Final Fantasy VII Remake Chapter 1 Retrospective 2024, every detail you need to know before Rebirth

Part of my new #roadtorebirth playthrough of Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Each chapter will get its own detail oriented playthrough with an eye towards the fast approaching release of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Sometimes we will have guests!
Come find me on twitter
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Or catch me streaming on twitch:
/ schrodingersbabyseal
Link to the blog article: www.square-eni...
Music provided by ‪@Sing4DLaughter‬
Link to Shinra Archaeology Departments Materials Ultimania Plus-
shinraarchaeol...
#finalfantasy #squareenix #ff7 #finalfantasy7rebirth #rebirth #cloud #ff7 remake #finalfantasy7remake #letsplay #chapter1

[@GrimJackal]

"This might be a reference to Tifa's piano skills.... Which apparently Cloud now has." Almost spit my drink out laughing. Perfect delivery.

[@m.j.gallagher6756]

Get in my motherflippin eyes!

[@Sing4DLaughter]

They are doing all kinds of anime adaptations on Netflix, FF7 Deserves its own for sure, it can be a spin off, first soldier, dirge of cerberus... whatever.... Do you hear me @Netflix ?!?!?!?! Also, thanks for sharing my music, bro!!!

[@lyndsaybrown8471]

Thanks for pulling these together! The streams are so chill, I can listen while working without getting distracted.

[@ClassyCrustatio]

Thise backgrounds are used mainly for the skybox and use ofbthe clouds and backgrounds. There isn't an Easter egg there, it's in almost every modern game even big open world ganes. It can be used just because the sky looks nice or even as a form of lighting known as HDRI. Where it takes the color and luminance of the panoramic photos and that lights the scene for more realistic lighting.

[@OldManSakaki]

Feels like an age since I've seen the start of this game

[@Joshiepoo2525]

The reason the young Tifa/Cloud scene is pre-rendered is because loading Nibelheim while Midgar is loaded is impossible without a loading screen, or at least was on PS4.

[@dannygrover595]

It's funny he mentions free cam not being available. I think it was more likely intentional, the Devs know what we're like n know we would be tryna use that scene to sneak a peak at Nibelheim 😂

[@ClassyCrustatio]

​@dannygrover595 no its like what joshiepoo says. Devs don't think like that. It takes WAY more effort and money to prevent things like mods. It's 100% to keep you from sitting through that 4 minute loading screen you git whenever you fast traveled in the ps4 version.

[@schrodingersbabyseal]

Makes sense to me!

[@dannygrover595]

@@ClassyCrustatio while I don't deny you're probably right but I just thought I'd mention I've seen some games where a scene like that (or a character you're talking to via video call in MGS4) will be loaded above, below or around the level to avoid loading screens. I'll admit I don't fully understand it, I'm not a massive tech guy but from the stuff I've seen (mostly boundary break, mod n game BTS videos) they appeared like the camera just switches POV to the pre loaded area n back n ya done. I hope that makes sense but if you know that can't be done in this case I concede 😁

[@Kaptime]

2:55, the secret environment is to give the scene light values. It's a HDRI - there is no lore significance afaik besides it probably being from a pack of them from some Japanese source or a SE produced one, at least unless the end of the R3 project leads into Tokyo irl like in Draken/Nier lol. 16:34, I believe the freecam mod does have a turn-off depth-of-field or adjust the blur level for everywhere in game, it might not work via the .ini, but should work via the freecam.

[@raabgatti]

Thank you! Something I didnt know I needed lol. Currently doing another Hard mode playthrough for completion and I ALWAYS miss something so Ill be watching these as a make progress! Happy belated new year, the rebirth hype is already through the Ruf!

[@schrodingersbabyseal]

No thank you!

[@xcom54]

51:00 "The mayor". "THE BEST!"

[@immune2rugburn]

Love this, was debating whether not to play remake again before rebirth comes out but dont wanna burn out on the gameplay experience. Thanks for doing this ❤

[@MrDimrey]

That was amazing, excited to see the next one. Thx for your effort.

