FF7 Rebirth's Hard Mode Is More Like The Original Game
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a big departure from the original Final Fantasy 7 in a lot of ways, but players can make the game feel closer to the original experience. Expanding a turn-based RPG from the 1990s into three huge action titles results in something largely new, even when the remake maintains overarching reverence for the source material. For all the upsides to the new approach, however, an average playthrough of Ff7 Rebirth tends to reveal some elements that don't feel as tight or as interesting as the Classic game.
Ff7 Rebirth tends to falter most in its extreme dedication to a bigger-is-better approach, which introduces plenty of fun new material while also bogging things down with repetitive filler. One thing that made the original FF7 a Classic was how consistently exciting it was compared to the average JRPG, packing a huge story and constant shake-ups to both the plot and gameplay into a reasonable runtime. FF7 Rebirth's diversions can be enjoyable in their own right, but participating in them definitely does some damage to the overall momentum.
Streamlining The Story Keeps Up The Momentum
Beating FF7 Rebirth unlocks a new way to experience the game through the addition of Hard Mode. This might be the perfect way to recapture some of the original FF7's strengths within FF7 Rebirth's framework. As noted by Reddit user postulate4, it's possible to completely remove some of the more distracting elements of FF7 Rebirth in Hard Mode. After completing side quests and world intel on the first playthrough, electing to maintain that progress when starting Hard Mode removes them from the picture. Zack's storyline, the biggest addition to the canon, can also be skipped entirely.
Not all of FF7 Rebirth's flights of fancy are relegated to side material, and changes like the cruise ship adventure or the overhaul of Corel Prison still won't feel much like the original game in Hard Mode. Even so, the change brings things much more in line with the original game's pacing, making it easier to focus on appreciating the peaks of the new presentation. It's still possible to skip side content on a standard playthrough, of course, but Hard Mode removing it from the picture can make even completionists who already tackled the side material enjoy a slimmer experience.
Hard Mode Makes FF7 Rebirth Combat Strategic
The other big way that FF7 Rebirth's hard mode brings the game closer in line to the original lies in the combat, which is obviously hit with an uptick in difficulty. In a standard playthrough, the action combat can often mostly come down to button mashing, with the majority of the main story bosses failing to demand any particular strategic mastery. Although some optional side content significantly raises the level of FF7 Rebirth's challenge, it often does so by simply tossing more tough enemies into an arena, which feels much messier than the original game's turn-based approach.
Making the main story fights harder, on the other hand, puts the focus on the strategy in a manner more reminiscent of the classic FF7 experience. Fully understanding the possibilities of the many menu options becomes a necessity rather than an accessory to spamming attacks, and planning out how to tackle battles in advance can add a more considered aspect to the tactical elements. Rebirth also has a Classic option for combat to automate actions and put the focus on menu commands, but it's an awkward solution that doesn't work quite as well as Hard Mode's challenges.
Button Mashing Won't Cut It Anymore
Hard Mode makes FF7 Rebirth combat feel more challenging. Hard Mode forces players to master combat strategies without relying on enemy overuse. Hard Mode can be a real game-changer, making the combat more strategic and interesting. It's really quite brilliant. Hard Mode is also a great way to see how far the developers have come in terms of refining the combat system since the first game. It's a really impressive feat of design.
Even if you don't think you're the type of player who would enjoy a hard mode, I would still recommend giving it a try. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy the challenge. This mode is a welcome addition to FF7 Rebirth, and it does a great job of bringing the game closer in line with the original game's feel. It's a must-try for fans of the original FF7.
