With each new game in the Final Fantasy series comes a new set of mechanics, quirks and other considerations that might not be apparent to players when they first start. Final Fantasy VII Remake is no different. Although those who haven't kept up with the series' various mechanical changes over the years might find themselves at a bit of a loss in regards to the new mechanics, there's are also a number of other things even series veterans should keep in mind.
Here are some tips and tricks for those starting the game for the first time to help them hit the ground running and prove themselves a powerhouse in the battle against Shinra.
Embrace All the Combat Has to Offer
Final Fantasy VII Remake's combat builds on Final Fantasy XV's free-roaming combat. However, the newest iteration of the franchise's combat system is in many ways even more methodical than ever before, which might not be apparent at first. It's absolutely integral players make use of the game's various characters and their special abilities, as Final Fantasy VII Remake is designed to make sure players embrace their options. Some situations require the player to switch characters so as to successfully navigate a combat situation, and being unfamiliar with how one of the game's heroes plays could spell disaster.
Plus, although the AI in Final Fantasy VII Remake is relatively solid, it generally operates much more defensively than offensively, meaning it might not always do what's optimal in a given situation. Issuing commands to NPCs is key, but sometimes it's just more efficient and effective to switch to that character altogether, as this also helps one build up the ATB Gauge faster -- which allows for even more spells, abilities and items to be used. Making effective use of heroes also means building up a character's ability tab by trying out different weapons and achieving 100% proficiency with them as soon as possible. In some cases, it may be helpful for players to change who they control at the start of battle by going into the "Battle Settings" tab of the main menu, which can save some time at the start of a battle.
During battle itself, players should also make sure to take advantage of free movement. Disengaging and creating space between a player character and their opponent makes it easier to both block and dodge attacks. This will also give the player room to cast spells and heal where necessary. Many battles also feature cover, which can be used to completely negate an attack altogether, something that's particularly useful when playing as a lower-HP character like Aerith. Although some battles -- particularly those with bosses -- will draw attention to this fact, it's also useful to keep in mind that, when facing off against normal enemies and things get too hairy, there may be a way to avoid taking a hit for at least a few seconds.
Prioritize Materia
Materia -- the items which allow players to cast spells and summon creatures, among other things -- are even more important in Final Fantasy VII Remake than they were in the original game. Combat now emphasizes inflicting a Staggered or Pressured state on an enemy in order to do even more damage than ever before, and in some cases that's not achievable without materia, so players will have to use spells to exploit weaknesses n their opponents if they want to have any chance of succeeding. There are also a lot of enemies who need to be taken down primarily with magic and/or resist physical attacks until they've been struck by something arcane.
As a player might not know the weakness of a particular enemy the first time they're face off against them, it's best to make sure equipment is decked out with as wide a variety of different elemental materia -- such as Ice, Fire, Wind and Lightning -- and healing materia as possible. The remaining slots can then be filled with other types of materia. The Assess materia should also be part of the player's standard loadout, which reveals how to take out an enemy most effectively. The Assess materia is also necessary for completing the game's Battle Intel missions, which unlock even more powerful materia and summons. Later in the game, players should also equip the Steal materia, as bosses do have potentially missable items, which will be indicated when Assess is used on them. Thus, players should -- in general -- select the equipment with the highest number of materia slots and prioritize adding additional slots when upgrading weapons.
Part of prioritizing materia also involves making sure characters have a big enough MP pool to draw from. This means materia helping augment those stats will be especially useful in making sure characters can keep the pressure on and continue casting against their attackers. Players should also keep a healthy supply of Ethers in the inventory to draw from when necessary.
Items Are Key
As magic is incredibly important to succeeding in battle, players should conserve their MP whenever possible, which means making ample use of healing and other restorative items. It's also not necessarily practical or possible to make sure every party member has a Healing or Revive materia, since this could mean sacrificing valuable offensive capabilities. For the most part, though, obtaining items is easy, as Final Fantasy VII Remake features a lot of smashable Shinra boxes and chests that will keep players stocked up with the basics.
However, if those aren't enough, Final Fantasy VII Remake also gives players a lot of Gil -- the game's currency. Although one shouldn't spend all of their money on items, as this might restrict access to materia and other things down the road, it's possible to get a lot of items for a heavily-discounted rate. Stores and vending machines will often mark items in yellow, which means they're available for much, much cheaper than normal. It's also possible to see whether a vendor offers a discount before even opening the list of available products, as the number of cheap items will appear in parentheses next to the "Buy" option.
Take It Slow and Explore
Although many of Final Fantasy VII Remake's chapters are fairly linear, there are still lots of nooks and cranies in which the developers have hidden materia and items. Taking a short detour to get these items and smash crates will give players a major advantage and edge in the game's battles. Exploring also allows players to find more monsters to take down, which is also part of completing Battle Intel assignments. Plus, the game features a ton of fun mini-games and collectible songs, which present a twist on some of the Final Fantasy franchise's best musical numbers.
More exploration also allows players to further soak up the game's rich, detailed environment and world. There's a lot to Final Fantasy VII Remake, and players owe it to themselves to make sure they're getting absolutely everything they can from the game and the city of Midgar.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is developed and published by Square Enix. The game is available now on PlayStation 4.