As one of the best games of 2020, there wasn’t any doubt that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade would be great too.
Since it is little more than a graphical upgrade to the base game, you’ll know what to expect from it.
Still a Brilliant Remake
It’s still the same magical story, punctuated by the same iconic cast of characters that you know and love from the first time you met them, whether that be just last year or back in the late-90s.
From emotional relationships to memorable one liners, it’s a great adaptation of the classic JRPG that brings it into the modern age.
Yuffie's Great INTROduction
The main reason to pick up Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, though, and the main focus of this review, is the INTERmission DLC.
It’s the only real new addition to the remake package, led by a Yuffie and a few more brand new and returning heroes.
Taking place around a third of the way through the main FF7 Remake story, it adds some context to the world.
It doesn’t really affect the tale or Cloud and the gang, nor is it influenced by it to a great degree, instead running parallel to it, save for a couple of moments that almost see the crews crossover.
While I’d love to have seen Yuffie’s DLC tie into the base story a little more to see the new heroes interact with the established ones, I’m left even more excited for Part 2, whenever that might arrive.
A New Star
Yuffie is a great addition to an already charming cast. Her youthful enthusiasm and brightness contrast Cloud perfectly (I can already feel the awkwardness of their future interactions) and she’s arguably the most fun character to play as in the Remake package.
Her abilities in combat make her feel much more well rounded. Throwing her star and doing damage from afar is just as satisfying as coming in close and swiping furiously, so much so that spells and other abilities become somewhat of a second thought.
She’s agile too, zipping across stages to reposition and avoid attacks. Close range attacks, dodges, and longer range attacks flow seamlessly into each other, and it’s a lot of fun.
It makes even the more frustrating boss fights more enjoyable. One in particular, towards the end of the INTERmission DLC, features large AoE attacks that are annoying to counter and avoid, but Yuffie feels like she has enough to overcome them.
I've Seen This Before
The only downside to Yuffie‘s story is the repetitive locations. Due to when in Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s story it takes place, you're running around dark industrial buildings for most of the DLC’s runtime, which I imagine is especially tedious if you have only just finished Intergrade’s main story.
Thankfully, the DLC does leave you excited for more from the loveable new character. A short runtime (of no more than 3 or 4 hours if you head through the story quests only) is complimented by a charming ending that's worth the entry fee alone.
All I could think about after the credits rolled was how much fun it’ll be to see Yuffie play a greater role in the story going forward. Being a Final Fantasy 7 novice before Remake, I really hope she does.
Verdict
In short, Final Fantasy 7 Intergrade is no more than a visually upgraded version of 2020’s game of the year contender, but the INTERmission DLC is well worth returning to Midgard for.
Yuffie is charming and charismatic, she’s a blast to play as, and the story leaves you itching for the Final Fantasy 7 Remake story to continue. Hopefully we’ll see Yuffie return, this time with the whole gang alongside her.
RealSport Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
We reviewed Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade: INTERmission DLC on PS5 & Review Code provided by Square Enix.
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