Final Fantasy 7 Remake released in early 2020 to acclaim from both fans and critics, as the amount of care that Square Enix put into adapting the 1997 original for modern players was evident, but if this same level of detail and care is put into one big feature from the original could set the tone for the rest of the project. Mini-games were a huge part of the original game and how they're handled (and whether some of them make there way into the new game at all) could be a determining factor for later parts of the remake.
Many fans and critics lauded Final Fantasy 7 Remake for its careful and loving adaptation of the 1997 classic. The first part in what is to be a series of games retelling the original story Remake put great care in handling details like updating the character models from the PS1 original, but it's going to be the small stuff moving forward that matters.
A Welcome Distraction
The overall tone of FF7 can be incredibly heavy throughout most of the journey due to Cloud and the other members of Avalanche finding themselves embroiled in ecoterrorism, political intrigue, and more than a few big losses. Yet, by the time players reach the midpoint of the story, there a bevy of activities that they can engage in to take a break from the morose story, and reap some powerful rewards as well. Eventually, players find a welcome (if somewhat jarring) shift in tone as they take control of Cloud during a snowboarding mini-game that has players dodging snowmen and penguins on their way to the North Crater. Before that, diligent fans were able to uncover some powerful items through the sonar-based digging mini-game as they searched for a key granting access to the City of the Ancients.
Some mini-games are inserted into the main campaign, like the aforementioned snowboarding game and the submarine battle mission after Cloud and the gang hijack a Shinra submarine to explore the ocean depths. Seeing how these games might translate into the modern design and capabilities of Remake is exciting, and if executed well, it will likely have many players tackling more than one playthrough of FF7 Remake Part 2. Many of these small games that occur throughout the story are also a good way to shake up the core gameplay. The parade sequence where players control Cloud as he dons a Shinra uniform and must execute parade maneuvers properly is a good break in the gameplay formula and when successful grants players the powerful Force Stealer sword for Cloud.
Some of the mini-games that occur throughout the main story can be absolutely absurd, like when Cloud literally rides a dolphin to reach a high ledge. But this is often a good thing, and Square Enix has already shown that it doesn't intend to shy away from absurdity in FF7 Remake. The infamous Honey Bee Inn scene in Wall Market was on full display in the first part including a rhythm-based mini-game to boot, and the inclusion of this scene bodes well for players who may have been worried that Remake would shy away from this and make other changes to the FF7 story.
Mini-Games in Final Fantasy 7
Other mini-games exist outside of the main story but are remembered no less fondly by many fans of the original FF7. Early on after leaving Midgar, Cloud and the other members of Avalanche find Fort Condor. The fort is under siege by Shinra, who are after rare materia resting in the nest of a giant condor atop of the fort. Engagement with this group is wholly optional, but players who do decide to pitch in are treated to a full-blown tower defense game and some music that doesn't appear anywhere else in Final Fantasy 7's soundtrack.
Given the first part of Remake's attention to detail in fleshing out some of the smaller areas of Midgar, it would be interesting to see that same flair applied to Fort Condor. Although if included, Fort Condor's ultimate reward, the Phoenix materia, might be handled differently given Remake's system of new summon materia coming through completing objectives for Chadley.
The biggest test for Square Enix will, for many fans, be in how the desert casino Gold Saucer is handled. Later in the game, this resort is the place for players to replay many of Final Fantasy 7's mini-games. The FF7 Remake motorcycle sequence, recreated and expanded on nicely in Remake, is just one of the games available in the Gold Saucer. Players can also replay the snowboarding game, submarine mission, and a host of other mini-games befitting a casino arcade environment like an arm-wrestling machine, a virtual boxing ring, and a gil-operated fortune teller. The Gold Saucer is also home to the chocobo races, which are an important part in the chocobo breeding side quests.
One mini-game from the Gold Saucer that has already featured in FF7 Remake is the Battle Arena, which is represented in Wall Market and later as a simulation in Shinra Headquarters. Final Fantasy 7 Remake did a good job of making the player feel like a champion with the cheering crowds present in the underground fight pit, and it should be fun for many players to see this on a larger scale if the Battle Arena in Gold Saucer makes its way to the next part of Remake. Given how Square Enix has already expanded some previously small areas or games into larger components it wouldn't be out of the question to see an anime-style tournament storyline play out in the next part.
Setting The Tone
Final Fantasy 7 Remake was a daunting task from its onset. Often regarded by many fans as the best game in the franchise, it was bound to draw some scrutiny. Overall, though, many are clearly happy with it as its own game, as a remake, and as a futuristic RPG in general. Going forward, seeing whether Square Enix applies the same loving attention to all of the various mini-games throughout will set the bar for player expectations for the rest of the games in the project.
Seeing how these relatively minor experiences are handled will likely set the tone for the parts to follow, for good or ill, and cutting them sets one tone, including them with little revision sets one, and improving them sets a whole other for level of detail. The world of FF7 Remake is just beginning, though, so only time will tell.
