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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Via Noisy Pixel

Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth have been updated on PlayStation and PC.

The updates for Final Fantasy VII Remake on PlayStation 5, Steam, and the Epic Games Store include:

Head Start Option​

A new Head Start mode has been added to the title screen under New Game, giving players a powerful boost right from the start. Features include:

• Level 45 Characters: All characters begin at level 45, with skill points appropriately granted.
• Max-Level Materia: Players receive multiple fully leveled materia to utilize in battles.
• Advanced Gear and Accessories: Characters are equipped with gear that is available from the middle to the end of the narrative.
• Valuable Items: Players are granted a selection of rare items to streamline progression.
• Gil Bonus: Start with 50,000 gil for an easier start to the adventure.
• Episode INTERmission Support: The Head Start option applies to both the main game and Yuffie’s INTERmission scenario.

Fast-Forward Functionality​

Cutscenes can now be fast-forwarded, allowing players to view them at 1.5x or 2.0x speed. This feature lets players progress through story sequences more efficiently.

Updates for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth​

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has also been updated to include the Fast-Forward functionality for cutscenes, giving players the same speed options as in Final Fantasy VII Remake. Additionally, an issue affecting the appearance of certain characters in Enhanced Mode on the PlayStation 5 Pro has been addressed.

 

[Werewolf Jones]

They don't actually want you to play the game. They just want you to consume the product and treat FF VII like it's an MCU event.

 

[wvnative]

This is an awesome QOL update for both games, since you can FF the boss phase transition scenes.

 

[wvnative]

They don't actually want you to play the game. They just want you to consume the product and treat FF VII like it's an MCU event.

It's for busy people who are intimidated with a 40 hour game due to their busy lives and don't want to play two 40 hour games back to back.

 

[Werewolf Jones]

It's for busy people who are intimidated with a 40 hour game due to their busy lives and don't want to play two 40 hour games back to back.

If you're intimated by a 40 hour game the game isn't for you.

 

[asdasdasdbb]

Weird. The original Easy mode should have been really easy as is. This head start feels like overkill.

 

[night13x]

When selling cheat p2w microtransaction DLC but the company forgot to charge you for it.

 

[Draugoth]

FFVII Remake is already dumb easy with the pre order DLC

 

[SmurfMustard]

The option to 1.5x/2x cutscenes should be a system level option.

 

[demented waffle]

Yep, I used it. Had a save on Epic, but didn't feel like dragging it over to steam, and I bought remake in the GMG bundle so... It'll save me a ton of grinding.

 

[Brigandier]

I don't see the issue with giving people optional options lol

 

[SweetTooth]

They don't actually want you to play the game. They just want you to consume the product and treat FF VII like it's an MCU event.

I don't see it as negative at all, its just an option there for people who needs it.

 

[wvnative]

If you're intimated by a 40 hour game the game isn't for you.

What I meant was, some people who have busy lives, may want to get to Rebirth quicker if they are just jumping in, since playing TWO 40 hour games back to back is a tall order for some people, who might only get a couple hours to play a week.

Adding a head start mode to Remake is pretty smart imo.

 

[RoboFu]

Eeww.. is this what gamers are these days? Just lazy weak " it's too hard * whimpering * " babies that they need head start modes?

 

[Brigandier]

Eeww.. is this what gamers are these days? Just lazy weak " it's too hard * whimpering * " babies that they need head start modes?

Sadly yes but if it gets more people to play FF7 Remake/rebirth then cool as they're great games.

 

[Clear]

Complaining about this just proves, once again, that devs really cannot win with some people. They will literally complain about anything.

 

[RoboFu]

Complaining about this just proves, once again, that devs really cannot win with some people. They will literally complain about anything.

I'm complaining that it's even needed. More about how sad people are these days.

 

[rkofan87]

it will good for replays if you do not a new game+ save.

 

[adamsapple]

Should have added a universal speed up toggle ala FFXII, any help to get through the boring ass shimmying and slow moving segments would be great.

 

[Valt7786]

It's for busy people who are intimidated with a 40 hour game due to their busy lives and don't want to play two 40 hour games back to back.

