Rebirth is one of the best JRPGs I've played in a very long time! I'm loving every bit of it and even the down sides aren't all that bad (cough cough 2nd half of ch. 11 lol). Also I played 16 last year and went into it not expecting to enjoy it very much. Surprisingly I had a better time than I thought! But even once I beat it, I thought it was a good game that had some great moments. But now that it's been a while and I've let it sit in my mind some more, I have a little more appreciation for it and kinda like it more than I did last year. But Rebirth is still the better experience for me! Awesome video!
@@DropoutJerome I strongly disagree with that statement. The dog chasing sequence with Barrett crying that he misses Marlene. The chicken quest where they end up eating the chicken at the end. The optional queens blood tournament if you wanna count that. The entire story of Queens Blood. The frog jumping mini game. It’s alot of shit.
I think I completely agree with you here. Though I’m not finished with Rebirth, if it continues to be as amazing as it is, it’ll be an 11 out of 10 for me. I felt the same way about 16s music. It was there and it was good but Rebirth is already incredible with almost every song.
I think your dueling review idea worked pretty well here as you gave a fair comparison of the two game clearly stating what you did and did not like, and why you would rank one of the games higher than the other. It will be interesting if I feel the same way once I get to these games (won't be anytime soon). Anyways, again great video and looking forward to the next one.
Let us give SE credit they made 2 3A jrpg and these 2 games are just 8 months away from their releases yet both play drastically different despite that these 2 games are a final fantasy games that’s an excellent job from them
I’m not sure how many other games out there can have this kind of synergy, but at the very least here you have a great idea going on. They are both competing for the future of FF and all I know for certain is that I hope Square never stops making games like FFVII Rebirth. Absolute perfection in gaming. The open world/zone balance to me is brilliant because it respects the fact that we don’t just want an endless massive space, but several points of genuine interest. No zone is too big, if anything some of them are too small. The amount of content on offer could have easily felt like a chore but they do such a great job of making each chapter feel like a perfect stopping point, which is huge for us with less time than we had before. I can tackle the game at my own pace, never feel lost when I pick it back up. Every moment is gripping and new and fresh. The combat is limitless, with the way you can build a class around a character and swap it at any time, resetting the skill cores was huge, the way they force certain characters together at random makes sure you really get the hang of each one and make a more informed decision. They keep everyone equally leveled so you don’t feel like you’re handicapping yourself either. Ugh, this game has so much respect for you time while still sucking you in and giving you some real meat to sink into.
I know, this thing is a masterclass in design from the perspective of respecting the player's time. And even though I'm finished with it, I REALLY just want to jump back in and play some more...
I got 16 after I was blown away by the demo. Visuals and battles were amazing. Just afew hours into rebirth now and can tell its gonna be a great journey again.
Yeah, I pretty much agree with everything said here. 16 is great, but Rebirth is a masterpiece. But with the two of them together, it feels like the series is finally back on pretty solid ground after struggling for so long. If 17 blends what worked about both into a cool new setting instead of trying to reinvent the wheel again, it could be amazing.
@@Ukaran Yeah, and also the comeback story of 14. But I think two bangers two years in a row gives some confidence that those weren't just a fluke, and these are more indicative of the series future than stuff like First Soldier and Stranger of Paradise.
Great video! I agree with your review of FFXVI. I finished it last week and had a great time with it. It was a great, solid game with characters I enjoyed but it wasn’t mind blowing. I’m currently playing links awakening as a palate cleanser before I start FFVII rebirth.
I found the cinematic eikon battles more difficult (I’m old!!!) to play and felt I was flailing around like an idiot even though they looked cool lol. So it’s more a me thing!!
@@heejincider4905 nothing that _still_ leans that heavily on qtes in 2023 can be considered mindblowing, at least not in a positive sense. the eikon battles were the thing i was most hyped for out of anything in the game, and i can't express how deeply underwhelming they were.
I’ll be honest, I never finished FF remake. It’s a great game and the story was awesome but I got sooooo bored of the side-quests, and that feeling of being stuck in midgar for the whole game knowing I had to wait for the sequel to finally get to my favorite part of the OG just turned me off… FF Rebirth has got me hooked though…I can’t stop playing and it captures the feeling I had when I played FF7 in 1997…
If you get the itch, I'd recommend going back and finishing out Remake, just because some of the "new" content that comes into play near the end is really pertinent to the future of the series beyond even just what happens in Rebirth
Thank you for doing this video, we really need more people talking this game up because for some reason people are sleeping on it! It really deserves to be up there with the Spider-Man 2’s, God Of Wars and Zelda’s of the world in terms of sales and it’s just not.
Yeah, it's just so incredible, I hope people aren't turned off by it being the middle part of one big story (though I have to imagine that's gotta be some of it)
I'm loving the duel reviews idea! Hope it works well for you. As for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Vs Final Fantasy XVI, I really liked how you wrote and directed this video. Good job! I personally don't think the games are similar enough for the result to be balanced. But duels aren't necessarily fair and you made no claims to impartiality. 😉 Thank you and see you on the next one!
Thank you! Yeah, I just viewed it as two action RPGs from the same publisher, but they do take very different approaches to the genre and to storytelling in general for sure.
Ff7 rebirth is definitely SE getting on the right track, combat’s great, party compositions and variety is so good, being able to control multiple characters are great. They should keep all these concepts and apply it to the next main entry. It’s just sad that just when SE nailed it, sales are looking not too good which will def hurt their morale especially this is ff7 we are talking about. There will be some cost cutting next time for sure. Hopefully part 3 can be delivered with the same quality as rebirth and hopefully it sold really well.
@@Ukaran i do agree with you however what people are basing the sales from is hellsdivers digital sales on ps store. It was reported helldivers sold 5Million in both pc and ps5, and 60% of that is from pc. Since rebirth falls second in sale, (second to helldivers). Meaning less than 2M digital sales is rebirth’s cap. But that’s NA and EU only though. We have reports in UK and japan physical sales which arent too good. Japan’s digital sales is unknown and the rest of the world as well. We also dont know the physical sales in NA and EU and the rest of the world. So potentially it’s still possible that rebirth sold around 3-4M in both digital and physical copies. Around 2M of that being from digital sales in NA/EU if the numbers are correct.
