Image via Square Enix
There are few games I am more excited about than Final Fantasy VII Revelation. Since Rebirth was released, I have been waiting for any scrap of news, gobbling up trailers and rereading any news or interviews, hungry for the opportunity to see the game in real time. To my delight, Bonus Action was given that chance at PAX West 2026, where we got to be among the first to try a playable demo.
FFVII Revelation has a lot riding on its release. Not only does it have to provide a satisfying conclusion to the story that has been carefully resculpted through the previous two installments, but it must also provide an endgame experience that will keep players in the world while handling the implementation of highly anticipated playable characters like Cid and Vincent.
When we sat down to play Revelation’s demo, I was prepared to work through the first chapter of the game and spend time in a linear storyline similar to the first two games. I was gobsmacked when, upon loading the demo, we were flung into a vast open world aboard the Highwind, with the ability to visit any of the major locations that make up the game’s map.
Yes, I Did Immediately Start Playing As Vincent Valentine
The second I loaded the demo save and gained access to the party, I opened the menu and immediately toggled the team so that Vincent, Cid, and Yuffie were my playable characters. When playing the original game, this was the team that I always took to the finish line, and I was delighted to see my squad back in action. I struggled with the decision to leave Vincent and Cid out as playable characters in Rebirth, and was very sad that they weren’t able to add dimension to the otherwise rigid roles that the other characters provide in a party makeup.
Once Vincent was equipped, I spent some time in the new FITS menu. This system is interesting, as it applies a class to each character. (You can change their outfits using a different menu, but each FITS option does have a default look.) In the original game, each character in Final Fantasy VII was slotted into a specific role for combat. Cloud was an offensive attacker, Barret was a tank and distance attacker, Aerith was a mage with an emphasis on healing, and so on.
Thanks to the FITS system, each character has the ability to flex into new roles that complement their base abilities. This is good news for anyone who was stressed about losing Aerith as their healer for the third installment of the game.
For my demo time, I set Vincent as a Warrior, Cid as a Knight, and Yuffie as a Black Mage. I will say that the way you set your party before combat has even more weight than in the original game. You will need to think about the FITS system carefully, as the wrong balance will leave you as a grease smear under a monster if you aren’t careful.
Mideel Is Absolutely Beautiful
After throwing some cute clothes on my squad, I had roughly forty minutes to pick an area to explore. The first location was the Highwind itself. The massive airship has rooms to explore, and it seems that there may be a decoration mechanic available for those who want to add some color to the giant airship.
We were also able to drop from the ship down onto the world map below. Revelation includes many of the locations from Rebirth, as well as Wutai and Mideel. Due to my restricted time, I decided to skip the tour on the airship and head for Mideel.
Driving the Highwind is a daunting task. The ship is large, and the settings for steering are sensitive. That said, it didn’t feel unintuitive, and I am excited to see how these mechanics come into play during other parts of the game. Our demo was set at the beginning of Chapter 4, which indicates that by this point in the game, most of the map will be open to you, and you will have had a good deal of practice driving the ship and jumping to locations below.
Once over Mideel, I dropped down and nearly drowned poor Vincent in the lush, tropical surfline. Thankfully, I was able to swim to shore, where I located an old shrine that prompted me to pull out one of the new tools, a scanner that works as a flashlight. As I swung it along the ground, the floor began to light up, progressing a research bar in the top corner of the screen.
At 100%, we summoned a massive boss monster, which proceeded to absolutely destroy my team with almost no effort.
After this encounter, I realized that the world opens up entirely, and it is possible to run into bosses and monsters of all levels and abilities. You will have the opportunity to fight things well above your own level, and die trying to prove you can take them.
I also realized that party balance is everything in this game. Gone are the days of mashing on Cloud to pummel whatever is in his way. I thought Rebirth had tricky combat structures, but Revelation is on a different level. You will need to think, plan, and prep before jumping into different areas, and be very aware of what you are trying to challenge before you go dropping into the woods.
A World Packed With Content
After getting destroyed, I decided to scope the area in hopes of finding some monsters that I could actually hit. This gave me the chance to properly test out Vincent’s combat style. I am pleased to report that his arsenal of skills is just as incredible to play as to watch in trailers. Vincent is easily the most versatile playstyle of the trilogy, offering heavy physical attacks, calculated ranged skills, and a handy use of magic. He is also light on his feet, making him much easier to play than Barret.
As I hunted down enemies, I found a Life Stream spring, discovered a hint about a worldwide treasure hunt, and trailed up quiet jungle pathways into beautiful clearings.
The game is absolutely massive and offers so much more than just the main story’s content. It is the sort of title that you will get lost in, and it will provide hundreds of hours of exploration post-game.
While my time in Final Fantasy VII Revelation was very short, and the demo was dauntingly huge, I can genuinely say that this hands-on has only made my need for April that much more intense. I am desperate to explore, ready to try new strategies, and burning to know what will happen to the team I love so much.
I am also, unashamedly, prepared to play the entire game as Vincent, and no one can stop me.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation is set to release across consoles on April 8, 2027. It will provide the epic conclusion to a narrative that has shaped so many of us and answer so many questions about the world that the Remake trilogy takes part in and its greater impact on Cloud’s overarching storyline. I am beyond excited, and after this hands-on, I think everyone should be. It’s not going to be a game to miss.
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