I don't get this argument. Even if you're so busy you can only play 1 hour a night, the game doesn't go anywhere. You don't have to finish it in a week or it'll disappear. I don't see how "I dont have time for a 40 hour game" comes into play?

 

[MagiusNecros]

Cheat codes to start you at level 45 and endgame gear in Remake. Smacked with the nerf bat down to Level 15 in Rebirth. Kills the sense of progression.

So I guess wait for Part 3 so Rebirth gets an Easy Mode too?

 

[LavitzSlambert]

Options to make it easier for people to get into FF7 is a good thing in my book. I want the games to be as successful as possible, they deserve the love.

 

[wvnative]

I don't get this argument. Even if you're so busy you can only play 1 hour a night, the game doesn't go anywhere. You don't have to finish it in a week or it'll disappear. I don't see how "I dont have time for a 40 hour game" comes into play?

No, and I don't really agree with it. But I simply know people who are like this. This would be a great option for them.

I'm guessing the fact that they have gone back and patched this into a nearly 5 year old game, suggests that Square believes this will boost interest in both games.

 

[playXray]

If you're intimated by a 40 hour game the game isn't wasn’t for you.

FTFY

 

[T4keD0wN]

Eeww.. is this what gamers are these days? Just lazy weak " it's too hard * whimpering * " babies that they need head start modes?

I'm complaining that it's even needed. More about how sad people are these days.

Nobody is forcing you to play it that way, some of us like easy games especially when there is zero gameplay difference and the only thing that changes are that there are bigger numbers on the screen. Saves time from needless grinding and you get to play more games. Or do you also complain when they add iron man modes and harder difficulties post launch because you think theyre not needed?

 

[Grildon Tundy]

Weird gatekeeping going on in here. If you don't like the options, don't use them.

 

[ChoosableOne]

Fast-Forward Functionality​

Cutscenes can now be fast-forwarded, allowing players to view them at 1.5x or 2.0x speed. This feature lets players progress through story sequences more efficiently.

 

[Sooner]

Good. I'll be replying both of these before the third game. It's quite the undertaking with the sheer amount of content.

 

[TGO]

I see they're preparing the game for PC gamer's.

 

[lughnasadh123]

Not for me but perhaps a nice addition to those who are interested in it.

 

[RoboFu]

Nobody is forcing you to play it that way, some of us like easy games especially when there is zero gameplay difference and the only thing that changes are that there are bigger numbers on the screen. Saves time from needless grinding and you get to play more games. Or do you also complain when they add iron man modes and harder difficulties post launch because you think theyre not needed?

Again Eeww people who want that are sad.

That's not a difficulty setting. That's saying you are too mentally fragile to do a bit of hard work without throwing a tantrum or just giving up.

 

[xenosys]

So Head-Start is effectively journalist mode.

With the amount of whinging going on here, you'd think Square Enix were forcing you to play that mode over the other difficulty options, that all still exist. They aren't.

 

[T4keD0wN]

Again Eeww people who want that are sad.

I dont see how having time to play more games is sad.

That's not a difficulty setting. That's saying you are too mentally fragile to do a bit of hard work without throwing a tantrum or just giving up.

Square have gone pretty overboard with this one, yes. I do wish remake had this when ive played it because i didnt care about the gameplay. Not that these games were nearly at that level, but a plenty of people have ended up complaining when ubisoft level locked players in AC Odyssey.

 

[RoboFu]

I dont see how having time to play more games is sad.

Square have gone pretty overboard with this one, yes. I do wish remake had this when ive played it because i didnt care about the gameplay. Not that these games were nearly at that level, but a plenty of people have ended up complaining when ubisoft level locked players in AC Odyssey.

Not having time? lol you got a dead line to beat a game? Just play it a little bit at a time over months or a year. That's what I do.

 

[asdasdasdbb]

Square have gone pretty overboard with this one, yes. I do wish remake had this when ive played it because i didnt care about the gameplay. Not that these games were nearly at that level, but a plenty of people have ended up complaining when ubisoft level locked players in AC Odyssey.

