As an Aussie Final Fantasy fan, I feel it's obligatory for me to put up a shot! No spoilers at all, but I might tweet out a few thoughts.

It's awesome to see how many #FFVIIRemake fans there are in Australia - I never seem to find anyone that loves the series in real life

Okay! I've played the first 3 hours of #FFVIIRemake now, & to answer everyone's first question - yep, it's really good! And there's soo much to talk about; honestly, I'm surprised how much of the game so far is totally new content. But by the same token, whenever they recreate...

...moments from the original (& almost everything *is* in there - only a few minor cuts), they feel extremely well executed. There's a moment where the original Battle theme finally kicks in for the first time, and I got goosebumps haha. In fact all the music sounds incredible...

...& I've already heard remixes of songs I didn't expect to hear in this game. Some of the brand new songs sound a little more FFX than VII, but that's to be expected with the composer haha.

The pacing slows down a lot once you get to the slums, & I like how much the game...

...lets you do your own thing; lots of exploration (I really like the level design - the world feels very organic & lived in), side-quests, etc. or you can just beeline to the next main story beat. Side-quests are what you'd expect from this style of game (find/kill), but...

...so far they all have their own little areas/mini-dungeons, so they naturally expand the map. Plus, they have some challenging battles. These can actually be quite difficult, & I'm still learning the battle system. But I do really like it so far & every character is unique! ...

...Tifa is super fun to play; lots of depth, so she needs to be learnt. There are also a lot of character growth mechanics that I didn't expect to be in Remake - I think fellow fans of the original will really like that stuff (no spoilers, but there seems to be a lot of depth)...

In terms of characters, generally I really like how they've handled them and there's a lot of great scenes. Not all the dialogue works, but most of it I've really enjoyed. I think Cloud is a bit too much of an ass (even compared to the original), but I imagine that's because...

...they need to develop his character over many, many more hours. Tifa's awesome though, & Barret's had some really great moments that hint at his deeper characterisation.

Apart from that, just a lot of really cool, intelligent design decisions throughout that make the game...

...a joy to play (even something as small as a full heal after sidequest completion is nice). Love seeing my materia slots accurately represented on the characters too; that feels really nifty after all these years haha.

I definitely have some issues with the game, but...

...overall, #FFVIIRemake is fantastic (based on these first 3 hours). I think most fans of the original are going to be really happy (even if we have some reservations), & it's evident how much love & care went into this game. It just feels good to play, to look at, to hear...

...We'll see how my thoughts shape up as we go further, but personal first impressions? This might be the best FF game since XII (or maybe even X!) #FFVIIRemake #FF7Remake #FF7R

Hard to talk about this game with no spoilers, but I did my best!

Oh, oh! There's also a really cool Bestiary and it's one of the best I've seen in years! In addition to all the info (which I won't comment on), you get to look at all the enemies' 3D models up close, & see just how insanely close they are to the PS1 designs haha. Love it!

Hey everyone! I'm back again for my 2nd round of spoiler-free FFVII Remake impressions...and there's a lot I can't talk about XD #FFVIIRemake

BUT! I'm 12 hours in & I can say that I'm still *really* enjoying the game - even more than last time! It's had some incredible highs...

Boss battles in this game are just utterly fantastic; every one is a constantly escalating spectacle that piles more & more pressure onto the player until you finally break through. All have multiple phases which add new attacks & elements to the fight...

...They can last for over 10 minutes, & yet they never feel too long. In fact, I'd call them perfectly paced & can't wait to fight them again! So far, they've all been a thrill to fight & featured enough technical/gameplay depth to provide a fun challenge...

...I also appreciate that the structure of boss battles is varied. There's a mixture of party-based battles (3 vs a boss) as well as 1-on-1 duels; the latter really making you (as Cloud) feel like a badass haha. There even seem to be some really cool optional bosses...

I also want to highlight dungeon design, because I really like them so far! It feels reminiscent of PS1/2 JRPG dungeon design - linear, but also featuring enough exploration, light puzzle solving, & set-pieces to make progression feel really satisfying & engaging...

...And of course, combat encounters sprinkled throughout at a careful pace (sort of like Chrono Trigger dungeon pacing).

To give a vague example of dungeon design, there was an area where I saw a piece of Materia over yonder, but had absolutely no idea how to get to it...

...Essentially, it was in a place that I shouldn't be able to reach. But then later on in the dungeon, by toying with a puzzle-solving mechanic, I found an unusual way to reach the Materia. It was nothing elaborate, but it felt really satisfying to figure that out...

...One of the interesting things is just how much new content there is. Some of it I've had mixed feelings about, & Remake is definitely at its best when it's "remaking" the original content - but most of the new additions have been great in their own right, & found some...

...pretty clever ways to create more gameplay opportunities for the player (e.g. expanding previously minor areas into dungeons). Consequently, the characters have a lot more opportunities for interaction, & this stuff really shines; particularly between Cloud, Tifa & Barret! ...

I've seen a wide range of Materia so far, & some hints of there being a lot of content to explore and complete if you want to 100% the game. So anyway, just moving forward at a steady pace & sincerely enjoying myself =)

Hope that's informative yet vague enough! XD Anyway...

...I posted this earlier, but thought I should include it in this thread too. For anyone who wants to see what a standard copy of #FFVIIRemake includes + a comparison to original FFVII. Also I excitedly ramble my way through some spoiler-free thoughts!