Quick Links
Summary
The demo version ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthis now available for download on the PlayStation 5. Fans oftheFinal Fantasyfranchisecan hop into the first episode of the highly anticipated title, which is set for release on July 28, 2025.
Following the events ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, Cloud, Tifa, and the rest of the group take a trip down memory lane to re-tell the events that occurred in Nibelheim, the hometown of Cloud and Tifa. The demo forFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthlaunches players back into the revitalized 1997 classic, revamped with beautiful scenery, crisp sound effects, and plenty of action. Developers Square Enix Business and Division 1 will have big shoes to fill after the success of its predecessor, with earned multiple accolades, including Editors' Choice from PlayStation and IGN Japan’s 2020 Game of the Year.
The belovedFinal Fantasyremake earned an enhanced version one year later withFinal Fantasy 7 Intergrade, which follows Yuffie in a side-story that will eventually lead to her introduction to the main cast.Final Fantasy 7 Intergradealso serves as a bridge for fans between the two main titles, with the latest hitting the market two years later. The full cast will be available this time around, but theFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthdemo touches up on one chapter, serving as a perfect appetizer for a main course that arrives in three weeks.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Demo Length
The demo offers a glimpse into what to expect fromFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, once the full game releases on February 29. The chapter is the 1997 classic’s re-telling of the events that unfold in Nibelheim, following Sephiroth’s departure from sanity and his lust for bloodshed.
With Cloud and his team re-grouping afterthe events ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, Cloud reveals the events that led to the Nibelheim fires. Much to the chagrin of Tifa, who was also involved in the disaster, Cloud takes a trip down memory lane as the player engages in visiting Cloud’s home, speaking with his mother, and conversing with the townsfolk. One discussion has Cloud scarfing down sandwiches, which comes with a message after each serving — the third and final one makes light of his supper being ruined as a result.
Players will get the chance to take on a couple of battles against field enemies, and a boss battle that includes having Sephiroth as a member of the team. When all is said and done, players should expect to complete the chapter from start to finish within two hours. The ending will certainly leave players in anticipation for the game’s full release.
What Will Carry Over?
Those who complete the “Fall of a Hero in Nibelheim” demo will receive a Kupo Charm and a Survival Set as rewards, which are redeemable after the full release and update download on February 29. Furthermore, players will also gain the ability to skip over the chapter entirely, as the game’s data will show its completion, thanks to the demo.
The Kupo Charm is an accessory that grants the user a larger volume of items dropped, which will certainly be of great use early on. Items can be scarce at times, with the majority of them coming from Shinra boxes. The Survival Set will give players a jumpstart with their item collection, as it will contain plenty of potions, ethers, and various other goods. The combination of goods and the accessory will make facingthe bosses ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthfeel slightly less taxing.
Unfortunately, progress made in the Dawn of a New Era in Junon demo addition — which releases on February 21, eight days before the game’s full release — will not carry over. Players will construct their teams and take on powerful enemies in Junon, as well as inChadley’s combat simulator, but the content involved has been compacted, meaning it won’t be represented as the same in the full game.
For The Final Fantasy Completionists
While the hacking and slashing takes center stage intheFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthdemo, players can find a fun side quest to get lost in. Similar to the 1997 release, Cloud will find himself entering Tifa’s home during the flashback sequence. The demo includes everything that occurred in the original, including Cloud taking a peak into Tifa’s wardrobe — which causes both Tifa and Aerith to throw an expletive at him, out of disgust.
Cloud then takes the spotlight, sitting at Tifa’s piano in her bedroom. Players can engage in the mini-game, using the left and right analog triggers to time and land each piano note. As the combo builds, the metronome used for timing is replaced by a beautiful melody that plays in conjunction with Cloud’s piano skills, indicating the string of successful notes. Miss one, and the metronome comes back into play.
There is also a scoring system, with grades ranging from C to a Star-Rating, and is based on the number of Great, Good, and Missed notes during the playthrough.
As part of the demo, there is no difference in terms of the A-Rating and Star-Rating, as the crew Cloud tells the story to will react the same way. As of this writing, the only subtle difference is the bragging rights of landing a perfect score. However, it may become a trophy to unlock once the full game releases, similar totheFinal Fantasy 7 Remakedarts mini-game. Players can stop at any time, and it’s encouraged to leave a save point to come back to later, if players choose to continue with the demo’s main story.
