Square Enix has revealed many new details about the second installment of the Final Fantasy VII Remake.

The world is made up of several regions, each with unique environments for players to explore and experience during their adventure. Calm: An idyllic hamlet protected from the outside world by a sturdy stone wall. Though it lacks its own reactor, it thrives on a steady supply of mako piped in from the metropolis of Midgar, visible from the top of the town’s famous clock tower. Mythril Mine: A once-bustling mine that connects the Grasslands to Junon. Though once prized for its rich mythril deposits, the quarry fell into disuse after Shinra developed a superior mineral of its own, and the miners who once worked its tunnels were replaced by monsters.

Broden (voiced by Mick Lauer in English, Shinshu Fuji in Japanese) is the owner and operator of the Inn at Kalm. He holds a grudge against Shinra and offers to help Cloud and friends escape from their would-be corporate captors. His gaunt appearance may be due to his recent bout with an unknown illness. Rhonda (G.K. Bowes/Igarashi Rei) is the mayor and sheriff of Under Junon. Her hometown, once a thriving fishing village, fell into decline after Shinra built a military fortress over the town and a deep-sea mako reactor off the coast. Despite Cloud and friends’ status as suspected terrorists, Rhonda still allows them to pass through her town. Priscilla (Reese Warren/Oota Rikako) is a cheerful young girl who lives in Under Junon and is often seen swimming with the dolphin she trains. The offshore Mako reactor has contaminated the surrounding waters, and Priscilla fears for the safety of her dolphin friend and other aquatic creatures. Billy (Paul Castro Jr./Shirai Yuusuke) is the grandson of Bill, owner of a chocobo ranch in the grasslands. After losing his parents at a young age, he and his sister were raised by their grandfather. This young ranch hand kindly offers to teach Cloud and company the ropes of chocobo fighting – on the condition that they patronize his sister’s shop. Chloe (Trinity Bliss/Kimura Hisui) is Billy’s younger sister, who runs a shop on the ranch selling craft supplies and other curios. Warm and kind-hearted, she is polite to Cloud and company and grateful for their patronage. At the same time, she is concerned about her brother’s fixation on making money.

A few combat details were also revealed. Red XIII slashes at enemies with his sharp claws. Hold down the button to unleash a long-range attack that helps build up ATB quickly. Red XIII has a wide range of abilities, from lightning-fast physical strikes to long-range magical attacks. Stardust Ray conjures an exploding ball of light that scorches any enemies caught in the blast. Block incoming attacks to fill the Vengeance gauge, then unleash that energy to enter Vengeance mode, boosting his physical attacks and evasive abilities. Siphon Fang delivers a powerful blow while absorbing some of the enemy’s HP – all without using up any ATB. Aerith’s unique ability is Ward Shift: Aerith can instantly warp to any seal she has created, allowing her to move around the field with ease and maximize the effect of her magic.

A new system is called Synergy Abilities: Powerful attacks that allow two characters to team up and turn the tide of battle. More abilities will be unlocked as you increase your party level─a numerical expression of how close your team is─and deepen the affinity between party members. Fill the synergy meter with abilities, then unleash a synchronized assault! Relentless Rush: Cloud sends Tifa toward an enemy to attack in tandem, and Overfang sends Barret Red XIII toward an enemy at high speed.

Another new system is Synergy Skills: Two party members team up to activate useful abilities without using ATB. These commands can be performed while blocking and provide a variety of beneficial effects. Each pair has its own unique set of abilities; some deal damage, while others provide support. Cloud / Aerith: Spell Blade: Gather strength, then team up to unleash a charged magical attack. Barret / Cloud: Mad Dash: Team up to charge forward while defending against incoming attacks. Activate in sequence to unleash a three-hit combo.

Summoning material gives you access to the power of the gods. A summoned deity will follow the player’s lead and automatically fight enemies, but you can also instruct them to use special abilities. Before leaving the battlefield, the summons will unleash a final attack that will wreak havoc. One such summon is Kujata, a bovine deity who charges across the battlefield with the power of fire, ice, and lightning. He hurls enemies with his massive horns and unleashes magical attacks that strike at the weaknesses of enemies from afar. Kujata lunges at enemies with reckless abandon, manipulating his elemental affinities to unleash magical attacks. Blazing Horn fires a concentrated burst of fiery energy at an enemy, blasting them back. Just before leaving the battlefield, Kujata unleashes Tri-Disaster, a powerful long-range attack imbued with the powers of fire, ice, and lightning that is sure to hit many enemies where it hurts and potentially wipe them out.

Chadley enlists your help to deepen his understanding of the world. As you explore the various regions, you will discover new areas rich with treasures and natural wonders. Data points collected during your travels can then be used to develop useful new materials. Protorelics are artifacts of unknown origin that emit a unique energy signal. These elusive antiquities are hidden throughout the world─but with the help of activated remnawave towers, Chadley should be able to point you in their direction. Be warned, however: they appear to alter space-time and have been known to cause strange phenomena. Some of the new materials provide access to spells of multiple affinities, while others grant the use of unique abilities – all of which are sure to prove useful against even the most formidable of foes.

Chocobo Ranches are also home to Chocoboutiques, stalls where you can customize and recolor your bird’s gear from head to toe. Your outfit will affect your performance in Chocobo Racing, so find an ensemble that suits your style and go for the gold! Final Fantasy VII Rebirth offers multiple combat styles and difficulty levels for players of all skill levels. Among the combat styles, Active Mode gives players total control over their characters’ every move, allowing them to execute advanced strategies. Classic mode automates basic character actions, allowing players to focus on specific command selections. As for difficulty levels, Easy allows players to focus on the story rather than the combat, while Normal provides a reasonable challenge for most players. In the newly added Dynamic difficulty, enemies grow stronger as your characters do, perfect for players who crave constant challenge.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will be released on February 29 on PlayStation 5. The video summarizes the events of Final Fantasy VII Remake.

Source: Gematsu