You've probably seen the discourse. When Square Enix announced they were updating their massive 2020 reimagining for the "next gen" consoles and PC, people were skeptical. Was it just a resolution bump? A cash grab? Honestly, calling it a simple "remaster" does a massive disservice to what the developers actually pulled off. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade isn't just the base game with a fresh coat of paint; it’s the definitive version of a project that fundamentally changed how we look at RPG remakes.
It's weird.
For years, the industry thought a remake meant one-to-one recreation. You take the old code, you make the polygons look like people instead of Popeye-armed blocks, and you ship it. But Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade flips that on its head by leaning into the "Remake" subtitle as a literal plot point. Then, Intergrade adds the Intermission DLC, which introduces Yuffie Kisaragi in a way that makes her feel essential rather than optional.
What is Intergrade anyway?
Basically, Intergrade is the PlayStation 5 and PC-specific version of the 2020 release. If you’re playing on a PS4, you’re just playing "Remake." The "Intergrade" tag signifies the inclusion of graphical overhauls, faster loading times—which are genuinely life-changing if you remember the agonizing elevator rides in the original PS4 version—and the inclusion of the Episode INTERmission content.
The technical leap is jarring.
On the PS4, Midgar often felt like it was straining against the hardware. Remember those blurry door textures in the Sector 7 slums? Or the flat, 2D backdrops when you looked down from the plate? Gone. In Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, the lighting engine gets a massive boost. Fog effects look physical. Light catches on Cloud’s Buster Sword in a way that makes the metallic sheen feel heavy and grounded. It’s the difference between looking at a painting of a city and actually standing in its grimy, neon-lit streets.
The Yuffie Factor
We need to talk about Yuffie.
In the 1997 original, Yuffie was a secret, optional character you found in a forest. You could finish the whole game without ever meeting her. In Episode INTERmission—the heart of the Intergrade package—she is the star. She’s energetic, slightly obnoxious in a charming way, and her combat style is arguably more fun than Cloud’s.
She uses a "Ninjutsu" system. You throw her massive shuriken with the triangle button, and while it’s spinning on an enemy, you can perform long-range elemental magic. It’s fast. It’s kinetic. It feels like a precursor to the synergy systems we eventually saw in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Square Enix used this DLC as a laboratory to test how characters could fight together, pairing Yuffie with the stoic Sonon Kusakabe.
The PC Port Drama and Reality
The launch on PC via the Epic Games Store was, to put it lightly, a bit of a mess. Players reported stuttering issues and a lack of granular graphic settings. It felt like a "lazy" port at first. But after several patches and the eventual Steam release, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on PC has become the gold standard for how the game should look.
If you have a high-end rig, playing at 120fps is a revelation.
The combat system is a hybrid. It mixes real-time action with a tactical "Command Menu" that slows time to a crawl. At 30fps on the old consoles, the transition between these two states felt a bit chunky. At high frame rates, it’s fluid. You’re dodging a shockwave from the Air Buster, clicking the menu, casting Bolt, and slamming back into a combo without the game ever feeling like it’s hitching.
Modders have also gone wild. You can find everything from lore-accurate outfits to "dynamic resolution" disablers that keep the image crisp even during heavy particle effects. It’s the community’s way of polishing a diamond that Square Enix left just a little bit dusty.
📖 Related: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Mods: Why the PC Port is Changing Everything
Why the Story Changes Still Divide Fans
Some people hate it.
They wanted the 1997 script with better graphics. What they got instead was a meta-narrative about destiny and the "Whispers"—ghostly entities that try to keep the plot on its original track. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade leans into this heavily. By the time you reach the end of the highway in Midgar, you aren't just fighting Shinra; you're fighting the concept of a remake itself.
Tetsuya Nomura and Yoshinori Kitase (the heavy hitters behind the original and the remake) have been very vocal about not wanting to just repeat themselves. They wanted to create a world where even veteran players don't know what’s coming next. This makes Intergrade more of a "sequel" in disguise than a redo.
