You ever feel like a game is just too much? Like, you open the map and see a thousand little icons screaming for your attention? Honestly, that was my first reaction to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PS5. It’s massive. Almost stupidly massive. After the relatively cramped, linear corridors of Midgar in Remake, being dumped into the Grasslands feels like a shock to the system.
It’s great. It’s also kinda exhausting.
Most people dive into this thinking it’s just another checklist open-world game, like Ubisoft with more spikey hair. But if you play it that way, you’re basically sabotaging your own experience. The real magic of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PS5 isn’t in clearing every single map marker; it's in how the game handles the weight of nostalgia without tripping over its own feet. Square Enix didn't just remap the 1997 classic; they expanded a few pixels of green field into a continent that actually feels alive.
The Performance Mode Drama is Mostly Over
Let's get the technical stuff out of the way first. When the game launched back in February 2024, the "Performance Mode" was, frankly, a bit of a blurry mess. It was supposed to hit 60 FPS, but it looked like someone had smeared Vaseline over the lens. Director Naoki Hamaguchi eventually had to step in and promise patches because the fans were—rightfully—annoyed.
Fast forward to now, and it’s a different story. If you're playing on a standard PS5, you've got three main choices:
- Graphics Mode: It targets 4K at 30 FPS. It looks stunning. The lighting on Aerith’s face during the cutscenes is genuinely some of the best the console has ever produced.
- Performance (Sharp): This was the "fix" patch. It tries to keep things crisp while hitting 60 FPS. It’s not quite 4K, obviously, but it’s a hell of a lot better than the launch version.
- Performance (Smooth): Basically the original performance mode. It’s softer. Some people prefer it because it hides "jaggies" on the edges of character models, but most folks stick to Sharp.
If you’ve managed to snag a PS5 Pro, there’s a fourth option called Versatility Mode. This is the sweet spot. It uses PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) to upscale everything, giving you that 60 FPS smoothness without making the world look like a PS3 game. Honestly, if you have the Pro, this is the only way to play.
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Combat Isn't Just "Remake 1.5"
The combat system is where the nuance really hides. You might think you can just mash Square and occasionally hit a Cure spell. Try that on some of the Midgardsormr-level bosses and you’ll be staring at a "Game Over" screen within minutes.
The big addition here is Synergy Abilities. These aren't just flashy team-up attacks (though they are very flashy). They are essential for resource management. Some Synergy moves give you unlimited MP for a short time, while others increase your ATB gauge segments.
Why Dynamic Difficulty Changes Everything
If you’re a veteran, you probably defaulted to "Normal." Big mistake. You should at least try Dynamic Difficulty.
In Normal mode, if you spend twenty hours doing side quests in the Junon region, you’ll be so overleveled that the main story bosses become total pushovers. It kills the tension. Dynamic mode scales the enemies to your level. It means the stakes always feel high. It keeps you on your toes even when you’re just fighting a random group of Mandragoras in the woods.
The "Ubisoft" Problem (and How to Fix It)
Chadley.
You’re going to hear that name a lot. He’s the cyborg kid who tasks you with "World Intel."
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Here is the secret: You do not have to do everything he asks immediately. The game is designed to let you breathe. If you try to 100% the Grasslands before moving to Under Junon, you will burn out. I’ve seen it happen to dozens of players. They spend 15 hours on Chocobo races and scanning life springs, then realize they’ve barely touched the story.
The real meat of the game is the character interactions. Rebirth uses a "Relationship" system that tracks how Cloud treats his teammates. It’s subtle—a dialogue choice here, a side quest there—but it determines who you end up with during the big Gold Saucer date in Chapter 12. If you want to take Tifa or Barret on that Ferris wheel, you have to actually pay attention to them.
What Really Happened With the Ending?
We have to talk about it. Without spoiling every single frame, the ending of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PS5 is... controversial. It handles the "City of the Ancients" scene—you know the one—in a way that leans heavily into the multiverse theory.
Some fans hate it. They wanted a 1:1 recreation of the 1997 tragedy.
Others love it because it keeps the stakes uncertain for the final part of the trilogy.
The game introduces "Whispers" and branching realities, often signaled by a dog mascot named Stamp. In one world, he’s a beagle; in another, he’s a terrier. If you pay attention to the potato chip bags and posters in the background, you can actually track which timeline you’re looking at. It’s a level of detail that’s honestly kind of insane. It suggests that Aerith isn't just "dead" or "alive"—it’s more complicated. She exists in the Lifestream, and possibly in other versions of reality that Cloud is starting to perceive because his mind is quite literally falling apart.
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Hard Mode is a Different Game
Once the credits roll, you unlock Hard Mode. This isn't just "enemies have more health." It’s a complete mechanical shift.
- You cannot use items. At all. No Potions, no Phoenix Downs.
- Benches only restore HP, not MP.
- You have to rely entirely on Materia like Prayer and Chakra to stay alive.
This turns the game into a tactical puzzle. You have to build your Materia loadout specifically for every single encounter. If you go into a boss fight without the right Elemental-Magnify combo, you're dead. It’s grueling, but it’s also the most rewarding way to play if you really want to master the combat.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you're just starting or are midway through your journey across the Planet, here's how to actually enjoy this behemoth of a game without losing your mind:
- Don't Clear the Map: Use the World Intel to get the Materia you want (like the Auto-Cast or Magic Efficiency ones), then move on. You can always fast-travel back later when you have a faster Chocobo or the Tiny Bronco.
- Prioritize Weapon Skills: Every weapon has a unique ability. Use it until you "master" it so you can keep the move even after switching weapons. This gives you a massive toolbox of attacks by the late game.
- Max Your Blue Materia Early: Materia like Elemental, Magnify, and Swiftcast take an absurd amount of AP to level up. Slot them into your gear the moment you get them and never take them off. You’ll need them for the endgame challenges.
- Check the Folios: The skill trees (Folios) are where you unlock Synergy skills. Don't just go for stat boosts; look for the "Skills" tab to find the moves that don't cost ATB. They are literal lifesavers.
- Play Queen's Blood: Seriously. It’s the card game. It’s addictive, and it actually has its own surprisingly dark storyline that weaves through the various towns.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PS5 is a rare beast. It's a game that tries to be everything at once: a nostalgic trip, a modern open-world epic, and a confusing multiversal sequel. It doesn't always stick the landing—some of the mini-games are more annoying than fun (looking at you, Cactuar Crush)—but the heart of the journey is undeniably there.
Stop worrying about the checklist. Just get out there, enjoy the music, and let the world unfold. The third part of the trilogy is still years away, so there is absolutely no rush to finish this in a weekend. Take your time. Cloud and the gang aren't going anywhere.