Gaming

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Review [Spoiler Free]

The game we’ve been waiting for

Published

February 22, 2024

Yes, this is it. This is the game we were hoping to get when a Remake of the cult classic Final Fantasy 7 was first announced. We dreamed of seeing our favorite characters like Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, and Sephiroth in playable glorious 4K. And while Final Fantasy VII Remake partly delivered on that promise, it is in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth that the dream becomes fully realized.

Where FF7R felt padded, FF7RB is just absolutely stuffed. There’s so much to do but it never feels overwhelming. The gameplay’s pacing seamlessly takes you from exploration to combat to mini games and back again in a dynamic and satisfying loop.

Full disclosure, as of writing we’re about 60 hours into the game. We have acquired all the playable party members revealed in previous news and events. We have yet to finish the game so we wouldn’t be able to spoil it for you. The review code was provided by the publisher.

Without further ado, here’s our journey through Final Fantasy VI Rebirth so far.

A whole new (open) world

One of the biggest promises of FF7RB is that it will open up the world just as it did in the original game, and open up it truly does. However, instead of an actual big open world, what the team at Square Enix did is make open zones that players can freely explore. It’s a setup that works perfectly for this particular world and story.

The open zones are littered with activities whose rewards may aid you in battle. While some of them may be optional, it’s prudent to play and improve your chances in beating the game.

These activities are called World Intel. Our favorite researcher, Chadley, is back to facilitate this mechanic. The World Intel is a slew of different activities with mini story lines. Some feel essential, some don’t. Each activity ends with a meaningful reward and none of them ever feel like a chore.

The World Intel and Quests are different but connected. Some Quests require that you tick off certain things from the World Intel. The ones labeled as Quests are the ones that are entirely optional.

The first open zone you’ll be in is the Grasslands. If you want to experience a big chunk of what the game has to offer, it’s prudent to complete the whole World Intel and Quests in this area.

Here you will be introduced to battle mechanics, the card game Queen’s Blood, unlocking Summons, acquiring Chocobos, and much, much more. The best part is every single quest line is of high quality. They’re all voice acted with their very own cutscenes that range from amusing to borderline epic.

Exploration inspirations

There was a report that said FF7RB was inspired by games such as Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon Zero Dawn. If you played either of those games, the inspirations will be apparent.

You may have seen some previews already where you need to activate towers to identify key locations in open zones. While activating the towers is key to completing World Intel activities, some of these activities can be encountered without exactly knowing where they are.

For instance, when a Lifespring area is nearby, you’ll see and hear a bird that will guide you to its location. It’s very similar to how you find resting hot springs in Ghost of Tsushima.

A similar mechanic is in play for Chocobo stops where you can rest to recover HP and MP. Cute, little chocobos will be in the vicinity and will prompt you to follow them. They will then lead you to these Chocobo stops.

The level of presentation is similar to, if not better than, Horizon Zero Dawn. Every single quest line is fully voice acted, looks incredible, and does not feel like throwaway side quests.

Unlocking Summons

One key World Intel activity you definitely would want to see through completion is the one where you unlock Summons. In the open zone, you’ll find glowing relics that you need to break. After breaking, the light escapes and leads you to more glowing relics until you find your way to the Summon’s shrine.

You’ll need to do this at least three times in a single open zone. Each shrine you unlock, you get the option to face a weakened version of the Summon. You’ll definitely want to do this as even in their weakened state, the Summon battles can be challenging.

There’s also no point in grinding since the Summon will sync with your level.

Queen’s Blood

Queen’s Blood is the card game fresh and new for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. This one you’ll definitely want to learn as well as some great moments and dialogue happen through this game.

We’ll let the game do the explaining of the mechanics for you. But one tip we can share is to always try to keep pushing to get more areas where you can drop your cards. It gets pretty tricky as you level up but it’s rewarding when you start piling wins and ranking up.

Like most of the side activities in this game, Queen’s Blood offers plenty of amusing moments as well as an overarching narrative that’s both mysterious and intriguing.

Mini-games Mania

When game director Naoki Hamaguchi said there will be no shortage of mini-games in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, he wasn’t kidding. Literally at almost every turn, there’s a mini-game to keep the entire gameplay fresh and entertaining. Most importantly, these are present in both the main story, the World Intel activities, and the Quests.

