Final Fantasy VII Remake Guide#

Game Overview#

Final Fantasy VII Remake was developed and published by Square Enix as a remake of the 1997 classic Final Fantasy VII. This is not a simple reproduction: it expands the original’s Midgar section on an unprecedented scale, introducing a brand-new real-time battle system, deeper character portrayal, and new story elements. The game launched on PlayStation 4 on April 10, 2020, received the enhanced PS5 edition INTERGRADE in June 2021, and arrived on Steam in June 2022. It is the first part of the FF7 remake project; the sequel, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, was released on February 29, 2024.

Story Background#

The story is set in Midgar, a cyberpunk city dominated by the Shinra Electric Power Company. Shinra keeps the city running by draining the Planet’s life flow and refining it into mako energy. The protagonist, Cloud Strife, is a mercenary and ex-Shinra SOLDIER who works with the anti-Shinra group Avalanche on the bombing of a mako reactor. As the plot advances, Cloud and his companions are drawn into a conspiracy far larger than they imagined, and come face to face with the legendary hero Sephiroth. The game opens with the bombing mission at Mako Reactor 1 and ends as the party leaves Midgar, substantially expanding and rearranging the original story.

Key Features#

• A brand-new real-time battle system: blends action combat with a command-style ATB system, striking a balance between tactical depth and immediacy
• A unique combat style for every character: Cloud’s all-around fighting, Tifa’s rapid combos, Aerith’s ranged magic, Barret’s gunarm support fire
• The classic Materia system returns: customize each character’s abilities freely with green, yellow, blue, and purple materia
• High-quality presentation: fully rebuilt graphics, a reorchestrated symphonic score, and full voice acting
• Spectacular boss fights: from the Scorpion Sentinel to the Hundred-Ear Stopper, every battle has real presence and demands strategy
• Rich side content: 26 side quests, Chadley’s battle reports, VR simulation challenges, and more

Critical Reception#

Final Fantasy VII Remake earned widespread acclaim with a Metacritic score of 87/100. Critics praised the reworked combat system, the depth of characterization, and the outstanding music. GameSpot called its combat “one of the series’ best,” IGN scored it 8.0 and called it “an excellent remake of a classic,” and Famitsu gave it 39/40. Player opinion on the story changes is divided, but the combat system, the character portrayals, and the audiovisual presentation are broadly and highly praised. As of 2024, cumulative worldwide sales have surpassed 7 million copies.

Version Differences#

• Physical launch edition: first-run copies include the Cactuar and Carbuncle summon materia
• PS4 original: the base experience, including all 18 main-story chapters
• PS5 INTERGRADE: 60fps performance mode
• PC Steam version: 4K/120fps support, ultrawide (21:9) display, full keyboard-and-mouse customization, and extra graphics options
• INTERmission DLC: a brand-new Yuffie story chapter exclusive to PS5/PC, about 2-3 hours of playtime

Development Team#

Tetsuya Nomura served as creative director, Kazushige Nojima handled the scenario, and Naoki Hamaguchi produced. The music is led by original composer Nobuo Uematsu, who worked with several younger-generation composers on the reorchestrations. Character design is once again by Nomura, keeping the signature visual style while adding a modern feel. Development took roughly 5 years and ran on Unreal Engine 4, reaching the top tier of RPG presentation of its time in character models, lighting, and scene detail.

Characters#

• Cloud Strife: a mercenary claiming to be an ex-Shinra SOLDIER 1st Class — cold and taciturn, with a complicated past hidden inside. Voiced by Takahiro Sakurai (JP) / Cody Christian (EN)
• Tifa Lockhart: Cloud’s childhood friend and the owner of the Seventh Heaven bar. A martial arts expert, gentle yet tough. Voiced by Ayumi Ito (JP) / Rachael McKinney (EN)
• Aerith Gainsborough: the last surviving Ancient (Cetra), able to speak with the Planet. She makes her living selling flowers in a slum church. Voiced by Maaya Sakamoto (JP) / Briana White (EN)
• Barret Wallace: leader of the anti-Shinra group Avalanche. He leads the violent resistance against Shinra to protect the Planet and his daughter Marlene. Voiced by Kenji Nomura (JP) / John E. Bentley (EN)
• Sephiroth: the legendary SOLDIER and product of the Jenova Project, with power beyond ordinary humans and a dangerously alluring presence. Voiced by Toshiyuki Morikawa (JP) / Tyler Hoechlin (EN)

Combat System Overview#

The battle system is officially described as an evolved active real-time battle system. It fuses the original game’s ATB command system with real-time action controls: you move, attack, and dodge freely on the battlefield while managing ATB charges to unleash abilities and spells. The design preserves the tactical depth of the original’s turn-based combat while adding the thrill of an action game. Key elements include ATB gauge management, character switching, Stagger buildup, elemental weaknesses, and Limit Breaks. Hard mode additionally demands precise MP management and use of MP-free recovery skills. The system drew wide acclaim from press and players as one of the benchmarks of JRPG combat innovation.

Music and Sound#

The soundtrack is a complete reorchestration of the original Final Fantasy VII’s famous tracks, alongside a large amount of newly written material. Nobuo Uematsu composed a new theme melody for the remake, while Mitsuto Hamauzu, Mitsuto Suzuki, and other composers arranged much of the scene music. Signature tracks such as the battle theme, “Aerith’s Theme,” and “Tifa’s Theme” received brand-new arrangements that keep the emotional core of the originals while adding a modern symphonic sheen. The game was nominated for Best Score/Music at The Game Awards 2020.

