Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, the upcoming conclusion to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, is poised to expand on the open-world elements introduced in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, a decision that may prove divisive among players. Director Naoki Hamaguchi has been developing Revelation for over a year, taking inspiration from prominent open-world titles such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Sony's Horizon series, and Crimson Desert.
This expansive approach follows Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which, despite receiving critical acclaim and high scores, was met with some player feedback citing its extensive side content as potentially 'bloated' and padding out the main narrative. Square Enix itself acknowledged that Rebirth did not meet publisher expectations, leading to discussions about the optimal amount of bonus content and how far the series should deviate from the original Final Fantasy 7.
However, the preview of Revelation suggests a continued commitment to this maximalist design philosophy. The demo showcases an environment that allows players to glide from an airship to virtually anywhere, underscoring the developers' belief in a truly open world. The game's combat has been refined, described as bigger, better, and beefier than in Rebirth, and traversal has been further improved with faster Chocobos that can even assist in combat. New tools are also said to enhance world navigation significantly compared to the more deliberate pace of Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Despite these improvements, the preview notes a potential drawback: a constant barrage of tutorial pop-ups and informational prompts from in-game assistants like Chadley and the Monster Assessment Instrument (MAI). In a demo lasting only an hour, a considerable portion was spent dismissing these menus, which can disrupt the moment-to-moment gameplay flow. This issue raises questions about the necessity of such extensive guidance, even for a demo, and what reception it might receive from players less inclined towards dense open-world systems.
Square Enix has also highlighted the ability to fast-forward dialogue as a feature, a point that has already stirred discussion. The development team views this as an addition that offers player choice, allowing those who wish to engage deeply with the narrative to do so, while others can streamline the experience to focus on mechanics or side content. This philosophy, the preview suggests, extends to the entire game, offering players the freedom to pursue the main story exclusively or to 100% complete each region.
While acknowledging the potential frustration caused by an abundance of tutorial elements, the preview concludes that this approach is a necessary component of Revelation's ambitious and complex design. The game is slated for release on April 8, 2027, for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch, aiming to deliver a grand finale to Cloud's story, even if its open-world scope proves overwhelming for some.