Final Fantasy 7 Remakewas one of the most highly anticipated games of the year when it was released back in 2020. Fans of the game have, on the other hand, been debating whether or not it should have been open world ever since, the ongoing discussion finally popping up in arecent thread on Reseteraquite appropriately called “should Final Fantasy 7 Remake have gone open world for the Midgar part?”
The original Final Fantasy 7, released three decades ago in 1997, was most definitely not an open world game, featuring a linear storyline and some exploration elements. With advancements in technology and the success of open worlds, players have come to expect open world elements in just about all of their games.
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The thread on Resetera has generated quite a bit of discussion, with many fans expressing their opinions on the matter. Some argue that Final Fantasy 7 Remake should have been open world, as it would have allowed for more exploration and immersion, especially in the city of Midgar. Several others however feel the linear storyline of the original game was part of its charm and that changing this would detract from the overall experience.
“I remember hoping Midgar would be an open world, but in retrospect, absolutely not. I’m over every game franchise going open world and ruining the narrative as a result,” one user on Resetera noted. “That era of gaming was exhausting and I’m glad that developers have learned. Some games work as open world, some do not.”
“Don’t think it needed to be an open world, but maybe larger areas than we got,” another user on the platform explained. “The game was extremely linear with corridors in areas that really should have been open, even the little town areas in the different plates were just jumbles of corridors disguised as towns. The whole game left me feeling a bit claustrophobic.”
What’s clear is that fans have differing opinions on the matter and the question ultimately comes down to personal preference. While some players prefer a linear storyline that takes them down a set path, others enjoy the freedom and exploration of an open world game. The issue mostly turns around which design would have best suited Final Fantasy 7 Remake. This may not be an open world game, but it does feature some exploration elements, players for example being able to poke around the city of Midgar and interact with its various inhabitants, uncovering hidden items and completing side quests along the way.
The debate over whether Final Fantasy 7 Remake should have been open world will continue to rage on, potentially for years to come. While some players feel that an open world version of Midgar would have been appropriate, others clearly consider the linear storyline of the original game to have been part of its charm. The follow up to Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Rebirth, is expected to be released at some point later this year, but whether or not its developer, Square Enix, will break with precedent and make the game open world remains to be seen.