Game Length and Content#

• Main story completion: about 35-45 hours (on Normal difficulty)
• Main quests + side quests with all collectibles: about 50-65 hours
• Full platinum (all trophies): about 80-100 hours, including Hard mode and full completion
• New Game+: chapter select unlocks after clearing, letting you replay with your level and equipment carried over
• INTERmission DLC: the Yuffie episode runs about 2-3 hours and adds 6 new trophies
• Replayability: Hard mode changes enemy placement and combat logic, so a second playthrough feels very different from the first; chapter select makes it easy to go back for missed items or unfinished side quests

FAQ#

Q: Can I play the remake without having played the original? A: Absolutely. The remake is designed as a standalone experience for new players, with a story that stands entirely on its own. Knowing the original simply lets you appreciate the cleverness of the story changes more deeply.

Q: What is different between the PS4 and PS5 versions? A: The PS5 INTERGRADE edition supports a 60fps performance mode and a 4K graphics mode, cuts load times dramatically, adds a photo mode, and includes Yuffie’s INTERmission DLC.

Q: Is the INTERmission DLC worth buying? A: The DLC offers an excellent standalone Yuffie episode of about 2-3 hours, with new combat mechanics and new summons. For fans of the game, it is well worth it.

Q: Is Hard mode really that hard? A: Yes. Hard mode bans item use and MP does not automatically regenerate, so you must truly master the battle system. With sensible materia setups and tactics, however, clearing it is far from impossible.

Q: How does this game relate to Rebirth? A: This game is the first part of the FF7 remake project, with the story kept inside Midgar. Rebirth is the second part, covering the vast world after leaving Midgar. Saves do not carry over between the two, but the stories connect directly.

Feature Deep Dive#

ATB battle system: a fusion of action and commands, with a “Tactical Mode” that pauses time in combat so you can pick commands at leisure. It is the most praised part of this game’s combat — the strategic feel of the original’s turn-based battles combined with the fluid experience of a modern action game.

Character individuality: every character has a fully distinct combat style and weapon system. Cloud’s Punisher Mode switching, Tifa’s stagger-multiplier stacking, Aerith’s double-cast magic circles, and Barret’s overheat barrage give each character a unique feel and tactical role.

Visual remake: Midgar’s city detail is breathtaking. From the decayed feel of the Sector 7 slums, to the neon glow of Wall Market, to the cold technological sheen of Shinra headquarters, every scene is carefully crafted. Facial expressions and motion capture push the story scenes to a cinematic level.

Rearranged music: the original tracks keep their core melodies under a full symphonic reorchestration. Battle themes became more rousing, scene music gained layers, and Nobuo Uematsu’s theme melodies run through the whole game.

DLC and Expansions#

INTERmission (the Yuffie episode):

• Platform: PS5/PC exclusive
• New protagonist: Yuffie Kisaragi, a ninja girl from Wutai
• New partner: Sonon, Yuffie’s comrade
• New summon: Ramuh
• New combat mechanic: Synergy abilities
• New story: Yuffie infiltrates Midgar on a secret mission to steal the “Ultimate Materia”
• New Hard mode challenges and VR simulator fights
• Trophies: 6 additional trophies, including ones required for the platinum

Free updates:

• Photo mode added on PS5 (freely adjust angle, filters, and character expressions)
• A new weapon on PS5, “Ragnarok II”
• Performance mode unlocked for a smooth 60fps experience
• Dramatically shortened load times

Trophies and Achievements#

The game ships 54 trophies on PlayStation platforms (1 platinum, 2 gold, 10 silver, 41 bronze). The Steam version includes 54 achievements; Steam achievements mirror the PlayStation trophies exactly, and the Steam version additionally supports cloud saves and achievement progress tracking.

Hard-mode trophy tips:

• “Power of Destruction” (gold): learn every weapon skill. Equip each weapon and use its skill — grinding proficiency in the combat simulator is the fastest way
• “Battle Master” (gold): complete all 20 battle reports. The final hidden Top Secrets chain-boss fight is the hardest content in the game
• “Beloved” (silver): max out any character’s affinity. Use chapter select to focus on the high-affinity choices
• “Box Destroyer” (silver): break every box — 90 in the whole game. The easiest to miss are in Chapter 9’s Wall Market
• “Speed Demon” (silver): finish every motorcycle-chase time trial. Chapter 4 and Chapter 15 each hold one
• “Agent of Destruction” (silver): clear Chapter 18 on Hard mode. Requires a party strong enough across the board and precise tactics

Materia Setup Recommendations#

Chapter List#

Version History#

Side Quests#

Related Games#

• NieR: Automata — a Square-published JRPG that blends real-time action combat with a heavy, story-driven campaign
• Persona 5 Royal — a benchmark modern JRPG with deep systems and stylish presentation
• Stellar Blade — character-action combat built around dodges, parries, and stagger-style burst windows
• Resident Evil 4 — a modern remake of a beloved classic that reworks the combat while keeping the story’s bones
• Silent Hill 2 Remake — another acclaimed full remake of a PS1-era classic built for a new generation

Related Rankings#

Best RPGs · Hardest Bosses

Full Guides#

In-depth sub-guides — beginner basics, character profiles, combat system deep dive, Midgar world exploration, boss guides, equipment and item database, materia and skill pairings, the full 18-chapter walkthrough, and Hard mode endgame challenges — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s Final Fantasy VII Remake section.

If you read Chinese, the summons sub-guide there covers how to obtain every summon, their combat abilities, and usage strategy.