By definition, the mini-games are anything that is outside of both combat and exploration. They put the player in unique situations that can only be accomplished by completing tasks within the bounds of the mini-games’ rules.

FF7RB is littered with these and the best part is that, structurally, they fit seamlessly into the world and gameplay. You’ve already experienced one of them in the demo. The Piano-playing part is totally skippable, but it just works in the context of the story, the world, and the game in general.

Other mini-games are tied into the story, turning what otherwise would be just another boss battle into a thrilling encounter. We won’t say more as these may be spoilers but just brace yourself because the game will throw a lot at you.

The Gold Saucer

We can’t talk about mini-games without mentioning The Gold Saucer. If you played the OG game, you mostly already know what to expect. There is a ton to do here and some of which lead to incredible rewards.

The Gold Saucer is one of the most fun segments of the game due entirely to the variety of gameplay you’ll experience when you’re there.

Everything from racing, boxing, shooting, and more. Name it, and The Gold Saucer probably has it.

And yes, the whole thing is structured as a date. Who you go with is fully dependent upon how you develop your relationships with each of the party members.

Bonds and relationships

The relationships with your party members change through some key dialogue moments as well as combat. Their reactions to how you answer them are pretty telegraphed which means it should be relatively easy for you to pick the right response in key dialogue moments.

Another factor is in combat. Specifically, the Synergy Abilities. We’ll discuss this in a bit more detail later on, but essentially, the more times you use Synergy Abilities with certain party members, the deeper your relationship with them becomes.

While there’s no way to retroactively change your answers, you can always check the status of your bonds with the party members by pressing a single button while in exploration.

Let it Sync in

Barrett and Tufie Synergy Ability

Synergy Abilities is the biggest addition to combat from FF7R to FF7RB. We got a taste of it in the InterMISSION DLC featuring Yuffie with Sonon but it’s greatly expanded in this game.

This is introduced early on in the game as you deal with the events that happen in Kalm. The way they work is that each pairing in your party has unique synergy abilities. They have different effects too. Some expand your ATB Gauge, some are for damage dealing, while others are for defense and counters.

To unlock and level up Synergy Abilities, you have to access Folios – essentially the Skill Tree in this game. Each battle you earn points you can use in these Folios. And the Folios expand as you acquire and level up weapons as well as Skill Arts items unique to each party member.

Synergy Abilities are like extra skills you can execute in battle. There are lower skills that you can execute every time. Simply hold the block button and press the corresponding button to perform the lower skills.

Meanwhile, there are also special attacks that feel like Limit Breaks. These Synergy Abilities can often help turn the tide of battle or help you deal with enemies more quickly. These special attacks, though, take time to be available. The Synergy Ability gauge can be seen as four tiny indicators underneath your ATB gauge.

It’s also not very hard to manage. It works seamlessly with the action-tactical combination of combat in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. The best way to think about it is to just hack away like you normally would and unleash it upon your opponents like a Limit Break once it becomes available.

Visual presentation, dialogue, and music

The game’s blurry Performance Mode in the initial demo released was a hot topic online. Our recommendation is to play Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in Graphics Mode. If you were enamored with the cutscenes from the PlayStation 1 Final Fantasy games and hoped for the day that those visuals become playable, well, we are here. That time has arrived.

FF7RB in Graphics Mode literally looks like you’re playing these cutscenes. Yes, it’s not necessarily a new thing in gaming especially with the Horizon and Death Stranding franchises already in existence. But for people who grew up playing the first 3D Final Fantasy games, some of the visuals here will look unreal.

There’s just as much care placed into the dialogue and music. The lines are written well, delivered perfectly, and matches the tone of each scene without taking away from the tone of the entire game.

While you expect that from the main story line, just as much care and attention to detail was placed on sideline stories. In particular, Madam M’s dialogue is so cheekily written I can imagine how much fun the writers had putting those words together.

Music, meanwhile, is absolutely phenomenal. You’ll remixed/reworked versions of some tracks already heard in Final Fantasy VII Remake as well as new soundtracks that range from somber to absolute energizers. A standout here is the music in that one frog mini-game in Junon. Make sure to not miss it.

