Square Enix has dropped a lot of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth details along with artwork, screenshots, and even a trailer showcasing Cait Sith, Nibelheim, Junon, and plenty of other additions and changes coming in the highly anticipated sequel.
A massive blog post from Square Enix similar to the one published in November revealed a lot of new information ahead of Rebirth’s launch on February 29. It explains how to fight new party members like Cait Sith and Yuffie, Elena’s new look in the remake, and the different versions of the game. The game is available for pre-order, and more.
fighting
It’s not clear who will be unlocked first among Cait Sith and Yuffie, although fans will be playing the latter in Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Integrade on PS5, so let’s start there. Yuffie focuses on speed (with a fast-charging active battle time meter) and dealing massive damage to her megastar.
Magic can be applied to her weapon through ninjutsu, which is made more effective by chaining attacks together. Her Doppelgänger ability also allows Yuffie to attack from two places at once and search for enemies’ weak points.
Cait Sith, the kitten who fights atop a chunky moogle mountain, also dashes around the battlefield quickly or summons the moogle to do some slower but higher-damage attacks. These attacks will also fill the Moogle’s gauge, which once charged can add buffs to allies.
Keeping Cait Sith’s focus on luck from the original Final Fantasy 7, various abilities can seemingly apply random buffs or deal damage to enemies and allies alike. However, the Let’s Ride ability combines Cait Sith with his moogle to attack in tandem, enhancing 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 basically combo attacks, called Moogle Pinwheel. Square Enix didn’t share much of what it does, but promised that the duo will attack together with “secret ninja technology.”
Characters and locations
Fans of the original Final Fantasy 7 were surprised to see Elena left out of the remake, but the young Turkish member will make her debut in a revamped form in Rebirth.
“While she may be a rookie, she is as skilled with her fists and pistol as anyone else in the Turks unit of Shinra’s Public Affairs Division,” her official description reads. Her involvement appears to be directly tied to the Remake Trilogy’s Multiverse shenanigans, as she and Rude are tasked with hunting down the characters in black this time around.
One of the brand new characters is Captain Titov, who also headlines a major change from the original Final Fantasy 7. Rebirth does not feature the freighter Cloud that the friends use to sneak across the Costa del Sol from Junon, but instead includes a cruise ship called the Shinra-8.
“He has gained a good reputation among his staff, owing to his complete devotion to his duties.” “This is most evident during the various celebrations held aboard his ship, which he personally—and passionately—holds,” Square Enix said.
Speaking of Junon, the trailer and screenshots show off a Shinra display that Cloud must infiltrate, as well as other popular locations like The Gold Saucer and even entirely new locations like the aforementioned Shinra-8 ship. Square Enix said it is a “Shinra-type cruise ship transporting passengers between the eastern and western continents of the planet.” “After leaving the port of Junon, the ship heads to the Costa del Sol resort. As part of the on-board entertainment, the ship is hosting a Queen’s Blood tournament.”
Editions
Rebirth will be available in several different editions, headlined by the $349.99 / £349.99 Collector’s Edition, which includes a Sephiroth statue, a steel book case, a soundtrack mini-CD, a physical artbook, and a physical copy of the full game (which you like Square Enix referenced it outside across two discs). Also includes 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, steel book case, soundtrack mini-CD, and physical art book with no digital extras. Naturally, the Standard Edition only comes with the game and is priced at $69.99 / £69.99. Pre-ordering either also grants access to the in-game Midgar Bangle item.
As for the full digital offering, the Digital Deluxe Edition comes with the game, digital mini-soundtrack, and digital artbook, as well as the Magic Pot Summoning Materia, Reclaimant Choker, and Orchid Bracelet as in-game items. This pre-order also grants access to the Moogle Trio Summoning Materia.
Finally, the Dual Pack includes both games digitally but no other extras. However, pre-ordering will give you access to the Moogle Trio Summoning Materia.
Rebirth is the highly anticipated sequel to Final Fantasy 7 Remake. A third game will conclude the Remake Trilogy, and while no release window has been shared, it is already in development.
So Rebirth follows Cloud and friends as they leave Midgar and enter the wider world of Final Fantasy 7, encountering locations like Kalm, Mythril Mine, Junon, and Costa del Sol as well as entirely new locations created for the remake.
Square Enix has added new playable characters as well, as well as a card game similar to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s Gwent, and impressive fast travel. The ESRB rating has sparked deep division, pools of blood, and a clue to Aerith’s fate.
Ryan Dinsdale is a freelance reporter at IGN. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day long.