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Final Fantasy 7 Remake's "Dramatic Changes" to Combat Discussed

Director Tetsuya Nomura hints at some changes in store for the PS4 game.

By Chris Pereira on July 30, 2015 at 12:41PM PDT

The upcoming remake of Final Fantasy VII will feature "dramatic changes" to the game's combat, although it won't be altered so much that it becomes unrecognizable, according to director Tetsuya Nomura.

He indicated this in an interview with Official PlayStation Magazine (via GamesRadar), though he also offered some reassurance for fans hoping the project resembles the classic it's based upon.

"And of course, that being said, we want to clarify: We're not going to be changing it into a shooter or something like that," Nomura said. "We are going to be bringing dramatic changes, but we want to make sure it's still recognizable."

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Previously, Square Enix had been coy about any changes it might make. Nomura said in June that the company doesn't "want to interfere with what makes the original title so iconic." However, it also wants to give it a "fresh feel," with the goal being to not have the remake "become a one-to-one remake, or just the original Final Fantasy VII with better graphics."

Unfortunately, we still don't have any specifics on how combat or anything else will change, though you can expect major plot beats and other areas to remain the same. "There are certain plot points we don't want to interfere with or disturb, nor will we want to change elements that fans have very big attachments to," he said last month.

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In the new OPM interview, Nomura also suggested that Advent Children, the critically panned Final Fantasy VII movie he directed in 2005, will offer some inspiration. Specifically, it'll be used for visual reference, though its 3D models won't be pulled directly for the remake, both because of the differences in technology and the fact that the movie is now a decade old.

The Final Fantasy VII remake was officially announced at E3 in June. It's slated to come to PlayStation 4, but does not yet have a release date.

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If you replace the turnbased ATB/Wait battle system and the Materia then i wont buy it again. I do not like this real time combat crap SQE has been using

Upvote • 9 years ago

JasonBrownlie84

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JasonBrownlie84

@tsunami2311: same , they already bringing out ff15 for teh adhd kids, why cant they just make the ff7 remake for the fans that wanted it so many years?

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Edited By MXVIII

@tsunami2311: Bye! The materia system they will most likely keep, but you are kidding yourself, if they are going to re use that outdated battle system.

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@MXVIII: I hate that, outdated term...

Take Chess, that's turn based, want to change the rules because it's 'outdated'? Don't be a moron, this game has the recognition it's got because of ALL it's features, a big factor of that is the ATB battle system

I'm fed up with the uniform that games must fit this new style of mould, FF7 is a masterpiece and it should not be ruined by the judgement of mediocrity views like yours that want every game to be the f***ing same. Stop trying to ruin greatness and individuality

Some men just want to watch the world burn...

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Edited By SexyJazzCat

@neil_law: You're comment is so contradicting and hypocritical it hurts,

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@SexyJazzCat: Nice elaboration there, that's so useful. I imagine your comment is typical of one who wants a change to one of the greatest games ever, so my comment being 'contradicting' and 'hypocritical' is just your disagreement

Thanks for the feedback anyway!

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@neil_law: Lemme start with your chess argument. It's stupid. Chess is a boardgame, and FFVII is a video game. No ones releasing a remake of chess, why would anyone even think to change the rules?

"I'm fed up with the uniform that games must fit this new style of mould, FF7 is a masterpiece and it should not be ruined by the judgement of mediocrity views like yours that want every game to be the f***ing same. Stop trying to ruin greatness and individuality"

You ridicule this guy for "wanting every game to be the same" and yet here you saying that FF7 should stay the same.

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@SexyJazzCat: The relation to chess was just one example. Take a video game version of the game. No one has changed the fundamental rule that it's turn based. Even when developers made battle chess, they enhanced all the aspects but kept the core rules.

'Why would anyone think to change the rules?' That's exactly my point here with FF7!!!

FF7 should stay the same because that is what it is! It would differ DRASTICALLY from ALL other games of THIS generation if IT stayed the same, why is that so difficult to comprehend?! If they make these 'up to date' changes it will just be another run off the mill game that tends to be released these days and it will NOT be FF7, it may as well just be FF15-2

The whole point of this remake should be to recapture the magic that was FF7, not completely dismantle what made it great in the first place!

Polls would seem to agree with me also, over 70% of a poll based on 1000 people want this remake to be kept at ATB, those core aspects should be respected, not torn apart

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@neil_law: Your first mistake is assuming it's going to be an action rpg. And you're jumping to conclusions, this game may or may not even be in development yet and you're already assuming it's not going to "recapture" the magic. For all you know with all it's changes it can be much better than the original. Granted, I think FF7 was boring as all fucking hell. Hopefully the new changes will make it in the least bit interesting to play.