There was an Easy mode in Remake from the beginning. This is like Reviewer difficulty mode, yeah.

 

[rkofan87]

Again Eeww people who want that are sad.

That's not a difficulty setting. That's saying you are too mentally fragile to do a bit of hard work without throwing a tantrum or just giving up.

i am one of them.

 

[rkofan87]

I dont see how having time to play more games is sad.

Square have gone pretty overboard with this one, yes. I do wish remake had this when ive played it because i didnt care about the gameplay. Not that these games were nearly at that level, but a plenty of people have ended up complaining when ubisoft level locked players in AC Odyssey.

hell yes loved it for ac origins

 

[March Climber]

Weird gatekeeping going on in here. If you don't like the options, don't use them.

From the same audience that brought you such classic takes like “More character customization options are always welcome because not everyone wants to play this specific character” and “Some Soulslikes should have difficulty options”

 

[Pasta la Vista]

How about a fast forward for the crawling sections?

 

[Crayon]

Wait a sec. Can you start the hard mode without beating the normal first? Because if so, that head start option is a bigger deal than most people realize.

 

[MagiusNecros]

Wait a sec. Can you start the hard mode without beating the normal first? Because if so, that head start option is a bigger deal than most people realize.

That is something I thought about. End game gear and materia would make it great for a Hard mode run with minimal grind required.

 

[Knightime_X]

They don't actually want you to play the game. They just want you to consume the product and treat FF VII like it's an MCU event.

What if you already played legit on console and wanted to play again but don't feel like grinding it out?
If they have this for rebirth I am SUPER going to use it. Hopefully I can turn a 200 hour game into something far FAR more reasonable like 70 hours.
I explored TF out of rebirth.

 

[MikeM]

Some of you are sad. They are making the game more accessible. Whats the problem?

 

[Werewolf Jones]

What if you already played legit on console and wanted to play again but don't feel like grinding it out?
If they have this for rebirth I am SUPER going to use it. Hopefully I can turn a 200 hour game into something far FAR more reasonable like 70 hours.
I explored TF out of rebirth.

The game already has NG+ I think but dunno how easy mode that option is.

 

[Crayon]

The game already has NG+ I think but dunno how easy mode that option is.

I haven't finished rebirth, but in the first one, the hard mode needed to be ng+ because otherwise you would be massively under leveled. Because if you ask me it's pretty hard.

Actually, the game isn't as hard as it has a long, very enjoyable learning curve. The hard ng+ made me realize I was only half way up it.

 

[xenosys]

What if you already played legit on console and wanted to play again but don't feel like grinding it out?
If they have this for rebirth I am SUPER going to use it. Hopefully I can turn a 200 hour game into something far FAR more reasonable like 70 hours.
I explored TF out of rebirth.

They probably aren't going to implement the head-start mode for Rebirth until Part 3 is about to release.

The purpose of putting it into Remake is to ensure the people who want to play Rebirth but don't want to spend 40 hours grinding through Remake first, can basically put Remake into story mode should they wish and get through it in about 20 hours whilst still getting all of the story.

Funnily, 20 hours is how long it took me to get through an Easy Mode NG+ playthrough on Remake with all my gear maxxed out.

 

[Knightime_X]

The game already has NG+ I think but dunno how easy mode that option is.

I played console versions first.
I have to start from scratch on pc.
It's less about easy mode (game is dumb easy anyways) and more about grind reduction.
FF7 remake's pacing is decent, but I want to hurry up and burn through it again on pc before replaying rebirth pc version.
I got burned out on rebirth and stopped playing for about 3 months, game is super long for all the wrong reasons.

 

[ReyBrujo]

Cheat codes to start you at level 45 and endgame gear in Remake.

And to think we (as in, 8/16 bit gen) loved to discover cheat codes, and now they just give you the code to sell more copies...

 

[Grildon Tundy]

From the same audience that brought you such classic takes like “More character customization options are always welcome because not everyone wants to play this specific character” and “Some Soulslikes should have difficulty options”

Do you and I agree? I can't tell lol

 

[rofif]

Would want remake ps5 pro patch