July 8, 2022

One of the big questions that fans might be asking when it comes to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is exactly how Square Enix and the team intends to approach the games storyline and open-world map.

As fans of the original games will know, once Cloud and co leave Midgar the open-world really starts to open up as the party pursues Sephiroth across the Planet in order to stop him.

This is precisely the point where Final Fantasy 7 Remake ends, and for many they’re intrigued to know how Yoshinori Kitase (FF7 series executive producer), and Tetsuya Nomura (FF7 Rebirth creative director) intend to aproach the game whilst also being respectful of the source material.

Now thanks to a series of interviews – with the likes of Famitsu, 4Gamer, Dengeki Online, and Gamer – fans have a better idea of what to expect.

How Big Will Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Be Compared To The Original?

For one, Yoshinori Kitase has explained that Rebirth has a significant amount of content and makes a point to note the game will not ‘heavily deviate’ from the original game.

“The game does not heavily deviate from the original, and will procure you the same feelings as the original,” Yoshinori Kitase explains. “The Midgar we made in Final Fantasy 7 Remake was a result of trying to make it satisfying for fans of the original. In the same way, FF7 Rebirth will not break the image of the original so dear to fans. And to that end, it’s quite a massive game.”

Tetsuya Nomura also added that the sequel will not at any point feel ‘sped-up’ and give players that similar feeling of awe and freedom that players first experienced from the original game.

“Some of you are worried, wondering if three games will be enough, or if it’ll be like a sped-up version of the original,” Nomura noted. “It won’t, so please don’t worry about it. Needless to say, the same feeling of freedom you had after leaving Midgar in the original will be there. I believe you’ll actually be surprised at how much we managed to include in the game.”

In addition, Nomura has been keen to stress that Square Enix will not cut content or locations from the original title, but that they may be reordered slightly for their new storyline.

“The story’s main frame remains unchanged,” Nomura explained.

“As for the newly added mysteries, these will be intriguing even for those familiar with the original game. However, seeing the changes that the Remake trilogy brings to the table, a portion of the story will progress differently than in the original game.

“When you get to play Rebirth, you might be led to believe that certain locations from the original game were cut. However, our policy during development is to avoid cutting any content from the original. And it’s simply that you’ll visit certain locations and experience certain events in a different order than in the original.”