I’ve had the privilege of interviewing Remaining Fantasy VII Revelation recreation director Naoki Hamaguchi earlier than, again when Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth was nonetheless on its option to launch.
So, naturally, I’ve huge FOMO seeing all of the interviews which have come out since Tokyo Recreation Present.
GadgetMatch Managing Editor Rodneil Quiteles with Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth recreation director Naoki Hamaguchi
Relatively than sulk about it, we’re doing the subsequent smartest thing: accumulating the bits and items Hamaguchi has shared throughout these interviews, alongside along with his personal feedback and clarifications, as we get nearer to the ultimate installment of the Remaining Fantasy VII Remake trilogy.
We’re now roughly six months away from Revelation’s April 8, 2027 launch, and there’s already a shocking quantity we all know concerning the recreation.
You’ve in all probability already heard concerning the big open world, the Highwind, new playable characters, FITS, and the 2 story DLCs.
However Hamaguchi has additionally dropped loads of smaller particulars that haven’t acquired almost as a lot consideration.
Listed below are 11 stuff you in all probability missed.
1. Some armor can hyperlink three Materia collectively
Let’s begin with one of many greatest gameplay deep cuts.
Revelation may have armor with three linked Materia slots.
That may sound like a small improve, however linked Materia are basic to how Remaining Fantasy VII‘s construct system works. Extra linked slots imply extra room to experiment with combos and create specialised setups.
Hamaguchi additionally revealed that some Materia are restricted to particular FITS, that means the sport’s new outfit-based fight system isn’t purely about selecting a job and calling it a day.
The Materia system is getting its personal layer of experimentation on prime of FITS.
Apparently, Hamaguchi instructed Wccftech that this was a element no person had requested him about earlier than. Wccftech interview on Materia and FITS
And that makes this precisely the form of element we wished to dig up.
2. Grasp Materia isn’t coming again
Right here’s one other one for longtime Remaining Fantasy VII gamers.
Don’t count on to ultimately flip your Materia assortment into the unique recreation’s ridiculously highly effective Grasp Materia.
Hamaguchi defined that Grasp Materia was intentionally ignored as a result of it might break the sport’s stability, significantly in relation to summons.
That is sensible in a recreation the place fight is way more action-focused than the unique.
As a substitute, Revelation is increasing the prevailing Materia system with new combos and extra methods to customise characters.
It’s a really totally different strategy from merely recreating the unique recreation’s endgame development. Wccftech interview on Materia and FITS
3. Some Materia are locked to particular FITS
FITS already appears like considered one of Revelation’s greatest modifications to character customization.
The 4 combat-oriented outfits aren’t simply beauty loadouts, both.
Hamaguchi revealed that sure Materia can solely be geared up to particular FITS.
Which means the sport is successfully asking you to consider two layers of character customization directly: which FITS you’re utilizing and which Materia you’re slotting into it.
It might additionally imply that the “finest” setup isn’t essentially about stacking the strongest Materia in your favourite character.
You’ll must work across the guidelines of every FITS. Wccftech interview on Materia and FITS
4. The workforce thought-about bringing again Double Minimize and 4x Minimize
Right here’s one that would simply disappear beneath all the larger bulletins.
Hamaguchi mentioned how the workforce thought-about bringing again basic Materia akin to Double Minimize and 4x Minimize.
Finally, these concepts didn’t match the sport’s action-oriented fight significantly properly.
It’s a captivating instance of the workforce deciding the place Revelation ought to protect the unique recreation’s concepts — and the place merely recreating them wouldn’t make sense.
The Remake venture has at all times concerned translating methods designed for a turn-based RPG into a contemporary motion RPG.
That is one other instance of that course of taking place behind the scenes. Wccftech interview on Materia and FITS
5. Knights of Spherical will get its personal storyline
We knew Revelation would carry again loads of acquainted parts from the unique.
However Knights of Spherical isn’t merely returning as one other summon.
Hamaguchi has described devoted content material surrounding the summon, structured equally to how Gilgamesh acquired his personal story content material in Rebirth.