I've also been concerned about the sales rumors, but I remember there were the exact same rumors after Remake came out, and then here comes Rebirth knocking it out of the park. So I think it'll end up being all right in the end, especially once PC players are able to grab it.
Great video, Branden! I like the format of doing 2 games together that are connected somehow. I'm just so sad I don't have the PS5 so I can't play EITHER OF THESE! ARRRGGGGGGH! PC Ports feel so far away
Last one I swear! It’s totally off topic but everything surrounding the Cetra and the higher fantasy of FFVII’s past feels so rich and prime for a numbered title of its own, and I for one just really hope they someday explore that. Maybe FFXVII?
@@JustTheGems the only reason I feel that might not be the move is just that it should definitely not be tied to the story of FFVII. Like you should be able to enjoy as its own thing, while understanding that somewhere in FFVII’s world there is a story book that probably chronicles what happened. But they shouldn’t necessarily play into each other in any way.
I love this format, and the video overall is great. That said, I would argue that it's Rebirth that is the true Action RPG, while XVI is a straight up Character Action game. I personally prefer Rebirth over XVI any day. I think it's easily the best FF in the past 20 years, if not the best FF ever.
when it comes to music, i personally loved the battle themes of FFXVI. main battle, boss battle and especially the eikon battles. I thought they were phenomenal. rebirth has a massive soundtrack and of course, nostalgia plays a huge part. you touched on it many times in this video, but pitting these two together is just not fair. they are both trying to achieve different things in completely different ways. i love both titles! dual review is a cool concept, but i feel like i wouldve preferred a review focusing more on just one title. doesnt have to be a super technical review, but an honest thoughts video similar to this, but just a little more in depth! anyway, great stuff!
I totally get that. I think for me, using this unique format allows me to have a sort of different conversation about the game(s) in question. Because people are always going to compare one game to another, sometimes even when it doesn't make much sense to. So my goal with this and going forward is to present a sort of more positive take on the "comparison" video by saying, like, "Yeah, even though I enjoy this one game more than this other, I'm a fan of both."
@@JustTheGems looking forward to some more dual reviews then. might just end up really digging them once i see some more examples! keep up the good work brother.
This is a neat idea, looking forward to the next one. I wonder if you'll look at FF XIII and XV, I think it'll be neat. The level of hate of XIII has died down somewhat and XV first started off as being called XIII versus.
Rebirth is pretty good but I wish Final Bosses isnt same-mie as Remake. Remake combine with Rebirth is basically Disc 1 from FFVII original. 3rd Remake title is gonna be 2-3 disc. I felt different teams work on mainly mini games which is fine, I want game to be less filler and more story. FFXVI i enjoy it for combat and kaiju Bosses, kinda like Bayonetta 3.
This is such a great video. Final Fantasy XVI is a great game, and I think it has its own strengths (the quality of the vocal performances still stands out to me), but I very much agree that it's solidly an 8. However, I'm completely blown away by Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Remake was great, but there were aspects of it that I was not completely sold on (I thought the story was a little bloated, but I understand why). As someone who doesn't love open world games, I was even initially more skeptical of Rebirth when I started playing. But the way they handle the characters, the setting, the pivotal story moments, the music is all SO GOOD that I actually feel bad for ever having any doubts about the game. Easily sits up there with the best games in the genre in my opinion!
If easy did not block story then I would be okay with these games but it might. PS: I have not played either of these games, mostly looking at FF7r1. I know you can find the story online, but that should not be required. Just make difficulty the challenge/achievements. PSPS: Square Enix did talk about making the next in the series maybe hd2d after FFXVI, not sure that is still on track after ffVIIr2
You might be correct for FFXVI and FFVIIr2, but there was in FFVIIr1. It was minor but minor if I remember correctly, but even Weiss fight in FFVII-Dirge of Cerbus ended out being important.
I agree. FFXVI is a solid 8/10. It seems loke CBU3 got losy in their Vision of the game, that they forgot to tighten the nuts and bolts to truly make the game a masterpiece. The game had the potential to be one, the piecea were there, unfortunately they were not arranged perfectly.
It's understandable. For me, the style of gameplay has always been very secondary, so it hasn't really bothered me, but I can get where you're coming from.
I love 16 because it felt like playing FF Classics like 4 & 6. The characters, the heavy story, the dialogues, the vibe felt exactly like 4 & 6, even down to the ‘boring’ sidequests. The sidequests from those classics are just go there, talk to X, fight Y, get Z item. I also love 7 Rebirth because it’s simply great!
Great review and I 100% agree with what you presented. I love these 2 games, FF16 is my 2023 game of the year, FF7Rebirth is my 2024 game of the year. What a time to be a FF fan 😊
Was a great video. The big 2 Final Fantasy titles released recently going head to head. Its crazy how similar yet different they both are, and you pointed out the reasons why. FF16 is a 7.5/10 for me, and although FF rebirth has a lot going for it, i dont think I can give it a 10/10 unless the combat changes. Not sure what it is, but it just doesnt feel fun. Would it have been better if it was turned based? I don't know, but it would be a cool option.
Yeah, I think that's where a lot of people are landing. That's still a step up from how they've viewed most of the more recent numbered single-player titles in the series, at least.
I loved em both as well, and I also agree, the Rebirth is better. That said, I put down Rebirth to play Unicorn Overlord and I'm not disappointed in the slightest >.>; *Forgive me father, for I have sinned*
Ooohhhh, cool concept for reviewing games! Still guilty as charged over here having never played an FF game before, but I would say FF7 Rebirth would take the cake from everything I've seen. Awesome video man!
