Ryan Dinsdale
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Square Enix has dropped a ton of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth details alongside artwork, screenshots, and even a trailer showing off Cait Sith, Nibelheim, Junon, and lots of other additions and changes coming in the highly anticipated sequel.
A huge blog post from Square Enix akin to one from November revealed lots of new information ahead of Rebirth’s launch on February 29. It outlines how new party members like Cait Sith and Yuffie fight, Elena’s new look in the remake, the different editions of the game available to preorder, and more.
Combat
It’s unclear who’ll be unlocked first out of Cait Sith and Yuffie, though as fans got to play the latter in Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Integrade on PS5, let’s start there. Yuffie is focused on speed (with a fast charging active time battle meter) and inflicting raw damage with her large throwing star.
Magic can be applied to her weapon through ninjutsu, made even more effective by chaining attacks together. Her Doppelgänger ability also allows Yuffie to attack from two places at once and seek out enemies’ weakness.
Cait Sith, the little cat who fights atop a chunky moogle mount, also darts around the battlefield quickly or calling upon the moogle for some slower but higher damage attacks. These attacks will also fill the Moogle Meter, which once charged can apply buffs to allies.
Keeping to Cait Sith’s focus on luck from the original Final Fantasy 7, different abilities can seemingly apply random buffs or damage to enemies and allies alike. The Let’s Ride ability, however, combines Cait Sith with his moogle to attack in tandem, enhancing both his regular attacks and unique abilities. Cait Sith can also drop kick his enemies while riding his moogle friend.
Yuffie and Cait Sith also have their own Synergy Ability, which are essentially combo attacks, called Moogle Pinwheel. Square Enix didn’t share too much of what it does, but promised the pair will attack together “with a secret ninja technique”.
Characters and Locations
Fans of the original Final Fantasy 7 were surprised to see Elena left out of Remake, but the young Turks member will make her revamped debut in Rebirth.
“Though she may be a rookie, she’s as skilled with her fists and a gun as anyone else in the Turks unit of Shinra’s General Affairs Division,” reads her official description. Her involvement appears directly related to the Remake Trilogy’s multiverse shenanigans, however, as her and Rude are tasked with pursuing the black-robed figures this time around.
One brand new character is Captain Titov, who also headlines a big change from the original Final Fantasy 7. Rebirth doesn’t feature the cargo ship Cloud and friends use to sneak across to Costa del Sol from Junon, but instead a cruise ship called the Shinra-8.
“He’s earned a sterling reputation among his crew, thanks to his unerring devotion to his duties.” Square Enix said. “This is most evident during the various festivities held aboard his vessel, which he personally — and passionately — emcees.”
Speaking of Junon, the trailer and screenshots show off its Shinra parade which Cloud must infiltrate, plus other iconic locations like The Gold Saucer and even brand new ones like the aforementioned Shinra-8 ship. It’s “a Shinra cruise ship that ferries travelers between the planet’s eastern and western continents,” Square Enix said. “After departing the port of Junon, it heads for the resort town of Costa del Sol. As part of the on-board entertainment, the ship plays host to a Queen’s Blood tournament.”
Editions
Rebirth will be available in several different editions, headling by the $349.99 / £349.99 Collector’s Edition, which includes a Sephiroth statue, steelbook case, mini soundtrack CD, physical artbook, and a physical version of the full game (which Square Enix loves to point out is across two discs). It also includes a Moogle Trio Summoning Materia, Magic Pot Summoning Materia, Reclaimant Choker, and Orchid Bracelet as in-game items.
The $99.99 / £99.99 Deluxe Edition includes the game, steelbook case, mini soundtrack CD, and physical artbook with no digital add ons. The Standard Edition naturally only comes with the game and is priced at $69.99 / £69.99. Preordering either of these also grants access to the Midgar Bangle in-game item.
As for full digital offerings, the Digital Deluxe Edition comes with the game, digital mini soundtrack, digital artbook, plus the Magic Pot Summoning Materia, Reclaimant Choker, and Orchid Bracelet as in-game items. Preordering this also grants access to the Moogle Trio Summoning Materia.
Finally, a Twin Pack includes both games digitally but no other add ons. Preordering will grant access to the Moogle Trio Summoning Materia, however.
Rebirth is the highly anticipated sequel to Final Fantasy 7 Remake. A third game will wrap up the Remake Trilogy, and while no release window has been shared, it’s already in development.
Rebirth therefore follows Cloud and friends as they leave Midgar and enter the wider Final Fantasy 7 world, encountering locations like Kalm, the Mythril Mine, Junon and Costa del Sol plus brand new ones created for the remake.
Square Enix has added new playable characters, too, plus a card game akin to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s Gwent, and impressive fast travel. An ESRB rating has otherwise teased deep cleavage, pools of blood, and a clue to Aerith’s fate.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.