The best Final Fantasy games to play before Rebirth

Are you able to consider it’s 2024 and Ultimate Fantasy 7 continues to be a large entry inside the bigger Ultimate Fantasy sequence? It began in 1997, when Sq. Enix launched the unique FF7 on PlayStation 1, full with 3D graphics. Quick-forward roughly 27 years and it’s now some of the acclaimed video video games of all time and has seen quite a few diversifications and spinoffs since its preliminary launch.

Right here’s a brief sampling of the choices out there to Ultimate Fantasy 7 followers. You possibly can play the unique RPG, which has been ported to trendy consoles. There’s the gloriously corny CGI film Introduction Kids, which is ready two years after the occasions of the unique recreation. Facet character Zack Truthful even has a complete dang prequel set earlier than the occasions of Ultimate Fantasy 7 that Sq. Enix remastered. Different characters like Tifa and Aerith don’t have their very own video games, however they do have whole novels devoted to telling their backstories. And none of those examples contact the assorted rereleases of the unique Ultimate Fantasy 7 and its associated spinoffs.

The discharge of a lot Ultimate Fantasy 7 media would possibly immediate a type of… disaster… for followers. The creators haven’t clarified what’s canon and what’s not, and it has gotten to overwhelming Marvel ranges of intricacy. Nonetheless, it doesn’t need to be so sophisticated. With the discharge of Ultimate Fantasy 7 Rebirth, now generally is a nice time to revisit older video games to be able to put together. On this record, we’ll provide you with a spoiler-free rundown of what associated media might assist enrich your expertise of Rebirth based mostly on characters and plotlines within the recreation and what the story touches on.

Ultimate Fantasy 7 Remake

Picture: Sq. Enix

The place to play: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

As an alternative of simply updating graphics, the event staff at Sq. Enix opted to make use of the unique Ultimate Fantasy 7 as a supply of main inspiration and cut up it into three completely different video games for a full-on remake trilogy. The primary two titles are Ultimate Fantasy 7 Remake and now Ultimate Fantasy Rebirth. (Sq. Enix hasn’t launched any particulars on the third installment but, however builders say it’s on its means.) Out of all of the video games on this record, Remake is crucial recreation it is best to play earlier than diving into Rebirth, which picks up proper after the occasions of Remake.

Ultimate Fantasy 7 Remake follows the story of Cloud Strife and his involvement with the rebel group Avalanche within the metropolis of Midgar. Along with introducing gamers to the primary forged of characters you’ll be enjoying as in Rebirth, it additionally supplies an intimate take a look at Midgar and the dwelling situations that consequence from Shinra’s rule. Rebirth picks up in the course of the motion from Remake, simply as Cloud and mates flee the town.

Rebirth doesn’t hassle to present gamers a full-fledged recap of who’s who and what you must know, though you don’t essentially need to play Remake to get pleasure from Rebirth. You do get snippets of what occurred earlier than, so it’s probably simply sufficient to get an concept of the key actors on this world and the staff’s bigger mission. Nonetheless, there are simply so many emotional beats that may hit more durable or will make extra sense should you do play it, and should you actually wish to save time, you possibly can skip Remake’s DLC, Episode Intermission. I personally loved it, however Rebirth does an honest job of displaying the additional Yuffie backstory.

Ultimate Fantasy 7 (1997)

Picture: Sq. Enix

The place to play: Home windows PC, Nintendo Swap, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

Ultimate Fantasy 7 Remake departed from the unique story advised in Ultimate Fantasy 7 in a number of methods, zooming in on the primary part of the sport set in Midgar. Rebirth departs from the unique story much more by simply fully switching up the order the staff visits sure areas and among the occasions. Due to this, the unique model of the sport isn’t wanted to play and luxuriate in Rebirth. In reality, I’d argue Remake is each extra essential to play to know Rebirth’s story and likewise extra pleasurable.

Nonetheless, enjoying the unique gives you a stable basis of the characters and world that impressed your complete franchise. These video games nonetheless share the identical fundamental forged of characters and lots of the locales that seem throughout video games. Additionally, trendy ports of the sport for consoles like Nintendo Swap comprise loads of quality-of-life options — you possibly can pace up fights or use battle enhancements — that make it comparatively simple to beat with out having to grind ranges or fear about logistics.

Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy 7 Reunion

Picture: Sq. Enix

The place to play: Home windows PC, Nintendo Swap, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy 7 Reunion is a remastered rerelease of Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy 7, a prequel Sq. Enix launched on PlayStation Transportable roughly 16 years in the past. Each variations of the sport inform the identical story roughly and comply with the lifetime of Zack Truthful, Cloud’s good friend from the military, and the occasions that led as much as the start of Ultimate Fantasy 7.

The connection between Disaster Core and Ultimate Fantasy 7 generally is a bit complicated. Remake and Rebirth at the moment are taking the story down a special route, so it’s unclear if it’s a prequel to the unique FF7 or the newer trilogy of video games. Sq. Enix’s web site describes it as a prequel to the unique recreation, however Tetsuya Nomura additionally stated in an interview that the staff was “positioning Disaster Core Reunion as a prequel” to your complete three-part remake trilogy and that the story is essential.

No matter the place it stands within the timeline, it is best to nonetheless play it. Its story exhibits why Zack performs such an essential function within the bigger Ultimate Fantasy 7 world and divulges much more about his relationship with Cloud. It additionally supplies an excellent window into Sephiroth’s life earlier than the occasions of FF7 as nicely, which issues as a result of, nicely, his motivations information your complete destiny of the planet.

My solely caveat is that this: For those who’ve solely performed Remake and are unaware of the key story beats from the unique FF7, you then would possibly wish to maintain off enjoying Disaster Core. Sure components could be finest skilled with the newer reimagined story, however it’s all the time there if you wish to dive in.

Different shoutouts

Picture: Sony Footage Residence Leisure

Rebirth pulls generously from the forged of characters that seem within the wider Ultimate Fantasy 7 universe. You could be assembly individuals and scratching your head questioning what the hell is up or the place someone got here from. There’s Glenn Lodbrok, who seems as a personality within the now-shuttered battle royale spinoff recreation Ultimate Fantasy 7: The First Soldier, and seems within the free-to-play gacha recreation that collects a number of tales from throughout video games, Ultimate Fantasy 7 Ever Disaster. These aching for extra Vincent Valentine can choose up Dirge of Cerberus: Ultimate Fantasy 7, however it isn’t out there to play on trendy consoles, which makes it arduous to get. Hell, you possibly can even brush up on a few of your Midgar historical past by enjoying the Ultimate Fantasy 7 Remake maps in PowerWash Simulator.

And these are all simply video video games. You will get even deeper with different kinds of media. Superfans of Tifa Lockhart and Aerith Gainsborough can learn a complete novel about them and dive into their full histories as characters. Final however not least, there’s Introduction Kids. I personally adore that film and all its foolish antics, however I’d say keep away should you haven’t performed the unique and had been as soon as blissfully unaware of a sure main plot level like I used to be.

Ultimately, although, approaching a recreation with a lot “required studying” generally is a bit a lot, and admittedly, it’s simply not possible relying on how a lot spare time you’ve gotten. Due to that, I wouldn’t put an excessive amount of strain on experiencing all of it. Begin with the tales and gameplay that curiosity you, and you may go from there. I personally suggest to my mates that they only play Remake, sans its DLC. It’s all elective, and generally one of the best Ultimate Fantasy expertise is one while you’re entering into on vibes solely.