People keep looking for ways to say these games are all timers but they don’t have the narrative strength to be classic. I think back to yusumi mitsudas games like vagrant story,ff tactics ot the mighty xenogeara and I can’t get my head around how people don’t see the quality differences between the writing in those games and these titles so much so I often don’t believe people when they say they have played final fantasy vii. If they had they would know yuffie and Vincent are side quests and would probably think when nanaki finds out about seto that scene probably doesn’t need sephiroth. Tifa getting eaten by weapon can be replaced with virtually any other idea you have. We have a writing crisis at square enix and I think at the end of this they sell final fantasy to Nintendo because there’s no magic now
I can respect that opinion, but I'll say that I do personally enjoy the writing in Rebirth. It's just fun to me, and while it's definitely not a more "elevated" script like a Matsuno, I think there's value in it regardless. But to each their own I say!
FF7 Rebirth is 100% the older sibling. It's like the older sibling that's now home from college while FF16 is still going through elementary or high school. I think FF7's system is simple to understand, but not necessarily a simple system. FF16's gameplay system is much more basic. I think players new to FF7 can definitely enjoy it but they wouldn't get as much out of it if they haven't played the original. I think FF16 is better for new players, FF7 better for veterans of the FF franchise. They're hard to compare because it seems like they're for different audiences, but I definitely think FF7 is the better game.
Yeah, I agree with this. 16 is a solid entry point for people that are curious about the series (maybe not from a historical/gameplay perspective, but just overall), and Rebirth really rewards long-time fans.
Rebirth has some tedious parts like the part where you control caith sith but world overall more interesting in rebirth to explore and character party system atleast was in rebirth unlike in 16. Both enjoyable games tho
Valisthea just like Eorzea and Ivalice are just the names of continents not the name of the worlds. Eorzea is a lot like Zemuria from Trails we know so much about these countries and we haven't even scratched the surface of the whole world.
Yeah, that's true, but it kind of encompasses the "world" of the game (in that we don't get to go anywhere else). That's my excuse at least so I don't have to go back and add a note...😅
That’s what the original final fantasy composer said about soundtracks. I didn’t quite understand it either as there has been game soundtracks that were just as epic as any John Williams theme or any movie soundtracks, chrono trigger, Freedom fighters, Mercernaries, The elder scrolls etc…come to mind
My thinking is that game soundtracks (especially older ones) need to work in a variety of circumstances. And they can't rely fully on the action happening on screen like in a film. So the music isn't just accompanying the action happening, but it has to have a separate identity of its own as well.
MarcoMeatball just released a great video discussing this interview, you guys should check it out. A lot of what it boils down to, is that video games are a very experimental medium, as it puts control in the players hands. A lot of old VGM reflected this in being experimental itself, not necessarily playing by the same rules as music in other mediums, and just being different or wacky in memorable ways. A lot of recent VGM tho, plays it safe with very Hollywood esque music. Not that it's inherently bad, just that it's losing the experimental nature of VGM. This is what Uematsu meant I believe.
I laughed for joy when you said “10/10”! 🎉 I was just telling myself that if I had to measure REBIRTH’s impact on me and gaming, as a game of a literal dreams, I would have said it was the most fun I have had with a JRPG since Chrono Trigger, and then you said just that! 🤣 great minds think alike! I love FF16 too, 16 is fantastic and I am looking forward to revisiting it one day. Great format for this video! It’s nice to juxtapose different similar games as long as it’s not in the service of tearing them down. I hope everyone plays both!
Yeah I agree, I think looking at things positively makes a big difference. Like, of course no game is perfect, but I think it's possible and even good to be able to compare things and pick a favorite without destroying the other.
the problem with Final Fantasy 7 Remake and now Rebirth, is the story and use of the multiverse-timelines, why can't they make 1 to 1 remake from the og FF7 ??? also they made Tifa so desperate for cloud "what i have to do for you to believe me", now i'm fan of Jill from FF16 over Tifa even if she "useless", at least Jill don't act like so desperate !!!
I honestly think we wouldn't like a 1-to-1 remake as much as we think we would. We want something that makes us FEEL what we felt when we played the original, but having a full knowledge of the story takes that possibility completely away from us in a 1-to-1 remake. It's an impossible problem to solve, really.
The only thing that I can say i truly disliked about rebirth was reds voice after it changed. It was actually offensive in every way. I could not STAND hearing him talk. He actually made every scene feel so unserious. Horrible creative decision. As far as ff16 goes i have to say Clive is one of the best male protagonists FF has ever had. He was much deeper than a lot of the other ff characters and he was actually likeable. He was great.
Haha I can see that - honestly it grew on me after awhile, so I didn't mind the voice change. And I agree wholeheartedly, I LOVE Clive as a protagonist, easily in my top 5 protags right now.
@@JustTheGems Yes! Im glad you liked Clive too. I feel like he doesnt get as much positive attention as other protagonists. They did a great job with him and (spoilers) his ending is truly one of the most tragic from any FF game.
@@Xebusc I dont care if he's 5 his voice and personality after cosmo canyon is unbearable. I loved his voice and personality before that and its truly one of the worst creative choices ive ever seen in any FF game ive ever played. Just thinking about it gets me mad.
@@andyd3447 it ain’t that bad, gave him a more playful side and not so gruff all the time better character development in my opinion, sure it’s jarring at first but it fits
My best argument for 16 vs rebirth is that rebirth lingers on boring stuff a lot, doing things that aren't important to the story, our characters making their journey to a place with only a hunch, and in general just bloated sections of the game that aren't important. I.E. prison, I.E. Costa Del Sol, I.E Cait Sith solo mission. It's when you think things are getting interesting, they make you do some dumb shit that kinda ruins the momentum. I loved rebirth, but 16 was a way tighter game that really kept you on the path. Rebirth has a great story but you really have to grind through the filler.
But if you get through the boring sections, it’s overall a better game ff7 rebirth. Ff16 was more epic boss battles and battle themes but world was kinda boring to get though sometimes in 16
There are some pacing things that are worth noting for sure. I also remember having the thought that, like, their reasoning for looking for the temple is kinda... iffy. But with all that aside, I eventually stopped chasing the side content and just pushed through on the main story, mostly because I was just getting impatient to see what happened! 😅
@@JustTheGems well makes sense, me too thats why i just rush through the story because its interesting and after beating the story its better focus side quests in the end. So it don’t ruin the story pacing
I agree. I find Rebirth heavy with side filler way too much. I would rather have a tighter focus on the story and characters than adding 30-40 extra hours of filler just to make the game longer. A friend of mine said he stopped at Chapter 10 because it's so bloated with side content and I'm kinda the same rn. Hard to focus on a 60+ hour game. I may try FF16 when the new DLC drops because it seems more linear.