[@ma5tertonberry]

Holy hell this chat. What a crew!

[@LurkerRIP970]

Wow, thanks for doing this! Please keep doing this series!!

[@Artoosa]

I can't wait to binge this entire series when I have enough time, love your analysis and playthroughs, I especially enjoyed you FFXVI playthrough. Can't wait for Rebirth and the surprises it will bring,

[@rivianbaguette9114]

The way I see it shinra is more like ensuring that the bombing does not fail. Like in chapter one the bomb is not exploding like it should. Later in chapter 7 the bomb fire reach to the platform where you fight airbuster with a smaller charge and there is no indication that shinra did more than letting the bomb explode. That's how I understand this situation

[@Subsistence_Sasquatch]

Very much appreciate this deep dive into Remake, as someone that has avoided all things Rebirth. Getting a refresher of what I played years ago, things I missed. Seeing the care towards the source material only brings excitement and trust in whatever they decide to do with this series. FF7 is my earliest memory of gaming (on the 'ol Demo Discs) and OG is still my favorite game of all-time. Can't wait to have all those memories flow back, going in blind, but hopefully also understand the intricacies within the lore, thanks to this series you are doing. Thank you! ❤

[@artable3]

As to how rebirth starts, I would have a short scene of jenovas arrival and her impact on the ancients. Would be unexpected but totally awesome

[@dominicdunn2579]

Then right to kalm flashback (X years later) in the truck with rain coming down and super ominous.

[@artable3]

@dominicdunn2579 yeh definitely. I would have the whole jenova scene a similar ambience with a stormy night too when she arrives.

[@MichaelIbsenGuitar]

Thank you for putting this together!! It must have taken a lot of editing but this was so interesting and enjoyable in the run up to rebirth. You are truly a gem 💎❤

[@Koniving]

41:55 in the og, if you go in with this knowledge, you can see it. First, in og there are car crashes, flips and fires, the devastation isnt just there its got cars flipped AT Loveless blvd/ave/st. Jessie in OG is confused about why the bomb blew up so much, saying ahe followed the plan exactly. In remake, she says she used a bigger blasting agent than what the instructions said (and this is consistent for all languages). In both cases it was meant to be a tiny bomb to disable it.

[@Erikthedood]

Yeah I’m not sure where they’re all making up this idea that Shinra making the bombings more devastating as propaganda to turn people further against avalanche is a new idea to the remake, nor does it somehow not make them palpable for the damage of the bombs. If avalanche hadn’t bombed the reactors in the first place, none of those people would’ve died. It not only makes the damage more destructive but there is still more blood on their hands either way. It isn’t a new idea, nor does it take away from anything

[@GrandStyles]

I don't know why but you mentioning the ATMs being down as a sign of the economy had me dying.

[@noreehix5714]

Back to back content, yay!

[@dreamphoenix]

Thank you.

[@eromonky9661]

Thankyou babeseal

[@virtualbunksie5117]

I think they're just gonna start the game similar to FF15. When we left midgar in OG it was like getting into the regalia and starting our journey in a good happy determined way. It ain't gonna end like that though.

[@OfficialDJZR0]

I don't mind the inside job element. Yeah, it takes away some of the moral ambiguity of Avalanche, but I think that's more a side effect than the reason. The main takeaway for me is that it hints at Shinra trying to start up the war with Wutai again. It was interesting piecing together that plot, first seeing that the reactor is an inside job, then hearing the war is on pause rather than won, and coming to the realization myself that Shinra was trying to trick the masses into war again. It also sets the stage for the plate fall being another part of that scheme, rather than the original game's context where it feels cartoonishly evil and impractical for Shinra to slaughter hundreds of thousands of people for the sole purpose of taking out a half dozen rebels.

