When the original Final Fantasy VII released in 1997, the game's mature plot, gameplay, graphics and compelling characters launched the long running series to new heights. Since then, Final Fantasy VII has remained one of the most beloved games in history, despite having aged somewhat poorly over the years. So it's not surprising that, when it was announced at E3 in 2015, people went wild over the prospect of the Final Fantasy VII Remake, which promised update the beloved game. However, Final Fantasy VII Remake isn't just a remaster of the original game. Instead, Final Fantasy VII Remake improves on the original by further fleshing out the game's world and modernizing, well, everything for a new age.

The story of Final Fantasy VII Remake follows the main outline of the first piece of the original game. Avalanche, an eco-terrorist organization, is working to undermine and destroy the Shinra Electric Power Company, a powerful corporation that holds control over the city of Midgar. Shinra uses reactors to turn Mako -- which is a version of the planet's lifestream -- into energy, despite the fact this is destroying the world. Cloud, a mercenary, joins up with old friend Tifa and Avalanche leader Barret against Shinra. Along the way, they're joined by Aerith, a young woman with a deep connection to the planet.

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At the very beginning of the game, Final Fantasy VII Remake communicates it's not a carbon copy of its predecessor by including a cutscene that didn't exist in the original. Things only get more different from there. While the overarching plot remains mostly the same, the remake adds quite a bit of content that further fleshes out the story. Secondary characters like Biggs, Wedge and Jessie are given a closer relationship to Cloud in the remake than in the original. However, they're far from the only ones to whom these plot changes give depth. Tifa and Aerith are also given a number of fantastic character moments that make their complicated relationships to both Cloud and Shinra clear. Final Fantasy VII Remake chooses to hone in on the small, personal relationships between characters -- even minor ones -- and that elevates the game by making it feel more human. In many ways, the addition of this content feels so necessary to the world and the game's story that the original Final Fantasy VII feels almost lacking in comparison.

One of the biggest changes in Final Fantasy VII Remake is how it approaches Cloud's past. Those who played the original game will find the truth about Cloud leaking into the plot much sooner, and the game constantly engages with what Final Fantasy VII veterans know about the story. However, these moments are also effective for new players, as they're somewhat confusing and disorienting -- but in a good way. There's a mystery to Cloud's backstory, and it's clear he's struggling with his past. Thus, these moments force players into Cloud's particular headspace.

Final Fantasy VII Remake delivers its story in a cinematic way, which is made possible by the fantastic graphics. While there are sometimes issues with textures, the character detailing is particularly impressive and helps make the core cast feel alive. A lot of effort was put into capturing emotions, which show clearly on characters' faces. This is particularly noteworthy with Cloud. While he's a man of few words, the graphics do a lot of the work in making him feel human and copelling.

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The game also does a great job of making Midgar feel like a character of its own. The environments of the megacity are varied, and each one communicates something about the city and its class division. While those living in the upper areas of Midgar exist in an oddly sterile, cookie-cutter neighborhood, the trashy slums communicate the squalor in which others are forced to live. Meanwhile, Wall Market -- a key location in the game -- feels seedy the moment players enter due in large part to its lightning, which draws inspiration from Red Light Districts and other sketchy areas in the real world. More than anything, Final Fantasy VII makes Midgar feel alive in a new way, making it possible to care for and empathize with its inhabitants.

In terms of gameplay, modern Final Fantasy games have never felt this good. The combat is fluid and fast-paced, which makes each battle feel intense. But there's also a lot of depth to the game's new systems. To do more damage to enemies, players need to inflict a Pressured status on them. This then leads to enemies becoming Staggered, which confers a substantial boost to the damage an enemy takes. Staggering an enemy requires players to plan their attacks and unleash the right sort of magic, forcing them to engage with the game's mechanics if they want to succeed. All of this contributes to combat that's deep and rich.

Underlying the combat system is an inventory that's greatly streamlined as compared to other games in the series. Gone are the endless options of equipment, which are instead replaced by a limited number of weapons and accessories that are much more suited to helping a player customize their team their way. The menus themselves are relatively clean and easy to operate, with the game always making clear just how to perform an action.

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All of that isn't to say Final Fantasy VII Remake is without flaws. In some cases, the choice to decompress the plot doesn't always work, leading to a few areas towards the middle of the game that feel a bit more bloated than they should, with one notably tedious mission occurring towards the end of the Wall Market segment. There's also a problem in some scenes in which the player is meant to follow an NPC to a set location. During these sequences, the NPC will often be talking to Cloud, but they sometimes get washed out by other -- less essential NPCs -- repeating stock phrases in the background. In some cases, the walk might trigger multiple NPCs at once, leading to an incoherent jumble of sound. Neither of these are particularly major issues, but they are cracks in an otherwise stellar veneer.

Overall, Final Fantasy VII Remake is an absolutely wonderful game that has something for both old and new players alike. By choosing to improve on the original rather than just slap on a new coat of paint, Final Fantasy VII Remake feels special and makes a classic story about fighting evil corporations to save the environment modern.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is developed and published by Square Enix. The game is available now on PlayStation 4. A review copy was provided by the publisher.

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