FF16 is a focused experience makes you feel like a powerful god while also including tender moments. very rare for video games to provide both of those kinds of experiences. FF7R feels so much less impactful and I don't have time as a working dad to explore all the side stuff. also, and most importantly, I have no nostalgia for FF7, so my enjoyment is less. It's still a GREAT game though.
Ff16 is a flashy game with almost no real substance to back it up the vistas are beautiful but there is nothing to do in the world, there are no meaningful upgrades to characters and almost everyone is bland. The main antagonist is so boring I get the themes but Jesus. The side quests were some of the worst that I have played in a long time. The boss fights while a spectacle to look at but offered not real skill to beat it’s basically spamming attacks then waiting for you cooldown you refresh. Ff16 is just a slog. Soundtrack slaps though.
Rebirth does have a lot more to offer people with nostalgia for the original, and that's something that I hope people without prior knowledge of FF7 are able to communicate online. Because if you only listen to people like me who are in love with it and have a history with it, you're not going to get the full story.
That may be, but I don't think any of them are not with the company anymore, I think they're just assigned to other projects. I'm wondering who will be put on FF17 though...
Hard to take Rebirth seriously when the game itself does not take itself seriously. You have war criminals like Hojo and the Turks and they are always allowed to walk away and that makes the whole experience a joke. Plus the jokes during serious moments. You have Berrett`s sad story climax and at the same time another characters jokes around while its happening. Really garbage writing and directing
I think the thing with the war criminal aspect is that Shin-ra IS the law, and so their actions are not seen as illegal by the powers that be. And honestly, I saw the joking during that scene to be kinda realistic personally, because I definitely know people who react to intense drama with an urge to lighten the mood. Different strokes, though.
@@JustTheGems i think you are missing the point. Cloud and the crew want and should kill Hojo, Scarlett, the Turks and the Shinra president, but they dont because of bad Marvel movie tier cringe writing. Berrett and Yufi even talk about killing some of them, but they're not allowed for some reason
As someone who plays and has played a lot of JRPGs, FF as a series is done for me and ended with FFX. The series has never been the same since and I will never buy another. It’s gone so far beyond what it once was, in a bad way. They’re not good games, they’re not RPGs anymore. For anyone reading this, play Dragon Quest instead.
I can understand your view. For me, the series has never been about the style of gameplay so much as it's been about telling a particular "kind" of story. Like, a story that's not solely fantasy or solely science fiction, but a sort of genre-mashing mix of references and oddities from across the spectrum (and even pulling in elements from a ton of different cultures).
Rebirth is one of the best JRPGs I've played in a very long time! I'm loving every bit of it and even the down sides aren't all that bad (cough cough 2nd half of ch. 11 lol). Also I played 16 last year and went into it not expecting to enjoy it very much. Surprisingly I had a better time than I thought! But even once I beat it, I thought it was a good game that had some great moments. But now that it's been a while and I've let it sit in my mind some more, I have a little more appreciation for it and kinda like it more than I did last year. But Rebirth is still the better experience for me! Awesome video!
Cait Sith box throwing 👿👿👿
@@hortinus certainly the lowest point of the game haha. Though the rest of the game is amazing!
I know, I fully agree! I'm still just blown away by how much I enjoyed it.
It's alright, def better than 16, but rebirth has so much generic open-world padding. & There's like 0 memorable side quests.
@@DropoutJerome I strongly disagree with that statement. The dog chasing sequence with Barrett crying that he misses Marlene. The chicken quest where they end up eating the chicken at the end. The optional queens blood tournament if you wanna count that. The entire story of Queens Blood. The frog jumping mini game. It’s alot of shit.
Great idea for a video / series. Look forward to seeing some future match ups.
Thanks! I have a few ideas, hope they're enjoyable!
I think I completely agree with you here. Though I’m not finished with Rebirth, if it continues to be as amazing as it is, it’ll be an 11 out of 10 for me. I felt the same way about 16s music. It was there and it was good but Rebirth is already incredible with almost every song.
Yeah, it's really hard to beat nostalgia, but I think even without it, the melodies are so strong and memorable regardless in Rebirth
@@JustTheGems Yeah. I enjoy watching some blind playthroughs and everyone of them love the music. No nostalgia from them.
I think your dueling review idea worked pretty well here as you gave a fair comparison of the two game clearly stating what you did and did not like, and why you would rank one of the games higher than the other. It will be interesting if I feel the same way once I get to these games (won't be anytime soon). Anyways, again great video and looking forward to the next one.
Thanks! Yeah, it's fun to do this, especially with two games that I actually enjoy.
Cool concept, and very good points all around for both.
Tho I will say Find The Flame and Ascension will forever remain Rent Free in my mind
Thanks! Yeah I honestly just need to put the soundtrack on in the car or something and really absorb it.
Fun format. Very well considered and articulated points. Subbed!
Thank you so much!
Ff7 rebirth is insanely good. I hope the series continues in that direction.
Agreed!!!
Love the dueling format, the thumbnail, the man, the myth, the gem--great video!
Thanks Tony!!!
Let us give SE credit they made 2 3A jrpg and these 2 games are just 8 months away from their releases yet both play drastically different despite that these 2 games are a final fantasy games that’s an excellent job from them
They really did do a good job with them both.
I’m not sure how many other games out there can have this kind of synergy, but at the very least here you have a great idea going on. They are both competing for the future of FF and all I know for certain is that I hope Square never stops making games like FFVII Rebirth. Absolute perfection in gaming. The open world/zone balance to me is brilliant because it respects the fact that we don’t just want an endless massive space, but several points of genuine interest. No zone is too big, if anything some of them are too small. The amount of content on offer could have easily felt like a chore but they do such a great job of making each chapter feel like a perfect stopping point, which is huge for us with less time than we had before. I can tackle the game at my own pace, never feel lost when I pick it back up. Every moment is gripping and new and fresh. The combat is limitless, with the way you can build a class around a character and swap it at any time, resetting the skill cores was huge, the way they force certain characters together at random makes sure you really get the hang of each one and make a more informed decision. They keep everyone equally leveled so you don’t feel like you’re handicapping yourself either. Ugh, this game has so much respect for you time while still sucking you in and giving you some real meat to sink into.