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Edited By MXVIII

@neil_law: Hahahahaha. Omg haha. Guess what? The combat for FFVII was the exact same as every other JRPG out there. Turn based combat was a staple of classic JRPGS. Dont come talking to me about uniformity, as if somehow FFVII revolutionized RPG turn based combat, because it absolutely did not do any of those things. You want to be stuck in the past go ahead. We will move on to the future without you.

Why are you even trying to compare it to chess. No one is trying to remake chess. Chess has remained the same game for a thousand years. No one has ever attempted to remake chess, and if they did it would probably have a more up to date play style.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Edited By Grammar_man

@MXVIII said:

@neil_law: Hahahahaha. Omg haha. Guess what? The combat for FFVII was the exact same as every other JRPG out there. Turn based combat was a staple of classic JRPGS. Dont come talking to me about uniformity, as if somehow FFVII revolutionized RPG turn based combat, because it absolutely did not do any of those things. You want to be stuck in the past go ahead. We will move on to the future without you.

Why are you even trying to compare it to chess. No one is trying to remake chess. Chess has remained the same game for a thousand years. No one has ever attempted to remake chess, and if they did it would probably have a more up to date play style.

"Chess has remained the same game for thousands of years."

1. Chess is only 1500 years old(The oldest known Chess was Chatu Ranga, though precursors seems to have existed for almost a 1000 years).

2. It started out being played on different sized boards(10x10, 9x9, 8x8).

3. The pieces where drastically different- most could only move one or two steps at most. The Queen and Bishop stayed this weak until the 1400s, when "Mad Queen" Chess created the monster we see these days.

4. During the early days of the game, some versions were palyed using a dice to select which piece you got to move, resulting in a game that palyed very little like chess like we think of it.

5. Stalemate rules were significantly different- causing a stalemate would have you the winner for over a 1000 years- outside some specific versions played during that period in India, which instead had it as a loss for you. Some versions just banned them altogether, and the modern tie was first created in the 1200s in Italy, but wasn't accepted throughout all of Europe until the 1800s

6. Pawn promotion is seen as a major thing these days, but was very minor until the 1400s, where the Queen becoming insanely strong made promotions actually major.

7. Castling was added as late as the 1600s(not finalized until the 1800s), and it's precursor "The King's Leap" was introduced... due to "Mad Queen Chess". Due to the relative weakness of Queens and Bishops the king had no need to get protected in the corner in the way he now is.

8. En Passant was added in the 1400s to make the recent addition of Pawns being able to take two steps on their first turn not be abused.

9. Short assize, during the medieval times,

10. The Queen having a jump in some versions.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@MXVIII: Keyword, was. Name one RPG with a turn based system on a non portable console in the past 5 years. That's the reason for my comment regarding games these days all being uniform.

Why do you kids want FF15 and a FF7 remake that's effectively FF15-2?

As for moving into the future, real time action games have always existed, check out pong from 1972, who's in the past now? Turn based games should not have this fixation associated with then that they are in the past because they are FUN, that's one of the key reasons FF7 had metascores of 97% or 10/10 everywhere, because of key aspects such as its battle system

Just wait and see this game fail if they continue to change key aspects. My god why are people so blind...

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@neil_law

@neil_law said:

Keyword, was. Name one RPG with a turn based system on a non portable console in the past 5 years. That's the reason for my comment regarding games these days all being uniform.

I'll just drop this here...
http://www.demonsage.com/

"Bigmoon Entertainment has announced a new "dark fantasy" turn-based RPG for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC."

There's obviously a demand for it.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@CyberEarth: I checked this game out a few days ago, it looks like it's a battlefield turn based RPG where the characters are small on the screen/ Whilst I commend it, I'm really after the traditional style, like the South Park game previously mentioned but on a serious scale. I think the last game like this was Lost Odyssey. Nino Kuni and Child of Light are also what I'm after albeit Nino Kuni a bit childlike and CoL being a bit budget (although thank god not another RPGmaker clone as steam has an abundance of them)

I'm looking forward to the new Star Ocean, Dragon Quest 11, World of FF and Persona 5 hopefully they will pull back some magic and no be uniformed to new days...

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@neil_law: Disgaea.

The battle system doesn't make the entire game.

Real time action is as much fun as ATB and turn based. Also, the combat was okay but wasn't amazing.

ATB is not turn based. If it was then in the original you would've had a turn and then the enemy, repeat forever. You actually could move multiple times before they could do anything and could potentially kill even the strongest enemies in the game with 1 turn.

