Five years after it was announced at E3 2015, Square Enix has finally released the long-awaited Final Fantasy VII remake. Overall, the game lived up to the hype, and Final Fantasy VII Remake received widespread critical acclaim and a warm reception from most fans. Now that Sony’s next-gen PlayStation 5 console is out, fans can relive Final Fantasy 7 Remake with Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, a PS5-exclusive version of the incredible action RPG.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade offers essentially the same experience as the PS4 version of the game, but with smoother gameplay, sharper visuals, and a few extra scenes. It brings the best of Final Fantasy VII Remake to the PS5 with meaningful improvements, but that also means it brings all of the original’s flaws with it. Compared with the main story content, the side missions of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade are still quite boring and repetitive, there are still some chapters that are blatantly filled, the game time is artificially extended, and the split plot changes are still intact.
In fact, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade’s new scene doubles the story changes introduced in the original Final Fantasy 7 Remake, so those who aren’t interested in where the plot is headed won’t find anything redeeming here. But even with those flaws, Final Fantasy VII Remake is an all-around remarkable experience, with a fast-paced, fun combat system, jaw-dropping visuals, and a top-notch soundtrack that’s worth living with its few shortcomings.
Those who upgraded to PS5 from Final Fantasy 7 Remake on PS4 will love new features like photo mode, and will have a hard time going back to the PS4 version after experiencing 60 fps combat in the game. It’s a bit disappointing that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade doesn’t really take advantage of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback or adaptive triggers, but overall it’s worth the jump to the PS5.
The PS5 improvements are great, but for die-hard Final Fantasy VII Remake fans who’ve been playing to death on PS4, the real selling point is the new Yuffie DLC, aka Intermission. This two-episode DLC is not part of the free upgrade, $70 new purchase of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on PS5 or available as a separate $20 download. Those looking to beat the story can do so in a few hours, but the overall content of the Yuffie DLC is staggering.
The Final Fantasy 7 Remake Yuffie DLC takes place halfway through the base game’s story, and as one might have guessed, it features Yuffie as the protagonist. In the original Final Fantasy VII, Yuffie was a completely optional party member, so some fans may question how much she actually brings, and whether she’s capable of carrying the DLC on her own. As it happens, Yuffie is easily one of the funniest characters in the entire Final Fantasy VII Remake cast.
While Cloud in Final Fantasy VII Remake is brooding or soft-spoken for most of the game, Yuffie’s personality is lively and energetic. Her dialogue is entertaining and doesn’t always get weighed down by a bunch of esoteric chatter. The Yuffie DLC in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade also proves that her range as a character is astonishing, with players getting to witness some serious, emotional moments as well as plenty of goofy, over-the-top moments.
When Part 2 hits theaters, it’ll be great to see Yuffie blend in with the rest of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake cast. When Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 comes out, hopefully it will give players full control over Yuffie in some parts of the game, because she’s really more fun than Cloud when it comes to exploring the game world. Since Yuffie is a ninja, she can run on walls, swing from cranes, and generally have more options when traversing. She’s also able to destroy boxes in the distance with her oversized shuriken, which gives players more to do and encourages them to seek out places they might otherwise overlook.
Yuffie also provides a new combat experience. Yuffie’s shuriken can be used as both a melee and a ranged weapon, and players will need to change how they approach each enemy encounter if they are to succeed. While there’s a lot of focus on materials and spells in the base Final Fantasy 7 Remake game, Yuffie’s natural abilities are the real stars of the show in the DLC, and learning how to use her skills effectively is key to winning the tougher battles.
The big difference between Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the Intermission DLC is that Yuffie is the only playable character in battle. Yuffie’s partner, Sonon, joins the team early on, but the player has no direct control over him. They can tell him what abilities to use and so on, but the player doesn’t switch between Yuffie and Sonon like Aerith, Barret, Cloud, and Tifa do in the main game.
Although Sonon can’t be controlled, he still has his own health bar, abilities, and weapons he can equip, so he’s more actively involved than Red XIII in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Incorporating Sonon into their strategy adds an extra layer of depth to the DLC’s combat, as players can choose to “syndicate” with him to combine attacks. Plus, if Yuffie goes down in battle, Sonon will sacrifice himself to revive Yuffie, effectively like a free Phoenix Down.
Sonon is a great addition to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake story, and his relationship with Yuffie adds a lot of depth to her character that wasn’t necessarily present in the original game. Throw in some deep villains from the Final Fantasy VII spin-off games, and it’s clear this DLC is a lot more important than people initially expected. It’s not just a cheap cash grab; it lays some important groundwork that will almost certainly be explored in the sequel. It does so without really getting into the whispers of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which is a huge plus for fans who don’t like that particular plot.
While fans may be most interested in knowing how the main story unfolds in the Yuffie DLC, it’s worth mentioning that it also has some valuable side content. The entire first chapter takes place in the slums of Sector 7, encouraging players to complete side quests, explore the town, and try out the new Fort Condor mini-game, which is a really fun auto-battle game. Exploring all the additional content the DLC has to offer will easily add two to three hours to the experience.
The Yuffie DLC in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is certainly worth it, especially for hardcore fans of Final Fantasy 7 and its associated media. But sadly, the shortage of PS5 game consoles has prevented so many fans from playing it. The Yuffie DLC is exclusive to PS5, but doesn’t have the groundbreaking gameplay mechanics that require the extra power that next-gen consoles offer, so it’s a shame PS4 owners are left out.
Whenever Final Fantasy 7 Remake fans have the chance, they should definitely give the Yuffie DLC a chance. It’s not pointless filler like some DLC packs, but it’s a fun time to kick off with plenty of new story content. As for the base game, players who already own the PS4 version can enjoy a free PS5 upgrade, and while they probably won’t want to replay the entire game on the new console, they can at least use Chapter Select to access some attractions and appreciate the improved visuals and 60 fps gameplay.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is out now, exclusively for PlayStation 5.