Can I ask the class a question? Would I still enjoy this game if I have absolutely zero love or nostalgia for the original, and did not particularly enjoy the first remake? I've got nothing against FF7 at all, and I was generally excited for the remake and bought it on day one. Yet with most Square JRPGs, I quit after about 20 hours.
This game is so much better than Remake, it's not even funny. I even posted in the OT how Square did everyone dirty by making the first game a huge corridor RPG (similar to 13) because it'll sour everyone on the experience of the new series before it gets to the good stuff (this game). I even specifically said there'd be people like you that bounced from Remake and won't want to give Rebirth a shot - but you should.
There's also a pretty good recap video you can watch from the main menu, that explains what happened in the first game and how it ended so that, story wise, you won't be lost.
Structurally and comedically, I'm finding this VERY similar to Like A Dragon and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The game has random asides that aren't part of the main story, but keep things fresh and interesting throughout. One moment you'll be in a tense situation escaping town while being hunted down by troops with guns - the next thing you know, you might be playing a Rocket-League style mini-game, playing cards, or visiting a secret bar that has its own theme song and only allows bald men to enter
(What are you, some kind of mop head?). It's zany at times, but it's got a massive amount of heart and charm that I think translates well. It's also got a great battle system, fun upgrades, and not nearly as much menu-fiddling as the last game.
Obviously based on a few of the replies here, it's not everyone's cup of tea. Some people want it to take itself more seriously, which is fair I suppose. Some wish it had fewer mini-games, though I've played for 30 hours and have only encountered two that were required to advance - and even then you don't have to do well in them, you just have to play them. It's got a few technical issues, but those are easily overlooked since the game is genuinely fun.