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As many gamers will attest, Final Fantasy 7 is not only one of the top video game sequels to reinvent its franchise, but also an arguable contender for the best RPG of all time. Considering such notions, ever since Square Enix revealed the first trailer for the upcoming remake of Final Fantasy 7 during Sony’s press conference at E3 2015, fans have been ecstatic about the news, clamoring for any morsel of information regarding the upcoming title. As a matter of fact, excitement surrounding the game hugely affected the developer’s standing in the global market, for just after the remake’s announcement, Square Enix’s stocks rose to its highest point since 2008.
At any rate, details about the Final Fantasy 7 remake are scarce. All we truly know at this point is that the release won’t add any new characters, won’t be using Square’s signature Luminous Engine for development, and that it will have some plot and combat changes. Plus, with no official date set for its availability, the wait is certain to be a long one. However, thanks to some staunch Final Fantasy fans, a version of FF7 has now been created to resemble a 2D side-scrolling beat-em-up.
The project has been helmed by the developer PD Design Studio, and what they’ve come up with so far is mighty impressive. For instance, even though only one level has been put together at the moment, the team has managed to include the ability to play cooperatively with a friend as either Tifa or Cloud – one of the most iconic characters of the 1990s – support for the Materia and Guardian Forces systems, as well as the chance to call in Barret for backup from his Gatling gun.
Regarding the Final Fantasy 7 brawler’s gameplay aspects, PD Design Studio says:
Although the team intends on turning the project into a full-fledged experience over time, it’s worthy to note that PD Design Studio’s enterprise hasn’t officially been authorized by Square Enix, so they could eventually encounter some legal issues. However, since the game is free and has been “done purely for fun,” as the creators state, it’s possible that the developer could be protected under the defense of fair use. Regardless, if the footage of the above gameplay is any indication of what a final version looks like, then Final Fantasy fans should be in for a treat.
As previously mentioned, a release window for the Final Fantasy 7 remake has not been announced, and so far the title has only been confirmed to be available for the PlayStation 4, but the availability of the 2D side-scrolling brawler iteration ought to help ease fans’ distress during the long wait.
Source: PD Design Studio (via GameSpot)
