Square Enix has released a wealth of new details about the second chapter of the Final Fantasy VII remake.

The Grasslands is a vast, verdant expanse of land rich with mako. These plains are dotted with smaller outposts and planetary fonts waiting to be discovered. Adventure lies beyond the swamplands, but you’ll need to rent a chocobo from the local ranch if you want to cross. Under Junon, the former capital of the eponymous republic, this once-bustling port town fell into decline after its destruction at the hands of Shinra. All that remains now is a lonely fishing village where the displaced citizens have taken refuge. Junon was previously a beacon of hope and economic prosperity. The former capital of the republic now slumbers beneath the waves. After its takeover, Shinra repurposed the city into its second-largest outpost, a fortified stronghold replete with an underwater reactor. The Gold Saucer is a “gilded paradise” constructed over the Corel Desert, and this Shinra-owned facility uses copious amounts of mako to power its state-of-the-art attractions. The park draws in tourists worldwide and keeps them entertained from dawn to dusk to dawn again.

Each region boasts chocobo ranches where you can exchange golden plumes for new chocobo gear. Customize your bird’s ensemble to create a steed that’s all your own. Use the Item Transmuter, too: collect the materials outlined in transmutation formulae to create items. Transmuting items will improve your craftsmanship and, in turn, unlock new recipes with which you can obtain rare items. Cloud works as a mercenary, taking on odd jobs from people in need wherever he goes. Check the noticeboards at major outposts if you’re looking for work.

Help Chadley deepen his understanding of this world by completing research requests in each region. Gathering intel will unlock new locations to explore, greatly expanding your horizons. Chadley (voiced by Sean-Ryan Petersen in English and Shuuichirou Umeda in Japanese) will also develop new materia based on your collected data. He was once an employee in Shinra’s Research and Development Division; Chadley has left it and Midgar behind, thanks to Cloud. Now, he aims to reactivate the world’s defunct communications towers to facilitate his understanding of the planet, for which he needs the party’s assistance. Activating the old republic’s remnawave towers in each region will open new research opportunities. When visiting a location for the first time, try seeking out these towers: they will help you get your bearings and offer a great view of the surrounding area.

Seek out rare fiends in their natural habitats and gather intel on special combat assignments to unlock new challenges in Chadley’s combat simulator. However, these missions will test your mental mettle, so be sure to fight strategically. When a chocobo smells treasure, a “?” will appear above its head. Following the scent might lead you to unearth a valuable item or a new transmuter formula. Repair fallen chocobo stop signs to transform them into fast travel spots. If you see a stray chocobo chick, follow it: not only will it lead you to one of these stops, but it will reward you with a golden plume once your repair work is complete.

There are a few minigames, too. After obtaining a piece of sheet music, head to a piano and try your hands at performing it. These pieces feature music from the game, with some proving to be quite challenging. If you would instead improvise, however, you can perform original music in the free-play mode. Queen’s Blood is a strategic card game that has skyrocketed in popularity. Players place cards on the board to overpower their opponent by accumulating power in each lane. Collect cards and utilize their abilities to claim the crown as QB royalty. Moogle Mischief is a minigame to bring mischievous Moogle kids back to their mogstools. The Moogle kids will attack you in every possible way, so be careful not to be caught off guard by their cute smiles. Two things were mentioned regarding combat. First, the Limit Break: the limit gauge gradually fills as you take damage or stagger foes. Once the meter is full, you can unleash devastating limit breaks unique to each party member. Some synergy abilities can increase your limit level, enabling the usage of even more powerful attacks. A synergy ability is when two party members team up to activate practical abilities without consuming ATB. These commands can be executed while blocking and provide various beneficial effects. Each pairing has its own unique set of powers; some deal damage, while others offer support.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will launch on February 29 for PlayStation 5.

Source: Gematsu