Final Fantasy VII Remake review – a classic game reaches new heights

PS4; Square Enix
Hailed as one of the greatest games ever, its remake is superbly reimagined without losing the distinctive quality of the original

Modern remakes of classic films inevitably disappoint - but the opposite has tended to be true of video games. The technology behind them improves each year, so at the very least, old games can benefit from having spectacular new visuals applied to them. This remake of 1997's Final Fantasy VII - often hailed as one of the greatest games ever made - goes way beyond a mere graphical makeover. Nearly a decade in the making, it expands and completely reimagines the original game, but crucially without losing its essence.

The opening mission, featuring ex-soldier Cloud Strife teaming up with eco-activist organisation Avalanche, is pretty much the only part of Final Fantasy VII Remake that is a scene-by-scene update of the original. Even that sequence showcases a much-improved battle system, which is uncharacteristically action-based for a Japanese RPG, but remains underpinned by the original's turn-based system and supports the tactical depth for which the genre is known. You still have to wait for a recharge before using special abilities and items or casting spells, but you can always employ standard attacks, and dodge or block incoming strikes.