His reaction to each moment mirrored my own. I love that about Max. FF7 is so special to me. My twin brother and I played it in 97. We were 10 years old and it was our first RPG. I spent my tween years reading fanfics and obsessing over FF7. On my 25th birthday I got Cloud's Ragnarok tattooed on my arm and my brother got Ultima Weapon on the opposite arm. We always wanted twin tats. Something that meant a lot to both of us. When this remake was first announced I was addicted to heroin and at one of the lowest points of my life. I was ready to give up. I cried when I saw the teaser. It gave me a reason to stay alive. I decided to get off heroin so I moved to a new city to do get clean. I was able to get transferred to the location in the new city so I kept my job. That's how I met my wife. The love of my life. All thanks to FF7. Now I get to play the remake with my wife! Good lord I'm excited.
@@ekoms108 I'm pretty sure from about 2:50 to 5:25 when the steam from the train covers the camera view is a pre rendered video file. Then it transitions to real time in engine (UE4) rendering. Game engine always render only what's viewable on screen, but a PS4 or PS4 pro isn't rendering graphics like what's at 4:00 in real time.
It's honestly for the best that it took them this long to remake it. Go watch the PS3 tech demo and realize how disappointing a PS3 remake would have been by comparison.
@@spectreshadow impossible, no kid back then could play the game without dying, hence you would kill yourself causing a time paradox, as you would never have been able to give yourself the game...smfh.
I just love how they put a lot of emphasis on ''The planet is obviously dying'' in the intro. Gives Avalanche a lot more credibility in my opinion. All the greenery is dead or dying and nobody seems to care aside from a select few. In the old game it's mentioned multiple times but you don't really SEE much of that, yeah the land around Midgar in the overworld is dead-ish, but seeing it in this cutscene has so much more impact.
@@HupCapNinja I mean turn based can work in 100 hour games, see Persona 5. That doesn't mean this new system won't work (having played it, it works very well most of the time, some minor niggles so far, but overall liking it a lot).
Long, semi-related comment ahead, but this ties into something I feel strongly about and want to really praise the game for. Typically, I take issue with the increasing trend of video game graphics -- or, really, animation in general -- trying to emulate photorealism, particularly with character models. I think it's a poor use of the medium that creates additional work while dooming your game to, inevitably, _eventually_ age poorly, as technology advances down the line. Even for more gritty or mature games, a less "realistic" and more "cartoonish" artstyle sidesteps the risk of the uncanny valley and also saves a ton on resources. I believe THAT should be the standard that animation should strive for, rather than an attempt at making something look "real." I've had a lot of conversations on that topic about how I think games like Cyberpunk, along with many other games in recent years, are setting it as the default goal, which isn't a good idea. That said, FFVIIR is one of the exceptions, because there's a definitive purpose behind it, helped in large part by it being a remake; that being the most well-known narrative strategy in existence: show, don't tell. Everything that was/would have been limited by the technology in the 90s can now be visualized in beautifully rendered scenes. They can now SHOW things using cutscenes and even in-game graphics that they only could have TOLD us in the original game. And, with it being a remake, they can also play on their audience's imagination a bit. It's the same thing they did with the characters' dialogue. Max said it himself when watching the E3 boss fight; "This is HOW I remember these characters!" They're clearly in touch with how much of the original game was left to the imagination, how people pictured the game in their minds, and they've cashed in on it. THAT is an excellent way of making a game, and I have nothing but respect and appreciation for them for doing it.
Advent Children was a marvel visually, and insane. Plus that tech demo was like a dream. It's not anymore, it's reality. This is how it was meant to be.
Hojo is many things but his theories are sound. Look at all of us gathering around and making thy pilgrimage to the nearest shop to buy the game that binds us
@@Bosston62 One thing I saw was that they changed the lighting on the train with warm lights that glowed on the soldiers and on barret that wasn't there previously.
Just got back from an FF7R concert and came here to rewatch this. The orchestra and choir are kinda subtle in the video (up until the logo) but hearing a live performance of this leading into Bombing Run was the highlight of my year.
When one winged angel played then changed into the intro theme just...wow Also that camera shift from the reactor to Aerith. Goosebumps man. It's really happening. In this lifetime huh.
I could be wrong, but I think the city we see there in the beginning is actually the slums before they became the slums. Like... before shinra built the Plate overtop everything.
@@Trojianmaru I think this is actually just the upper plate. If you look closely you can see the slums/other areas underneath the plate when it pans all over Midgar.
@@zerosolis6664 except it specifically shows the playground near the entrance to sector 7. Maybe you're right, but showing that specific place, in sunlight, makes me think it's before the upper plate was put into place.
I loved that! It sets such an interesting ominous tone immediately. It perfectly aligned with Shinra's rise when they start building reactors. Literally everything about this opening just gives me chills!
3:50 Mentioning the alluding to her knowing she's being followed. All these years later having watched the multiple iterations of the intro probably hundreds of times and this is the first I ever picked up on that. I always thought the "Aerith looking sideways" shot was just a stylistic thing but the remake finally hammers home she's aware of the danger she's in. I'm not normally one to say graphics and technology can make or break a game's emotional impact (and sometimes it can hinder it since developers rely on it as a crutch instead of good writing and scenarios) but it really seems like there's going to be so much depth added to the game for people already familiar with it. Think about the possibilities if they keep this up and how much more impact there will be from scenes like Barret returning to Corel and Nanaki's discovery after the cave of the gi. Now I'm on edge thinking about the updated version of Great Warrior.
I'm so glad they're doing it this way instead of trying to redo the whole game at once. It would be so basic, or it would take 10 years for it to release anything at all, which is seriously unreasonable for Square-Enix and for fans alike. These parts are not like Telltale games. They're beefing up everything in this game that they reasonably can. I'd have it no other way.
Part of me feels guilty about this remake, because I know people are working their tails off to make this thing happen. I hope the people working on this game know we appreciate all they are doing.
If the game lives up to the hype, we gotta let the staff know how truly grateful we are. We gotta shower their social media, square, everything in praise and encouragement and it will make the next parts even better. I'm feeling optimistic. And scared. This shit's crazy.
If i'm not mistaken, FF 7 remains to be their top selling FF numbered game, so they definitely understand the importance of it. Prob been hard at work for sure.
