Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director talks action combat and getting wrangled by Zack

destructoid.com:

Based on what we’ve seen so far, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth looks similar to Final Fantasy 7 Remake. However, it also appears to hide subtle refinements underneath the surface that may make it a substantially different experience. And according to game director Naoki Hamaguchi, it seems this vibe is, indeed, by design.

Last month, I had the opportunity to play Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for myself. While I gave my honest thoughts about what I saw during that demo, the experience left me deeply curious about Rebirth’s adherence to the original formula and what pieces would deviate. Fortunately, I didn’t have to leave every curiosity unfulfilled, and I was provided the opportunity to email a few questions directly to the game’s development team, which Hamaguchi himself kindly answered.

Below, you’ll find our full exchange, which includes insight into how the game will approach both its evolved combat system as well as its new story. Also, there’s a line about Zack that I can’t get out of my head. Enjoy!

Greetings! I’m Timothy Monbleau, Guide Editor for Destructoid. I’ve followed the Final Fantasy series since before I could even read, so it is a privilege to ask you about Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. Thank you for your time.

Now, for my questions.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth offers a bit of a new beginning. While it continues the story of Final Fantasy VII Remake, players will have to level up their characters and Materia all over again. Was it a challenge to make Final Fantasy VII Rebirth feel fresh for those who mastered Final Fantasy VII Remake?

Naoki Hamaguchi: It was a significant decision not to carry over the growth element while keeping this installment format. However, I would like to explain that this decision was