Final Fantasy VII Revelation: New Materia Leveling and Gameplay Details

The final chapter of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy is nearing its release. Six months out from the launch of Final Fantasy VII Revelation, recent hands-on time with an early-game demo confirms that while the game features the massive, open-world scope seen in previous entries, it retains the high-stakes, linear storytelling that defined the start of the project six years ago. The demo focused on the party’s journey through the North Crater, showcasing refined quality-of-life features and new combat mechanics.

New Materia and Quality of Life Improvements

The menu-heavy experience of FF7 RPGs returns with a significant change to progression. Players can now utilize ‘Materia fragments’ to manually increase an AP ratio rather than relying solely on experience gained through combat. Additionally, the Item Transmuter returns from Rebirth, now paired with an auto-loot function enabled by default. This change removes the previous requirement to clear the campaign to unlock automatic material collection, allowing for a more seamless exploration of environments.

Combat Mechanics and the FITS System

Combat in the early chapter introduces the FITS (Fusion of Items and Tactical Summons) system. In the demo, Cloud was assigned the ‘Summoner’ job, allowing players to utilize summons like Ifrit, Shiva, or Titan to enhance standard attacks. Synergy attacks—a staple of the modern trilogy—remain, though they have been streamlined; players can now trigger powerful synergy abilities by building ATB on a single character, rather than needing to manage specific gauges across the whole party simultaneously.

Guide: Optimizing Your Early Game Setup

Before diving into the North Crater, ensure your party is prepared with these confirmed mechanic updates:

Prerequisites:
– Access to the Materia menu during the opening chapter.
– At least one ATB segment available for FITS-based summons.

Steps:
1. Manage Materia: Locate your Materia fragments in the menu. Choose a specific element, such as Fire, to apply fragments and boost your AP ratio immediately.
2. Utilize Auto-Loot: Ensure you are moving through the map while exploring, as gathering materials no longer requires manual interaction or mashing the triangle button.
3. Master Character Rhythms: If using Cid, use his specific attack rhythm—standard attacks followed by a wait for the blue mist cue before unleashing a heavy strike.
4. Trigger Synergy Attacks: Focus on building ATB on one character to trigger summon-based synergy attacks, which are now more accessible than in previous entries.

Why it matters

Final Fantasy VII Revelation is set to conclude a trilogy that began six years ago, making it the most significant narrative milestone in the series’ modern history. For players, these changes suggest a move toward more streamlined engagement with RPG systems, potentially lowering the barrier to entry for the game’s more complex combat encounters.

While the early demo showed a lower difficulty curve, developers are expected to tune the balance before the game’s official release in April. Fans should look forward to how these early-game mechanics scale as the story moves deeper into the crater and beyond.