Final Fantasy is one of the best-selling and most famous video game franchises in the world. Since the first Final Fantasy game was released in 1987 and Final Fantasy XVI is in production with an expected release date sometime this year or next year, it is hard to find any RPG gamer who doesn’t have fond memories of playing one of the editions.
Obviously, a lot has changed in the world of video games since the 1980s. Improved graphics and gameplay are just the tip of the iceberg. There are now more systems to play on, ideas about what gameplay should include have expanded, and storylines have become more complex.
It makes total sense then that Square Enix, the developers behind the Final Fantasy series, would want to remake some of their earlier editions. Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997, is considered one of the best in the series and one of the best video games ever made. Final Fantasy VII Remake gives the developers the chance to go back to this classic and rework it for today’s audience.
One aspect of video games today that didn’t really exist in the 1980s-90s is the pay to win format. Final Fantasy VII Remake has some pay to win elements that upset some fans. Let’s take a look at what exactly pay to win means, what the FF7 Remake looks like, and whether or not Part 2 will also have pay to win elements.
Pay to win
Pay to win is the term used to describe game content that isn’t included with the basic game purchase. It’s also known as downloadable content (DLC). Some DLC is just aesthetic — it can be different skins for characters, new side quests or additional characters. Other DLC makes the game easier — this includes elements such as higher-powered characters or weapon upgrades. These elements are considered pay to win because they make it so much easier to defeat hard levels and bosses.
Pay2win is a less controversial gaming element than it used to be. This might have something to do with the increased popularity of online casinos. Around the world, from the online casinos of the anglophone world to les casinos en ligne in France and the nettikasino of Finland and beyond, spending real money for the potential to win big has become normalized. Paying a little extra to access extra features in a game that you’re enjoying seems less like a hidden expense and more like a bonus.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 1
The first FF7 Remake was released in 2020 and rather than just being an updated version of the original it’s actually an expanded introduction. Instead of following Cloud and his team in their escape from Midgar and on their adventures to build a team and defeat the Shinra Corporation, the game ends with the escape. This allowed the developers to spend more time on the character development and on telling a detailed story.
Besides the expanded, and somewhat altered, narrative, the biggest change that players will find is the battle mechanics. This has been updated to be similar to the mechanic used in FF XV rather than the original.
The first FF VII Remake has limited DLC and nothing in the game would be consider pay2win. It is possible to beat the game without paying for additional content. It’s a straightforward RPG with amazing graphics and great storytelling that will remind many players why they fell in love with the Final Fantasy series in the first place.
What can we expect from Part 2?
There is currently no release date set for Part 2 of FF VII Remake, but we know that it is in the works and hopefully we will see it in the next few years. Since we don’t really know what direction Square Enix intends to take the story, it is difficult to speculate about how any DLC aspect of the game will be developed.
Whether or not Part 2 will have more Pay2win content is another tricky question. The Final Fantasy games that Square Enix has released for mobile phones have shown that the developer is happy to employ the pay to win model. Some of the mobile game titles have even been referred to as “junk” that takes advantage of the popularity of the series.
Judging by their current games, it seems that Square Enix prefers to keep the pay to win elements to their mobile games. This allows the main games to remain open and fun for all players.