I know, this thing is a masterclass in design from the perspective of respecting the player's time. And even though I'm finished with it, I REALLY just want to jump back in and play some more...
@@JustTheGems I’m just wrapping up at Cosmo Canyon and can’t wait to see what else happens from here
I got 16 after I was blown away by the demo. Visuals and battles were amazing. Just afew hours into rebirth now and can tell its gonna be a great journey again.
Yeah, I pretty much agree with everything said here. 16 is great, but Rebirth is a masterpiece.
But with the two of them together, it feels like the series is finally back on pretty solid ground after struggling for so long. If 17 blends what worked about both into a cool new setting instead of trying to reinvent the wheel again, it could be amazing.
The series was back, with FF7 Remake.
@@Ukaran Yeah, and also the comeback story of 14.
But I think two bangers two years in a row gives some confidence that those weren't just a fluke, and these are more indicative of the series future than stuff like First Soldier and Stranger of Paradise.
I would just absolutely LOVE a 17 that learns the lessons from what made Rebirth great.
Great video! I agree with your review of FFXVI. I finished it last week and had a great time with it. It was a great, solid game with characters I enjoyed but it wasn’t mind blowing. I’m currently playing links awakening as a palate cleanser before I start FFVII rebirth.
how were you not mind blown by the Eikon battles??? i guess i value overwhelming power and spectacle over deep RPG mechanics and anime noises lol
I found the cinematic eikon battles more difficult (I’m old!!!) to play and felt I was flailing around like an idiot even though they looked cool lol. So it’s more a me thing!!
@@heejincider4905 nothing that _still_ leans that heavily on qtes in 2023 can be considered mindblowing, at least not in a positive sense. the eikon battles were the thing i was most hyped for out of anything in the game, and i can't express how deeply underwhelming they were.
Yeah, "solid but not mind blowing" is where I land, and even though I enjoyed it, I really hope that I'm "mind-blown" by FF17.
I’ll be honest, I never finished FF remake. It’s a great game and the story was awesome but I got sooooo bored of the side-quests, and that feeling of being stuck in midgar for the whole game knowing I had to wait for the sequel to finally get to my favorite part of the OG just turned me off…
FF Rebirth has got me hooked though…I can’t stop playing and it captures the feeling I had when I played FF7 in 1997…
If you get the itch, I'd recommend going back and finishing out Remake, just because some of the "new" content that comes into play near the end is really pertinent to the future of the series beyond even just what happens in Rebirth
haven’t even finished rebirth and I believe that it is much better than 16
Rebirth just struck gold right out the gate.
I like both games. 16 has excellent combat and graphics
Agreed!
Nice concept with the dueling reviews.
Also, dogs, dolphins, and taking photos of stars sound great, if that was the whole game I’d be playing 😉
I'll let you play those parts. ♥
Thank you for doing this video, we really need more people talking this game up because for some reason people are sleeping on it!
It really deserves to be up there with the Spider-Man 2’s, God Of Wars and Zelda’s of the world in terms of sales and it’s just not.
Yeah, it's just so incredible, I hope people aren't turned off by it being the middle part of one big story (though I have to imagine that's gotta be some of it)
I'm loving the duel reviews idea! Hope it works well for you. As for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Vs Final Fantasy XVI, I really liked how you wrote and directed this video. Good job! I personally don't think the games are similar enough for the result to be balanced. But duels aren't necessarily fair and you made no claims to impartiality. 😉 Thank you and see you on the next one!
Thank you! Yeah, I just viewed it as two action RPGs from the same publisher, but they do take very different approaches to the genre and to storytelling in general for sure.
Ff7 rebirth is definitely SE getting on the right track, combat’s great, party compositions and variety is so good, being able to control multiple characters are great. They should keep all these concepts and apply it to the next main entry. It’s just sad that just when SE nailed it, sales are looking not too good which will def hurt their morale especially this is ff7 we are talking about. There will be some cost cutting next time for sure. Hopefully part 3 can be delivered with the same quality as rebirth and hopefully it sold really well.
Don't fall for this narrative that sales aren't doing well. This is just something made up by console haters.
@@Ukaran i do agree with you however what people are basing the sales from is hellsdivers digital sales on ps store. It was reported helldivers sold 5Million in both pc and ps5, and 60% of that is from pc. Since rebirth falls second in sale, (second to helldivers). Meaning less than 2M digital sales is rebirth’s cap. But that’s NA and EU only though. We have reports in UK and japan physical sales which arent too good. Japan’s digital sales is unknown and the rest of the world as well. We also dont know the physical sales in NA and EU and the rest of the world. So potentially it’s still possible that rebirth sold around 3-4M in both digital and physical copies. Around 2M of that being from digital sales in NA/EU if the numbers are correct.
I've also been concerned about the sales rumors, but I remember there were the exact same rumors after Remake came out, and then here comes Rebirth knocking it out of the park. So I think it'll end up being all right in the end, especially once PC players are able to grab it.
Great video, Branden! I like the format of doing 2 games together that are connected somehow. I'm just so sad I don't have the PS5 so I can't play EITHER OF THESE! ARRRGGGGGGH! PC Ports feel so far away
I know! The wait for non-PS5 owners has gotta be killer, I do NOT envy that😫
You really did a great job! This is a very well made video!
Thank you!!
Love the dueling review concept!! Do more do more!! Trails? Tales? Yeah this is good stuff
Haha thanks! Yeah, I've got some plans...
Last one I swear!
It’s totally off topic but everything surrounding the Cetra and the higher fantasy of FFVII’s past feels so rich and prime for a numbered title of its own, and I for one just really hope they someday explore that. Maybe FFXVII?
Yeah! Or honestly even if it was something "in the FF7 universe," like, they've already made games like that before, so they should just do it!
