Summary
The sequel toFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which has yet to receive a subtitle, is expected to round out the contemporary trilogy ofFF7remakes. The previous twoFinal Fantasy 7remakes flesh out the story of the originalwhile making a few key changes, but the greatest changes come in the form of presentation and gameplay, which are totally transformed from the original PS1 release, looping in modern sensibilities informed by theFinal Fantasygames released since 1997’sFF7.
On the story front, perhaps the most meaningful additionsdelivered byFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthare the various connections to 2007’sFinal Fantasy 7 Crisis Core.Crisis Coreserves as a prequel to the originalFF7story, following Zack Fair, a member of SOLDIER and mentor figure to Cloud. Released a decade beforeCrisis Core,FF7naturally only has cursory associations with the plot ofCrisis Core, with Zack making only the briefest of appearances.FF7 Rebirthchanges this, making him a more important character and creating a stronger throughline in theFF7cannon. That said, theCrisis Coreinfluence is limited solely to the story, which is a shame, as the 2007 game has at least one gameplay mechanic that would be a perfect fit for the modern franchise.
Materia Fusion Should Make a Comeback in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3
Materia Fusion Is One of Crisis Core’s Best Mechanics
Progression inCrisis Coreis tied more to materiaand gear than to Zack’s level or stat allocation. Accessories and materia can improve certain stats, but the latter has far more growth potential than the former thanks to one major feature: materia fusion.
Materia fusion is a bit complex, but the basics are as follows: eachmateria inCrisis Corecomes with an associated buff, such as an increase in HP or a static boost to the ATK stat. Two materia can be combined through materia fusion, which creates a new materia defined by the full buff spec of the first materia added to half the spec of the second. An example would be:
The process gets more complicated when combining different materia types, which can yield completely different results, though always with the same numerical parameters, and the specs can eventually be modulated by special items as well. But the above example is a good overview of how the feature works.
As one might expect, materia fusion allows players to getextremely overpowered inCrisis Core, to the point where some may argue that the mechanic is a bit broken. Indeed, materia fusion is essential for those looking to grow more powerful and spec into certain builds, and some form of the system would be a welcome addition to the next chapter of theFF7remake saga.
Materia Fusion Could Replace One of FF7 Rebirth’s Most Lackluster Systems
FF7 Rebirthintroduces a crafting mechanic, and while this can be helpful for the late game or NG+ builds, it feels a bit tacked-on and underwhelming, often offering minor improvements that don’t justify its convoluted nature. Put plainly, it just isn’t very fun to engage with crafting inFF7 Rebirth, as the squeeze isn’t worth the juice.
But materia fusion is surprisingly fun. It’s a great way to flesh outCrisis Core’s gear and resource grind, and if the nextFinal Fantasy 7remake game is going to be anywhere near thesize or scope ofRebirth, then an outlet for so many collectible materials is necessary. To this end,FF7 Rebirth’s sequel should bring back materia fusion, though perhaps with a few tweaks to make it not so game-breaking.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