Plus it helps that people that worked on the original are on board for this. When the game comes out regardless if it lives up to the hype or not (lets face it some people will have unrealistic expectations for it) I wish there was a way to thank the people that worked on it personally. Cause seeing how good it looks and how much it looks like they're putting everything they have into this makes me want to thank them. Cause that time they're giving us on this game is time they wont ever get back. I pretty much feel the same way with every game I play. It's crazy that they can make something like this
The intro's still an FMV/CGI, they just updated it. It switches to in-engine when it transitions to the Bombing Mission. They do it cleverly by having the steam cover the screen to hide the switch, making it feel seamless.
Ever since that story about the development team being inspired by Max's reaction video I just imagine their mantra being "Let's make Max proud" everyday before work lol
This was the first game my brother and I really collaborated and bonded over. It was a special time. Sadly he's no longer with us but I will always remember how happy we were together, sneaking out of bed to play this game as a team. This trailer had me in tears too, man. Really appreciate your work, always look for your reaction vids when SE release something new. Much love to all.
Joel literally made me tear up to. I enjoy final fantasy as much as the next person but I know this is max favorite game and to see him so happy and passionate bout this game. Really makes me happy. Max is a true gem
As someone who never played the original game and knows little about the whole story, except for the stuff that everybody knows like Sephiroth killing Aerith and how their sucking up the life force of the earth, effectively killing it, the intro gave me goosebumps man.
I've never actually played Final Fantasy 7, i started with 8 and even then, my English just wasn't good enough to understand it, but still... watching this opening video made my eyes hazy, for some reason. I can feel how much people care about this game, and so i'm determined to give it a try too, as soon as it comes out!
tbhaver he can understand, it’s called being empathetic without being sympathetic. He may not actually have those feelings but he can understand those feelings quite well mainly because he’s played a ff game before and he also understands the meaning and impact of FF7 towards its fans
I played ff7 the year it came out, and it's been my favorite game of all time, you don't understand... this was my life, I had no friends, no sociallife, this was literally my life, I didn't just play the game, I read and wrote fan fics, made websites dedicated to it, fan art, cosplay, and when I played other games, I used ff7 character names as my name, ff7 is in my blood, all the locations, all the music, it's more real to me than my real life
@@tbhaver "I don't care if people don't agree, it's just the truth", you got any evidence for that claim my dude? No you don't dumbass, please keep your imaginary fact to yourself my guy.
The steam from the train at 5:24 is where it translates from full cgi to realtime graphics. That's clever. I am pretty sure they render as in most cgi movies by layers, so they can change things only touching one layer on the render, in this case, Aerith. It is absolutely impossible for current, or even next gen hardware to render midgar at that level of detail in real time.
Yeah. The cuts between the train braking and the pan in are the most ideal place to start background loading the in game assets, then seamless transition as the camera pushes through a bit of obfuscation
I believe its all real time, but they have two sets of assets like most other games. One set for cutscenes, the other for gameplay. As for the zoom out, a lot of LOD and culling is going one. Reason I say that, is because I haven't seen a game quickly and seamlessly cut from prerendered video, to real time assets in my life. There's always a cut to black.
@@Dasaltwarrior It's not all real-time. It's exactly as the OP wrote, everything before the steam is CGI, which is IMO very obvious since the graphics, particle effects, reflections, cloth and hair physics are all WAY above what a PS4, let alone any high-end gaming PC could do right now. We're simply not there yet, maybe in another 20 years.
When I first watched it I couldn’t help myself, I was trying to be so hyped but in all honesty, I just started crying with a big smile on my face. Couldn’t even let out a shout or a fuck yeah. Just flushed with nostalgia.
I watch it again and I think it is pre-rendered. Obviously the first part of the opening is pre-rendered. Then jump to Aerith, the cloth physic really kinda tell if it's a pre-rendered or not and plus all of the details and particles on the zoom out then zoom in to the train I doubt if this running purely on PS4 real time. Jump to Cloud before the smoke, look at his hair I don't think it's in-game. Even with FFXV hair physic in-game it's not even that close the details with Cloud's hair at that scene.
Anything with detailed movements like hairworks will be pre-rendered. The models themselves are good enough quality to hold their own so it wouldn't surprise me if in-game models are used in every cutscene, just with added shaders and increased polygon count.
Oh lord all mighty I can’t contain MY HYYYYYYPE for this game!!! Square has gone above and beyond with this remake! My second favorite game of all time will make me fall in love with it all over again!
It honestly took me years and I'm talking until I was around 19 or so before I even got to play the original. Wasnt really a big final fantasy fan but I think the first one I played was 10 and loved it. One of my friends back then was a huge fan and we got to talking one day and he asked me if I had ever played 7. I said no and the next day at work he brought me a copy of it and also gave me some tips for when I did start it. Took me 2 weeks to beat it. I was hooked. Brought it back to him and he told me I could keep it cause he had another copy. Still have it and it sits on my computer desk. After beating it I was like I get why people love this game so much
I've never really played a Final Fantasy game before (aside from 14 of course, but I feel that sort of doesn't count because it's an MMO), so when I heard about the 7 remake and saw how it was actually shaping up to look really damn cool, I wound up buying the Switch version of the original game, thinking I might try it out so I could see how good this is. I couldn't finish it. Now before you fly off the handle, I honestly liked some of the aspects such as the Materia system and Limit Breaks, but between the awkward translation and the admittedly awkward graphics of it's time, I just lost interest. But between this intro and the last trailer, I might not only give this game a second chance, this might become one of my favorite games of all time.
@@slp1857 Get the original on Switch. Play through it with the speed ups. It is like 20 hours. And then play the remake as its more like a reimagining.
@gomitax92 Im just curious, does hearing Max's opinions on it make you want to play it? Or does the trailer genuinely look amazing to you? Little of both, I assume.
@@gomitax92 Sweet, I love Max's opinions too, but as a lifelong fan of FFVII it's cool to see people who genuinely want to play it based on the work SE is doing. Proof they are doing a good job with the remake.
4:35 onward perfectly encapsulates what I feel like this Remake did such an incredible job trying to say. "When we did this twenty years ago, this is what we meant."
The game literally gives you a hint of the great threat that is out there somewhere at the very beginning without (most) people realizing... That's dope.
I love how they kept that small little electric sound that happens right before the logo appears. I don't know how to describe the sound; it's barely there for a split second, but it's in the original too right before its logo appears as well.