Which means one of the vital iconic summons within the authentic Remaining Fantasy VII is being given significantly extra room to exist as a part of the world.
For longtime followers, that is precisely the form of enlargement that makes the Remake trilogy attention-grabbing.
The workforce isn’t merely recreating the issues we bear in mind. It’s discovering methods to show acquainted parts into new experiences. JCR Comic Arts‘ reproduction of the interview
6. Sure, Johnny’s clones are again
Of all of the issues to outlive into the ultimate recreation, this is likely to be one of the vital delightfully ridiculous.
Johnny returns.
And, by some means, his clones return too.
Hamaguchi has confirmed that Johnny may have his personal aspect content material in Revelation, persevering with considered one of Rebirth’s strangest recurring bits.
It’s additionally a reminder that the Remake trilogy isn’t immediately going to develop into fully severe simply because we’re approaching its conclusion.
If something, Revelation seems to be bringing alongside loads of the weirdness that made Rebirth such a weird and memorable RPG. Wccftech‘s Hamaguchi interview
7. The snowy part brings again stamina administration
Bear in mind the Nice Glacier?
That icy part of the unique Remaining Fantasy VII is making a return in Revelation, and Hamaguchi has confirmed that stamina administration will as soon as once more be a part of the expertise.
This isn’t merely a matter of strolling via one other snowy setting.
You’ll must handle Cloud’s stamina as you make your approach via the world, making a gameplay sequence that intentionally echoes the unique.
It’s one other instance of Revelation utilizing nostalgia as a place to begin relatively than merely recreating an outdated location. Shacknews‘ interview with Hamaguchi
8. The PC model is being constructed to run extra easily than Rebirth
PC gamers have one more reason to concentrate.
Hamaguchi has particularly talked about making Revelation’s PC model run extra easily than Rebirth.
That’s important as a result of Rebirth’s PC launch turned a serious speaking level round its efficiency and picture high quality.
Relatively than treating the PC model as an afterthought, Sq. Enix says the teachings from Rebirth are feeding into the ultimate recreation’s growth.
We’ll clearly have to attend till we are able to really play it to guage whether or not these ambitions translate into a greater launch.
However at the very least the workforce is aware of precisely what gamers will likely be waiting for. Wccftech on Revelation’s PC version
9. FITS began as one thing a lot easier
FITS appears like a serious a part of Revelation’s id now.
However the thought apparently began a lot smaller.
Hamaguchi defined that the workforce initially thought-about merely placing Warrior or Black Mage symbols on the characters’ outfits.
That ultimately developed into the total FITS system, with distinct outfits representing totally different fight roles.
It’s a neat instance of how a seemingly small visible thought can ultimately develop into an precise gameplay system.
And it explains why FITS appears like extra than simply an excuse to present the forged new outfits for the finale. Wccftech‘s Hamaguchi interview
10. The Highwind really modifications as you discover
The Highwind isn’t simply your fancy new approach of getting all over the world.
As you discover Revelation’s huge world, the airship may also develop into extra vigorous, with modifications to the individuals aboard it and their dialogue.
That makes the Highwind really feel extra like a transferring a part of the world relatively than one other menu disguised as a car.
It additionally matches with Hamaguchi’s broader philosophy for Revelation: the sport is meant to present gamers extra freedom whereas nonetheless making the journey itself really feel significant. GamerBraves‘ interview with Hamaguchi and Kitase
11. Hamaguchi actually doesn’t need this to develop into “his” Remaining Fantasy VII
And this is likely to be a very powerful element of all.
Hamaguchi has repeatedly emphasised that the unique Remaining Fantasy VII stays on the coronary heart of the venture.
In a current publish, he clarified that the Remake trilogy has at all times been developed with followers in thoughts, relatively than as his personal private reinterpretation of the basic.
That philosophy is especially attention-grabbing heading into Revelation.
The trilogy has made monumental modifications to the unique story. It has launched new characters, expanded present ones, modified the construction of the world and performed with expectations about the place the story goes.
