Some players still question whether Square Enix made the right call by turning Final Fantasy VII, originally released as a complete game in 1997, into a three-part big-budget remake project. According to the director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, however, the trilogy was not really a matter of preference, but the only realistic way to adapt the classic JRPG’s full story and content in modern form.
Even now, some still question Square Enix’s decision to rebuild Final Fantasy VII as a trilogy, when the original arrived in 1997 as one complete standalone JRPG. A single classic game has been reimagined as three big-budget AAA projects, while Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 has still not been officially announced, even though that announcement may now be getting closer. Despite that, the debate continues on social media: would it have been better to condense everything into one massive remake, or was the three-part structure really the only workable path? Square Enix has now explained its reasoning again.
Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, addressed why Square Enix chose to create a trilogy instead of one more comprehensive remake. According to the Japanese creative, the situation was much less romantic than some might imagine: they were effectively forced into it. “It wasn’t so much a question of ‘wanting’ to make a trilogy. The most accurate assessment is that, after objectively evaluating the enormous volume of story and content that needed to be represented, no option other than a trilogy was realistic” he said in an interview with ntower.
The co-director of Final Fantasy VII Remake acknowledged that the decision to structure the project in three parts had already been made when he joined the team, but he still believes it was the only viable path. To illustrate the point, he used the Midgar section as an example. “It’s a relatively short part of the original game, but it’s incredibly condensed with information about the world, the characters, and the story. It was clear from the beginning that if we wanted to faithfully recreate it with modern techniques, we would need a substantial amount of content just to make it work as a standalone title” he explained. That essentially shows why the remake project grew so large: it was not only about sharper visuals or longer cutscenes, but about reinterpreting the density of the original game at today’s production scale.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 Is Close To Being Announced
With the trilogy structure now established, the team is making it clear that the third installment is close to being announced and that development is progressing well. Hamaguchi said he has already completed the game “more than 40 times” during production, while he and the team are working hard to create an unforgettable gaming experience. DLC was also discussed: since Final Fantasy VII Rebirth did not receive an expansion so the developers could focus entirely on the third part, Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 may receive DLC that adds more story or content. That will depend on fan support and demand, so Square Enix is not making a firm promise yet, but it is leaving the door open.
Source: 3DJuegos