My dude Maximilian tearing up at 5:11 .....I also did the same, that intro hit me so hard, so many memories. Just a few months more, this looks incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!
it was minimal, I remember when she was shown someone made a comparison where they both shortened and enlarged her face by a little and she looked weird as hell
this whole reinvention of the intro is absolutely stunning!!,your reaction to to this makes me feel so privileged to play the game when it comes out 55 days left!!!
Big Bad Wolf Right? I’m glad I’m not the only one thinking that. I rarely see anyone ever mention how insane that boss fight is going to be or look like. Makes me even more excited when the game already from start looks unbelievably perfect and rich.
02:35 There is a plate to the right that reads "Sector 8", from 01:45 to 01:57 you can see the upper plate under construction with the big cranes in the shot. They are showing us Midgard before the construction of the upper plate! I even think the girl in the playground is a young Aerith which transitions nicely to the Aerith in the present after the Mako reactor fires for the first time maybe.
You know the upper plates are called sectors 1-8 too right? No, that is a different park on the upper plate. you can even see the kids riding their bike to the park in the shot before that and it very much not in the slums. When she looks up, she sees the Number 5 reactor to the left, hence she must be in sector 5.
@@RaggyFTWW If this is sector 8 in the upper plate where are the "Loveless" billboards?, where is the gigantic fountain? This looks like nothing like the sector 8 in the upper plate that we know from FF7 and CC.
@@RaggyFTWW Notice how everyone is wearing more old fashioned clothes as compared to later in the cinematic when Aeris walks out of the alleyway. Also notice that the lights in the park are flickering on as the Reactor flares to life. This is definitely in the past before the Upper Plate was constructed, and the "slums" would more accurately be called "Old Town".
Got goosebumps from this and I’ve never played a final fantasy game before, but knowing how much this means to you and many others, seeing it in all it’s glory here is really cool. Can’t wait to play this game blind ahaha
It's amazing how much this still effects me to this day. Seeing Aeris again like that literally breaks my heart and makes me tear up. I still remember in the first game when I went to visit her adopted mother after *that* happens. I can't even take thinking about that in the remakes.
I love how now when it pans all the way out to see all of Midgar you can see the depth now with the slums under the upper plates between each upper plate. I don’t think I noticed or could even see that in the original opening from 1997. Incredible detail.
For all you guys wondering where the game goes from CG to in game is when cloud rides on top of the train and the fog hits the screen. After the fog it’s all in game. Smart transition.
It's crazy that I come back to watch this among other FF7R videos of Max's and seeing how far Remake was when Max checked I was curious about Rebirth and when I checked it is 55 days and 22 hours away. The odds of that is just wild. I can't wait for this next chapter of this game man. My tinfoil hat is ready.
I legit started tearing up when the logo popped in and the music swells up heroically. So many emotions. Uematsu and the team have created something else man.
Watching FF7 stuff with Max's reactions is the best way to watch 100% he just puts into words/gestures everything I am feeling in the run-up to this classic legendary game.
That title drop man, when it first happened it genuinely made me feel 12 again...magical. Now ive just played rebirth and its pushing the bar even further. What a time to be alive.
When I saw this intro posted last night, I watched it and tears literally came out of my eyes just thinking about this game and how awesome it's going to be, can't wait.
It's so crazy, i'm a grown ass man now but the first time I saw this trailer last week, I started tearing up. The story and the characters I grew up with, are making a comeback looking better than ever...a touching Reunion indeed.
Can’t begin to explain how much I relate to your feelings Max. This opening just made me cry. I feel like this is everything we imagined and we once hoped would become a reality and now finally, here it is. April 10th. 🌹
I really hope FF8 gets the same Remake treatment as this. That's my first FF and where my nostalgia lives. Happy for everyone that's excited for this still.
Imagine how impactful the plate falling is gonna be in the remake. When I was a kid playing FF7 for the first time and saw that scene it blew my mind. Not just visually, but what it meant for the characters and the world, and ever since then Shin-Ra has been a name synonymous with me for corporate villainy.
Dude this had me in tears with excitement. This game had such an impact on my life when I played it back in '97 I can't wait to play this. I've had in on pre-order sense it was available for pre-order.
Pretty sure it's CG up to the moment the camera goes through the smoke at the station, then it's in game. Apologies if it's already been said or proven other wise
Will it actually be that massive like a full open world game? Movie clips can give the illusion of space, but in game the environment could be entirely different.
@@annieme-tions I am being realistic. It won't be an open world like GTA5 or Red Dead redemption 2. I will be bigger than yakuza, but in a similar style.
@@geraltofrivia4936 Again, you nor anyone knows that. It could very well be like FF15. "Realistic"? Really? In FF? In Video games? Anything can happen and is possible. Be patient and wait to find out what they have in store.
Played this game back in 97-98 when i was around 9 y/o. Did not understand much of the plot to begin with, since english is not my native tongue. But back then the visuals, the atmosphere and the music was enough to keep anyone that young interested. It was like nothing I had experienced before. I must´ve spent a couple of hundred hours during that time trying to complete 100% of the game. I´m not exaggerating when I´m saying this game changed my life. Since that time my dream was to get into game design, and that is what I did 15 years later. To see this game come into life once again, and to experience my childhood memories like this... I have no words. Thank you Square Enix.
I've got some EPIC tears of joy right now! Literally so happy this is a thing and it's so close. Okay it's time to knock myself into a coma for the next month and a half.
I remember wondering what it would be like to live in that world. The game was like...playing pretend with legos. It shaped the imagination and captivated with story. Now it's so real you can almost smell the exhaust. To see people just going about their lives in that world fills me with...nostalgia. Nostalgia for a place I remember but have never been, like a city that lives in my dreams.
I practically cried as soon as I saw the title. Most amazing opening in game existence. 5 stars and above. Who needs a ps5 if you have this game to play. Seriously!
This trailer is how people saw the original in '97.
Now 23 years later, that scale has become a reality.
I couldn't have said it better
true😍
Yup. And the reactions' are the same.
Absolutely best comment. THIS. EXACTLY THIS.
Bruh
Everyone deserves a person that looks at them the way Max looks at FF7.
