Square Enix have released a wealth of new information for Final Fantasy VII Remake, along with the first episode of the making of documentary.
The new information focuses on characters, how Barret performs in battle, the Enemy Skill Materia, Midgar’s Sector 6, the jukebox, and the Leviathan summon.
The characters this time around include Tseng, Don Corneo, a few new characters, and characters that have been expanded compared to their original incarnations. You can find the run-down on them below:
Tseng
“This is Tseng – the leader of the Turks.
The Turks are a small, elite organization with Shinra that does everything the company needs it to – be it scouting out candidates for SOLDIER, protecting VIPs, or even assassination.
Their cool-headed leader has a knack for managing his eccentric subordinates. He’s an old acquaintance of Aerith’s, and has been keeping watch over her since she moved to the slums.”
Don Corneo
“This lecherous scumbag is the true ruler of Wall Market. He hosts nightly auditions for the ‘next Mrs. Corneo’ and although his mouth is as foul as his face, he has an uncanny way with people – even the dregs of society are securely under his thumb.”
Andrea Rhodea
“The owner of – and dancer at – the Honeybee Inn is a man of influence within the quarter, with the authority to approve women for Corneo’s auditions. Each night, he dazzles his crowd with performances that defy description. Always seeking perfection, he rigorously trains both his mind and body.”
Leslie Kyle
“Don Corneo’s lackey may look young, but he has the heart of an old curmudgeon. His dead-eyed stare and general apathy have earned him pride of place among the don’s men.”
Madam M
“Madam M is the proprietress of a hand-massage parlor in Wall Market. Like Andrea, she has a great deal of influence within the quarter – that includes the authority to approve women for Corneo’s auditions. Be warned that she’s a prideful sort, and only as courteous as her customers are deep-pocketed.”
Chocobo Sam
“A Chocobo handler in Wall Market, Chocobo Sam is another prominent figure with the authority to approve women for Corneo’s auditions. He runs a delivery service called Sam’s Delivery. He also happens to be an avid gambler – though he’s hooked more on the rush than any money he may win.”
The info on how Barret performs in battle features some of what we already know- including attacking with his machine gun arm, his Overcharge attack, and his Focus Shot ability. Another of these abilities includes Lifesaver. “After activating it, Barret will share some of his HP with allies when they take damage.”
The Enemy Skill Command Materia was also detailed. Much like the Blue Mages of other Final Fantasy games, a character with this Materia can learn certain enemy skills if they are struck by them. They can only use these learned skills if they equip the Materia.
Next, the new locations within Midgar were detailed. These focused on the less reputable parts of the city. You can find the full rundown on them below.
Wall Market
“Built on the ruins of the collapsed Sector 6 plate, Wall Market is Midgar’s biggest – and most infamous – entertainment quarter.
It’s run by Don Corneo (see above) and is almost entirely free of Shinra’s influence.
It’s an incredibly lively area that offers plenty of… let’s say ‘intriguing’ ways to pass the lonely nights.”
Corneo Colloseum
“Located beneath the bustling streets of Wall Market, the Corneo Colosseum gives brave fighters the chance to engage in brutal battles against both man and monster.
Winners of a colosseum bout receive glory, fame, and a substantial reward.”
The Honeybee Inn
“Situated in Wall Market, the Honeybee Inn is the area’s premier nightclub, and offers nights few will ever forget- as its staff frequently remind its patrons.
Every night, audiences are dazzled by the Honeybee Inn’s gorgeous cast of honeygirls and boys.
This unique venue also provides private rooms for its more discerning customers, allowing them to enjoy time in private with the performers of their choice.”
During this segment, it was also revealed when Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith have to “glam up” to infiltrate Don Corneo’s mansion, each character will have multiple costumes.
Beginner’s Hall
“This is Beginner’s Hall – a location where you can learn the basics of weapon enhancement.
There’s a weapon shop on the ground floor.
The second floor is used as the base of operations for the neighborhood watch.”
It was also revealed that the player can obtains discs from shops and NPCs, in order to play in-game music from any jukebox found in the world, such as the one in Tifa’s bar.
The final piece of information was on the Leviathan summon. “Worshipped as a deity in the Wutai region, this non-elemental summon takes the form of a water serpent.” As you might expect from its name and lore, Leviathan was originally a water-element summon, and obtained much later in the game.
Finally, Square Enix also released the first part of their “Inside Final Fantasy VII Remake” series. Released over the next few weeks, the videos will feature new footage of the game, and behind-the-scenes interviews with key Final Fantasy VII Remake staff. These include:
- Yoshinori Kitase (Producer)
- Tetsuya Nomura (Director & Concept Design)
- Kazushige Nojima (Story & Scenario)
- Naoki Hamaguchi (Co-Director – Game Design / Programming)
- Motomu Toriyama (Co-Director – Scenario Design)
You can find the introduction video below.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is launching for PlayStation 4 on April 10th, 2020. The console exclusivity ends April 4th, 2021.
