Gamers can tell when a lot of love and genuine effort are put into a game

Gamers can tell when a lot of love and genuine effort are put into a game, and you can feel it everywhere you go in FF7R. So many details in the environment and character models (though some NPCs may pale in comparison).

The soundtrack is spectacular, with varied orchestral and modern remixes of music from the classic game. And the voice acting is consistently great, even from minor characters.

The combat is a thrilling mix of action and classic RPG strategy that feels like a natural evolution from the Kingdom Hearts button mash. You can spam the attack button all day, but be warned: This won't be an option against stronger or trickier opponents. The real deal here is your regular attacks (and blocking, I might add) increases your Active Time Bar (ATB) which slows time to a crawl and allows you to access your important abilities like Special Attacks, Magic, Items, etc. You can even switch it to classic and allow your characters to auto-attack while they build up the ATB bar.

And last but not least is the heart of FF7 itself: The amazing story and the wonderful cast of characters that you will hold dear to your heart. These two elements transcended the blocky visuals of the past and evoked strong emotions that fans remember to this day.

Although FF7R was in the pursuit of perfection, we all know that no game is perfect. The camera can be a real pain in tight spots.

It's been a very long wait, but after playing I can definitely say it was worth it. Now everyone, old and new fans alike, can experience the joy that FF7 has to offer.