- The Whispers: They represent the original game's script.
- Sephiroth: He seems to know more than he should, acting like someone who has already lived through the events of the original game.
- Zack Fair: His appearance at the end of Intergrade changed everything, suggesting multiple timelines or a rewritten history.
This level of narrative risk is rare in AAA gaming. Usually, companies play it safe with their most valuable IP. Square Enix decided to set the house on fire and see who would help them rebuild it.
The Combat: A Masterclass in Hybrid Design
Let's get technical for a second. Most RPGs struggle with the "Action vs. Turn-Based" debate. Final Fantasy XV felt too automated. Kingdom Hearts is pure action. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade finds the sweet spot.
You have the ATB (Active Time Battle) bar. You can't just mash the attack button to win. Well, you can on "Easy," but on "Hard" mode—which unlocks after your first playthrough—you’ll get demolished. Hard mode is where the game actually shines. It disables item usage entirely. You have to manage your MP (Magic Points) across an entire chapter.
It turns the game into a puzzle.
"Which Materia should I pair with Elemental on my armor?"
"Is it worth using Prayer to heal for free, or should I risk a Curaga?"
These are the questions that make the gameplay loop addicting. You aren't just watching cool animations; you're orchestrating a tactical assault. The addition of the "Synergized" attacks in the Yuffie DLC added another layer where two characters can coordinate their ATB spends for massive "pressure" damage. It’s brilliant.
Visual Fidelity: More Than Just Pixels
The transition to PS5 and PC allowed for a complete overhaul of the lighting system. In the original PS4 release, the "slums" looked a bit flat. The lighting was baked in, meaning it didn't react dynamically to everything. In Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, the addition of improved volumetric lighting means that when a helicopter flies over Sector 7, the shadows cast across the corrugated metal shacks look real.
Textures were the big talking point.
The infamous "Door in Sector 7" became a meme because it looked like something from the Nintendo 64. In Intergrade, that’s fixed. Every surface has been touched up. The skin textures on characters like Aerith and Tifa show pores, fine hairs, and sweat. It sounds like a small detail, but in a game that relies so heavily on emotional close-ups during cutscenes, it makes the characters feel human.
Common Misconceptions About Intergrade
"It's only the first few hours of the original game." While it only covers the Midgar section, it expands a 5-hour segment into a 40-hour epic. You get to know the members of Avalanche—Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge—as actual people with backstories and motivations, not just cannon fodder.
"The Yuffie DLC is just filler." Wrong. It introduces Deepground and Nero, elements from the Dirge of Cerberus spin-off, weaving them into the main canon. It also provides a vital emotional bridge to the next game in the trilogy.
"It’s too linear." Midgar is a city of walls. The game reflects that. While it isn't an open world, the "chapters" allow for focused storytelling that an open world often dilutes.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Playthrough
If you’re just starting, don't rush. The beauty of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is in the environment. Stop and listen to the NPCs in Wall Market. Read the posters on the walls. The world-building is top-tier.
Practical Next Steps for Players:
- Prioritize Assess Materia: Use it on every single enemy. Knowing an enemy's weakness isn't just helpful; on higher difficulties, it’s the only way to survive.
- Don't ignore the Side Quests: While some feel like chores, many reward you with specialized Materia or weapon upgrades that you can't get anywhere else.
- Master the Parry: Most players forget that blocking is often better than dodging. Tifa, in particular, becomes an absolute beast if you learn her timing.
- Check your settings: If you're on PS5, play in "Performance Mode." The 60fps is worth the slight hit in resolution. On PC, ensure you have the "Dynamic Resolution" set to a fixed value to avoid blurry visuals during combat.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is a rare bird. It manages to respect a classic while having the guts to dismantle it. Whether you're a newcomer who has never heard of a "Chocobo" or a veteran with a "One-Winged Angel" tattoo, this version of the game is the one that deserves your time. It’s loud, it’s messy, it’s beautiful, and it’s a shining example of what happens when a studio actually cares about its legacy.