Final Fantasy

9 Questions I Have About That Weird Box Breaking Game In Final Fantasy 7 Remake

I recently finished Final Fantasy 7 Remake and yet something still lingers in my mind. It’s not the ending or the weird meta-references that went over my head. No, I’m still thinking about that weird mini-game where Cloud breaks a bunch of boxes set up by small children. This doesn’t seem to be a thing…

YouTuber Drinks Really Old Final Fantasy Potion Drink

Back in 2005, Square Enix launched a Final Fantasy Potion energy drink in Japan to promote Final Fantasy XII. The beverage was made by Suntory, and I remember having it and thinking it tasted like a Japanese energy drink. But that was then and not 2020. What exactly did it taste like? If you’ve had…

Final Fantasy III Designer Had His Own Head Canon About White Mage’s Iconic Red Sleeves

Square Enix recently published a super-insightful discussion with Final Fantasy III designer Hiromichi Tanaka, and recently did the same with Koichi Ishii, the man behind the game’s expanded job system. While he isn’t quite as indifferent to the Moogle species as his former co-worker, Ishii did share his differing interpretation of the white mage’s classic…

My Search To Find The True Meaning Behind Final Fantasy VII’s Loveless Poster

Video game fans are often defined by their obsessions. I used to think this was not true of me, until I found myself in a career where I frequently, without being forced to, wrote about them. We all tell on ourselves eventually, I suppose. So let me get ahead of things, and tell you about…

It’s Time For A Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Remaster

Yesterday, I finished Final Fantasy VII Remake. Today, I find myself wanting more, but only a little more. Maybe another 15-20 hours in and around Midgar, seeing the surrounding slums and deserts through the eyes of somebody who’s more relevant to the series’ larger machinations than ever? Something along those lines? I don’t know, just…

I Don’t Want To Finish Final Fantasy VII Remake

When this time of imposed social isolation began, I had a theory: In the absence of real human connection, some people would find themselves growing more attached than usual to video game characters. Well, dear reader, It Happened To Me. For the past handful of weeks, I—like a great many members of the zeitgeist-chasing gamer…

Yoshitaka Amano – His universe, On Paper is a short documentary from Archipel that interviews the Final Fantasy legend on his work on the series, his history in the business and his recent fine art pieces. If they don’t activate automatically, there are English subtitles in YouTube’s settings.

In a lovely video Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano dishes on his distinctive art. Confessing a love for Western fantasy, he traces his creative evolution from anime to fine art and explains why inspiration is never in short supply. A truly serene watch, just long enough to enjoy with a cup of tea.

Final Fantasy III Designer Wasn’t Particularly Into Moogles, Actually

In honor of Final Fantasy III’s 30th anniversary, Square Enix recently published an extensive interview with Hiromichi Tanaka, who worked as a designer on the 1990 Famicom game. While lighthearted, they do touch on some interesting subjects, including the debut of Moogles, how they created a cool attack effect for the Odin summon, and the…

Knife Child Terrorizes Local Sector

It’s important to analyze games with rigorous consideration. Games are art and we need to hold them accountable for everything they contain. So please understand how serious I am when I say that Tonberries are the funniest fucking thing on the planet. The Tonberry (Tonicus Berricus) is one of the most iconic enemies in the…

Here’s How Summons Work In Final Fantasy VII Remake

Final Fantasy wouldn’t be Final Fantasy without summons. Ever since Final Fantasy III, you’ve been able to call on superpowered mythical beasts for aid in battle, effectively turning the tide at the press of a button. Final Fantasy VII Remake, the new dance-off game from Square Enix, is no different. I’ve spent many hours with…

Final Fantasy VII Remake Is Haunted By What Came Before

Final Fantasy VII Remake bears a heavy weight on its shoulders, needing to recreate a beloved classic in a way that can ignite the imaginations of old-school fans and newcomers alike. There is an expectation surrounding the game: Be like the thing that existed in 1997. Be the game we loved. Be the game we…

How To Crush Jules In Final Fantasy VII Remake’s Absurd Squat Contest

At Moscow’s Vystavochnaya station, in 2013, you could board the train for free—if you could bust out 30 bodyweight squats inside of two minutes. The first hints of a glorious new fitness revolution? Nope. Just a pilot program to promote good health (and the ‘14 Sochi Olympics). But what’s important here is this: Cloud Strife…

How To Play Both Questlines In Final Fantasy VII Remake‘s Sprawling Chapter 9

Word on the street is a lot of you are playing Final Fantasy VII Remake, Square Enix’s dramatization of An Inconvenient Truth. And if you are, you know it’s mostly linear. Sure, some sections let you direct Cloud and friends off the main plot for a sojourn into side-quest suburbia. But Final Fantasy VII Remake…

I Need Much More Of Final Fantasy VII Remake‘s Dancing Mini-Game

Don’t leave a rhythm game fan hanging here, Square Enix. The Final Fantasy VII Remake dancing mini-game is too good to be limited to a practice round and one spectacular sequence. Cloud needs to move his body right. As I played through Final Fantasy VII Remake, former (sniff) co-worker Jason Schreier kept asking me where…

I Learned These Final Fantasy VII Remake Tricks The Hard Way So You Don’t Have To

Final Fantasy VII Remake, Square Enix’s much-anticipated role-playing game about herding cats and having amazing hair, has taken the video game world by storm. Whether you’re a huge fan of the 1997 original or don’t even know what a Sephiroth is, one thing’s for sure: This game is very, very good For the most part,…

Man Recreates Cloud Strife’s Buster Sword In Cardboard

Previously, we saw the iconic Final Fantasy VII blade carved in pencil graphite. Now, let’s see it recreated in cardboard. YouTuber Crafty Transformer uploaded the clip below showing how he brought the Buster Sword to life in cardboard. In the walkthrough, Crafty Transformer shows each step along the way (unfortunately the closed-caption subtitles are only…

Aerith Is My Favorite Party Member In Final Fantasy VII Remake

As a complete newcomer to the world of Final Fantasy VII, I’m meeting (and, in some cases, falling head over heels for) its cast members for the first time in the updated and reimagined Remake. I’ve grown to appreciate every character Cloud has met during his journey, but one stands head and shoulders above the…

Final Fantasy VII Remake Has Very Realistic Air-Conditioning Units

Final Fantasy VII Remake might be set in a fantasy world Gaia and have stupid doors, but that doesn’t make the game lacks realistic air conditioning units. Players have noticed all the A/C units throughout the capital city Midgar. Similar units are seen throughout modern-day Japan, where central air is uncommon for apartments and houses,…

The Definitely True Backstories Of Final Fantasy VII Remake‘s Background Characters

Final Fantasy VII Remake is one of the most luxurious video games I’ve ever played. Nearly 20 hours in, Cloud’s character model still causes me to audibly gasp every time I see him from a new angle. The friggin’ pipes in this game tell a story, with grimy textures that make me feel like I…