[@braklinath]

it's interesting to see that literally from the very start of Remake, they are instilling within Cloud false impressions of Tifa. Reinforcing a favoured reliance on her, just to mercilessly tear it away when he's going to be at his weakest. Ohhhh man, Rebirth is gonna hit me in my feels hard I can sense it.

[@TheInferno0099]

What do you mean favored reliance on her

[@braklinath]

@@TheInferno0099 Just that Cloud relies on Tifa's silence for his own mental stability. Jenova / Sephiroth appear to be favouring that reliance heavily, artificially propping it up with modified memories. Tifa is the only person that can break Cloud's psyche. Anyone else can question who Cloud claims to be and he wouldn't budge. not Barret, not even Sephiroth. But Tifa; if Tifa questions, Cloud breaks. but we're seeing that relationship Cloud has with Tifa being magnified here. that they were better childhood friends than they actually were. making Clouds trust in Tifa that much more intense, therefore making the inevitable breaking of said trust, much much more devastating.

[@LPandbeyond]

nice

[@VervaraRozthan]

Good stuuuufffff

[@CactuarJactuar]

Hi! Quick question before watching, does this video contain anything from the 2 most recent trailers? I'm avoiding as much as I can before Rebirth, the last content I watched was the two-part demo that creators were given access to. Everything after that I've managed to avoid for the most part. I'll be catching up on all the content once I've played Rebirth so will watch then if so! But just wanted to ask as I'm starting to foam at the mouth from avoiding VII content!

[@futbolmario13]

Just discovered your channel and going through all of these as I await your next rebirth video

[@ProudShipperVII]

Was just expecting a regular playthrough, but this is amazing.

[@56Tyskie]

great stuff

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Thank you for this retrospective!

[@Soulasiangod]

thank you for begin up the opening everybody talking acout yhe ending im most concerned about about the opening do want a cold opening if they can help it

[@GrandStyles]

So I think the most interest assessment you made is about how Shinra making the bomb explosion worse takes away from the stakes of Avalanche's actions. My takeaway was a bit different; I thought it really justifies Jessie's feelings of failure and how it must feel like to fight against Shinra. You do everything right, by the book, follow the recipe to the letter, and things still go horribly wrong. Are you just stupid/worthless that you cant get something so simple right? It's very Shinra-esque to be in this level of control, and the self-doubt it inflicts on people who oppose them can surely be poisonous. I think this also plays in to the clever mention you had of Haliburton/Dick Cheney. If 9/11 is the avalanche-proxy that was allowed to justify a savage, amoral war venture where profiteering somehow becomes the driving force, this parallels well into how that period of misinformation and propaganda allowed for the public to be swayed and greater atrocities to be swept under the rug. (Guantanamo Bay, for example). Shinra is VERY in character and it makes them controlling the destruction more impressive (and in character). Just my two cents, loved the video.

[@vulcanh254]

"Everything you need to know" Proceeds to spend 2 hours talking about all the insignificant details we definitely don't need to know about. 😂 This video is comedic genius but also informative and interesting. :)

[@UltimaLuminaire]

"There's a running joke..." 2 seconds later "This is not a joke." FF7 fans know they're in for a good time with this video. Looking forward to binging retrospective 2024 as we enter the age of Rebirth.

[@Koniving]

20:40 fun thing; watching Dipperdog with the Japanese lady whose name starts with A known for all these translations, points out in Japanese Tifa says that she told Maryl(sp?) that Cloud showed up the day before and needed a place. Whether what Tifa said is true or not is... interesting. If true, then from the beginning we are not the Cloud that barely makes it to Midgar on his own, whom Tifa finds barely conscious and functioning on October 4th per the Ultimania omega's master timeline of events for the compilation. If so, the past is already changed before remake began, with Zack likely having been alive from the get-go, and the past is already altered, hence the whispers already being proactive to deal with the fallout.

