Hopes for Remake & Rebirth (story/content)

[Yumelinh]

While definitely very interesting... it's just so terrifying when a game decides to go different timelines route...there's just so much more opportunities to things go wrong than right

But oh well.. there's no going back now I guess? :/

 

[oty]

All depends, really. Zelda went different timelines, and people only got confirmed of that years after. Not much of a change for them. The real question is what SE is going to do with it.

 

[Ite]

While definitely very interesting... it's just so terrifying when a game decides to go different timelines route...there's just so much more opportunities to things go wrong than right

But oh well.. there's no going back now I guess? :/

Yep.

 

[Yumelinh]

All depends, really. Zelda went different timelines, and people only got confirmed of that years after. Not much of a change for them. The real question is what SE is going to do with it.

It depends ofc. I'm acknowledging that it can work, but there's just so much room for things to go wrong that it's just extremely worrisome for me. Tbh, I'm more scared decisions like this may end up taking off the 'weight' of some big moments more than anything else.

Anyway, I'm aware that it's too early to worry about something like this (or too late if they already decided anything lol)

 

[MasterMoogle]

It depends ofc. I'm acknowledging that it can work, but there's just so much room for things to go wrong that it's just extremely worrisome for me. Tbh, I'm more scared decisions like this may end up taking off the 'weight' of some big moments more than anything else.

Anyway, I'm aware that it's too early to worry about something like this (or too late if they already decided anything lol)

What would you do to preserve the weight of the story?

 

[oty]

I think "weight of the story" is kind of safe, considering the level of effort put into characterization on Part 1, since that's the backbone of a good weight.

Weight of the story starts being an issue, from my experience, primarily from lack of character and situational focus. Sort of in comics, not all of them of course, where you have dozens of timelines. It starts getting tricky to care about one.

Zelda, again, is another example where pretty much, a timeline doesnt mean much in regards to that. Their latest game literally isnt a part of any. It pretty much only gives an contextual awareness of what happened before, and thus similar elements (like places, monsters, etc). It's good for theories, and discussions tho.

 

[Yumelinh]

What would you do to preserve the weight of the story?

To me, prob not go full-on on

Spoiler: (ending spoilers)

different timelines? It would be nice if used in some tidbits but when it comes to the main story, to the main points I'd rather not..?! I mean, when I think about it, and while considering how there's a lot of "living with the consequences of your choices" in FFVII, I can see how they could preserve this idea even if they decide to give the player autonomy to choose their own outcome: whichever route you choose couldn't gain something without losing something... an equivalent exchange I guess.

However, when I think about how like Aerith's death is so iconic up to this day, aside from how touching and abruptly it was, was because you couldn't bring her back, no matter what you did, I can't help but worry that the feelings just won't be there if we could just..fix things, you know?

 

[Kain424]

Well, hopefully they won't do that then.

 

[MasterMoogle]

To me, prob not go full-on on

Spoiler: (ending spoilers)

different timelines? It would be nice if used in some tidbits but when it comes to the main story, to the main points I'd rather not..?! I mean, when I think about it, and while considering how there's a lot of "living with the consequences of your choices" in FFVII, I can see how they could preserve this idea even if they decide to give the player autonomy to choose their own outcome: whichever route you choose couldn't gain something without losing something... an equivalent exchange I guess.

However, when I think about how like Aerith's death is so iconic up to this day, aside from how touching and abruptly it was, was because you couldn't bring her back, no matter what you did, I can't help but worry that the feelings just won't be there if we could just..fix things, you know?

I'm split on this, because though I think Aerith's death had an impact on audiences and Cloud, she basically became a mary-sue in death. She was no longer interesting and her interactions with the world never amounted to anything more than holding Cloud's hand and spurring him on. They did the same to Zack in ACC, but at least he got some lines.

I would much rather see the characters interact than see them put on a pedestal and deified.

 

[Kain424]

A good in-between might be to flesh them out a bit better through flashback.

 

[MasterMoogle]

A good in-between might be to flesh them out a bit better through flashback.

Better yet, just off Cloud and make Zack the protagonist and keep Aerith around.

 

[Keveh Kins]

^Cloud sees the kids playing football on the beach at Costa Del Sol, and eager to be seen as cool and with it, he goes for a Jecht shot style spin kick, only for him to realise too late the ball is actually a Bomb, which explodes and kills him.

...

Nahhhhh, they'd never do anything that outlandish right.... right?....Tidus?.... Really?!...

 

[Myst Knight]

For Part 2, I'd like a really elaborate Gold Saucer, with lots of sights and mini-games. In FFVII, the Gold Saucer alone almost felt like a game in of itself, and it was my favorite part of the original game.

I'd also like a fully-fleshed out Junon. I liked Junon, because it sort of felt like a mini-Midgar, being the other big Shinra city in FFVII. It also felt less restrained than Midgar, since you can explore the nice part of the city at your leisure, instead of being stuck in a slum area.

 

[Wol]

I kinda expect them to release a digested GS first, and then either adding the other mini-games via DLC or simply fleshing out the rest in the sequel.

This approach would make the most sense if they want faster release dates, and also it has the passing of time as an excuse for the addition of more attractions.

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

Plus, it would correlate with the original game where (if I recall correctly) not everything was in working order when you first go to the Gold Saucer. I don't think you could do the snowboarding or submarine arcade machines until after doing the storyline equivalents.