Max's reaction to FF7 reminds me what love is
His reaction to each moment mirrored my own. I love that about Max. FF7 is so special to me. My twin brother and I played it in 97. We were 10 years old and it was our first RPG. I spent my tween years reading fanfics and obsessing over FF7. On my 25th birthday I got Cloud's Ragnarok tattooed on my arm and my brother got Ultima Weapon on the opposite arm. We always wanted twin tats. Something that meant a lot to both of us. When this remake was first announced I was addicted to heroin and at one of the lowest points of my life. I was ready to give up. I cried when I saw the teaser. It gave me a reason to stay alive. I decided to get off heroin so I moved to a new city to do get clean. I was able to get transferred to the location in the new city so I kept my job. That's how I met my wife. The love of my life. All thanks to FF7. Now I get to play the remake with my wife! Good lord I'm excited.
But the reality is that some people will just be alone forever.
@@apocalypseap but they DESERVE to have someone
@@notsogreatsword1607.?
That camera wipe from CGI to in game graphics is masterfully done.
Such a seemless transition.
Just like the original too!
Reminds me of lost odyssey intro
It's even better in PS5 where the volumetrics stays the same
@@ekoms108 I'm pretty sure from about 2:50 to 5:25 when the steam from the train covers the camera view is a pre rendered video file. Then it transitions to real time in engine (UE4) rendering. Game engine always render only what's viewable on screen, but a PS4 or PS4 pro isn't rendering graphics like what's at 4:00 in real time.
When the camera panned out on Midgar, and the title came in... Wow. That struck something in the very core of my soul.
Adam Huffman and a tear rolled out unannounced
At that point I was already made of goosebumps.
The music when the logo hits at the zoom out hits me right in the feels.
Same.
Brought me back 23 years
2005: Whoah! FFVII Advent Children looks amazing. Imagine if they remade FFVII with these graphics.
2020: Mother of god!...
It's honestly for the best that it took them this long to remake it. Go watch the PS3 tech demo and realize how disappointing a PS3 remake would have been by comparison.
Same feels. It's breathtaking
Past us and present selves are losing our collective minds
Imagine taking this game to your kid self back in 1997 when the original came out.
@@spectreshadow impossible, no kid back then could play the game without dying, hence you would kill yourself causing a time paradox, as you would never have been able to give yourself the game...smfh.
Imagine final fantasy the spirits within is a billion dollar sucess....
I have one problem with this opening. I can't ever see it clearly through my tears
I just love how they put a lot of emphasis on ''The planet is obviously dying'' in the intro. Gives Avalanche a lot more credibility in my opinion. All the greenery is dead or dying and nobody seems to care aside from a select few. In the old game it's mentioned multiple times but you don't really SEE much of that, yeah the land around Midgar in the overworld is dead-ish, but seeing it in this cutscene has so much more impact.
@Sparka Damn this is one moronic reply.
Sparka Hahaha what a twat
@@HupCapNinja I mean turn based can work in 100 hour games, see Persona 5. That doesn't mean this new system won't work (having played it, it works very well most of the time, some minor niggles so far, but overall liking it a lot).
@Sparka Come on, grandpa, its time to take your pills.
Long, semi-related comment ahead, but this ties into something I feel strongly about and want to really praise the game for.
Typically, I take issue with the increasing trend of video game graphics -- or, really, animation in general -- trying to emulate photorealism, particularly with character models. I think it's a poor use of the medium that creates additional work while dooming your game to, inevitably, _eventually_ age poorly, as technology advances down the line. Even for more gritty or mature games, a less "realistic" and more "cartoonish" artstyle sidesteps the risk of the uncanny valley and also saves a ton on resources. I believe THAT should be the standard that animation should strive for, rather than an attempt at making something look "real." I've had a lot of conversations on that topic about how I think games like Cyberpunk, along with many other games in recent years, are setting it as the default goal, which isn't a good idea.
That said, FFVIIR is one of the exceptions, because there's a definitive purpose behind it, helped in large part by it being a remake; that being the most well-known narrative strategy in existence: show, don't tell. Everything that was/would have been limited by the technology in the 90s can now be visualized in beautifully rendered scenes. They can now SHOW things using cutscenes and even in-game graphics that they only could have TOLD us in the original game. And, with it being a remake, they can also play on their audience's imagination a bit. It's the same thing they did with the characters' dialogue. Max said it himself when watching the E3 boss fight; "This is HOW I remember these characters!" They're clearly in touch with how much of the original game was left to the imagination, how people pictured the game in their minds, and they've cashed in on it.
THAT is an excellent way of making a game, and I have nothing but respect and appreciation for them for doing it.
When the FF7 Remake Logo and the meteor strikes the screen, and you hear the theme drop, its so damn emotionally powerful!
It sure hits like a meteor.
Goosebumps
And it crashes right onto Midgar in the background. Perfect.
And I like that they prolonged the music a little after paning out from Aerith. That way you understand the size of the city even more.
Oh yeah, this soundtrack was amazing.
That note when the meteor flashes onto the screen- head to toe goosebumps... this game can’t arrive fast enough!
That one shot is what actually brought tears to my eyes.
We've waited for so long...and it's finally here.
This is honestly a dream come true. Ever since Advent Children & that tech demo on PS3 I can honestly say "IT'S A GODDAMN GAME" FINALLY.
Advent Children was a marvel visually, and insane. Plus that tech demo was like a dream. It's not anymore, it's reality. This is how it was meant to be.
And this looks better than Advent Children.
@@Wizard_Pikachu and better the tech demo
@@Wizard_Pikachu as it should. that was 15 years ago.
4 real bro
Welcome to The Reunion, it's been a long time coming.
I only hope that they continue not to disappoint.
Hojo is many things but his theories are sound. Look at all of us gathering around and making thy pilgrimage to the nearest shop to buy the game that binds us
@@trapscancreate5760 Still can't stop hearing Hojo's name in my head as Vincent from the Abridged Series says it.
*H O J O*
“It may bring joy... it may bring fear.... but let us embrace whatever it brings. For they are coming back.”
@@furious_malic7808 MY MAN
Every once in a while I like to rewatch videos like this.. to remind me to appreciate how insane it actually is that this really happened.
One wing angel starts playing slow... Immediate goosebumps.
*pants grow tight*
the oh shit has already begun
im so glad im not the only person that noticed
@@Bosston62 One thing I saw was that they changed the lighting on the train with warm lights that glowed on the soldiers and on barret that wasn't there previously.