However Hamaguchi says the objective isn’t to show Remaining Fantasy VII into one thing that exists purely as a result of the builders wished to make their very own model of it.
It’s nonetheless Remaining Fantasy VII first.
And that philosophy might in the end be what determines whether or not the trilogy sticks its touchdown. GamesRadar on Hamaguchi’s “personal fan project” comments
That’s solely the stuff you might need missed
The 11 particulars above are those that stood out to us exactly as a result of they aren’t the same old Revelation speaking factors.
However Hamaguchi has shared much more over the previous few months.
So, when you’re making an attempt to maintain monitor of the place we really stand six months earlier than launch, right here’s every little thing else we all know.
Story and construction
That is nonetheless one related trilogy
Hamaguchi just lately clarified one thing that had apparently been misunderstood in a few of his earlier feedback.
Remake, Rebirth, and Revelation are meant to be skilled as one related journey.
Nonetheless, Sq. Enix doesn’t view them as one RPG artificially chopped into three items.
As a substitute, the workforce considers them three full-scale RPGs, every designed to offer a satisfying standalone expertise whereas contributing to the bigger trilogy. Hamaguchi’s clarification on X
That’s an vital distinction after we ultimately decide whether or not Revelation appears like a whole recreation.
The theme this time is “resolve”
Remake centered on change and the need to flee destiny.
Rebirth positioned appreciable emphasis on bonds between characters.
For Revelation, Hamaguchi has described the central theme as resolve — the dedication to choose and see it via.
The Japanese idea is tied to ketsui, which additionally knowledgeable the considering behind the sport’s title. MMO.net‘s Hamaguchi interview
Decisions matter extra
Hamaguchi has additionally stated Revelation accommodates extra conditions the place participant decisions can affect not simply development, however the course of the storytelling itself.
That makes the sport’s “resolve” theme greater than only a advertising phrase.
We’ll must see how substantial these decisions really are. Automaton‘s interview with Hamaguchi
The world and exploration
It’s the largest world but
Remake was centered and densely packed.
Rebirth opened issues up into a standard open-world construction.
Revelation takes one other step by including verticality to that formulation.
Hamaguchi describes it as a “spatial open-world expertise.” RPG Site‘s interview with Hamaguchi
The Highwind arrives comparatively early
One of many greatest structural modifications is how rapidly the sport offers gamers entry to the Highwind.
As soon as gamers have it, the sport basically tells them to go wherever they need.
That could be a main philosophical shift from the extra directed opening parts of the trilogy. Automaton‘s interview with Hamaguchi
Steerage is stronger — maybe too sturdy
Sq. Enix has added extra on-screen steering particularly as a result of the builders don’t need gamers who aren’t accustomed to open-world video games to get misplaced.
However there was an attention-grabbing twist: skilled gamers instructed Hamaguchi the steering might be too aggressive.
The workforce is due to this fact contemplating methods to let gamers customise how a lot steering they obtain. Hamaguchi’s guidance clarification on X
Fight and development
FITS is a serious new layer
The 4 FITS roles are constructed round fight capabilities relatively than merely representing the builders’ favourite Remaining Fantasy jobs.
Hamaguchi has additionally defined that FITS developed particularly from the workforce’s want to increase the fight potentialities launched in Rebirth. Wccftech‘s Hamaguchi interview
Auto-leveling is optionally available
Gamers who don’t wish to spend as a lot time grinding can routinely carry characters as much as the really helpful degree for the story.
It’s one other instance of Revelation making an attempt to accommodate several types of gamers with out eradicating development altogether. Hamaguchi’s auto-level clarification on X
You received’t have to restart from Degree 1
After ending the story, Chapter Choose returns.
That’s significantly vital as a result of Hamaguchi says there are aims, outcomes and discoveries that gamers received’t essentially see in a single playthrough.
