I might be a few days late to the party, but after watching the new trailer for the final chapter of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, I had to share some thoughts.
Last week was a massive week for PlayStation. Between Summer Game Fest and State of Play, there was a lot to be excited about. Kingdom Hearts IV finally resurfaced with a new trailer, which was great to see, but it honestly felt more like an extension of the reveal we got years ago. The real star of the week was Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3.
Simply put: they’re going for it.
Going into this trailer, there were two things I absolutely needed to see. First was how Cid and Vincent would play now that the entire party is finally becoming playable. The second was how the Weapons would be handled. Both concerns were put to rest almost immediately.
Cid and Vincent look incredible. From the brief gameplay shown, both characters appear to have unique and exciting combat styles that fit perfectly into the battle system that Remake and Rebirth have been refining for years. I’ve been waiting a long time to play both of these characters, and the trailer completely delivered.
The biggest surprise for me was the Weapons. I wasn’t completely sold on some of what we saw in Rebirth, but after seeing Emerald, Ruby, Diamond, Sapphire, and the sheer scale they’re bringing to these encounters, I’m all in. They look absolutely glorious. The moment the Weapons started appearing, the trailer became a 10 out of 10 for me.
What really excites me is that the developers don’t seem interested in cutting corners when it comes to adapting the final act of the original game. We got glimpses of Rocket Town, Wutai, the Northern Crater, the Highwind, submarine sequences, and even hints at some of the more memorable and ridiculous moments fans have been waiting years to see. Yes, that includes the legendary Tifa and Scarlet slap fight.
Story-wise, it looks like we’re picking up immediately after the heartbreaking ending of Rebirth. Aerith’s role remains one of the biggest mysteries. My personal hope is that she remains present throughout the story in some form, perhaps through Cloud’s perspective or as a guide connected to the larger themes of the Lifestream. However they handle it, it feels impossible for a character that important to simply disappear from the narrative.
The trailer also teased improvements to traversal and combat. It looks like the Highwind will play a major role, and some sequences even suggest players may parachute directly into locations. I’m also hoping the game relies less on region-specific Chocobo mechanics and allows for more freedom of movement across the world.
As for combat, Square Enix seems incredibly confident. The developers have talked about refining and perfecting the battle system, and if they can improve upon what Rebirth already accomplished, we’re in for something special. More team attacks, faster character switching, and even greater combat fluidity could push this system to another level.
And that’s what makes this trailer so exciting. It’s not just nostalgia. It’s seeing some of the greatest moments from the original game recreated with the budget, technology, and ambition they deserve. The Weapon battles. The downfall of Shinra. The final confrontation with Sephiroth. Potentially even Knights of the Round and Omnislash.
After seven years, we’re finally approaching the end of this incredible remake project, and that’s a strange feeling. It’s exciting, but also a little sad knowing this journey is almost over.
Still, if this trailer is any indication, Square Enix intends to end it in spectacular fashion.
Next year can’t come soon enough.