Is it when Aerith suddenly turns to the alleyway?
Just got back from an FF7R concert and came here to rewatch this. The orchestra and choir are kinda subtle in the video (up until the logo) but hearing a live performance of this leading into Bombing Run was the highlight of my year.
I personally like the Shinra Theme compilation from the remake concert.
love seeing Max react to FFVII, always feels wholesome
Agree.. Watching him feels like watching a kid seeing disneyland. Exhilarating
Yeah you can tell he really loves this game. Nice to see real reactions instead of the fake ones all around TH-cam
CynicalAF username fits, also... get out.
CynicalAF you need to go back to playing with your dolls
YES I LOVE HOW HE IS IN LOVE MAN
God I can only imagine myself reacting even stronger if it was VI.
When one winged angel played then changed into the intro theme just...wow
Also that camera shift from the reactor to Aerith. Goosebumps man.
It's really happening. In this lifetime huh.
The beginning bit gave me Advent Children vibes. Everything looks so normal, but you know something sinister is lurking.
Can't wait for this game!
I could be wrong, but I think the city we see there in the beginning is actually the slums before they became the slums. Like... before shinra built the Plate overtop everything.
@@aliciafraser1835 I thought so too. The way the kids see the green light flare up, how we can see the sky, and how we see flowers, but they're dying.
@@Trojianmaru I think this is actually just the upper plate. If you look closely you can see the slums/other areas underneath the plate when it pans all over Midgar.
@@zerosolis6664 except it specifically shows the playground near the entrance to sector 7. Maybe you're right, but showing that specific place, in sunlight, makes me think it's before the upper plate was put into place.
When I saw it this morning, it immediately made me realize that we had never seen Midgar in the daylight.
I honestly thought for the longest time we could not see sun in midgar was because the air was so polluted.
I love the bits of One Winged Angel mixed in with the intro song.
You notice it too, that sounds amazing
Love it!
Same. Ominous hints of what's to come.
I loved that! It sets such an interesting ominous tone immediately. It perfectly aligned with Shinra's rise when they start building reactors.
Literally everything about this opening just gives me chills!
It goes with the theme of Shinra being the target of THIS game but there's something more sinister behind everything
3:50 Mentioning the alluding to her knowing she's being followed. All these years later having watched the multiple iterations of the intro probably hundreds of times and this is the first I ever picked up on that. I always thought the "Aerith looking sideways" shot was just a stylistic thing but the remake finally hammers home she's aware of the danger she's in.
I'm not normally one to say graphics and technology can make or break a game's emotional impact (and sometimes it can hinder it since developers rely on it as a crutch instead of good writing and scenarios) but it really seems like there's going to be so much depth added to the game for people already familiar with it. Think about the possibilities if they keep this up and how much more impact there will be from scenes like Barret returning to Corel and Nanaki's discovery after the cave of the gi. Now I'm on edge thinking about the updated version of Great Warrior.
I really wanna see the scene after the Gi cave
I'm so glad they're doing it this way instead of trying to redo the whole game at once. It would be so basic, or it would take 10 years for it to release anything at all, which is seriously unreasonable for Square-Enix and for fans alike. These parts are not like Telltale games. They're beefing up everything in this game that they reasonably can. I'd have it no other way.
I came back to this to say that the part where u taked about Aerith is completely fucking right lmao
Part of me feels guilty about this remake, because I know people are working their tails off to make this thing happen. I hope the people working on this game know we appreciate all they are doing.
Yeah, crunch is already an overdone thing in the games industry. You know the team probably had to go through a lot of it, which sucks.
If the game lives up to the hype, we gotta let the staff know how truly grateful we are. We gotta shower their social media, square, everything in praise and encouragement and it will make the next parts even better. I'm feeling optimistic. And scared. This shit's crazy.
If i'm not mistaken, FF 7 remains to be their top selling FF numbered game, so they definitely understand the importance of it. Prob been hard at work for sure.
Plus it helps that people that worked on the original are on board for this. When the game comes out regardless if it lives up to the hype or not (lets face it some people will have unrealistic expectations for it) I wish there was a way to thank the people that worked on it personally. Cause seeing how good it looks and how much it looks like they're putting everything they have into this makes me want to thank them. Cause that time they're giving us on this game is time they wont ever get back. I pretty much feel the same way with every game I play. It's crazy that they can make something like this
i dont understand what you feel guilty about. they're getting paid. they're going to make a shit ton of money
The intro's still an FMV/CGI, they just updated it. It switches to in-engine when it transitions to the Bombing Mission. They do it cleverly by having the steam cover the screen to hide the switch, making it feel seamless.
Just like the old ps1 final fantasy games, clever
Someday we won't notice it anymore i guess xD
Trying to render that massive Midgar model in real-time is gonna blow up the PS4 so that part is an FMV but after the steam is real-time rendering.
Seeing Max almost tear up made me get how special this remake really is.
@@GMOTP5738 brilliant comment
@@doublehockeystix true masterpiece. pinnacle of human thought and expression.
@@frenlyfren we should all strive to make comments that will live up to their example
Ever since that story about the development team being inspired by Max's reaction video I just imagine their mantra being "Let's make Max proud" everyday before work lol
Alseen I Final Fantasy is a masterpiece.
This was the first game my brother and I really collaborated and bonded over. It was a special time. Sadly he's no longer with us but I will always remember how happy we were together, sneaking out of bed to play this game as a team. This trailer had me in tears too, man. Really appreciate your work, always look for your reaction vids when SE release something new. Much love to all.
Finally noticed the Mako poisoning in Cloud's eyes. I never noticed them in any other trailers, but they're definitely there.
I'll take a little Mako eye poisoning if it enables me to leap high into the air and swing a 300 pound sword with ease Anyday! ;)
@@solarstormray2849 😄
@@solarstormray2849
Uh... Mako degradation cutting down your lifespan wouldn’t be a problem?
@@justafan9399 I would hope that didn't affect me.😅 Cloud, Zack and Sephiroth seem to be living long healthy lives.😉
Me: See Max wiping his tears while watching the video.
Me also wiping my tears while watching the video: "He understands"
nerds.
