Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is the PlayStation 5 version and one of the best versions of Final Fantasy VII Remake. It has better graphics and better technical performance. It steps up the adventure, and when you add Episode Intermission to the mix, it feels like Remake has become a complete game.
In this review, we'll talk about Intergrade and Intermission, but in different parts. In the end, we'll come to a full conclusion. If you want to see our review of the Final Fantasy VII Remake for PS4, you can click the eye button or follow the link in the description.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
For people who haven't played Final Fantasy VII before, Final Fantasy VII Remake tells and reimagines the first few hours of the first Final Fantasy VII. It shows what AVALANCHE, an organization that fights against Shinra, an all-powerful energy company sucking the life out of the planet to keep its power, has done. All of Remake takes place in Midgar, a vast industrial city where Shinra does most of its business.
You play primarily as Cloud Strife, a former Shinra SOLDIER and mercenary who doesn't seem to care about anything. He is an elite fighter with power from the planet itself. At the beginning of the game, Cloud is working for AVALANCHE, and the group is making its first attack on one of Midgar's energy reactors to blow it up.
It's still a great way to start the release. Final Fantasy VII Remake is best when it's telling a more focused story. During these scenes, it does a great job of combining likable characters, smooth cinematics, and an excellent combat system. Aside from these high-quality parts, Remake's structure is still a little off.
Final Fantasy VII Remake's biggest challenge was always making the first few hours of the game last for the 40-hour game. Unfortunately, the worst parts of the game still feel like unnecessary filler. At times, the longer story does work because it gives the actors more time to develop their characters and play more critical roles in the story. But there are also times when it's clear that Square Enix was trying to add more to the game so that it wouldn't be too short.
Don't get us wrong, Remake has many more good points than bad ones, but the quality is still all over the place. For every boss battle that is loud and awesome, there are a few minutes of walking through empty corridors and parody-level gap-squeezing. Some of the environment design in Remake is so linear and boring that it can start to feel like a strange walking game.
Even though some parts of Remake aren't as good as others, there are more than enough reasons to stick with it. As was said, the action is excellent. A hybrid combat system that combines real-time movement and attacks with magic and abilities activated by giving commands could be the best thing to happen to Final Fantasy in years. It's a lot of fun to switch between characters, attack your enemies weaknesses, and stun them for a lot of damage. Between the big-budget story scenes and the big-budget battles, Remake has a brilliance that shines through the mess.
And the fact that Remake can run at 60 frames per second on PS5 is a big plus. Performance and fidelity are the two graphic modes that come with Intergrade. The first one increases the frame rate to 60 but lowers the resolution (we think it's around 1620p, which isn't bad at all), while the second one supports 4K but only at 30fps. There is now a photo mode, which is always an excellent addition.
If you play Intergrade, you'll probably use the Create button since the game can often look beautiful. The improved lighting effects on PS5 are a real treat, especially at night when Midgar's electrics start to flicker to life. When it looks good, it looks damn good.
But try not to stare too much when you're in the slums. It's Because many of the bad textures that were a problem in the PS4 version are still there. Some of the worst examples, like the door to Cloud's apartment, have been fixed, but more minor details like scrap piles, grass, and shop signs are still shockingly blurry.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade: Episode INTERmission
Episode Intermission is a separate campaign accessed directly from the game's main menu. It stars Yuffie, a young ninja from the faraway land of Wutai who is on a mission to break into Shinra's headquarters. Yuffie and a new character named Sonon go on an adventure through a few run-down Midgar neighborhoods. It's a fun part, but it doesn't last too long.
Episode INTERmission has two story parts, each about two to three hours long. The story takes place during the main plot of Remake, right after Cloud and his friends bomb their second reactor. The DLC fits in well with the main story, giving more information about what's going on in Midgar at the time as chaos starts to spread through the city.
Overall, INTERmission has a good balance of story, linear adventuring, and straightforward fighting. Because Yuffie is so agile, she can do contextual platforming. It makes exploring feel more fabulous than in the main game. She can swing over gaps, run along walls, and throw her giant shuriken at things far away. When you put all of this together, it's clear that the level design of the DLC will be better. It's nothing special, but it's a good start for a good story.
The fights are also pretty interesting. Sonon is the only person in your party, but you can't control him directly. But this isn't as big of a change as it sounds because you can still tell Sonon what to do. The trick is to use his skills along with Yuffie's attacks to create a rhythm that works well. Also, Yuffie can fight up close and far away, making her the most versatile character in Remake in how to play her.
At first, Yuffie's quirks can be hard to understand, especially since she starts at level 25 with several materials and abilities already unlocked.m Still, the DLC has a good difficulty curve that gives you time to get your bearings. She can also "synergize" with Sonon, giving her some flashy special attacks that are great for finishing off a boss who isn't giving up easily.
In Episode Intermission, there are only a few side quests you can do if you don't want to. One has you looking for leaflets in and around the Sector 7 slums, which is about as interesting as it sounds, and the other has you mastering the new Fort Condor minigame.
It's a simple real-time strategy game but fun to play as a minigame. Different units have different strengths and weaknesses, so it's mostly about countering your opponent's deployments. More robust units cost more to summon, and the minigame starts to favor all-out aggression in later rounds, but you can still have fun adjusting your squad. If you know what you're doing in Fort Condor, you can beat almost everyone in an hour or so. Still, it's an excellent way to pass the time.
The best way to see Cloud and his friends again is to play Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. The remake is still a game with highs and lows in terms of quality, but when the credits roll, the game's best parts stand out, and many of them. Episode INTERmission, on the other hand, won't change anyone's mind, but it's a fun adventure that fits in well with the rest of the story, so fans won't want to miss it.