 

[Rydeen]

I want a Rufus shower scene.

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

You know who I want in the shower with him.

 

[Wol]

I want a Rufus shower scene.

I want a Cait Sith's shower scene.

Rekt

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Wouldn't he short-circuit?

 

[Wol]

Wouldn't he short-circuit?

he's water-proof

Shinra's hi-tech gone too far, I guess.

 

[Stiggie]

Since I just discovered this thread I am going to post a serious reply XD

Spoiler: (Chapter 18 & ending spoilers)

I hope they don't change anything about the story as much as they add on some extra layers. So for instance, instead of having Sephiroth now try and do something different, we still have North Crater Sephiroth doing the same shit, but with the extra problem of future Sephiroth ALSO doing shit. I just hope future Sephiroth doesn't change the plans of current Sephiroth.


Within those additions I hope to explore the things we explored through the compilation. So I want Cloud to go through the full gambit of guilt, acceptance, and moving on that he originally went through during AC.

I also want the story of Zack to be further explored through those additions, so we have the same attachment and love for him and Aerith that Crisis Core gave us.

I want the main difference in the ending to be that this time, Cloud and Tifa end the game happy and hopeful, and with humanity having a future, that's it.

And as for future Sephiroths plans, I hope that his goal is to corrupt the lifestream and use it to travel to, and infect, the universal lifestream by obtaining the proto materia and preventing Dirge of Cerberus. I hope he'll try to accomplish this by using a shit ton of misdirection and by using the chaos of North Craters Sephiroths actions as a way to cloak and help his efforts.

More than anything I just want to see the big scenes.
The dates.
Cloud assaulting Aerith ending in the forest of the ancients scene.
Aeriths death.
Every visit to Nibleheim.
The lifestream Sequence.
And of course, the HA highwind scene.

 

[Rydeen]

I want a Cait Sith's shower scene.

Rekt

That would be pretty funny actually. A bait and switch set up to make you think omg it’s gonna be Tifa or Aerith or Rufus or Sephy and then it’s just an animatronic.

Then again, some people are into that, so...

 

[X-SOLDIER]

That 35,000 word article I just wrote.

tl;dr – I hope that we get the same

Spoiler: (potentially spoilery speculation about the ending of FFVIIR and its future installments)

Sephiroth that we're used to, and that the new Sephiroth's motivations do still align with the same things that he's always wanted to do – but such that it's framed in a different context in order to make the final confrontation address a much more difficult question to answer: Do you keep the memories of the difficult world that you endured through ...or do you roll the dice and unmake everything not knowing what that means for the future on the chance that it might turn out better? Upon becoming pretty certain that that's what it looks like they're setting up over the last couple weeks, I've already been preemptively struggling with the idea of that decision already.

Also, while I didn't include any mention of the idea in my article – I genuinely love the thought that if you want to take Sephiroth's path & remake the whole world so that no one dies, that it would also overwrite all of your save data, so that the only thing you can do is load up the game and watch the ending of whatever that path leads to, or choose to start again from scratch. I want that final choice to REALLY make you squirm, and think about what you value & what you're willing to do.

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[Stiggie]

Apologies, didn't realize this was a non spoiler thread.

That 35,000 word article I just wrote.

tl;dr – I hope that we get the same

Spoiler: (potentially spoilery speculation about the ending of FFVIIR and its future installments)

Sephiroth that we're used to, and that the new Sephiroth's motivations do still align with the same things that he's always wanted to do – but such that it's framed in a different context in order to make the final confrontation address a much more difficult question to answer: Do you keep the memories of the difficult world that you endured through ...or do you roll the dice and unmake everything not knowing what that means for the future on the chance that it might turn out better? Upon becoming pretty certain that that's what it looks like they're setting up over the last couple weeks, I've already been preemptively struggling with the idea of that decision already.

Also, while I didn't include any mention of the idea in my article – I genuinely love the thought that if you want to take Sephiroth's path & remake the whole world so that no one dies, that it would also overwrite all of your save data, so that the only thing you can do is load up the game and watch the ending of whatever that path leads to, or choose to start again from scratch. I want that final choice to REALLY make you squirm, and think about what you value & what you're willing to do.



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Spoiler: (potentially spoilery speculation about the ending of FFVIIR and its future installments)

I personally don't want the choice to

Spoiler: (potentially spoilery speculation about the ending of FFVVR and its future installments)

remake everything, it seems antithetical to everything FFVII stands for.

But I haven't written an 11 page breakdown of the Sefirot, which is an interesting read btw, thanks for that. Haven't reach the end yet but I wonder how being able to do that would fit in with those elements.

Also, have you played Nier: Automata? Because if you haven't, you should.

 

[X-SOLDIER]

You're welcome & thanks for diving into it as it's a long read – but it's made me think about VII's story really differently and start to be interested in getting different things from Remake. Mostly I've gotten really involved in all of the tough existential questions around life & death, and how those are being explored in a fantasy setting, 'cause that carries a lot of added weight for me these days.

Anything that helps to add in layers of complexity to the characters and their struggles that Remake's been doing will be really great. I've loved how they opened up on those things with Barret & Tifa, and I can only expect that we'll be getting more of that with the other characters. There're lots of potential opportunities on that stuff for Vincent, Yuffie, Cid, & Even Cait Sith.

Also, I haven't played Nier: Automata, but it's one I've thought about looking into when I have a bit more cognitive bandwidth to play games.






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