Joel literally made me tear up to. I enjoy final fantasy as much as the next person but I know this is max favorite game and to see him so happy and passionate bout this game. Really makes me happy. Max is a true gem
i tired i couldnt hold the tears back...smh grown ass man but..this game..is a very very special game to alot of us
*me scrolling down to the comments to avoid the feels and sees this*
Holding my 4 day old baby and watching my fav game remade. Legit got choked up. All the memories
Max: "Goosebumps."
You and me both, Max. . .
Imagine seeing the aerith and sephiroth scene..
Seriously. I feel like I'm a kid all over again. Very few games could do this to me, but this is absolutely one of them.
When the logo “Final Fantasy VII Remake” appear, i had goosebumps, seriously goosebumps and got teared up lil bit :,)
That is really strong part. I cried first time too
Not so much goosebumps but the music when the logo hits leaves me with a face of dried tears.
I'm so excited about Final Fantasy 7 Remake, your reactions have made my excitement even more, thank you for being so open and excited for the game!
As someone who never played the original game and knows little about the whole story, except for the stuff that everybody knows like Sephiroth killing Aerith and how their sucking up the life force of the earth, effectively killing it, the intro gave me goosebumps man.
This opening feels like meeting an old time friend in a 20 years reunion 😀
And that friend got hotter
Except with different voice actors
I agree 100 percent the wonderful chills I'm getting
Reunion
Straight ^
Max says "How can you not get goosebumps?" on the title appearing with the main theme, but goosebumps are small shit. I got tears.
I've never actually played Final Fantasy 7, i started with 8 and even then, my English just wasn't good enough to understand it, but still... watching this opening video made my eyes hazy, for some reason.
I can feel how much people care about this game, and so i'm determined to give it a try too, as soon as it comes out!
Anonymous247n Yeah. I never played a Final Fantasy game in my life. And yet I do understand how much people truly love this game.
tbhaver he can understand, it’s called being empathetic without being sympathetic. He may not actually have those feelings but he can understand those feelings quite well mainly because he’s played a ff game before and he also understands the meaning and impact of FF7 towards its fans
I played ff7 the year it came out, and it's been my favorite game of all time, you don't understand... this was my life, I had no friends, no sociallife, this was literally my life, I didn't just play the game, I read and wrote fan fics, made websites dedicated to it, fan art, cosplay, and when I played other games, I used ff7 character names as my name, ff7 is in my blood, all the locations, all the music, it's more real to me than my real life
@@tbhaver "I don't care if people don't agree, it's just the truth", you got any evidence for that claim my dude? No you don't dumbass, please keep your imaginary fact to yourself my guy.
I wont promise youll love it but i guarantee it will be an experience you wont forget...
Hearing the hymn of "One Winged Angel" in the background of the beginning of the intro is just straight HEEBIEJEEBIES
The steam from the train at 5:24 is where it translates from full cgi to realtime graphics. That's clever. I am pretty sure they render as in most cgi movies by layers, so they can change things only touching one layer on the render, in this case, Aerith. It is absolutely impossible for current, or even next gen hardware to render midgar at that level of detail in real time.
Yeah. The cuts between the train braking and the pan in are the most ideal place to start background loading the in game assets, then seamless transition as the camera pushes through a bit of obfuscation
I believe its all real time, but they have two sets of assets like most other games. One set for cutscenes, the other for gameplay.
As for the zoom out, a lot of LOD and culling is going one.
Reason I say that, is because I haven't seen a game quickly and seamlessly cut from prerendered video, to real time assets in my life. There's always a cut to black.
The best transition from cg to gameplay still has to go to Lost Odyssey. That blew my mind at the time.
@@Dasaltwarrior It's not all real-time. It's exactly as the OP wrote, everything before the steam is CGI, which is IMO very obvious since the graphics, particle effects, reflections, cloth and hair physics are all WAY above what a PS4, let alone any high-end gaming PC could do right now. We're simply not there yet, maybe in another 20 years.
When I first watched it I couldn’t help myself, I was trying to be so hyped but in all honesty, I just started crying with a big smile on my face. Couldn’t even let out a shout or a fuck yeah. Just flushed with nostalgia.
5:23 Probably hidden cut from pre-rendered to in-game. And probably they have some kind of cutscene trick to make it good. Capcom use it in DMC5.
@@bers6666 Don't think they have but they tweak something just for a cutscenes.
Yeet plus depending on whether or not your running, jumping, or walking into a cutscene, Nero will show that
I watch it again and I think it is pre-rendered. Obviously the first part of the opening is pre-rendered. Then jump to Aerith, the cloth physic really kinda tell if it's a pre-rendered or not and plus all of the details and particles on the zoom out then zoom in to the train I doubt if this running purely on PS4 real time. Jump to Cloud before the smoke, look at his hair I don't think it's in-game. Even with FFXV hair physic in-game it's not even that close the details with Cloud's hair at that scene.
Anything with detailed movements like hairworks will be pre-rendered. The models themselves are good enough quality to hold their own so it wouldn't surprise me if in-game models are used in every cutscene, just with added shaders and increased polygon count.
@@bers6666 Well it would make sense for the costume changes during cutscenes.
I got goosebumps all over and a tear came to my eye when Aeris looked to the camera, what a Gods delicacy.
Oh lord all mighty I can’t contain MY HYYYYYYPE for this game!!!
Square has gone above and beyond with this remake! My second favorite game of all time will make me fall in love with it all over again!
What is your favorite game?
no question, Super Metroid
Chrono Trigger was my favorite, but this was a very close second.
It honestly took me years and I'm talking until I was around 19 or so before I even got to play the original. Wasnt really a big final fantasy fan but I think the first one I played was 10 and loved it. One of my friends back then was a huge fan and we got to talking one day and he asked me if I had ever played 7. I said no and the next day at work he brought me a copy of it and also gave me some tips for when I did start it. Took me 2 weeks to beat it. I was hooked. Brought it back to him and he told me I could keep it cause he had another copy. Still have it and it sits on my computer desk. After beating it I was like I get why people love this game so much
I've never really played a Final Fantasy game before (aside from 14 of course, but I feel that sort of doesn't count because it's an MMO), so when I heard about the 7 remake and saw how it was actually shaping up to look really damn cool, I wound up buying the Switch version of the original game, thinking I might try it out so I could see how good this is.
I couldn't finish it.
