5/5 ★ – valhallaVANDAL's review of FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the most rewarding video game experience I've ever had, and it is among the very best video games I have ever played. It really starts with the open world, a feature of the game I wasn't sure was going to be necessary. And while the characters will always be the strength of Final Fantasy VII (and the other FF titles, for the most part), the open world of Rebirth is an incredibly deep success with regard to both gameplay, storytelling, and world-building. So much of Shinra EPC's war with other nations, despite being a utilities company--has been told obliquely, in passive details of the original game, its spinoffs, or other media. But Chadley--yes, Chadley--as the ex-Shinra hub of knowledge-questing prompts the player to discover the world not to complete the checklist--though the checklist system in this game is excellent--but to actually DISCOVER it. Side quests are directly and narratively linked to other characters' motivations and values. New information about the history of Shinra's war with the world comes out of every lifestream fountain, industrial ruin, and NPC conversation. Junon is far bigger than it looks, because you spend a half-dozen hours Under Junon, standing toe to toe with rebels and those disadvantaged by Shinra's need to weaponize EVERYTHING it takes control of. There's very little in the open world that doesn't feel RELEVANT, even if it's not strictly necessary. What it provides is a ton of fun, and a reason to stay in the world longer. When the story continues, it feels deeper, easier to follow, and closer-linked to the plights of everybody going to war with Shinra, Sephiroth, and in many ways: themselves.