Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Final Fantasy VII Remake will also offer turn-based gameplay with Classic Mode

By

The highly anticipated Final Fantasy VII Remake, which will feature action-oriented gameplay similar to Final Fantasy XV, will also offer turn-based gameplay similar to the original 1997 RPG through Classic Mode.

The Final Fantasy VII Remake was one of the highlights of the Tokyo Game Show, starting with a new trailer that shows more of the RPG’s story, characters, and gameplay.

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE Tokyo Game Show 2019 Trailer (Closed Captions)

Series producer Yoshinori Kitase, who took the stage at the event to show off more of Final Fantasy VII Remake, confirmed that in addition to Easy and Normal modes, the game will also offer a Classic Mode that will revert the RPG to its turn-based roots.

Recommended Videos

In standard modes, the ATB Gauge fills up by repeatedly attacking your enemy, but in Classic Mode this aspect of gameplay is handled automatically. The player does not need to do anything and the character fights automatically, charging up their ATB Gauge. pic.twitter.com/NjuQp2bHBA

— FINAL FANTASY VII (@finalfantasyvii) September 14, 2019

Related

In the game’s standard modes, players fill up the ATB gauge of Cloud and his team by attacking in real-time. Once the gauge is filled up, players will be able to pause the action to cast spells and execute special attacks.

However, in Classic Mode, the characters perform the standard attacks automatically. Players will only have to deal with issuing commands once the ATB gauge fills up, which will transform the Final Fantasy VII Remake into a turn-based RPG.

Sony has uploaded Kitase’s 47-minute presentation, which shows how to access Classic Mode at the 17-minute mark.

『“FINAL FANTASY Ⅶ REMAKE“ SPECIAL STAGE』PlayStation® presents LIVE SHOW “TGS2019”

Classic Mode is seen in action in one of the game’s early boss fights at the 20-minute mark. The battle against Guard Scorpion becomes even more cinematic when players do not have to worry about mashing buttons for normal attacks, instead only issuing commands for special attacks and spells when the ATB gauge fills up.

Kitase also revealed onstage the Final Fantasy VII Remake version of the squat mini-game, as well as the boss fight in which Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith take on Aps in the sewers of Midgar.

Cloud had the “summon materia” for Ifrit equipped in the battle against Aps, allowing him to bring Ifrit onto the battlefield after the summon gauge filled up. Cloud was able to issue commands to Ifrit until the summon gauge was depleted, leading into Ifrit’s ultimate attack.

Ifrit remained on the battlefield fighting until Cloud's Summon Gauge depleted, at which point Ifrit unleashed his ultimate attack: Hellfire! pic.twitter.com/fbM2aS88u7

— FINAL FANTASY VII (@finalfantasyvii) September 14, 2019

Final Fantasy VII Remake is set to launch for the PlayStation 4 on March 3, 2020. The initial release, however, will only feature the part of the game’s story in Midgar.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Aaron Mamiit
Aaron Mamiit
Contributor
Aaron received an NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was four years old, and he has been fascinated…
In defense of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s polarizing ending
Aerith prays in FInal Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

This article contains spoilers for Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

Midway through 1997’s Final Fantasy VII, Cloud Strife walks up a small staircase and finds his companion, Aerith, kneeling on a small platform. She’s locked in prayer as holy-looking light streaks in through the windows around her. That serene moment gives way to a shocking tragedy. Aerith looks at Cloud and calmly smiles before the camera pans above her head. A black shadow bursts out of the light above her; it’s the villainous Sephiroth, massive sword in tow. Before Cloud can process what’s happening, Sephiroth plunges his sword through Aerith’s back, killing her.

Read more
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: all piano sheet music locations and rewards
Cloud playing the piano in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

While there's no shortage of ways to distract yourself while playing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, one of the most unexpected minigames is the surprisingly deep piano system. In most of the major hub towns you encounter across the expansive world, Cloud can find a piano to sit down at and tickle the keys. You're free to play any song you want in free play, but you can turn this system into a full-on rhythm game, almost like Guitar Hero, by collecting sheet music of some of the game's most iconic tracks. There's even an NPC near each piano who will reward you if you get a high enough rank on each song. Cloud may not be the most expressive in his words, but he can sure play the piano with heart. Here is where you can find all the sheet music and what rewards await if you can master them.
Where to find all sheet music

Sheet music, thankfully, isn't hidden away in chests or has to be purchased for crazy amounts of Gil, but a few do have some hidden requirements. Each new composition is found on a piano in the world and is free to snag once you sit down. Even if you don't feel like playing right then and there, make sure you always at least grab the music to add to your collection so you don't have to backtrack later and get it. There are eight in total to find, and some will only come later in the story, but none are missable once you open up fast travel back to previous areas. This is the natural order you can collect them.
On Our Way
Our first piece of music can be picked up once you hit Chapter 4. During this section, go to the Crow's Nest town in the Junon region, which you can only enter by doing the "When Words Won't Do" side quest. Once you complete this quest and can freely enter the town, hit up the bar and grab this tune.
Tifa's Theme
After a rather exciting cruise to Costa del Sol in Chapter 6, you can add this piece to your collection by making a quick stop at the fancy Royal Crown Hotel.
Barret's Theme
Not much further into the game in Chapter 7 you will visit Barret's old hometown of Corel. The Rock Bottom Bar is waiting with his song.
Cinco de Chocobo
Chapter 9 takes you through the town of Gongaga. Even a town way out in the forest has a piano, which means yet another song to snag.
Two Legs? Nothin' to it
One chapter later, in Chapter 10, you need to do a little exploring in Cosmo Canyon to find your way to the piano, but the icon on your map won't lead you astray.
Aerith's Theme
Perhaps the most iconic song in the entire game, if not the franchise, is hidden behind a completely optional side quest. Once you reach Chapter 11, return to Nibelheim and do the "White-Haired Angel" side quest. It may seem totally irrelevant, but the quest ends with you playing and collecting this song.
Let the Battles Begin!
Once you prove your skills and get an A rank or better on all prior songs, you will get this new one as a reward from the NPC Dorian next to all pianos.
One-Winged Angel
We're not sure if fighting Sephiroth or getting this song is harder. If you want to play this terrifying arrangement, you need to donate all 88 Treasure Trove items to Johnny. This more or less requires you to 100% the entire game
All song rewards
For every song you A rank, Dorian will give you a prize when you talk to him. Here's everything you can get:

Read more
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth makes one impactful change to Barret’s story
Barret talking to Dyne in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

This article contains story spoilers for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

Ahead of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's launch, fans were buzzing about how the sequel would tackle Aerith's story. The holy healer was a major focus of Square Enix's marketing, making it clear that one of gaming's most iconic moments would be pivotal to the adventure. But for me, I was more curious about how another tragedy would play out: the tale of Barret and Dyne.

Read more