Now before you fly off the handle, I honestly liked some of the aspects such as the Materia system and Limit Breaks, but between the awkward translation and the admittedly awkward graphics of it's time, I just lost interest.
But between this intro and the last trailer, I might not only give this game a second chance, this might become one of my favorite games of all time.
Max's rawness when he talks about and reacts to this gaming coming soon is at LEAST 40% of the reason why I'm interested in buying it.
For real, don't know if I should get the original on switch or just wait
@@slp1857 I'm considering a day 1 purchase.
@@slp1857 Get the original on Switch. Play through it with the speed ups. It is like 20 hours. And then play the remake as its more like a reimagining.
me who never played ff7: *watches trailer*
me: i get... i finally get it...
*Handsome Jack*: I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING
Despite being too young and growing up on Nintendo rather than Sony, this game gives me such a happy feeling. Can’t wait for this to come out
@gomitax92
Im just curious, does hearing Max's opinions on it make you want to play it? Or does the trailer genuinely look amazing to you? Little of both, I assume.
@@Vigilante1717 i have to say both, but mostly the trailer.
@@gomitax92 Sweet, I love Max's opinions too, but as a lifelong fan of FFVII it's cool to see people who genuinely want to play it based on the work SE is doing. Proof they are doing a good job with the remake.
4:35 onward perfectly encapsulates what I feel like this Remake did such an incredible job trying to say.
"When we did this twenty years ago, this is what we meant."
Is that an ambient version of One-Winged Angel I hear in the opening moments of the intro?
Yup!
The game literally gives you a hint of the great threat that is out there somewhere at the very beginning without (most) people realizing... That's dope.
Absolute masterpiece, chills when I heard it when I first watched the intro remake. He's already here! RUN AERITH!!
I love how they kept that small little electric sound that happens right before the logo appears. I don't know how to describe the sound; it's barely there for a split second, but it's in the original too right before its logo appears as well.
King Metal Zel At 4:52. It's such a great touch
The star twinkle sound?
I can't be the only one hearing the lyrics for "one winged angel" during the opening moments... am I?
I heard it too. You are not alone. I like it, in all honesty.
Oh yeah.. its amazing. Hopefully he is very much a shadow with these subtle clues that only fans and repeat play throughs will pick up.
yes... very subtle...
@@coldramentpm1013 inorite? You can barely hear it behind the tears.
“Estuans interius ira vehementi” ...yeah
My dude Maximilian tearing up at 5:11 .....I also did the same, that intro hit me so hard, so many memories. Just a few months more, this looks incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!
8:20 her face isn't as long as the E3 demo. Japan actually complained about it and apparently Square addressed it now.
I think she looked better before.
Victor Vaz i disagree
@@MrJB8383 How does she look better than before?
Yes, this is a fact.
it was minimal, I remember when she was shown someone made a comparison where they both shortened and enlarged her face by a little and she looked weird as hell
Just in time for Valentine's Day.
Max showing his love for Final Fantasy VII Remake (and his wife Jae Jae of course). You're a very lucky man Max.
this whole reinvention of the intro is absolutely stunning!!,your reaction to to this makes me feel so privileged to play the game when it comes out 55 days left!!!
Imagine what the final fight with sephiroth is going to look like holy shit.
Big Bad Wolf Right? I’m glad I’m not the only one thinking that. I rarely see anyone ever mention how insane that boss fight is going to be or look like. Makes me even more excited when the game already from start looks unbelievably perfect and rich.
@@a.p.5342 Yeah. I myself was looking to see if any others ever mentioned it. I didn't find any others then myself.
And here i am thinking what the hell will happen when sephi goes full blown supernova holy F
@@Chansmart95 Yeah. That's what I am saying.
Well you gotta think like, last installment will give us the Omnislash overdrive. But then that last command will be THE REAL OMNISLASH OVERDRIVE.
That final shot with the "Bombing Mission" music getting louder and more intense and the camera showing Cloud's face gave me goosebumps!
02:35 There is a plate to the right that reads "Sector 8", from 01:45 to 01:57 you can see the upper plate under construction with the big cranes in the shot. They are showing us Midgard before the construction of the upper plate! I even think the girl in the playground is a young Aerith which transitions nicely to the Aerith in the present after the Mako reactor fires for the first time maybe.
Mind: blown
You know the upper plates are called sectors 1-8 too right? No, that is a different park on the upper plate. you can even see the kids riding their bike to the park in the shot before that and it very much not in the slums. When she looks up, she sees the Number 5 reactor to the left, hence she must be in sector 5.
@@RaggyFTWW If this is sector 8 in the upper plate where are the "Loveless" billboards?, where is the gigantic fountain? This looks like nothing like the sector 8 in the upper plate that we know from FF7 and CC.
Yeah I thought that's what I was seeing. So that must be the first time they powered up the Mako reactors.
@@RaggyFTWW Notice how everyone is wearing more old fashioned clothes as compared to later in the cinematic when Aeris walks out of the alleyway. Also notice that the lights in the park are flickering on as the Reactor flares to life. This is definitely in the past before the Upper Plate was constructed, and the "slums" would more accurately be called "Old Town".
Got goosebumps from this and I’ve never played a final fantasy game before, but knowing how much this means to you and many others, seeing it in all it’s glory here is really cool. Can’t wait to play this game blind ahaha
Jesus I'm at work during lunch right now and every time I see the intro I get teary eyed. JFC
The game looks amazing, this is basically Advent children in videogame form.
Better!
This is better than Advent children
Better
But much better
So much better
That moment when the logo drops in with the music made my eyes water. I can’t wait for this goddamn game!
It's amazing how much this still effects me to this day. Seeing Aeris again like that literally breaks my heart and makes me tear up. I still remember in the first game when I went to visit her adopted mother after *that* happens. I can't even take thinking about that in the remakes.
I love how now when it pans all the way out to see all of Midgar you can see the depth now with the slums under the upper plates between each upper plate. I don’t think I noticed or could even see that in the original opening from 1997. Incredible detail.
I think Max’s genuine reaction made the video for me. To see the passion and goosebumps for this game is awesome. Can’t wait to play this game.
For all you guys wondering where the game goes from CG to in game is when cloud rides on top of the train and the fog hits the screen. After the fog it’s all in game. Smart transition.
I'm tearing about this looks amazing still can't believe it's real and finally coming out soon!
