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  • 2 days ago
Final Fantasy VII: Revelation promises players multiple choices throughout the adventure, but reports indicate that every decision ultimately leads to the same ending. Is that a disappointing design choice, or does it allow players to shape the journey without splitting the narrative?

In this video, I break down what this approach could mean for the game, discuss whether player choice still matters when the destination never changes, and share my thoughts on storytelling, replay value, and fan expectations.

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What do you think? Should RPG choices lead to different endings, or is having one canon conclusion the better approach? Let me know in the comments!
Transcript
00:00Final Fantasy VII Revelation will let players shape parts of the story, but not the ending.
00:05Following last week's reveal of Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the highly anticipated conclusion
00:10to the remake trilogy, fans have been eager to learn how the story will wrap up after
00:15the dramatic events of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
00:18While Square Enix is still keeping many plot details under wraps, the development team
00:23has confirmed that players will have some influence over the journey, just not the destination.
00:28In a recent interview with GamesRadar, director Naoki Hamaguchi explained that Revelation
00:33will feature player-driven choices that affect certain story moments and character interactions
00:38throughout the game.
00:39As our party heads into the final battle, the game is going to show the resolve that they
00:44carry within them, Hamaguchi said.
00:46Cloud and his companions are beloved by fans all over the world, and we didn't want to
00:51deliver exactly the same experience to every player.
00:54However, we wanted each fan to have a unique experience as they move toward the final battle.
00:59According to Hamaguchi, these choices are designed to personalize the adventure and the emotional
01:04journey leading into the game's climax.
01:07However, despite those variations, the overall conclusion will remain the same for everyone.
01:12There won't be multiple endings that change depending on the player's choices, he explained.
01:16The ending of the story is going to be a singular ending.
01:20That doesn't mean choices are meaningless, though.
01:23Kinda does, in my opinion.
01:25While players will ultimately reach the same conclusion, the path they take to get there
01:30may differ.
01:31Character interactions, story developments, and personal moments could play out differently
01:35based on decisions made throughout the game.
01:38The process of how we get to that ending might be different between players, Hamaguchi said.
01:42As a result, some players may have a different emotional experience when they reach the ending,
01:46compared to someone who made different choices.
01:50The approach appears to be a compromise between offering player agency and maintaining a definitive
01:55conclusion to one of gaming's most iconic stories.
01:57The remake trilogy has already generated plenty of debate among longtime fans due to its changes
02:04and additions to the original Final Fantasy VII narrative.
02:08Because of that, revelation was always likely to spark strong opinions, regardless of how much
02:13control players were given over the outcome.
02:15For now, Square Enix seems committed to telling a single unified ending while allowing players
02:21to shape the emotional context surrounding it.
02:23Whether that approach satisfies fans remains to be seen.
02:26But it's clear that the final chapter aims to make each player's journey feel a little
02:30more personal, even if everyone ultimately arrives at the same destination.
02:38Really?
02:41The same ending, regardless of which path you took to get there?
02:47You couldn't at least have just had at least one alternate ending?
02:57I mean, if you're going to get to the same ending regardless, that kind of takes away some
03:07of the emotional response that they brought up in the article.
03:11Because if you, because, I mean, look at games like Resident Evil 3 Nemesis, the original
03:19for PlayStation, regardless of what choices you made, there was one choice which determined
03:25which ending you got.
03:26But at least that game had two endings.
03:32So, I'm surprised that they couldn't just have at least had a second ending if you, depending
03:39on the choices you made.
03:41But, no, everyone's going to get the same ending regardless of the choices you made.
03:47How is that not making choices meaningless?
03:53Okay, so, I mean, it's the ending that most people are going to remember.
04:00So, but that's going to be the same for everyone, regardless of what choices you make.
04:06Kind of sounds like a big deal when you ask me.
04:09But people who are going to be playing this, the Final Fantasy VII Remake, the third part,
04:16what do you think?
04:17Do you think alternate choices, but always leading to the same ending, regardless which
04:24ones, is that going to make choices seem meaningless?
04:30Or do you remember the middle parts of the journey rather than the end?
04:34I usually remember the end.
04:36You know, it's the game endings that I remember.
04:39Very few parts of the middle, unless it was like a dramatic scene or whatever.
04:47It's always the ending that sticks out, first and foremost.
04:51So, I think they should have had at least one alternate ending.
04:55But let me know what you think in the comments section below.
04:58And let me know if you still are going to be playing when it comes out.
05:05Revelation.
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