I’ve had a substantial connection with theFinal Fantasyfranchise. While I may not adore every entry equally, I’ve played all the mainline games. There’s always something charming in them that brings a smile to my face. However, with the release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, one thing has become clear: I am simply not a fan of mini-games.
I’m Glad Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Doesn’t Have DLC Plans
Give me my money’s worth and then later on, I’ll invest more into it if I like it.
A Mini History Of Mini Games
My initiation into Final Fantasywas through Final Fantasy 8. It took me a while to play and finish because, at first, I had no idea what I was doing. Similar to learning to ride a bike, I persevered until I grasped the game mechanics. Although it was frustrating, it was nothing compared to the challenge of mastering Triple Triad.
Triple Triad was my first encounter with a mini-game. I vividly recall being introduced to it in the early stages of Final Fantasy 8, controlling Squall, who reluctantly agrees to compete. After nearly breaking my controller in an attempt to understand it, I resorted to GameFaqs to defeat my first opponent.
Each time a mini-game appears, I find myself rolling my eyes, sighing, and reminding myself to do the bare minimum.
I stumbled through the card game, not investing much in it until I discovered that Ellone, a crucial character in the game’s narrative, possessed the coveted Laguna card. I wanted it for Quezacotl’s Card Mod ability to obtain 100 Heroes, granting party invincibility — essential for defeating the game’s super bosses. However, obtaining that card proved to be a considerable challenge, and to this day, I laugh at my numerous failed attempts to acquire it.
Subsequently, many other Final Fantasy games introduced me to their mini-games. However, if there are two games that stand out as the biggest culprits of this torment, it’sFinal Fantasy 10-2andFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
“YRP, In Position, It’s Showtime Girls!”
Final Fantasy 10-2, on some level, feels like one of the funniest jokes ever played on me. Being ahuge fan of Yuna, one of my favorite fictional characters, I was thrilled when 10-2 was announced and still consider it one of my favorite games in the franchise. However, it’s also one of my least favorite games to replay.
Back in the day, I played and replayed 10-2 obsessively. The game’s combat system, in my opinion, is one of the best in the series, and seeing Yuna and her friends transform into different jobs was a source of joy. However, the abundance of mini-games became a significant downside. To witness Tidus again, you had to play almost all of them. With a strategy guide on my lap, I meticulously followed every tedious rule to achieve the coveted 75-99% story completion for the good ending.
During the pandemic quarantine, I revisited 10-2, aiming for 100% story completion to get the best ending, but the gaming landscape has changed. What was acceptable back then doesn’t hold up now. If 10 and 10-2 were remastered today, many frustrating obstacles would likely be trimmed down for a more beginner-friendly experience. However, since the remaster was one of the first of its kind, the game remains largely the same, and my aversion to mini-games resurfaces quickly.
It wasn’t until last summer that I finally completed a full playthrough, achieving only 99%. “Well, at least I completed it,” I told myself. But it took so long because the mini-games just don’t appeal to me.
These experiences came to mind asFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthintroduced more mini-games, putting me in a similar situation.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Is Giving Zack More Love, Which Is Great
Zack “the puppy” could finally getting the recognition he deserves in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Final Fantasy 7 “Re-Mini Games”
From the start of the game, I knew I wasn’t interested in learningthe new card game, Queen’s Blood. By chapter 3, various mini-games started appearing: racing a dolphin, marching in a parade, shooting boxes with Barrett’s gun arm, and slicing others with Yuffie’s shuriken while on a dangerous rail cart.
The only mini-game I managed successfully was Fort Condor, and even that required turning down the difficulty to Easy and spamming mostly archers. Winning didn’t feel satisfying when I felt the need to manipulate the game for success.
This isn’t to say I don’t enjoy Rebirth; I love the story and anticipate that the trilogy’s conclusion will break my heart, just like the original did in the early 2000s. I’ma huge Aerith and Zack fan, and I believe they’ve been portrayed well this time. However, each time a mini-game appears, I find myself rolling my eyes, sighing, and reminding myself to do the bare minimum. Fortunately, in many cases, you don’t need to excel in them for the sake of the story.
I acknowledge that I’m just not a fan of mini-games, and that’s completely fine.
