Summary
The opening stage of one of the greatest games of all time, Midgar is undoubtedly one of the most iconic settings in gaming history, but it’s far from the only beloved location in the original 1997Final Fantasy 7. After Cloud and the rest of the crew escape Midgar, they set off on a globe-trotting adventure to find and stop Sephiroth, and along the way they stumble into a wealth of now-iconic locales, from the calming beachside resort of Costa del Sol to the intimidating Shinra fortress city of Junon toCloud and Tifa’s hometown of Nibelheim.
Just like its predecessor did with each of Midgar’s individual locations,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthgoes above and beyond when recreating these iconic locations from the original game’s second act. From major area expansions to slight tweaks in design that give the architecture and look of the area more realism,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthelevates the original game’s settings, and that’s certainly true for Barret’s hometown of Corel and its various surrounding areas.
Comparing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Mt. Corel to the 1997 Original
One of the most extensive expansions in the entire remake,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Mt. Corelhas seen some significant additions. In the original 1997Final Fantasy 7, Mt. Corel was a fairly odd area, with juxtaposing architecture and level design that didn’t blend together quite as seamlessly as some ofFF7’s other locations. For instance, players would travel from one screen that depicted a damaged Mako reactor to the next, which showed a seemingly unconnected mining bridge, and then the next, which showed a rollercoaster-like mining track. It didn’t necessarily feel like these areas made logical sense in-universe, andRebirthtries its best to rectify that while still retaining the same general layout.
Now completely destroyed,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Mt. Corel Mako reactorhas clearly decimated the surrounding area, which leads to some changes in the architecture that closely resemble the original game’s Mt. Corel design, thus explaining why these areas look the way they do.Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Mt. Corel is also home to one of the lengthier filler sections in the remake, with Yuffie now being tasked with lowering the same bridge that took the original version of Cloud just a few seconds to cross.
Comparing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s North Corel to the 1997 Original
Relegated to just one background screen in the originalFinal Fantasy 7, North Corel has received a bit of an expansion in the remake, but has still managed to retain its smaller size. Intended to be a tiny mining village on the verge of collapse, it wouldn’t make sense forRebirth’s version of North Corel to receive the same glow-up as areas likeCosta del Sol or Junon, so keeping it small and rundown was the best choiceFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthcould have made.
Comparing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Corel Prison to the 1997 Original
After participating in a few mini-games at the Gold Saucer, bothFinal Fantasy 7games have players thrown back down to the desolate surface below, a place filled with ruffians and thugs named Corel Prison. Inthe original 1997Final Fantasy 7, Corel Prison is a wasteland containing a few destroyed car chassis, and a few low-life criminals. InFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Corel Prison has been expanded into a bustlingMad Max-like town filled to the brim with thieves and gamblers. Though it retains its intimidating feeling,Rebirth’s more populated version of Corel Prison makes the place feel more like an actual town than an empty wasteland filled with stragglers.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
