Final Fantasy 7 Remake Director Emphasizes Importance of Staying True to the Original Vision

The conclusion of Final Fantasy VII Remake left many players speculating about how the new trilogy would reinterpret the classic PS1 storyline. Rebirth demonstrated the developers’ commitment to staying true to the original material while introducing unexpected twists towards the end to keep fans on their toes.

As we approach the finale in Revelation, the time for speculation is over. Just how much will this remake trilogy reshape a narrative that has captivated fans for years?

Naoki Hamaguchi recently shared insights on this topic, stating, “We haven’t altered the core of the story based on reactions at any given time. It feels as though we’ve built up each title one-by-one without wavering from the central theme we established at the very start of the Remake series.”

He added, “It wasn’t easy. I felt it was absolutely essential to avoid turning a masterpiece like FFVII into something that felt like my own personal fan project.”

While the trilogy has introduced a meta layer to the story with the Whispers—ghostly entities that strive to maintain the timeline’s intended path—there haven’t been any significant deviations from the original plot thus far.

“The real challenge wasn’t simply incorporating elements that differed from the original or introducing new interpretations,” Hamaguchi explained. “It was constantly asking ourselves whether what we were creating could truly be called FFVIIR.”

On the flip side, the fanfiction approach would lean towards fulfilling players’ desires for a narrative where all the main characters survive, leading to a much more optimistic ending than the somewhat grim and unresolved conclusion of the original. Modern games tend to wrap up their stories in a way that contrasts sharply with how FFVII ended on the PS1.

How much will Hamaguchi and the team resist that temptation? We’ll find out when the game launches early next year.