Before you say that I'm a liar, yes you could kill emerald and ruby in 1 turn. (Turn 1: limit break, then it hits you and it dies because counter-mime x7)

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@yoru: Disgaea is a strategy battlefield, it's not a traditional turn based RPG. I class it in the same place as Vandal Hearts where you have a board to move around. The last type of what I'm referring to I believe to be Lost Odyssey, which was 2008.

ATB / Turn based is just a technicality, if you use the wait function it pretty much is turn based, speed is a factor to allow you to have more than one turn is all.

Regarding the battle system not making the game you're right, but for me it's a big part of what the game was, you spent most of your time with it. On the flip side of that argument a story doesn't make the entire game either. Shall we have no Cloud or Barrett as well? Let's re-write the story also while we're at it! Stupid? Of course it is! Just like have real time action and no ATB!

What will be next, no world map because they are outdated? No materia junctioning, outdated!

Come on!

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Edited By Yoru

@neil_law: Alright, I personally haven't played it but I think South Park: Stick of Truth is a turn based RPG that came out in 2014.

No matter how slight the difference, it's still different. I didn't use the wait function because it kind of felt like it was hurting the combat imo. If they put the option to switch between wait or active like in the original that would probably be the best way to go about this.

The story, characters and setting make up the RP in RPG. So, while story doesn't make the entire game, it does make a significant amount.

Depending on how they go about it they could change the world map quite a bit and still have it work. Materia junctioning plays a bigger part in combat than the actual combat system itself in the late game. That being said they should definitely tweak it by making it so certain materia effects don't stack. (See my previous example in last post)

I feel like ATB with the option of wait/active/recommended could still work very well. It's been a long time since I played FFX but I think the CTB system would also work well. Even FFXll's ADB would work well imo.

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Edited By neil_law

@yoru: Yes, South Park is one, or the only one that meets what I mean. It scores high and is popular which I guess means the battle system can't be that bad to the majority. I've actually played through it and it's a great game

I'm just worried FF7 remake will not be as good as the original. Battle wise - I'm worried they will turn it into a hack and slash. World map wise - I'm worried they will be lazy and implement a list select like FF10 or a linear walkthrough map like FF13 - no vehicles right? Materia wise - I'm worried you'll no longer be able to combine fire with elemental and it will be based on your equipment or something (if the game even has any with the 'changes' being made

I just don't get why people blame me for my passion in wanting the remake to capture the magic and nostalgia of the first game and not turn it into an everyday run off the mill game that's being produced these days

Just to reinforce it, I would LOVE to see the ATB return. I class this as turn based in the big picture that 'Drastic Changes' could mean we get a messy hack and slash, which I do NOT want!

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@neil_law: Hopefully if they do something like 10's fast travel then there will still be the vehicles to traverse the world without using it. Most likely there will be a few new areas/locations that aren't directly related to the story though.

If they get rid of the ability to junction materia together that would be a stupid move. Although I don't think they have mentioned messing with it anyway.

I don't think you have to worry about it becoming a hack and slash. I know it says "drastic" changes, but I don't think they're going to go that far and make it something like Crisis Core.

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@tsunami2311 said:

If you replace the turnbased ATB/Wait battle system and the Materia then i wont buy it again. I do not like this real time combat crap SQE has been using

This.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@LpcWarrior: Seconded!

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Edited By alfa

just bring reality when turn-based something like real-action time in turn-based. please don't too turn based

Upvote • 9 years ago

JayQproductions

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JayQproductions

If it's not turn based I won't buy it. The main reason I stopped playing Final Fantasy was because they moved away from turn based combat.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@JayQproductions: You must have stopped before 7 then. So why are you even commenting on the remake?

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I kinda hope it stays turn-based, but don't care too much. It's been decades since I've played this game, and it was the characters, story and environments that made it what it was.

If the goal is to introduce those great things to a new generation of gamers, most of you had to see this coming. Turn-based is dated; it will immediately turn off people who are new to VII and new to the franchise. I'm open to them updating it, as long as it's good. Too early to judge that.

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Edited By Yoru

@joejoe1639: It has an ATB system. It's not turn based.

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@denocturne: Not cool but I really understand your anger, I'm pissed off too but also baffled at exactly why Square think fans want a remake so much. The battle system is pretty much the biggest thing you experience through the entire game, why do they want the world to burn so much?....

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@denocturne said:

I'll give 10,000 dollars to whoever kills Tetsuya Nomura. This guy ruins everything he touches....fucking so upset after reading this. I'll never buy another Square game ever again....

