When Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade was recently announced for Switch 2 and Xbox, Square Enix revealed that the port would make use of new “streamlined progression features” — basically cheats — allowing players to breeze through the game.
As you’d expect, these difficulty-breaking options have divided opinion. Some have suggested that they cheapen the overall experience, while others simply see them as a means of making the title more accessible.
But why did the development team opt to add these features in the first place? Well, according to director Naoki Hamaguchi, he himself pushed the idea through, with the intent being that players should ultimately be able to play games however they like.
He told Automaton: “Naturally, when we announce features like these, we get responses like ‘This is sacrilegious!’ Even within the dev team, there are people who feel that way. But unless someone takes the initiative, it doesn’t happen.”
Hamaguchi continues: “I personally believe that, with digital entertainment today, the player should have the choice in how they interact with content. That’s why I pushed for it.”
The director also notes that Remake Intergrade can be completed much more quickly by making use of these features. On a regular playthrough, the adventure can take anywhere between 40 and 50 hours to beat — but you can chop that all the way down to sub-10 if you wanted to.
Overall, though, it sounds like Hamaguchi’s decision to implement ‘cheats’ was made easier due to the fact that Remake is now several years old. The options allow new players to catch up on the promised trilogy at pace, while also letting returning players recap the experience with very little fuss.
“If we were to add [progression features] to the third installment at launch, it would probably spark controversy. We’d risk disrupting the experience for fans who have been waiting the longest and deserve to enjoy it the most,” he explains.
At this point it’s worth noting that said progression features are also coming to PS5 at some point. Square Enix has already confirmed that they’ll be implemented via a future update.
What’s your take on these ‘cheats’, then? Would you consider using them? Give Cloud a much easier time of it in the comments section below.
Would you use these “streamlined progression features” in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade? (592 votes)
Yes, they’d honestly be a big help20%Yeah, they might be useful in certain situations22%Nah, I’d maybe try them out, but that’s all24%No, I’d never use them35%
[source automaton-media.com]
Related Games
See Also
Robert (or Rob if you’re lazy) is an assistant editor of Push Square, and has been a fan of PlayStation since the 90s, when Tekken 2 introduced him to the incredible world of video games. He still takes his fighting games seriously, but RPGs are his true passion. The Witcher, Persona, Dragon Quest, Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, Trails, Tales — he’s played ’em all. A little too much, some might say.