Summary
By almost all accounts,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthis a triumph. It has been widely praised by both critics and audiences for its breadth and variety of content, satisfying combat sandbox, and narrative, which expands on thefoundation laid by the originalFinal Fantasy 7. Having said that, it’s not above criticism, and its sequel should take steps to polish some of its rougher edges, and seize some of the opportunities it missed.
One such missed opportunity is the matter of cross-progression from 2020’sFinal Fantasy 7 Remake. During the leadup toFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s release, many fans hoped or assumed that their progress fromRemakewould be carried over, as the 2020 RPG can be quite grind-heavy for those looking to max out stats and fully upgrade every piece of gear. SinceRebirthpicks up right whereRemakeleft off, and nothing in theFinal Fantasy 7narrative justifies a downgrading or de-gearing of the game’s principal characters, this sort of cross-progression system only made sense. But sadly, this was not the case in the final product, evoking frustration for many players.
It’s important to note that Square Enix never explicitly stated that cross-progression would be a feature ofRebirth. Cross-progression was merely viewed as a reasonable assumption.
The Next Final Fantasy 7 Remake Needs Cross-Progression
Why a Lack of Cross-Progression in FF7 Rebirth Is Disappointing
Players withFF7 Remakesave data can redeem a bonus summon inRebirth, but that’s about the only leg-up this data affords them. All gear, XP, and abilities gained inRemakeare relegated to that game, and that game alone, forcing players to start from scratch inRebirth. Of course, a direct progress transfer fromRemaketoRebirthwould likely impede the latter’s new gameplay and progression systems, as they are quite different from those of its predecessor.
But still, some sort of XP bonus or other head-start, similar to whatMass Effect 2andMass Effect 3offer to returning players, would have been a worthwhile reward for those who beatRemakegoing intoRebirth. More importantly, it would have mediated possible feelings of tedium or familiarity for these returning players, as they wouldn’t have to grind for hours just to get the same skills and gear that they had access to in the previous game. Such a system could have also lentRebirtha strong sense of continuity, elevating the feeling that it is a natural extension of the story that came before it.
Cross-Progression Would Be Even More Important for FF7 Rebirth’s Sequel
While no cross-progression betweenRemakeandRebirthis disappointing, it’s not a huge deal:Rebirthis different enoughfromRemake, mainly as it pertains to its open-world, that its RPG progression never feels like retreading old ground, even when it technically is. However, it’s unlikely that this will apply toRebirth’s sequel, which will almost certainly retainRebirth’s open-world design, albeit with some expected improvements. In this case, the game runs the risk of feeling tedious for returning players, as it would essentially be stripping them of the progress they made over dozens of hours ofRebirthgameplay.
Again,the third chapter of theFinal Fantasy 7remake trilogywill probably be different from both games that game before it in a number of ways, so an analog port of progression fromRebirthmay not be viable. But the next game could at least allow players to import the weapons and gear they collected inRebirth, especially if these items are going to reappear anyway. Some sort of XP or level boost for those withRebirthsave data would be nice too. Considerations like these would lead to a more cohesive overall experience, while reducing feelings of fatigue or tedium that may accompany grinding in a direct sequel to an open-world RPG as massive asFF7 Rebirth.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
