Final Fantasy VII Remake Released As “Multi-Part Series”; Aiming For Seamless Active Battle

Square Enix has released a press release, revealing that the Final Fantasy VII Remake will be told across a multi-part series.

During the Playstation Experience, Sony and Square Enix revealed a new trailer for the remake of the 1997 rpg classic. In case you missed it, check out the trailer down below.

Following the release of the CG/Gameplay trailer, Square Enix revealed that the remake of the game, will be told “across a multi-part series, with each entry providing its own unique experience”.

A small paragraph from the US press release is included below:

During this past weekend’s PlayStation Experience in San Francisco, SQUARE ENIX debuted a new trailer for FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, the full remake of the award-winning role-playing game, FINAL FANTASY VII. The new trailer features the first CG scenes as well as gameplay footage. FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE will be told across a multi-part series, with each entry providing its own unique experience.

Final Fantasy VII Remake a multi-part series

Interestingly, a Japanese press release from Square Enix, states that the game will be released in several parts due to the amount of content featured in the game. The Japanese teaser website for ‘Final Fantasy VII Remake’ can be checked out right here.

An interview with Dengeki Online, further explains the decision to release the remake as multi-part series.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is a multi-part series. Please tell us more about this decision.

producer Yoshinori Kitase: “The idea that a remake of Final Fantasy VII would not fit into a single release was there from the very beginning. We still can’t share more information about its multiple parts, but please look forward to future announcements.”

director Tetsuya Nomura: “If we dedicated our time to a single release, parts of it would become summarized. We’d have to cut some parts, and additional parts would come in few, so rather than remake the game as a full volume, we decided to do multiple parts.

producer Yoshinori Kitase: “As you can see in the trailer, we showed Sector 1 and Sector 8, but in those areas alone, I think you can see a lot of density. When you’re remaking the entirety of the original version in that quality, it’s not possible to fit it all in one release.”

The trailer showcased during the Playstation Experience, showed off a rather active battle system, and a lot of fans seem to be worried, that the ATB system from the original FFVII will be changed too much.

In the Dengeki Online interview, Nomura asks fans of the game, to “please look forward to how the game will evolve through the remake”.

Being a remake, the game will involve elements like the ATB gauge and limit breaks, but will appear with “new ways to be used”.

What about the elements of the original battle system?

Nomura: “In the end, it’s based on Final Fantasy VII, so elements like the ATB gauge and Limit Breaks will appear with new ways to be used. Please look forward to how this game will evolve through the remake.”

According Kitase and Nomura, they are aiming for a “seamless active battle”, rather than a command-based battle as implemented in the original Final Fantasy VII.

How will the battle system work?

Kitase: “Rather than a command-based battle ensuing when you encounter an enemy, we’re aiming for a seamless active battle, as you can see in the trailer.”

Nomura: “Regarding the battle speed and tempo, for the sake of a stress-free battle, we want to do something on the level of Dissidia Final Fantasy. As far as the degree of action goes, it’s Dissidia Final Fantasy, then Kingdom Hearts, then Final Fantasy VII Remake. There won’t be any actions that require a technique. By using the new system, we want to do action battles while also being able to fight while thinking strategically.”

What are your thoughts on the changes to the game’s battle-system? Do you prefer a time-based system or the ‘new’ active system.

Thanks, Gematsu for the translations.