It's crazy that I come back to watch this among other FF7R videos of Max's and seeing how far Remake was when Max checked I was curious about Rebirth and when I checked it is 55 days and 22 hours away.
The odds of that is just wild. I can't wait for this next chapter of this game man. My tinfoil hat is ready.
seeing how much it effected you man was lovely, I nearly cried, I love how much you love it and how much it means to you, also me, amazing
I legit started tearing up when the logo popped in and the music swells up heroically. So many emotions. Uematsu and the team have created something else man.
Watching FF7 stuff with Max's reactions is the best way to watch 100% he just puts into words/gestures everything I am feeling in the run-up to this classic legendary game.
That title drop man, when it first happened it genuinely made me feel 12 again...magical. Now ive just played rebirth and its pushing the bar even further. What a time to be alive.
When I saw this intro posted last night, I watched it and tears literally came out of my eyes just thinking about this game and how awesome it's going to be, can't wait.
It's so crazy, i'm a grown ass man now but the first time I saw this trailer last week, I started tearing up.
The story and the characters I grew up with, are making a comeback looking better than ever...a touching Reunion indeed.
Now each time i saw a new update from FF7 Remake, i'll go to Max Channel to see his reaction
You can NOT have the logo fly in like that with a flash and expect me to not cry!!! Oh god, the allusion, the music, the city!!
Almost a year later. I've started this game several times, done many playthroughs...and damn, this opening always gets me.
Can’t begin to explain how much I relate to your feelings Max. This opening just made me cry. I feel like this is everything we imagined and we once hoped would become a reality and now finally, here it is. April 10th. 🌹
Max looks like he's about ready to cry when the Final Fantasy VII Remake logo finally appears.
And so am I, dammit. It's actually happening.
I've been following Maximilian for some time now. I think that I've never heard a so emotionally loaded LET'S GO so softly spoken ever from him.
I can safely say, without hesitation, that this intro gives me goosebumps and makes me tear up without fail, every time.
Still getting goosebumps in 2024
I really hope FF8 gets the same Remake treatment as this. That's my first FF and where my nostalgia lives. Happy for everyone that's excited for this still.
8 would be awesome because it has a similar art style and aesthetic with very modern worlds. Would fit in with this and 15s design
Didn't like 8 so i wouldn't mind if they don't do a remake. They should pick a better game like 6,9 or like 10
@@waverazor FF9 would be a good one too but FF6 has a higher chance of getting a Remake.
Remake is a huge investment. They only do FF 7 remake because it was one of the most iconic game in history.
Those slight one winged angle sounds that keep sounding is such an amazing way of foreshadowing for Sephiroth, I can’t wait to play this game!
Imagine how impactful the plate falling is gonna be in the remake. When I was a kid playing FF7 for the first time and saw that scene it blew my mind. Not just visually, but what it meant for the characters and the world, and ever since then Shin-Ra has been a name synonymous with me for corporate villainy.
Dude this had me in tears with excitement. This game had such an impact on my life when I played it back in '97 I can't wait to play this. I've had in on pre-order sense it was available for pre-order.
Pretty sure it's CG up to the moment the camera goes through the smoke at the station, then it's in game. Apologies if it's already been said or proven other wise
The reaction at 4:54 when the Horns hit is the most relatable and still hits me the same today
I came back here just for that moment.
It's just insane how incredibly HUGE Midgar is. And then, boom, the 1st continent is just massive. lol
Will it actually be that massive like a full open world game? Movie clips can give the illusion of space, but in game the environment could be entirely different.
@@Theoneandonly88able no of course not. It will probably be like yakuza.
@@geraltofrivia4936 You don't know that. Don't just assume stuff.
@@annieme-tions I am being realistic. It won't be an open world like GTA5 or Red Dead redemption 2. I will be bigger than yakuza, but in a similar style.
@@geraltofrivia4936 Again, you nor anyone knows that. It could very well be like FF15. "Realistic"? Really? In FF? In Video games? Anything can happen and is possible. Be patient and wait to find out what they have in store.
Played this game back in 97-98 when i was around 9 y/o. Did not understand much of the plot to begin with, since english is not my native tongue. But back then the visuals, the atmosphere and the music was enough to keep anyone that young interested. It was like nothing I had experienced before. I must´ve spent a couple of hundred hours during that time trying to complete 100% of the game. I´m not exaggerating when I´m saying this game changed my life. Since that time my dream was to get into game design, and that is what I did 15 years later.
To see this game come into life once again, and to experience my childhood memories like this... I have no words. Thank you Square Enix.
I've never been so ready to get my hands on a game!
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 CHILLS!!!!
I’m glad I got to see it for the first time with you. I had the same exact reactions man. Thank you for sharing this.
This is the only reaction I was looking for.
4:05 the lyrics are the chant for One winged angel . Never put that together til now
This is just beautiful! Brings tears too my eyes!
Ver esta presentación emociona al fanático de final fantasy 7. Concuerdo contigo. Saludos desde Chile.
You were wiping away tears! That tells me how much you love this game. Can't wait to play this for the first tine.
I've got some EPIC tears of joy right now! Literally so happy this is a thing and it's so close. Okay it's time to knock myself into a coma for the next month and a half.
I remember wondering what it would be like to live in that world. The game was like...playing pretend with legos. It shaped the imagination and captivated with story. Now it's so real you can almost smell the exhaust. To see people just going about their lives in that world fills me with...nostalgia. Nostalgia for a place I remember but have never been, like a city that lives in my dreams.
You know it’s good when someone is genuinely holding back tears. I just wish I had my FF7.
Absolute chills when FF7 logo and music chimes at the same time. Even more dramatic and awesome than when I first played in 97.
What I wanna know is how they change the tone of the scenes with characters who were also in Crisis Core, since we know the Turks were bros with Zack
They were bros with Zack, not Cloud. Lol.
Only Tseng and Cissnei, not really the entire Turks.
The reunion at hand may bring joy, it may bring fear but let us embrace whatever it may bring. For they are coming back
"IT'S A REAL GAME!" --Mood
4:41 you can see the lower sectors as the camera moves out.
4:50 the moment Max realized that he's living in the perfect time-line.
I practically cried as soon as I saw the title. Most amazing opening in game existence. 5 stars and above. Who needs a ps5 if you have this game to play. Seriously!