Final Fantasy VII realized

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the game we all envisioned when a remake of the original Final Fantasy VII was first announced. It’s packed to the brim with mini-games, activities, and quest lines that are all worth your time, with a main storyline that is captivating, enthralling, and awe-inspiring.

In both overall gameplay and presentation, this is about as close to perfect as you can get. We don’t usually do scores but if we had to, FF7RB is an easy 10/10. It has the perfect mix of heartfelt scenes, gasp-worthy setpieces, fun adventures, and a grand tale that should resonate to anyone who comes across it. With this installment, FF7 truly does feel like it has been reborn.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is out on February 29, 2024 for the PlayStation 5.

Gaming

Beast of Reincarnation coming to PS5 this August

One-person, one-dog action RPG

Published

April 25, 2026

GadgetMatch

Game Freak is set to release a new action RPG in August called Beast of Reincarnation. It is the developer’s first title outside of the Pokémon series. It arrives August 4th on PlayStation 5, with pre-orders now available.

The physical edition will include the same DLC content as the Digital Deluxe Edition as a purchase bonus:

Brown Shiba Skin
Black Shiba Skin
Oni’s Hat
Big Dipper
Amber x 100,000
Multiple crop seedlings

Beast of Reincarnation is a fusion of real-time and turn-based combat. It is dubbed as a “one-person, one-dog action RPG” set in a beautiful yet harsh post-apocalyptic, Year 4026 Japan.

In the game, humanity’s only hope lies with Emma, an outcast shunned from society for her affliction. Joining her is the blighted dog, Koo.

Together, they embark on an expansive adventure — alone yet together. Relying on each other is all they have as they journey through a world of impermanence, where forests suddenly burst forth amidst the wasteland.

As players progress, Emma and Koo’s bond and abilities blossom. They can customize the playstyle with unique skill trees, gear, and spirit stones to survive the world. They can also choose a preferred loadout which includes ranged, stealthy, and aggressive combat.

The duo fights as a unit, with Emma’s sword abilities leading the charge while commanding Koo to unleash various techniques in a hybrid combat system. This is integral as players will discover a brutal narrative, as well as dangerous truths hidden behind every character.

Gaming

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launches on July 9

New characters and quests await!

Published

April 24, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

As the self-aware Ubisoft has themselves admitted, the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake is gaming’s worst kept secret today. Today, Ubisoft has finally dropped the pretense and took off the wraps on Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.

As scheduled, the first trailer for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is finally here. The remake of the game will retain the heart of the original game but builds everything again from the ground up. Obviously, the biggest improvement is the graphics, which leverages modern hardware to deliver a more immersive game.

Additionally, the combat and the stealth have been reworked to better mimic the systems introduced in later entries to the series including Shadows. Ship combat is also improved to offer more ways to fight on the high seas.

Speaking of naval combat, there will be three additional character to recruit as officers for your crew. Complete with their own backstories, these characters will provide new benefits for gameplay. Old characters, including the iconic Blackbeard, will also have new storylines and missions.

Despite its status as a remake, Black Flag Resynced does not replace the original game. Though it’s a rebuild, it adds to the experience, offering something more for those who want to relive life as a pirate.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced will be available starting July 9 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Gaming

Saros review: Returnal’s difficulty is back and better than ever

Although, it loses the memorable storywriting.

Published

April 24, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

In 2012, Housemarque worked on the Angry Birds Trilogy compilation, the quintessential experience of throwing things at a wall and seeing which one will break it. In 2021, the studio developed Returnal, once again a quintessential experience of frustratingly throwing things at a wall. Now, in 2026, the studio is back with Saros, an experience with more of the same but with more flair and the accessibility to more easily break down those walls.

Turn back time over and over again

Like Returnal, Saros is a roguelike shooter. Players start every run from almost-scratch, earning Lucenite along the way. Upon death or winning the run, Arjun Devraj, the playable character, returns to the starting hub and spends his earned Lucenite to unlock meaningful (and permanent!) upgrades for the next run.

Along the way, Devraj finds an armory of available weapons and powerups that subsist through a single run, adding enough variability to ensure that no two runs are completely the same. Coupled with tangible upgrades, Saros creates an ever-changing experience but ensures that you feel stronger with every consecutive run.

It’s also a visually stunning game with designs that border on Lovecraftian. Enemies are so well designed that it’s impossible not to stop and stare at how detailed the monsters are.

