Final Fantasy VII Remake (PC) Review: Midgar Reborn, Combat Perfected

I’ve loved Final Fantasy VII since the PS1 days.

It’s not my absolute favorite entry, but it sits in that warm, permanent corner of memory where a few notes of music can pull you straight back to childhood.

That’s exactly what happened the instant Final Fantasy Prelude chimed over the title screen of Final Fantasy VII Remake on PC.

Nostalgia didn’t just tap me on the shoulder; it sat me down and said, “We’re home.”

Because I went in knowing this project is part one of a trilogy, none of the discourse around “Wait, it ends where?” caught me by surprise.

I also knew about the Arbiter of Fate “Whisper” ghosts, and they didn’t bother me either.

They’re largely background until the finale, and how I ultimately feel about them will depend on where Part 3 lands the plane.

For now, what matters is this: Remake nails the soul of VII and then lovingly expands it. From that opening train shot to the last boss roar, I was thrilled with equal parts “I remember this!” and “I’ve never seen this before.”

Story & Characters: Midgar Reimagined, Personalities Reborn

Remake covers the Midgar arc, but “covers” is too small a word, it expands.

Every location you remember is here, but broader and more lived-in.

The plate feels impossibly heavy.

The slums bustle.

Shinra’s machinery hums menace.

Chapters give you room to sit with people, not just plot.

We spend time with Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie in a way the original never allowed, and that extra oxygen makes the big moments hit harder.

The game’s characters are the triumph.

Cloud isn’t the brooding, distant caricature that crept into later spin-offs; he’s the slightly awkward, trying-way-too-hard dork the original hinted at and he’s perfect.

Barret is a glorious mix of bullhorn bluster and deeply compassionate leadership, constantly vacillating between conspiracy rant and father-figure wisdom.

Tifa’s warmth and quietly fierce backbone anchor the group, while Aerith pirouettes through scenes with that effervescent, “You’re trouble but I like you” energy that made her the series’ eternal heart.

The English voice actors bring each of them to life with a confidence that feels like the roles were written for them.

About the Whispers: they’re mostly a thematic frame (fate, inevitability, the meta-awareness of revisiting a classic) until the climax, where they push the plot somewhere new. I’m reserving judgment until the trilogy ends.

As a Part 1, though, the character work is outstanding and easily the best reason to play.

Combat: The Hybrid They’ve Been Chasing (and Finally Nailed)

I’ll be honest: the combat didn’t click for me at first.

I kept playing Cloud like an action-game protagonist, wondering why my AI party members were contributing so little.

Then it hit me, the system is about ATB flow and character switching.

You attack with one character to build ATB bars, spend them on abilities, switch to the next character, do the same, switch again always cycling to keep the meter economy alive.

Once that clicked, Remake’s battle system vaulted up my series ranking.

This is the action/turn-based blend Square Enix has been chasing for years, now finally realized.

Every character plays completely differently.

Cloud swaps stances and carves through stagger windows.

Tifa is a pressure machine who manipulates stagger multipliers and explodes bosses when set up right.

Barret provides ranged control, turret busting, and clutch tankiness.

Aerith is a mage who rewards rhythm and positioning.

The game nudges (and sometimes forces) you to learn each kit, and once you do, encounters become puzzles you solve with Materia synergy, status control, and smart Stagger timing rather than brute force.

The joy here is momentum: parry a sweep, pop an ability to buff, quick-switch, land a burst, toss a Cure, reposition for a limit, it’s choreographed mayhem that still feels like Final Fantasy. By the back third of the game, this was my favorite combat in the series.

Exploration, Side Content & Pacing: Midgar, But More

Remake turns Midgar from a backdrop into a place.

Sector hubs give you sidequests that flesh out neighborhoods and NPCs; small errands often detour into surprisingly heartfelt character beats.

Dungeons and set pieces are stretched (sometimes more than strictly necessary) but because I was having such a good time, I didn’t mind lingering.

I took my time, completed every sidequest, and combed corners for items and little conversations.

By the end, I felt I’d thoroughly wrung Midgar dry in a single playthrough and didn’t feel the need to go back for Hard Mode (this time).

