Tetsuya Nomura talked about the specifics of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion, revealing that it’s more than just a remaster.

 

 

Square Enix is currently putting the finishing touches on the next chapter in the Final Fantasy 7 remake series, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion, which is set for release in late 2022, and fans are excited to see how the classic RPG will be modernised. While the narrative will reportedly remain intact, almost all of the core gameplay systems will be overhauled, and noticeable graphical improvements will be made.

To that end, it seems that there have been internal discussions at Square Enix about how to market the Final Fantasy 7 remake.

In a recent interview with Nintendo Everything-translated Everyeye, the game’s creative producer Tetsuya Nomura spoke at length on the subject, revealing that there were mixed opinions on whether it was a remake or a remaster.

In the interview, Nomura revealed that his team wasn’t sure how to describe the project. Namely, although the new Crisis Core game includes several obvious improvements, Nomura explained that the developers were conflicted about whether it was a proper remake, as the storyline doesn’t change. Apparently, that’s why it’s called “Reunion” in the official title.

According to Nomura, the game is more comprehensive than remasters usually are, but it’s not a complete remake, so it’s interesting from that point of view.

Semantics aside, it’s interesting to note that most of the promotional material for Crisis Core Reunion, and Nomura himself, claims that the story will remain the same, while it’s already been revealed to include one of the biggest Final Fantasy retcons ever, as Zack survives the events of Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth and will apparently be present in Reunion. Some changes to the narrative structure are still expected.

Nomura’s comments may seem particularly odd when you consider that Zack’s survival is not the only thing that has changed in the plot of Final Fantasy 7. Sephiroth’s motivations are also different, as alternate timelines play a role in retelling the classic story, and some feel that the next chapter of Final Fantasy 7 should go off the rails as the remake progresses.

Nomura’s latest interview highlights that massive improvements are being made to Crisis Core in terms of graphics and gameplay, but it’s still unclear whether, for example, some of Final Fantasy 7’s overlooked characters will be explored in more detail than in the original. Either way, it’s already clear that the game is leaning more towards being a faithful remake than a remaster, even if the developers weren’t quite sure how to characterise it that way.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion will be released in the winter of 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

Source: Nintendo Everything