@@JustTheGems the only reason I feel that might not be the move is just that it should definitely not be tied to the story of FFVII. Like you should be able to enjoy as its own thing, while understanding that somewhere in FFVII’s world there is a story book that probably chronicles what happened. But they shouldn’t necessarily play into each other in any way.
I love this format, and the video overall is great. That said, I would argue that it's Rebirth that is the true Action RPG, while XVI is a straight up Character Action game. I personally prefer Rebirth over XVI any day. I think it's easily the best FF in the past 20 years, if not the best FF ever.
when it comes to music, i personally loved the battle themes of FFXVI. main battle, boss battle and especially the eikon battles. I thought they were phenomenal. rebirth has a massive soundtrack and of course, nostalgia plays a huge part. you touched on it many times in this video, but pitting these two together is just not fair. they are both trying to achieve different things in completely different ways. i love both titles! dual review is a cool concept, but i feel like i wouldve preferred a review focusing more on just one title. doesnt have to be a super technical review, but an honest thoughts video similar to this, but just a little more in depth! anyway, great stuff!
Of course it's fair.
CBU1 showed CBU3 how it's done.
I totally get that. I think for me, using this unique format allows me to have a sort of different conversation about the game(s) in question. Because people are always going to compare one game to another, sometimes even when it doesn't make much sense to. So my goal with this and going forward is to present a sort of more positive take on the "comparison" video by saying, like, "Yeah, even though I enjoy this one game more than this other, I'm a fan of both."
@@JustTheGems looking forward to some more dual reviews then. might just end up really digging them once i see some more examples! keep up the good work brother.
This is a neat idea, looking forward to the next one. I wonder if you'll look at FF XIII and XV, I think it'll be neat. The level of hate of XIII has died down somewhat and XV first started off as being called XIII versus.
Yeah, I wonder if XV will see a similar improvement in its standing in the next few years like 13 has.
Rebirth is pretty good but I wish Final Bosses isnt same-mie as Remake. Remake combine with Rebirth is basically Disc 1 from FFVII original. 3rd Remake title is gonna be 2-3 disc. I felt different teams work on mainly mini games which is fine, I want game to be less filler and more story. FFXVI i enjoy it for combat and kaiju Bosses, kinda like Bayonetta 3.
Agreed about the end boss(es), I was kinda hoping they'd do more with Jenova given where the game ends, but oh well!
This is such a great video. Final Fantasy XVI is a great game, and I think it has its own strengths (the quality of the vocal performances still stands out to me), but I very much agree that it's solidly an 8. However, I'm completely blown away by Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Remake was great, but there were aspects of it that I was not completely sold on (I thought the story was a little bloated, but I understand why). As someone who doesn't love open world games, I was even initially more skeptical of Rebirth when I started playing. But the way they handle the characters, the setting, the pivotal story moments, the music is all SO GOOD that I actually feel bad for ever having any doubts about the game. Easily sits up there with the best games in the genre in my opinion!
I was skeptical they'd be able to pull off what they did in Rebirth, but they absolutely did, it just blows me away.
Rebirth hands down
👐
If easy did not block story then I would be okay with these games but it might.
PS: I have not played either of these games, mostly looking at FF7r1. I know you can find the story online, but that should not be required. Just make difficulty the challenge/achievements.
PSPS: Square Enix did talk about making the next in the series maybe hd2d after FFXVI, not sure that is still on track after ffVIIr2
To the best of my knowledge, no story content is blocked by choosing to play on Easy mode. So you should be good.
You might be correct for FFXVI and FFVIIr2, but there was in FFVIIr1. It was minor but minor if I remember correctly, but even Weiss fight in FFVII-Dirge of Cerbus ended out being important.
I agree. FFXVI is a solid 8/10. It seems loke CBU3 got losy in their Vision of the game, that they forgot to tighten the nuts and bolts to truly make the game a masterpiece. The game had the potential to be one, the piecea were there, unfortunately they were not arranged perfectly.
CBU1 showed CBU3 how it's done.
I can see that. I would be really curious to learn more about the goings-on behind the scenes of that one.
I miss turned based FF. The action style isn’t as good for me. They look beautiful but I don’t get the same enjoyment out of them.
Just play it as turn based classic option
It's understandable. For me, the style of gameplay has always been very secondary, so it hasn't really bothered me, but I can get where you're coming from.
I love 16 because it felt like playing FF Classics like 4 & 6. The characters, the heavy story, the dialogues, the vibe felt exactly like 4 & 6, even down to the ‘boring’ sidequests. The sidequests from those classics are just go there, talk to X, fight Y, get Z item.
I also love 7 Rebirth because it’s simply great!
Yeah honestly, "sidequests" back in the day were all pretty stripped down. At least nowadays there is a BIT more variety.
Great review and I 100% agree with what you presented. I love these 2 games, FF16 is my 2023 game of the year, FF7Rebirth is my 2024 game of the year. What a time to be a FF fan 😊
Right?? We’re eatin’ good these days!
The video I’ve been waiting for!
I hope you liked it!
I like both reviews since I haven't played either yet. Guess I need to start saving for a PS5
Yeah, it's a big financial investment, but man, I love these games.
Great video. Great games, specially FF7 Rebirth.
Thank you!
Was a great video. The big 2 Final Fantasy titles released recently going head to head. Its crazy how similar yet different they both are, and you pointed out the reasons why. FF16 is a 7.5/10 for me, and although FF rebirth has a lot going for it, i dont think I can give it a 10/10 unless the combat changes. Not sure what it is, but it just doesnt feel fun. Would it have been better if it was turned based? I don't know, but it would be a cool option.
Did you try the "classic" mode? I haven't tried it myself, but it's supposed to be fairly different, maybe that would be more appealing.
@@JustTheGems ill check it out then! thanks
Honestly, if I could describe FFXVI in one word, it'd be "decent". It's a fun game, but it's not making anyone's top 10 or probably even 20
Yeah, I think that's where a lot of people are landing. That's still a step up from how they've viewed most of the more recent numbered single-player titles in the series, at least.
