When I first heard about Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, I was scrolling through my Instagram feed in between classes at my high school in Austin, Texas. I’ve always been more of a Call of Duty and Madden kind of guy. JRPGs, especially ones with spiky-haired protagonists and deep lore, weren’t really on my radar. But something about the trailers for Rebirth grabbed me—the cinematic scale, the sweeping orchestral music, and honestly, the sheer cool factor of that guy with the massive sword, Cloud Strife. I figured, why not try something new? I had a PlayStation 5 sitting at home and a month before my spring semester got hectic. I downloaded the game the day it came out and didn’t expect it to completely take over my life for the next few weeks.
Playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for the first time felt like stepping into an entirely different world. I booted it up on my PS5, connected to a 55-inch 4K TV in my room, with a pair of Pulse 3D headphones. The game supports up to 60 FPS in Performance Mode and has a stunning 4K output in Graphics Mode. I ran it in Performance Mode because I cared more about the smooth gameplay, but even then, it looked unreal. Everything from the lighting to the character animations felt like a movie you could control.
The opening sequence alone had my jaw on the floor. I didn’t play the original Final Fantasy VII from 1997, and I barely dipped into the Remake that came out a few years ago, but Rebirth is built to bring in new fans. The recap at the start did a good job catching me up, and soon I was thrown into this vibrant, chaotic, but somehow beautiful world. The transition from Midgar to the open world felt so massive—almost overwhelming. I could run across wide plains, climb cliffs, ride chocobos, and even go snowboarding. The sheer variety of things to do hit me right away. I’d never played a game that mixed story, exploration, and side activities so smoothly.
The story itself was emotional in ways I didn’t expect. It follows Cloud and his group as they chase after Sephiroth, this mysterious villain with deep connections to Cloud’s past. At first, I didn’t really understand the emotional weight behind these characters, but over the course of the month, I got completely pulled in. Aerith, Tifa, Barret, Red XIII—every single one of them started to feel real. The voice acting is top-notch, and there are these quieter moments at campfires or during side missions where characters open up. It reminded me of hanging with close friends after school, where you’re goofing off one second and then suddenly talking about real stuff.
Combat was another thing that blew me away. It’s not like turn-based stuff from old JRPGs—it’s more like a blend between action and tactics. I could switch between characters on the fly, mix up magic and physical attacks, and use team-up moves called Synergy Skills. The first few battles felt a bit chaotic, but once I got the hang of the Materia system (which lets you equip magic and abilities), I started strategizing more. I remember one boss fight where I had to fight this giant sea creature in a flooded area, and I actually lost twice before realizing I needed to use lightning attacks and keep moving constantly. When I finally beat it, I shouted so loud my mom thought something was wrong.
Over the course of the month, I played almost every day after school and most of the weekend. It became my escape. The world in Rebirth is so detailed and alive. One day I was climbing the mountains near Cosmo Canyon, and the next I was solving a piano puzzle in a haunted mansion. There’s even a card game called Queen’s Blood that I got hooked on. At first, I ignored it, thinking it was just a side distraction, but then I started building my deck, challenging NPCs, and unlocking rare cards. It’s almost like its own game within the game.
What surprised me most was how much Rebirth got me thinking. Under all the magic and monsters, the game talks about identity, memory, and destiny. Cloud’s whole journey is about trying to figure out who he really is. There were moments where I stopped playing just to sit with what I’d seen or heard. I’ve played plenty of games where you shoot, win, and move on. But Rebirth made me reflect. It made me care. And even though it’s fantasy, a lot of it felt weirdly relatable—like trying to live up to expectations that aren’t really you, or holding on to something you don’t fully understand.
Technically, the game is a beast. It’s only available on PlayStation 5, and it takes full advantage of the hardware. Load times are practically nonexistent thanks to the SSD. Fast travel happens in seconds. The DualSense controller integration is subtle but noticeable—you can feel the tension when you block an attack or the rumble of a chocobo running. The graphics are some of the best I’ve ever seen on any console. There were moments when I just stopped to look at the sky or the way sunlight filtered through trees. It’s not something I ever thought I’d care about in a game, but Rebirth pulls you in on every level.
After about 80 hours of gameplay across four weeks, I finally saw the credits roll. And I’m not gonna lie—I felt a little hollow inside. Not because the ending was bad, but because the journey was over. I know this is just the second part of a trilogy, so there’s more coming, but finishing it felt like saying goodbye to people I’d grown to love. I still go back to complete side quests and clean up a few regions I missed, but the main story left a mark on me.
If you had told me a month ago that I’d be emotionally invested in a Japanese RPG, I’d have laughed. But Final Fantasy VII Rebirth isn’t just a JRPG. It’s a full-blown experience. It made me appreciate a whole genre I had written off. It made me think differently about storytelling in games. And it gave me one of the most memorable months of gaming I’ve ever had.
For anyone with a PS5, this game is a must-play. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a curious newcomer like me, Rebirth offers something rare—a game that entertains, challenges, and moves you all at once. It’s more than just battles and cinematics. It’s a journey you won’t forget.