Hard to believe it’s still nearly impossible to buy a PlayStation 5 without paying a markup to scalpers. Supply drops from major retailers are still few and far. We’re nearly two years into this new generation of consoles! Even with supply chain issues, I didn’t expect the shortage to last thing long. Naively, perhaps. I’m definitely lucky to have snagged a PS5 early this year on a chance encounter with a flash in-stock situation at Best Buy.
No such luck yet for my friend who’s been trying to buy one. Without markups, obviously.
The console isn’t just sitting next to the TV doing nothing. I’ve been steadily playing through some games on the weekends. Can’t play on a school night! After Ghost of Tsushima and finally finishing Grand Theft Auto 5, the latest game on the list is Final Fantasy 7 Remake. I guess you can say my gaming preference skews towards role-playing games with a long runtime.
FF7 Remake is absolutely breathtaking. I’m glad the producers chose to expand upon the first arc of the original FF7 into a fully realized game. Even though we will have to wait many years more for parts two and three to complete the story (hashtag sad face). The city of Midgar shines and awes, especially on a giant television in 4K. Often times I would pan the camera around just to look at the surroundings. It’s surreal to see things we’ve only imagined from the original game come to life in full digital detail.
I would akin it to seeing the pages of The Lord of the Rings come to fruition in the Peter Jackson movies. It’s pure wish fulfillment.
The voice acting adds a layer of drama and emotion to the FF7 story in Remake, one that’s missing in the 1997 version’s endless wall of scrolling text. The player is more attached to the characters, more invested in their journey and what motivates them. The infamous and impending death of Aerith later on in the story will be extra emotional - if it happens!
But that’s something to find out in the sequels. As it stands, Remake is a fantastic start to retelling the beloved Final Fantasy 7 story. I enjoy playing it immensely.
The giant pie in the sky.