Summary
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth revamps the iconic Gold Saucer, giving the neon-soaked theme park-casino hybrid a modern makeover.
- The visually stunning Gold Saucer zones in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth are expanded, brighter, and less cluttered than the original.
- While some classic mini-games are missing, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth introduces new ones like Galactic Saviors and the Queen's Blood card game.
Over the course of its ~30-hour runtime, the original 1997 Final Fantasy 7 takes players to a wealth of locations, dotted all around the planet, many of which have now become some of the most iconic settings in gaming history. By far one of Final Fantasy 7's most iconic locations is the Gold Saucer, a floating hub of entertainment that gets an extensive overhaul in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Located just a quick gondola ride away from Mt. Corel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Gold Saucer is a neon-soaked hybrid of a theme park and casino, offering multiple different zones all themed around certain activities or atmospheres. Being one of the most beloved locations from the original game, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth truly goes above and beyond with its own version of the Gold Saucer, adding tons of new content and giving the entire location a suitably modern makeover.
Comparing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Gold Saucer Design to the 1997 Original
From a visual standpoint, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has absolutely nailed the aesthetic that the original 1997 Gold Saucer was aiming for, albeit with a fair number of tweaks and changes along the way. Beginning with the Gold Saucer's lobby, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has greatly expanded this area from its original 1997 version, adding a central fountain and a range of staircases that all lead to the Gold Saucer's different zones. Rebirth's Gold Saucer lobby is also a lot brighter than its original counterpart, and a little less cluttered, with each zone being separated clearly via different levels.
This notion of expansion carries through to each of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Gold Saucer zones, with each one appearing quite a bit bigger than their 1997 counterparts. The Chocobo Racing room, for instance, feels a little less tightly packed, as does the arcade room. However, the latter zone has been given an odd makeover in Rebirth, stripping the original's multicolored lighting away to deliver a slightly darker room, and one that actually feels a little bare due to its increased size.
Comparing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Gold Saucer Minigames to the 1997 Originals
While the Gold Saucer's visual design is obviously a major reason behind its beloved status, it isn't the main reason why fans found the original location so memorable. The mini-games were the main attraction of the original 1997 Gold Saucer, and they return in full force in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, albeit with a few new additions and a few removals.
Available as soon as players begin exploring the Gold Saucer in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the classic mini-games G-Bike, 3D Battler, and Chocobo Racing all make a return in Rebirth, all featuring more intuitive controls and refined mechanics. Unfortunately, Snowboarding, Torpedo Attack, and Speed Square aren't present in Rebirth's version of the Gold Saucer, though it's likely that Square is waiting until the remake's third part to include those.
Some smaller classic Gold Saucer minigames like Super Dunk, Arm Wrestler, and Wonder Catcher are also missing in the remake. Instead, Rebirth's Gold Saucer is now home to the space-themed shoot-em-up Galactic Saviors, along with some unique challenge missions for Rebirth's incredibly addictive Queen's Blood card game.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- February 29, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Metascore
- 93
