9K

As of last Sunday (4th Sunday, 24.2K), It lost only ~40% of players (CCU).

To continue the comparison (players lost, 4th Sunday comparison, launch aligned):
Persona 3 ~51%
God of War ~70%
God of War Ragnarök ~49%
FFXVI ~67%
Metaphor ~65%
FF7 Remake ~51%
Yakuza Infinite Wealth ~56%

 

[Alex11]

I didn't mean it was a skill issue, sorry if you thought that's what I meant. As I said, I understand that the final boss can be frustrating at times, especially if you die towards the end.

No need to apologize, it's all good, maybe my reply gave annoyed vibes, that's not the case, the game annoyed me a bit too much at the end, lol. In fact it annoyed me from when the towers appeared right until the last level, which for me was amazing, it's like there are 3 or 4 different games here.

I still think the combat in good and interesting, all bosses on the story path and a few optional ones are good and no BS, this last one tries to be and do too many things.

As for the pace of combat... I'm afraid that's something you'll find in ARPGs in general.

Yeah, I think you're right, I don't play many JRPGs, in fact only 2 come to mind now, Nier Automata and Dragon Quest Echoes of an Elusive Age, but don't remember those to rush me. Elden Ring, From games don't count as JRPGS no? I don't think so.

 

[Alex11]

What is the general consensus about the story for the big fans of FF7? I liked the story in general in Remake, here I find it a bit tiresome, especially at the end.

Spoiler

What I find so tiresome is the concept of multiple, parallel dimensions or worlds, it's also a lazy way of making up as much stuff as you want and not explaining it. I wonder if this has any meaning or impact for the story as a whole in part 3, because if it's gonna end the same as OG, then this whole stuff was for nothing.

 

[Nickolaidas]

What is the general consensus about the story for the big fans of FF7? I liked the story in general in Remake, here I find it a bit tiresome, especially at the end.

Spoiler

What I find so tiresome is the concept of multiple, parallel dimensions or worlds, it's also a lazy way of making up as much stuff as you want and not explaining it. I wonder if this has any meaning or impact for the story as a whole in part 3, because if it's gonna end the same as OG, then this whole stuff was for nothing.

Haven't finished the game yet, still running around the Cosmo Canyon region.

I am not a fan of time travel and I hate the multiverse. I am not 100% sure what they are doing with

Spoiler

Zack

yet, but I suspect they are doing it to have

Spoiler

dead characters of the 'main' timeline return via the 'backup' timeline, like Zack, Aerith and Biggs.

But I need to beat the game first. Those of you who beat it, I suggest you watch the Easy Allies w/Maximilian Dood brainstorming podcasts - the one in Remake was amazing, and I suspect the one they made for Rebirth is just as good. Will be the first thing to watch once I beat the game.

 

[mèx]

What is the general consensus about the story for the big fans of FF7? I liked the story in general in Remake, here I find it a bit tiresome, especially at the end.

Spoiler

What I find so tiresome is the concept of multiple, parallel dimensions or worlds, it's also a lazy way of making up as much stuff as you want and not explaining it. I wonder if this has any meaning or impact for the story as a whole in part 3, because if it's gonna end the same as OG, then this whole stuff was for nothing.

I like the multiverse convoluted shit, so I'm good and enjoyed it thoroughly.

But aside from that, I'm happy they are doing something different, because now I'm actually excited to see what happens next in Part 3. If they did the story 1:1 then I would have checked out halfway through Remake.

FFVII OG is still there for everyone to be enjoyed. It's not going anywhere. Well, you actually need to play it to fully enjoy this trilogy.