The workforce desires gamers to experiment with out feeling like they’re throwing away a complete save. Hamaguchi’s multiple-playthrough clarification on X
Aspect content material and minigames
The minigames aren’t going away
When you had been hoping Revelation would lastly settle down with the minigames, sorry.
Hamaguchi considers their sheer selection an vital a part of what makes Remaining Fantasy VII really feel like Remaining Fantasy VII.
The distinction this time is that minigames are much less tied to fight development.
As a substitute, their rewards lean extra towards cosmetics and customization. Automaton‘s interview with Hamaguchi
Minigames will be made simpler or skipped
Gamers can alter minigame issue, together with setting them to Straightforward.
Extra importantly, they will skip them instantly relatively than being compelled to finish a minigame simply to maneuver on.
That’s a probably important quality-of-life enchancment after a few of Rebirth’s extra divisive aspect actions. Automaton‘s interview with Hamaguchi
Rewards ought to be clearer
Hamaguchi additionally says the workforce has labored to make the reward construction extra clear.
Gamers ought to have a greater thought of what they’ll get for finishing a specific exercise earlier than investing their time in it.
Once more, that’s one thing we’ll wish to check ourselves.
DLC and the finale
Fan Favourite Vincent Valentine
Sephiroth and Vincent are getting story DLC
Sq. Enix has introduced two story DLCs, one centered on Sephiroth and one other on Vincent.
Hamaguchi says the choice was impressed by the response from followers after Revelation was introduced.
He additionally stresses that these tales aren’t meant to exchange something from the primary recreation’s conclusion. Hamaguchi’s DLC announcement on X
The unique story stays the precedence
That is vital as a result of it’s simple to interpret DLC bulletins as Sq. Enix holding issues again for post-launch content material.
Hamaguchi has framed the DLC extra just like the character-focused enlargement seen with Episode INTERmission: further tales that discover characters with out changing the primary narrative. Ourinsaneblogs‘ TGS interview with Hamaguchi
What we nonetheless don’t know
And this is likely to be a very powerful part to maintain up to date as we get nearer to launch.
How precisely does it hook up with Creation Kids?
Hamaguchi has acknowledged the broader Remaining Fantasy VII universe and the significance of issues like Creation Kids, Disaster Core, and Dirge of Cerberus.
However there’s no clear affirmation that Revelation merely ends by instantly organising Creation Kids.
That’s nonetheless one thing we’ll have to find.
How a lot do our decisions really matter?
We all know decisions can have an effect on development and elements of storytelling.
We don’t but know the total extent of these penalties.
That’s going to be one of many greatest issues to research as soon as we are able to play the completed recreation.
How massive is “massive”?
We’ve heard loads about scale.
We’ve seen the world.
We’ve heard concerning the Highwind and vertical exploration.
However there’s nonetheless a distinction between a big map and a world that genuinely feels price exploring.
That’s one other query for the eventual evaluation.
The underside line
Six months earlier than launch, Remaining Fantasy VII Revelation is already shaping as much as be an absurdly bold finale.
It’s greater than Rebirth. It’s extra open. It’s extra vertical. It has a brand new fight customization system, a revamped Materia setup, extra significant decisions, an earlier Highwind, a ridiculous variety of minigames, and two post-launch story expansions.
However the smaller particulars are arguably extra attention-grabbing.
- Three linked Materia slots.
- FITS-locked Materia.
- No Grasp Materia.
- Johnny’s clones.
- Knights of Spherical getting its personal storyline.
- A returning stamina mechanic within the snow.
- A PC model particularly concentrating on higher efficiency.
- And a fight system that began life as nothing greater than symbols on everybody’s garments.
These are the small print that make Revelation really feel much less like “the third Remaining Fantasy VII Remake recreation” and extra like a recreation that has spent years making an attempt to determine precisely what the finale ought to be.
We’ll discover out whether or not all of these concepts come collectively when Remaining Fantasy VII Revelation launches on April 8, 2027.
And sure, we’ll completely be maintaining this checklist up to date as Hamaguchi inevitably offers us much more issues to obsess over.