Highest Anticipation Winner Goes to...Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth

Square Enix isn't just great at creating timeless RPGs (role-playing games), it knows how to keep us waiting without noticing how long we have been waiting. It's been almost four years since the release of Final Fantasy VII the Remake, and The Game Awards has named it's next installment the "Most Anticipated Game" of 2024. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, with a new extended trailer and song reveal, via live performance from Loren Allred, continues to set standards high. 

The "Theme Song Announcement Trailer" reveals characters like Cid Highwind, a former Shrina engineer and scientist; and Vincent Valentine, a shape-shifting former Turk is another reveal. It's unclear if this character will be playable, but nonetheless, an important piece to the continuity of the storyline. New characters Solemn Gus, kingpin of Corel Prison; Dio, owner of the Gold Saucer and the return of Biggs, Tifa, Aerith and Barret.

An added layer to The Rebirth....friendship. This round of storyline supports synergy and compatibility between party members unlocking a synchronized attack after filling the Synergy Gauge. The party members go through a lot together in every version of this game creating a bond. When responding as Cloud, in The Rebirth, it'll affect your overall relationship with party members. This can be a positive or a negative and will determine your synergy fate in battle.

There was also a first look at all the party members in a showing of key art work for the Rebirth. Tetsuya Nomura, video game artist, "...chose to create an image that depicts each. member with their own thoughts and feelings on the vast world and unknown journey they are about to embark on...".  The Rebirth's predecessor sold 3.5 units in the first 3 days of release in 2020, the highest digital release on the Playstation Platform in Square Enix history. The theme here is patience so I guess we'll wait until February 29th, 2024 for the world wide release exclusively on PS5. 

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 7, 2023) – During The Game Awards 2023, FINAL FANTASY™ VII REBIRTH, which will launch exclusively for the PlayStation®5 (PS5®) console on Feb. 29, was honored with the award for “Most Anticipated Game” of 2024. Additionally, SQUARE ENIX® unveiled the official theme song for FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH in a dramatic new trailer that debuted during the show alongside a showstopping live performance by featured vocalist Loren Allred.