Key Takeaways
- Naoki Hamaguchi shares which games inspired Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth.
- Remake was inspired by The Last of Us, whereas the devs turned to The Witcher 3 and Horizon Zero Dawn for Rebirth.
- This change in direction was due to the pivot to open world game design.
With Final Fantasy 7 Remake only taking place in Midgar, it was inevitable that it would play a little differently than its sequels. So, it’s no surprise that the devs looked to very different games for inspiration when it came to making Remake and its follow-up, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
As reported by GamesRadar, Remake and Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi opened up about his inspirations in an interview with Edge Magazine. Here, he said that Remake drew inspiration from The Last of Us, given that it’s more linear, whereas he looked at The Witcher 3 and Horizon Zero Dawn for Rebirth.
Final Fantasy Director Played The Witcher 3 To Prepare For Rebirth
This isn’t all too surprising. Very suddenly, the directors had to go from making a game that took us to different hub areas, to one that was much more open. So, it makes sense that Hamaguchi looked to these two titles, particularly The Witcher 3, as it’s one of the most popular games to pull this off.
Of course, he was also conscious not to lose the series’ identity in taking this inspiration. “We looked to recreate the same kinds of experiences and systems that we had in the 1997 game, but with this more modern edge,” he explains.
In any case, the approach worked. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was well received by fans and critics alike when it launched earlier this year, and it’s now in the running for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. Remake failed to win in 2020, incidentally losing to The Last of Us Part 2, so if Rebirth takes home the prize this time, it’ll be a big win for Square Enix.
Final Fantasy Rebirth is the second part of the FF7 Remake project. It continues the story of Cloud Strife, a former SOLDIER turned mercenary who joins Avalanche, a group of eco-terrorists seeking to save the planet from the malevolent Sephiroth. As the party pushes out of Midgar, leaving the Shinra Corporation devastated, where will their paths take them?