Ill add another 10K

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@denocturne: Seriously? Out of this vast world of injustices this is what you spend your rage on? Play the original version if it's that big a deal. SE doesn't owe you squat. Wishing someone dead over a video game - wow. I just love how technology has turned us all into better people...

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@horizonwriter said:

@denocturne: Seriously? Out of this vast world of injustices this is what you spend your rage on? Play the original version if it's that big a deal. SE doesn't owe you squat. Wishing someone dead over a video game - wow. I just love how technology has turned us all into better people...

World of injustices? Like what?

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@Benny_a: Your trolling skills need work.

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@yggy said:

@denocturne said:

I'll give 10,000 dollars to whoever kills Tetsuya Nomura. This guy ruins everything he touches....fucking so upset after reading this. I'll never buy another Square game ever again....

Do you even have $10,000, you piece of shit?

>It won't be a shooter

>It will still be recognizable

>All important plot beats and game aspects will be preserved

>"KILL HIM!!!!"

Do us all one better and kill yourself. Actually, seriously kill yourself. You are a worthless human being and your death would be a blessing upon the species.

Please leave him alone you hippie, Im 100% supporting that guy.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Edited By Yggy

@Benny_a said:

@yggy said:

@denocturne said:

I'll give 10,000 dollars to whoever kills Tetsuya Nomura. This guy ruins everything he touches....fucking so upset after reading this. I'll never buy another Square game ever again....

Do you even have $10,000, you piece of shit?

>It won't be a shooter

>It will still be recognizable

>All important plot beats and game aspects will be preserved

>"KILL HIM!!!!"

Do us all one better and kill yourself. Actually, seriously kill yourself. You are a worthless human being and your death would be a blessing upon the species.

Please leave him alone you hippie, Im 100% supporting that guy.

>hippie

At least make your poor attempts at insults make sense. When was the last time you overheard a hippie telling someone to off themselves?

Upvote • 9 years ago

deactivated-5c2415ad0d4d0

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deactivated-5c2415ad0d4d0

@yggy said:

@Benny_a said:

@yggy said:

@denocturne said:

I'll give 10,000 dollars to whoever kills Tetsuya Nomura. This guy ruins everything he touches....fucking so upset after reading this. I'll never buy another Square game ever again....

Do you even have $10,000, you piece of shit?

>It won't be a shooter

>It will still be recognizable

>All important plot beats and game aspects will be preserved

>"KILL HIM!!!!"

Do us all one better and kill yourself. Actually, seriously kill yourself. You are a worthless human being and your death would be a blessing upon the species.

Please leave him alone you hippie, Im 100% supporting that guy.

>hippie

At least make your poor attempts at insults make sense. When was the last time you overheard a hippie telling someone to off themselves?

All the time actually, when your not agreeing with them

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Here are my thoughts on how elements should be thought out for FFVII. Im a bit of a purist but also all about expanding on the details of what they already have while also changing things for a better experience:

The battle system should be left in tact as it stands on the surface. However, I would greatly enjoy more detail in how weapon combos, materia, items, etc would play with each other. I would imagine it going from being a checkers game to a chess game.

Second, I think expanding on the economy of the game would be nice. In the first game, you could buy the house in Costa Del Sol. Having a bigger economy creates a more immersive environment. I'm thinking along the lines of Grand Theft Auto.

It would also be nice to customize your character more. You had some abilities in the original game with changing your weapon and even your name in the game. I could see changing outfits and the likes (of course, these outfits would serve a battle purpose).

I think a lot of people are focused on how the surface of the game plays out. But I think the devs should keep in mind that trends in gaming are just that. Don't rush into a shoot em up fast paced style of gaming. I think having an intense gaming experience while also have a deeper intricate level of gaming would be in keeping with where FFVII started. I play GTA and Battlefield on XBOX often and i recently started replaying FFVII on my old PSONE and I'm much more immersed in the later. Don't lose that but expand on that.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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why not... just give to avility to choose between old gameplay and new gameplay....

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@chobu22: Because that would require a huge amount of additional work, would ramp up the game's budget and would delay it until the year 21XX.

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Kingdom Hearts Combat style with limit breaks and stuff i hope

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Edited By Xenro4

@naruto945: While this would be decent, you can't be serious. We're getting KH3 and FFXV which have nearly identical battle systems already.

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@Xenro4: Yeah but Final Fantasy is alot more than just its battle system and with the materia system, limit breaks, summons, etc. I think it could differentiate itself from the bunch.

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Edited By alfa

everyone want like FFVII like turn based again NOOOOOO !! square give me your best idea. honestly too turn based its limit my imagination.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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