Summary
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthis still only just over a year old, which means there are at least a few years between now and the release of the final entry in theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy, currently known as “Part 3.” Despite the amount of time still separating the present from its launch, and therefore a lack of information about the game’s specific details, there are still plenty of justifiable expectations forFinal Fantasy 7 RemakePart 3, including its playable characters. One playable character expected to be added to the roster in theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy’s final entry is Vincent Valentine, who appeared in the originalFinal Fantasy 7as a playable character and has already been introduced in the remade trilogy.
Vincent is a belovedFinal Fantasy 7character for his emotional backstory and mysterious personality, but when it comes to gameplay, he was one of the most disliked playable characters in the original game. As such,Final Fantasy 7 RemakePart 3 will need to pull out all the stops to ensure Vincent’s gameplay is vastly improved if it hopes to avoid the criticisms he received in the originalFinal Fantasy 7. Fortunately,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthand its predecessor proved that the trilogy is willing to make some major adjustments to the original game’s story and gameplay, so it’s likely Vincent will get the same treatment.
How Final Fantasy 7 Remake Could Improve the Original Game’s Vincent
Players Need More Agency Over Vincent’s Transformations in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3
The main reason Vincent was disliked so much as a playable character in the originalFinal Fantasy 7is due to the lack of agency players had over his actions in battle. Unlike other characters who could perform a special attack and then return to normal, Vincent transformed into a monster when he used aLimit Break in the originalFinal Fantasy 7. While this made him unique in comparison to the game’s other playable characters, the way these Limit Breaks were executed has been notoriously polarizing on account of their uncontrollable nature.
Vincent is a belovedFinal Fantasy 7character for his emotional backstory and mysterious personality, but when it comes to gameplay, he was one of the most disliked playable characters in the original game.
While transformed, although he would gain boosted stats,Final Fantasy 7’s Vincentcould not be controlled by the player. Instead, Vincent was AI-driven, automatically attacking enemies with specific abilities tied to the monster form he was currently in. Since he couldn’t be controlled by the player, this would ultimately break party strategy, and Vincent could potentially become a liability by, for example, using spells that might heal an enemy. With no way to control his actions, many players found excluding him from the party altogether to be the best route to success, soFinal Fantasy 7 RemakePart 3 would do well to ensure players have plenty of agency over what Vincent does in battle, even if he’s using a Limit Break.
Vincent Needs a Unique Combat Identity in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3
Final Fantasy VII Rebirthdoes an excellent job of giving each character a unique combat identity — Tifa is all about combo chains, Barret’s ranged abilities control the battlefield, and Red XIII blends parries with aggressive pressure. As such,Final Fantasy 7 RemakePart 3’s Vincent should be no exception. As a former Turk and sharpshooter turned experiment, Vincent could specialize in mid-range mobility and status affliction, perhaps using firearms and laying traps that debuff enemies when they’re triggered. This would help Vincent stand out even more as a valuable addition to the party in the third and final entry of theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy.
Since it’s all but guaranteed that Vincent Valentine will debut as a playable character inFinal Fantasy 7 RemakePart 3, the game needs to ensure he is a much better asset than he was in the originalFinal Fantasy 7. Even if it does little else with his gameplay mechanics, it should at least ensure players have full control over Vincent’s actions when he transforms using a Limit Break, assuming those mechanics will be present in the thirdRemakeentry. However, should it find it in its heart to give Vincent a unique combat identity as well,Final Fantasy 7 RemakePart 3’s Vincentcould go down in history as the iteration that redeemed his original form.