A smoother, hypnotic fight

Saros plays like butter. Normally, shooters played on a controller are too finicky for me, but Saros just works. The game features a good number of auto-aiming weapons that help you focus on dodging projectiles. Even the native aim assist on non-automatic weapons is useful enough for making shots.

There’s also Power Weapons, or high-damage attacks that use consumable Power. There are a handful, and all of them are powerful enough to help win a difficult battle.

Fighting, then, is simply fluid. It didn’t take long for me to breeze through runs without focusing on muscle control. This makes for an easier game overall. Whereas Returnal has players beating their heads against the wall for hours, Saros is more accessible. It wants you to win. It wants you to get stronger.

As mentioned, each permanent upgrade is palpable. Devraj does get stronger. You can feel it when you rush past the starting area in no time. There are caps, but each cap is unlocked when you first beat a boss.

That said, the game still offers a challenge. Often, bosses take a few runs to master. Sometimes, you’ll get bodied by a surprise barrage from behind.

Variability that eventually runs out

The key to making a great roguelike rests on how different every run is. Some even have game-breaking combinations with ultra-rare pickups that wreck all of the game’s challenges.

At the start (especially before everything is unlocked), Saros does feature enough variability that invites you to discover everything that the game has to offer.

However, it does become clear that this variability has a limit. Once I had everything unlocked, I was defaulting to only a few combinations: a smart rifle (with auto-aim) with powerups that improve health and Lucenite drops. Plus, since I already had rerolls unlocked, I could just reset every drop until I got what I wanted. Experimentation doesn’t seem like a major draw for players; instead, it’s more about discovering the combination that works for you and grinding until you find it in every run.

Additionally, the map doesn’t really change. Though there are miniscule changes, none of which alters the experience that much. Each room features different terrain, but they’re all essentially identical to one another: fight the horde that spawns in and collect the reward afterwards.

Despite being treated as a major change to the map, even the self-imposed eclipse mode (from which the game derives its title) doesn’t add much besides the corruption status effect. At first, there’s a sense of dread going into the eclipse, as the game says that enemies are more powerful and unpredictable, but it will eventually teach you that eclipses are just part of the level design. There is zero tradeoff.

Every run has a lingering sense of sameness to it. This should be appealing to some, especially since it helps make the game more accessible. However, this approach will naturally run into a wall, particularly after you spend 2.5 hours on a run only to die on the final boss.

What story?

Saros is an exercise in Lovecraftian worldbuilding. Like all stories of the same bent, the game’s plot focuses more on the insanity of its world, rather than its characters.

The game does not say much about the story besides the bare brushstrokes. Devraj is part of the Echelon IV expedition to the planet of Carcosa. While his main mission is to find the past expeditions, he has a secret motivation to find Nitya, a member of Echelon III and his lover.

Similar to The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers, the game features allusions to madness because of “the Yellow”. Both previous expeditions and members of his own team succumb to the madness. However, the game never gives players enough time with any of these characters, so when they reveal themselves as victims of the same religious insanity, it’s never treated with the gravitas it deserves. People die, but you’ll barely miss them.

The same, unfortunately, goes for Devraj himself. Despite the world descending into cosmic horror around him, he stoically continues his mission to find Nitya. He doesn’t seem too affected by death. And, as such, he doesn’t really have a lot of qualities to latch on to, as a player who should be invested in the development of their playable character.

It’s atypical for a first-party PlayStation game to prioritize world-building over character writing. Most of the platform’s titles have incredibly memorable characters, but Saros just doesn’t. That said, the world-building is phenomenal; I just don’t want to spend hours reading through journal entries to find out what’s wrong with this world.

Is Saros your GameMatch?

If you found Returnal too difficult, Saros is a lot more approachable. It didn’t take me long to reach the game’s latter parts. If anything, the difficulty is finding two hours to go on an extended run. With the substantial progression system, it feels meaningful to restart and go again. Fans of roguelikes will easily Swipe Right on this game.

However, if you’re looking for a meaningful story to sink your teeth into, the game heavily prefers environmental storytelling. Prepare to spend hours just poring over lore. Even then, you won’t really get a sense of which characters to root for. For that, it’s a Swipe Left.