TheFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy will likely go down in history as some of the best RPGs ever made, and for very good reason. From their gorgeous visuals, art direction, and tactical combat to their expansive and meaningful additions to the original’s narrative, each entry, thus far, has been as transformative as it has been fun. Of course, fans of the original have issues with some of these aforementioned changes, but newcomers can enjoy them for what they are.
Rebirth’s devastatingly tragic endingset up the final entry in the trilogy rather nicely, and it is set to be a rather dramatic, epic, and sad affair. Those who’ve playedFF7will know exactly what’s in store, or, at least, they may think they do. The numerous changes have gotten more and more significant with each entry, and I suspect that will be the case with the final one, too. That makes me think thatthose who haven’t played FF7 before, or those who haven’t in a while, may want to avoid it before playing Part 3.
Final Fantasy Remake Part 3 Will Be The Biggest Departure From FF7
It Is The Culmination Of Everything New
FF7 Rebirth’scomplex endingstayed largely faithful to the original experience, insofar as it saw Cloud and co end up where fans would expect them to. However,there were so many crucial changes made inRebirthto the original game’s narrative, especially when it came to theRemake’sbroader multiverse plot. Zack has begun to play a larger role, and the final boss fight saw Cloud and Aerith whizz around multiple realities as they battled against Sephiroth.
It all likely came as a shock to those who have religiously played the original game or those who felt it prudent to beatFinal Fantasy 7before playing theRemaketrilogy. These changes may seem somewhat minor so far, butthey’re only bound to become increasingly pronounced in the third entry. Square Enix has been building up a substantially different plot that will come to fruition inPart 3, and I suspect it will likely be incredibly confusing for those who’re accustomed toFF7’splot.
I would go as far as to say thatFinal Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3will likelydrastically changeFF7’sending, for better or for worse, depending on your affection for this new storyline. I am personally very excited to see where it goes, butI can imagine the third entry being somewhat frustrating for those who’ve already played the original game. Even if the general story beats are largely the same, which, I suspect, they will be, they will inevitably coalesce with the new additions to create an experience that feels distinctly original.
FF7 Remake Part 3 Should Be Played Without Playing The Original
It Will Be Frustrating To Do It The Other Way Around
As a result, it feels like, more than either of the previous entries,players are better off not playing throughFinal Fantasy 7 before playingRemake Part 3. Of course, theRemaketrilogy was always, to some extent, designed to be enjoyed as a separate product in order not to alienate newcomers. However, fans were always rewarded with reworked sequences and extended gameplay mechanics that helped bring to life ideas that couldn’t be fleshed out using 1997 technology.
Yet, while many may feel it is worth playing throughFinal Fantasy 7before beating theRemaketrilogy so they can see how it has been adapted,I suspect it will actually be more frustrating this time around. Sure, you’ll be able to appreciate how each location has been lovingly brought to life utilizing modern graphics, or how certain characters are made playable through theRemaketrilogy’s engrossing combat style.
However, as fun as that will be,the likely extremely drastic narrative deviations will almost certainly prove to be more frustrating than enjoyable for those all too familiar with the original experience. You will expect a plotline to go one way, only to be surprised that it goes down a completely different path. This is unfortunately themajor problem withRebirth’sending, and theRemaketrilogy’s new direction as a whole, at least if you’re not a fan of these massive changes.
It Is Still Worth Playing FF7 After Beating Part 3
It Is A Classic For A Reason
Of course, for those like myself who are enjoying theRemaketrilogy for what it is and don’t believeRebirthruinedFF7’sstory, then it will actually be exciting to see how it deviates from the original.I’m personally keen to see how this multiverse plot factors into the original’s utterly incredible ending, and how certain minor characters get better fleshed out, as they have been thus far. I’m also rather excited to see howPart 3implementsRebirth’smost controversial featuresand gets them right.
However,for those who are worried they’d be more annoyed by the differences than appreciating the surprise they offer, I highly recommend avoiding playingFF7beforePart 3. While I obviously don’t have the script forPart 3in my hands - how amazing would that be - I am absolutely certain that it will involve a wildly different plot from the original, even if they largely end up in the same place. It won’t be worth the frustration to play the originalFF7beforehand, but that doesn’t mean you should skip it entirely.
Final Fantasy 7is obviously still worth playing, and once you’ve appreciated the Remake trilogy’s changes - without realizing they are changes, of course - you can go back toFF7and see how it differs. That, personally, feels like the better option, as it is, at least in my experience, better to experience the remake of something first, without constantly comparing it to the original experience, which is always unnecessarily regarded as sacred and unchangeable.
Of course, I can’t dictate what you do with your time. However, if you want to avoid spoilers, avoid feelings of potential frustration, and want to appreciate theRemaketrilogy for what it is and what it is attempting to do, rather than constantly comparing it toFinal Fantasy 7, then I’d strongly suggest avoiding playing the original game before jumping into what I can only imagine will be a truly phenomenal Part 3.
