Final Fantasy 7 Remake still has a long way to go before the original story is fully realized. Though it is only the first part in the much longer story still to come, many fans of the original Final Fantasy 7 have praised it for its ability to keep everything from the combat and story feeling fresh. The remake still has a lot more story and the world of Gaia to show the player in the upcoming sequels, but so far it seems quite promising. The only downside for fans at the moment is the inevitable wait before they can get their hands on Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 as it will surely be some time before it releases.
Even though the remake has gotten a lot of praise, a good reason for that is the source material it is based on. The original Final Fantasy 7 was critically acclaimed for its story and gameplay, as well as the characters that were introduced. Though Final Fantasy 7 Remake plays quite differently than the original, there is no doubt that both have been received favorably by fans and critics. Both Final Fantasy 7 iterations offer their own unique blend of gameplay and storytelling, which can only be experienced for the first time once. For those who are waiting with bated breath for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2, here is a small list of other RPGs to give a try in the meantime.
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Final Fantasy 7 Remake boasts many necessary changes and tweaks from the original making it wholly a new experience. The change in combat from an Active Time Battle system much like Final Fantasy 6 to a more action-oriented battle system was drastic for those used to the original, but it is done in a way that also incorporates the new Materia system flawlessly. The storytelling is more focused leaving the player less free to explore right away, but with such a large game it seemed almost necessary. These changes make Final Fantasy 7 Remake feel truly different than the original but are welcome additions. As such, here is a list of RPGs that are similar to Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Dragon Quest 11 – Since 1986 the Dragon Quest series has been releasing quality titles in its series, and it hasn't stopped. Dragon Quest 11 is the last main entry in the series for now, with Dragon Quest 12 on the horizon. The sequel promises a darker tone with more meaningful choices, however, Dragon Quest 11 sticks to its roots and does so without skipping a beat. It keeps what made the franchise unique with its quirky enemies and characters, all while emboldening the main character to set off on a long journey. Though the battle system is reminiscent of older Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy titles, it still showcases proper depth as well as upwards of 100 hours or more of gameplay for completionists giving fans of this genre plenty to do.
Nier Automata – Nier Automata has a more hack and slash focus for its combat, but it is indeed an RPG in true form. The player takes on the role of combat androids as they explore a desolate post-apocalyptic open-world that takes place in the year 11945AD. Nier Automata's story centers around human-made androids and an invading space army of machine robots. This combination of fast-paced hack and slash elements mixed with character customization through installed Chips makes for a unique RPG experience. If the player falls in battle, they can go back and retrieve the items left on their corpse, or attempt to revive it as an ally, but failing to do so will turn the player's old body into an enemy.
Xenoblade Chronicles – Xenoblade Chronicles features a real-time action-oriented battle system where the player can move around and strike freely, while their allies automatically attack enemies who get too close. The game features Arts as battle commands that the player can input, with Battle Arts functioning similarly to Arts, though with a cooldown. The world of Xenoblade Chronicles takes place on the back of two colossal titans that the player can freely explore. This unique world setting along with its involved combat system and long gameplay makes Xenoblade Chronicles a good choice to invest a lot of time in, not to mention its sequel.
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Resonance of Fate – Resonance of Fate is considered an underappreciated game that is overlooked by many fans of JRPGs. It uses a combination of real-time and turn-based controls within its combat system, mixing the ability to use guns and other firearms with a movement system. The combination of moves and actions set in combat by the player and their party members makes for a very unique combat system. Set in the distant future where pollution has nearly wiped out life on Earth, the player controls a group of 3 mercenaries who do odd jobs until a much larger threat takes center stage.
Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 – For RPG fans the Kingdom Hearts franchise probably needs no introduction, but for those looking for an easy-to-follow story with solid gameplay and a strong roster of characters, then look no further than the first two in the series. Though there have been numerous spinoffs, the original 2 Kingdom Hearts games could almost be considered a self-contained story in their own right. With an action-focused combat system very similar to Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 boasts lengthy gameplay with simple RPG mechanics. If players want to continue the daunting story of these games, they are free to attempt the laundry list of Kingdom Hearts spinoffs and their sequel.
Final Fantasy 10 – Final Fantasy 10 is the only Final Fantasy game on this list, but much like Final Fantasy 7, it is beloved by many. Not only does it stay true to its JRPG roots, but it also nails every other aspect a fan would want when it comes to classic JRPG. The story in Final Fantasy 10 is simple at first and becomes deeper as the player progresses. The gameplay features a simplistic yet challenging at times turn-based combat system, with a large skill and ability grid for players to customize each of their characters however they see fit. The freedom of gameplay and customization together with the quality of voice acting and storytelling make Final Fantasy 10 a must-play for fans of Final Fantasy and JRPGs in general.
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Breath of Fire 3 – Breath of Fire 3 is the third game in the Breath of Fire series developed by Capcom and originally released for the PlayStation 1 and rereleased on the PSP. Breath of Fire 3 has the player playing as the last of the dragons known as the Brood in a journey from childhood to adulthood trying to find answers to their past. The world takes place in a mix of typical fantasy with sci-fi as there is ancient tech that is discovered and dug up. The battle system is similar to Breath of Fire 1 and 2 where the player takes turns issuing commands with an auto-attack option. Breath of Fire 3 has many unique features to help grow a character however the player sees fit, with a quirky story that ends up becoming much more somber as the game progresses.
Chrono Trigger – Chrono Trigger is usually somewhere on top of many fans' favorite RPG lists and it's no surprise as the game is highly regarded as one of the best in the genre. For those who are fans of the original Final Fantasy 7 and are looking for a unique story featuring time travel as the main plot element, then look no further. Much like the original Final Fantasy 7, Chrono Trigger features an ATB system that forces a player to think on their feet. It also has a proximity element where if an enemy is out of range then certain attacks will simply be unusable. Chrono Trigger features no random encounters, but instead, players can see and avoid enemies if they're cunning enough not to get tricked into battle.
Radiant Historia – Radiant Historia much like Chrono Trigger heavily features time travel as its main plot thread, though there is a large emphasis on reexploring timelines in order to see multiple endings. Though the gameplay follows two strict timelines, the player can diverge into alternate paths to see different outcomes to the choices made. The player will acquire abilities from both timelines in order to progress further in each, while also avoiding a character who attempts to interfere in the player's efforts. Also much like Chrono Trigger, the player can interact with the enemies in the overworld first, either to avoid them altogether or stun them to pass by. Radiant Historia was originally on the Nintendo DS but a much more enhanced port was released with extra content on the Nintendo 3DS and is worth the pick up for fans of this genre.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is available now on PS4.
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