Square Enix have released more information about Final Fantasy VII Remake, including two episodes of the behind-the-scenes development diary focusing on story, characters, and combat between them; as well as the English dub voice cast.

As previously covered, Square Enix have produced their own development diary video series, giving a insight to the game’s development. This also includes the occasional piece of footage not seen in other trailers.

In the second episode (Story and Characters), it is revealed the staff replayed the original game, with Producer Yoshinori Kitase thinking Midgar was originally far longer. This is one of the reasons the Midgar part of the game was expanded.

Co-Director of Scenario Design Motomu Toriyama also discussed how Cloud had a very different interpretation in other games, being “a very cool and collected character, the complete and flawless hero.”

Story & Scenario head Kazushige Nojima notes that Cloud this time is someone who has a lot bottled up, and is attempting to act aloof- with the act slipping every so often.

“In the original I depicted him as a cool and stylish character. However, this time, he can miss the mark and be a little cringe-worthy at times. His cool facade can often slip. Because he wants people to accept him and respect him, he puts on a front.

So, when he doesn’t know something he just goes ‘Not interested’. I have written him in a way that makes you think that ‘Not Interested’ might not be a cool thing to say, but sometimes can be a bit lame. That’s something I really wanted to convey.

That is a personal challenge I set myself. But at the same time, I am nervous whether fans will accept that or not.”

Kazushige also cited that since the characters look more realistic, he needed to write in more detail to convey emotional scenes. This also meant Kazushige wanted to change the dialogue, as it was originally read by the player, rather than spoken aloud.

Motomu explains that using the original dialogue would sound “explanatory”, considering the dialogue originally helped convey things that could not be shown, such as emotions. Now, dialogue is written to sound more natural, with animation able to show how character’s feel.

Motomu notes something about Aerith. “In Remake, we actually reveal quite a major untold part of her past. You might not even catch it at all.” Whether this is something that was untold until later in the original Final Fantasy VII, part of her past that is revealed around Midgar even in the original, or something new entirely, remains to be seen.

During the third video (Combat and Action), Director and head of Concept Design Tetsuya Nomura addressed the change from the ATB system, to a more action-RPG style of gameplay.

“When I thought about the players, who would be experiencing Final Fantasy VII for the first time, action is very much the mainstream style for games right now.

On top of that, in order to make the world of Final Fantasy VII Remake as enjoyable as possible, and give it the atmosphere I wanted, I wanted to have all of the controls real-time. That was the first big challenge of the project.

Looking at the whole Final Fantasy series, I felt you had to retain all the number stats and level gauges as well. They make Final Fantasy what it is!

For Final Fantasy VII specifically, you have the ATB (Active Time Battle) system. I wanted to combine those definitive Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy VII elements, with the modern style of real-time action games.

Mixing all of those together, balancing them was essential. So, the concept was to arrive at the ideal point that best balanced everything.”

You can find the second and third developer diary episodes below.

In addition, Square Enix revealed (via their official website) more of the English dub voice cast, including many major roles. You can find that list below.

• Cloud Strife: Cody Christian (All American, Teen Wolf)
• Barret Wallace: John Eric Bentley (Hart of Dixie, Lab Rats, Fear of the Walking Dead)
• Aerith Gainsborough: Briana White (Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Occupants)
• Tifa Lockhart: Britt Baron (GLOW, The Thing About Harry, My Valentine)
• Red XIII: Max Mittelman (Persona 5, One-Punch Man)
• Jessie: Erica Lindbeck (Spider-Man PS4, Mortal Kombat 11)
• Biggs: Gideon Emery (Dash & Lily, Teen Wolf, Dragon Age II)
• Wedge: Matt Jones (Bob Hearts Abishola, Breaking Bad)
• Sephiroth: Tyler Hoechlin
• Reno: Arnie Pantoja (Konosuba, Trolls, Sydney White)
• Rude: William Christopher Stephens (The Avengers, Spies in Disguise, Mortal Kombat 11)
• Tseng: Vic Chao (Seis Manos, Mortal Kombat X, Ben 10)
• President Shinra: James Horan (Metal Gear Solid V, Fallout: New Vegas, Love, Death & Robots)
• Heidegger: John DiMaggio (Futurama, Adventure Time)
• Scarlet: Erin Cottrell (Love’s Long Journey, The Identical)
• Palmer: William Salyers (Regular Show, Spider-Man PS4, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders)
• Reeve: Jon Root (Call of Duty: Ghosts, Fallout 76)
• Professor Hojo: James Sie (Jackie Chan Adventures, Uncharted)
• Marlene Wallace: Brielle Milla (The Ellen Show, T.O.T.S.)
• Roche: Austin Lee Matthews (Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon, Trails of Cold Steel III)
• Don Corneo: Fred Tatasciore (Overwatch, Fortnite, Gears of War)

Final Fantasy VII Remake launches April 10th on PlayStation 4, and “much earlier” in Europe and Australia due to the coronavirus pandemic. The console exclusivity ends April 4th, 2021.