[@nodieza]

Ever Crisis clears this up in Cloud's solo prequel chapter "A Happy Reunion". Cloud does show up disheveled and makes his way to the train station where Tifa finds him sitting down up against the wall. Cloud in the middle of a bunch of headache flashes mentions he was looking for an inn and Tifa suggests they go to the bar for him to rest and catch up. She mentions that she knows someone looking for tenants (Marle is her name). Tifa says she's been living there for five years which all lines up with the Traces of Two Pasts novel, which is canonically Remake.

[@JayJoe1984]

It would be cool if they started Rebirth with the random Shinra soldiers, Cloud (Zack), Sepiroth in the back of the truck heading to Nibelheim. What's more hype than opening the game fighting with Sepiroth?

[@billybatts8283]

It's all just pantomime and misdirection to make you think she won't die, that you can change one of, if not the most shocking moment in gaming history; you can't. How do you make one of the biggest most well known moments in gaming a surprise? By invoking the feeling that you have a chance to change something that can't be changed.

[@kiyoskedante]

The atm you mention are train ticket processors, they look just like this in Japan

[@wolftales5203]

You will need to do these every 2 days 😂

[@Koniving]

27:40 The way you said that makes me think you missed something huge. Did you know the voice actors for sephiroth in each language is the voice of the whisper that puts Cloud to sleep? The whispers intervene to undo the meddling of certain whispers. Following up on this ... I dont think Barret and distrust is why they left Cloud out. Tifa came up upset about the gig, not long before she said she was sorry she put him in danger and will never do that again. Jessie came up and said im the end, they were worried about putting Cloud on danger. I think the thing that ousted him the most was talk of an invisible enemy, which probably left Tifa, Biggs, Wedge and Jessie worried for different reasons, like Cloud doesnt have all his marbles. I believe if not for the Sephi-whisper, Cloud woild have gotten up early, checked on the others and went, because Tifa was going amr Cloud got closer to the other three who could see he can handle himself and he is mentally there. But he slept in due to a whisper (who is one of four that popped in) and the others had to act to undo the meddling.

[@Storm1Trooper5]

Yep the invisible enemy thing is why he wasn’t let into the bunker it’s all butterfly effect that the whispers tried to stop

[@Koniving]

@@Storm1Trooper5 there are a group four whispers causing New problems, like forcing Cloud to sleep. If Cloud woke up on his own there's no doubt he would have made another pitch for work, or followed them the same way he followed Tifa on the day Thea died, without an invitation. I found something more interesting though. Per Nomura's written Ultimania omega for the ff7 compilation, Tifa found Cloud on October 4th. It is December 13th for the whispers fiasco in the sector 7 slums. However, Tifa told the landlady that Cloud showed up the day before he got the room, which would be December 11th/10th?? In the OG/compilation he was around for months but spent most of that time in Tifa's care phasing in and out of consciousness. In remake...he just appeared? Nobody has had time to know about him. The reason he was so anemic in the 2015 trailer is if you go by the actual story and timeline of events set out by Nomura for the original game, Cloud has been bed ridden for months and only got out of bed late November.

[@sailormoon7952]

What will be the schedule for these? When can we expect ch 2

[@Qarach_Ice]

Rebirth opening was very Meta

[@tommytwotakes]

Lvl 99 is because of Steam/Mods, right? PS5 cap is 50?

[@FungiFilmReviews]

LETS GOOOOOOOO!!!!! SEPHIROTH REDEMTPTION ARC AND ONE TIMELINE THEORY BABY !!!!!!

[@philiphall6351]

Why do you have 13883 HP

[@virtualbunksie5117]

Every time you talk you get static in ypur mic.

[@schrodingersbabyseal]

Believe it or not it was not static... I did the best I could to reduce the noise but it was the heaviest rain we've had in a decade during the stream lol.

[@virtualbunksie5117]

@@schrodingersbabyseal sue earth, not acceptable lol

[@schrodingersbabyseal]

@@virtualbunksie5117 earth has a great lawyer... I hope I can handle it