Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth marks a major leap forward from its predecessor, which is an impressive enough game in its own right. While Rebirth doesn't exactly address many of the criticisms of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, it does double-and triple-down on just about all of that title's strengths, making for a flamboyant, unapologetic, and unforgettable gaming experience.
A prime example of this sequel-design philosophy comes in the form of Chadley, the android that is either excessively lovable or excessively hateable, depending on who's asked. The character does certainly have some annoying traits, not always knowing when to stop talking, but he is an important driving force for completionists. In Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Chadley's field research encourages exploration and combat experimentation, while his bevy of combat trials serve as endgame stretch goals and challenges, rewarding mastery. This description applies to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth as well, although the new open-world formula allows Chadley to expand his repertoire of requests, making him the backbone of a great deal of overworld exploration. Come part three of this remake saga, however, Chadley ought to be a bit more interesting.
Chadley is not a character in the original Final Fantasy 7. This is another reason why he is disliked by fans, but it also means that Square Enix has more freedom with his implementation.
Why Now is the Best Time for Final Fantasy to Revisit a Genre It's Only Dabbled in Before
Final Fantasy is no stranger to genre-hopping, but the beloved JRPG franchise has long neglected a concept that it should be cozier with.
Chadley Needs a Major Elevation in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3
Chadley Shouldn't Be the Same As In FF7 Remake, Rebirth
While players remain torn on Chadley, it would appear that he is here to stay. Aside from being among the most significant new characters introduced in the remake saga, Chadley's key role in endgame content and progression means that he is almost guaranteed to come back in the next game. Assuming this is the case, it would behoove the series to augment, subvert, or otherwise shake up his integration.
This isn't to say that Chadley should suddenly become an important piece of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake story by any means, but it would be nice to see him in a different light; perhaps some greater stakes would elevate his normally trite and boring dialog exchanges. Alternatively, a fundamental twist on his often repetitive challenges could make them more palatable for casual players. The next Final Fantasy 7 game is supposed to serve as the finale to this modern retelling of the 1997 classic, and if Chadley is going to be part of it, he should be a bit more interesting. It's probable that the rest of the game will be a no-holds-barred experience, so why should Chadley's sections be any different?
How Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Can Kick Chadley Up a Notch
There are a number of ways that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's sequel could make Chadley more interesting, but the most important thing should be to celebrate the character's short-lived legacy. Indeed, even though Chadley can be annoying, he is nevertheless an important part of the FF7 remake saga, and his role in the next game ought to reflect that. Perhaps there could be a grand finale to his quest chain, culminating in a memorable and high-stakes boss battle. Or, maybe his identity as a Shinra robot could come into play in a more significant fashion, resulting in a dramatic twist of some sort.
Time will tell if Square Enix plans to leave his grind-heavy quests unchanged in the next Final Fantasy 7 remake game, though this seems somewhat less likely. Chadley's quests offer some of the most time-consuming late-game content, and with FF7 Rebirth being widely praised for its scale, this emphasis on longevity courtesy of Chadley's missions is primed for a reprisal. But still, a few unexpected, bombastic twists and turns within this quest chain would be a good way to solidify the controversial character's identity, perhaps even shifting public opinion in his favor.
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.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- PC Release Date
- January 23, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- February 29, 2024
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 40 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