I don't mean to be "that guy", but contrary to your point, not only is FFXVI in my top 10 video games of all time, it's in my top 3!
@@CEOMisterJohnSaxonsame
I loved em both as well, and I also agree, the Rebirth is better. That said, I put down Rebirth to play Unicorn Overlord and I'm not disappointed in the slightest >.>; *Forgive me father, for I have sinned*
I told myself I'm not going to pick up Unicorn until I have time to play it, but it's getting difficult to wait......
Why wait? Back logs don't build themselves!
Ooohhhh, cool concept for reviewing games! Still guilty as charged over here having never played an FF game before, but I would say FF7 Rebirth would take the cake from everything I've seen. Awesome video man!
Thanks man! You should give one of those ol FF games a spin sometime and let me know what you think!
@@JustTheGems Definitely man, it'll happen soon enough!
Great video.
Thank you!!
People keep looking for ways to say these games are all timers but they don’t have the narrative strength to be classic. I think back to yusumi mitsudas games like vagrant story,ff tactics ot the mighty xenogeara and I can’t get my head around how people don’t see the quality differences between the writing in those games and these titles so much so I often don’t believe people when they say they have played final fantasy vii. If they had they would know yuffie and Vincent are side quests and would probably think when nanaki finds out about seto that scene probably doesn’t need sephiroth. Tifa getting eaten by weapon can be replaced with virtually any other idea you have. We have a writing crisis at square enix and I think at the end of this they sell final fantasy to Nintendo because there’s no magic now
I can respect that opinion, but I'll say that I do personally enjoy the writing in Rebirth. It's just fun to me, and while it's definitely not a more "elevated" script like a Matsuno, I think there's value in it regardless. But to each their own I say!
Def disagree about 16 music def some of the best VIDEO GAME MUSIC of all time up there with ff8 Chrono cross and ff7 16s music is insanely good
FF7 Rebirth is 100% the older sibling. It's like the older sibling that's now home from college while FF16 is still going through elementary or high school.
I think FF7's system is simple to understand, but not necessarily a simple system. FF16's gameplay system is much more basic.
I think players new to FF7 can definitely enjoy it but they wouldn't get as much out of it if they haven't played the original. I think FF16 is better for new players, FF7 better for veterans of the FF franchise. They're hard to compare because it seems like they're for different audiences, but I definitely think FF7 is the better game.
Yeah, I agree with this. 16 is a solid entry point for people that are curious about the series (maybe not from a historical/gameplay perspective, but just overall), and Rebirth really rewards long-time fans.
Rebirth has some tedious parts like the part where you control caith sith but world overall more interesting in rebirth to explore and character party system atleast was in rebirth unlike in 16. Both enjoyable games tho
I COMPLETELY blew the Cait Sith box parts, took me way longer than it should have...😅
@@JustTheGems same here. So tedious
Valisthea just like Eorzea and Ivalice are just the names of continents not the name of the worlds.
Eorzea is a lot like Zemuria from Trails we know so much about these countries and we haven't even scratched the surface of the whole world.
Yeah, that's true, but it kind of encompasses the "world" of the game (in that we don't get to go anywhere else). That's my excuse at least so I don't have to go back and add a note...😅
Personally enjoyed FF16 more in tone and graphics. FF7R jump from fun to serious was jarring at times.
I've heard that complaint about FF7R before. It didn't bother me personally, but I can see why it bugs some people.
Can some one explain what he means by saying video game music and movie music is different at around 12:00?
That’s what the original final fantasy composer said about soundtracks. I didn’t quite understand it either as there has been game soundtracks that were just as epic as any John Williams theme or any movie soundtracks, chrono trigger, Freedom fighters, Mercernaries, The elder scrolls etc…come to mind
My thinking is that game soundtracks (especially older ones) need to work in a variety of circumstances. And they can't rely fully on the action happening on screen like in a film. So the music isn't just accompanying the action happening, but it has to have a separate identity of its own as well.
MarcoMeatball just released a great video discussing this interview, you guys should check it out. A lot of what it boils down to, is that video games are a very experimental medium, as it puts control in the players hands. A lot of old VGM reflected this in being experimental itself, not necessarily playing by the same rules as music in other mediums, and just being different or wacky in memorable ways. A lot of recent VGM tho, plays it safe with very Hollywood esque music. Not that it's inherently bad, just that it's losing the experimental nature of VGM. This is what Uematsu meant I believe.
@@Karnage1221 oh that’s neat, got a link to the video?
th-cam.com/video/-WGLds5HBNc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=CbroJ68cK4nPxIbL
I laughed for joy when you said “10/10”! 🎉 I was just telling myself that if I had to measure REBIRTH’s impact on me and gaming, as a game of a literal dreams, I would have said it was the most fun I have had with a JRPG since Chrono Trigger, and then you said just that! 🤣 great minds think alike! I love FF16 too, 16 is fantastic and I am looking forward to revisiting it one day. Great format for this video! It’s nice to juxtapose different similar games as long as it’s not in the service of tearing them down. I hope everyone plays both!
Yeah I agree, I think looking at things positively makes a big difference. Like, of course no game is perfect, but I think it's possible and even good to be able to compare things and pick a favorite without destroying the other.
I liked 16 more than Remake but with Rebirth i def like it more than 16.
Square Enix has been topping themselves lately!
Good video. Cheers
Thank you!!
FF16 was cool but Rebirth was legit flawless. Im 112hrs in and still cant get enough.
Yeah, I finished Rebirth but everything in me just wants to start over and play it all again!
the problem with Final Fantasy 7 Remake and now Rebirth, is the story and use of the multiverse-timelines, why can't they make 1 to 1 remake from the og FF7 ???
also they made Tifa so desperate for cloud "what i have to do for you to believe me", now i'm fan of Jill from FF16 over Tifa even if she "useless", at least Jill don't act like so desperate !!!
I honestly think we wouldn't like a 1-to-1 remake as much as we think we would. We want something that makes us FEEL what we felt when we played the original, but having a full knowledge of the story takes that possibility completely away from us in a 1-to-1 remake. It's an impossible problem to solve, really.
