Final Fantasy VII, the golden child of the Final Fantasy franchise. No game in the franchise has quite reached the heights this game has. The beloved cast and world brought fans back asking for more. As a result, multiple spin-off games and a movie came about. The meta-series of games finally died down a bit after Crisis Core: Final Fantasy in 2007, notably ten years after the initial game’s release! Ah, but with a wave of nostalgic remakes taking over in modern gaming…comes the return of the king. Final Fantasy VII Remake is a 2020 re-imagining of the original with multiple differences. It jump-started a revival of the meta-series, with the second part in full development now. A new spin-off has come as well, a battle royale developed by Square Enix. Titled Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier, it brings the militaristic Shinra elite to mobile gaming.
What Does Square Enix’s FFVII Battle Royale Do to Stand Out?
In a world where anyone can go online and be five degrees away from a battle royale in some way, how do you stand out? Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier does it with a diverse delve into FFVII‘s Midgard. Of course, like all others in the FFVII meta-series, you have to understand the base game to get this spin-off. In FFVII, the Shinra Electric Power Company has become so powerful that they essentially run the military of Midgar (the main hub). They have created a new level of strength called the SOLDIER with the help of genetic modification. SOLDIERs are infused with magical energy to become much stronger than normal people, but they also have shortened lives. This is where our battle royale comes into play.
The idea behind the SOLDIER program is that only the elite can be eligible candidates. Everyone in each battle royale match is a SOLDIER candidate, and the last one left alive becomes one. Of course, it’s not just the usual run-and-gun gameplay. FFVII: FS integrates the class/job system well-known from their base franchise. Players can choose from Warrior, Sorcerer, Monk, Ranger, and Ninja. Each has its attack style that fans will recognize and appreciate. Additionally, there are monsters to fight, materials to use, and Chocobos to ride. Midgard-based customization options are of course present. With the beta performing well in June, and a boatload of pre-registrations already logged, today’s kick-off is sure to be explosive.
Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier is available now on Android and iOS. Are you excited about the new battle royale game? What are your thoughts on the Final Fantasy VII series, old and new? Leave a comment below!