Minigames pop up to keep the pace playful (squats supremacy), and the game frequently reminds you that VII has always been as much about people as it is about reactors and mako.

If I had to nitpick, a handful of sequences run long. But the expansions usually buy you richer characterization, and I’ll always take that trade.

Visuals & PC Performance: A City of Steel and Light

Art direction is where Remake sings.

Midgar is staggering: neon slurs into rain-slick concrete; the underplate looms like a godless sky; Shinra HQ gleams with chilly, corporate confidence.

Surface detail is everywhere (scuffed steel, fiber cables, signage, grime)and the character models are expressive without dipping into uncanny stiffness.

Battles are kinetic spectacles with readable VFX that never bury the telegraphs you need to survive.

On PC at 4K/60, the presentation is gorgeous… with a caveat.

I ran into heavy stuttering in crowded areas with lots of NPCs and streaming assets.

A community mod called Ultimate Engine Tweaks fixed those issues perfectly for me; the game became butter-smooth, even in busy hubs.

From then on, performance matched the visuals.

If you’re sensitive to hitching, I’d strongly recommend that mod. Once in place, Remake felt like it was finally getting the PC treatment its art deserves.

Audio: Music, Sound, and Voice Acting is Pure Magic

From the first Prelude chime to the final boss sting, the soundtrack is a triumph.

You get reorchestrated themes that treat the original melodies with reverence while adding modern power: battle tracks that swell precisely as you punch a stagger window, reactor themes that grind like machinery, delicate motifs that let Aerith’s warmth breathe. It’s all immediately recognizable yet newly thrilling.

Sound design carries its weight, too. Sword contacts thump with impact, spells crackle with the right sizzle, and the ambient audio sells the scale of Midgar (distant announcements, rumbling plates, and the hiss of mako lines).

The English voice acting is the secret sauce.

Cloud’s dry asides and awkward pauses, Barret’s bellowing tirades that melt into tenderness, Tifa’s quiet steadiness, Aerith’s mischievous sparkle, every line lands with personality. I can’t overstate it: the characters are the best part of the game, and the VO is a huge reason why.

Intergrade / Episode INTERmission: A Fun Detour Starring Yuffie

Intergrade’s Episode INTERmission is a lively side story that slides in as bonus content.

Yuffie plays wonderfully, she’s acrobatic, energetic, and mechanically distinct.

I had a great time bouncing around encounters, and the Fort Condor minigame unexpectedly stole the show for me. I challenged everyone I could find and made it my mission to become the champion before moving on.

That said, the DLC is more of a nice extra than essential viewing.

You don’t get direct control over Sonon (Yuffie’s partner), which felt odd after mastering party switching in the main game; you can issue commands to him, but not swap to play as him.

It’s still fun, a cheerful amuse-bouche that teases systems and tone we’d see elaborated in Rebirth, but if you’re here for the core Remake experience, consider it dessert rather than the meal.

Verdict: The Best FFVII Has Ever Felt to Play

Final Fantasy VII Remake is everything I hoped it would be: a faithful reimagining that understands why we loved the original while embracing modern design where it matters most.

The characters are pitch-perfect (Cloud’s dorky cool, Barret’s booming heart, Tifa’s compassion, Aerith’s twinkle) and the expanded time with Avalanche’s crew makes Midgar feel alive.

The combat is a revelation once it clicks: the perfect action/ATB hybrid that rewards planning, switching, and Materia creativity without sacrificing spectacle.

The visuals are stunning, the music is goosebump-good, and the voice acting is top tier.

Yes, it’s Part 1.

That never bothered me.

And yes, the Whispers nudge the narrative into new territory; I’m content to see where the trilogy lands.

On PC at 4K/60 and the Ultimate Engine Tweaks mod to vanquish stutter, Remake became the definitive way for me to revisit Midgar.

I took my time, completed every sidequest, explored everything thoroughly, and left satisfied without feeling the need to jump straight into Hard Mode.

If you adore the original, this is the warmest kind of homecoming.

If you’re new, it’s a spectacular action RPG with heart, humor, and style to spare.

Final Fantasy VII Remake doesn’t just respect a classic; it earns its place beside it.

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Images are from the Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade page on Steam and used under Fair Use