The only thing that I can say i truly disliked about rebirth was reds voice after it changed. It was actually offensive in every way. I could not STAND hearing him talk. He actually made every scene feel so unserious. Horrible creative decision. As far as ff16 goes i have to say Clive is one of the best male protagonists FF has ever had. He was much deeper than a lot of the other ff characters and he was actually likeable. He was great.
He’s 16, always been 16, while it was weird at first makes sense lore wise
Haha I can see that - honestly it grew on me after awhile, so I didn't mind the voice change. And I agree wholeheartedly, I LOVE Clive as a protagonist, easily in my top 5 protags right now.
@@JustTheGems Yes! Im glad you liked Clive too. I feel like he doesnt get as much positive attention as other protagonists. They did a great job with him and (spoilers) his ending is truly one of the most tragic from any FF game.
@@Xebusc I dont care if he's 5 his voice and personality after cosmo canyon is unbearable. I loved his voice and personality before that and its truly one of the worst creative choices ive ever seen in any FF game ive ever played. Just thinking about it gets me mad.
@@andyd3447 it ain’t that bad, gave him a more playful side and not so gruff all the time better character development in my opinion, sure it’s jarring at first but it fits
U ever play terranigma?
I have, and I loved it
My best argument for 16 vs rebirth is that rebirth lingers on boring stuff a lot, doing things that aren't important to the story, our characters making their journey to a place with only a hunch, and in general just bloated sections of the game that aren't important. I.E. prison, I.E. Costa Del Sol, I.E Cait Sith solo mission. It's when you think things are getting interesting, they make you do some dumb shit that kinda ruins the momentum. I loved rebirth, but 16 was a way tighter game that really kept you on the path. Rebirth has a great story but you really have to grind through the filler.
But if you get through the boring sections, it’s overall a better game ff7 rebirth. Ff16 was more epic boss battles and battle themes but world was kinda boring to get though sometimes in 16
There are some pacing things that are worth noting for sure. I also remember having the thought that, like, their reasoning for looking for the temple is kinda... iffy. But with all that aside, I eventually stopped chasing the side content and just pushed through on the main story, mostly because I was just getting impatient to see what happened! 😅
@@JustTheGems well makes sense, me too thats why i just rush through the story because its interesting and after beating the story its better focus side quests in the end. So it don’t ruin the story pacing
I agree. I find Rebirth heavy with side filler way too much. I would rather have a tighter focus on the story and characters than adding 30-40 extra hours of filler just to make the game longer. A friend of mine said he stopped at Chapter 10 because it's so bloated with side content and I'm kinda the same rn. Hard to focus on a 60+ hour game. I may try FF16 when the new DLC drops because it seems more linear.
FF 1 had robots in it? Where? When?
In the Wind Temple(a space station).
Yeah, what Ukaran said - and you can't forget the Warmech battle, which you only had a 3/64 chance of encountering!
If only they didn't lock them for years behind a stupid console.
Ff16 is basically noctis 2.0. Ff7r will always win im combat
FF16 is a focused experience makes you feel like a powerful god while also including tender moments. very rare for video games to provide both of those kinds of experiences. FF7R feels so much less impactful and I don't have time as a working dad to explore all the side stuff. also, and most importantly, I have no nostalgia for FF7, so my enjoyment is less. It's still a GREAT game though.
Ff16 is a flashy game with almost no real substance to back it up the vistas are beautiful but there is nothing to do in the world, there are no meaningful upgrades to characters and almost everyone is bland. The main antagonist is so boring I get the themes but Jesus. The side quests were some of the worst that I have played in a long time. The boss fights while a spectacle to look at but offered not real skill to beat it’s basically spamming attacks then waiting for you cooldown you refresh. Ff16 is just a slog. Soundtrack slaps though.
Rebirth does have a lot more to offer people with nostalgia for the original, and that's something that I hope people without prior knowledge of FF7 are able to communicate online. Because if you only listen to people like me who are in love with it and have a history with it, you're not going to get the full story.
Final fantasy been having daddy issues since sakaguchi left to get milk and smokes and never came back
😂😂😂
My goat😊
I read square has disbanded the ff16 team 🤦🏼♂️💩
That may be, but I don't think any of them are not with the company anymore, I think they're just assigned to other projects. I'm wondering who will be put on FF17 though...
Personally i enjoyed ff16 much more than ff7 rebirth, idk why tho.
I can see that! They're different enough that they're going to appeal to different sensibilities I think.
Hard to take Rebirth seriously when the game itself does not take itself seriously. You have war criminals like Hojo and the Turks and they are always allowed to walk away and that makes the whole experience a joke. Plus the jokes during serious moments. You have Berrett`s sad story climax and at the same time another characters jokes around while its happening. Really garbage writing and directing
I think the thing with the war criminal aspect is that Shin-ra IS the law, and so their actions are not seen as illegal by the powers that be. And honestly, I saw the joking during that scene to be kinda realistic personally, because I definitely know people who react to intense drama with an urge to lighten the mood. Different strokes, though.
@@JustTheGems i think you are missing the point. Cloud and the crew want and should kill Hojo, Scarlett, the Turks and the Shinra president, but they dont because of bad Marvel movie tier cringe writing. Berrett and Yufi even talk about killing some of them, but they're not allowed for some reason
@@danutghidia5820 I guess it just doesn't bother me. But I can understand that it bothers you though.
As someone who plays and has played a lot of JRPGs, FF as a series is done for me and ended with FFX. The series has never been the same since and I will never buy another. It’s gone so far beyond what it once was, in a bad way. They’re not good games, they’re not RPGs anymore. For anyone reading this, play Dragon Quest instead.
I disagree with almost everything you just said, you must be tough to please that or very closed minded.
I can understand your view. For me, the series has never been about the style of gameplay so much as it's been about telling a particular "kind" of story. Like, a story that's not solely fantasy or solely science fiction, but a sort of genre-mashing mix of references and oddities from across the spectrum (and even pulling in elements from a ton of different cultures).
Two completely different game with the same title
In some ways, for sure.
7 remake and rebirth is straight up trash fanfic
Often, when the original author writes more in a series, it's referred to as a sequel. 😅