After eons and eons, Square Enix will finally be releasing Final Fantasy VII Remake unto the world this Friday. Fans have been begging for a remake of this classic JRPG ever since that original PS3 tech demo, so it's nice to see that the project was able to come to light.
So far, critical reception to the game has been incredibly positive. There may be some nostalgic bias going on, but the general consensus is that fans of the original will be very pleased. Changes aside, this is a fairly faithful recreation that mostly expands on plot details and ups the visual fidelity instead of rewriting the script.
The shift to a more action-heavy style may put off purists, but even the most stringent of JRPG detractors may find themselves in love with VII Remake. Now we'll just need to see what happens with the other parts of this project.
ScreenRant: 5/5 - "Above all, though, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a picture-perfect return to Midgar."
Destructoid: 9/10 - "This world is full of powerful characters and a setting that's worth remembering: remake or not."
Eurogamer: Recommended - "An expansive remake that treads carefully upon this most cherished of games, though some blunders will linger long in the memory."
USgamer: 3.5/5 - "It's one of the most coherent and enjoyable Final Fantasy releases in years, but it's also likely to be one of the most divisive."
EGM: 3/5 - "Final Fantasy VII Remake manages to balance the introduction of new concepts with faithful recreations of the original game’s most memorable aspects, but it also unnecessarily pads out this first installment in a larger story with too much downtime between its most striking moments."
Game Informer: 8.75/10 - "This remake of a legendary RPG finds an impressive equilibrium between its past and its present, crafting a distinctive world and exciting combat system that feel modern."
Game Revolution: 5/5 - "My recommendation is to go into Midgar with an open mind and allow it to wash over you. Final Fantasy VII Remake is a video game experience we only get every once in a while, and it's one of the best titles I've ever had the pleasure of playing."
Stevivor: 8/10 - "All things considered, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is still a polished and worthwhile affair, doing many things for many different people."