I’ve played the original enough times that I can rattle off a good portion of the story beats even though it’s been more than a decade and a half since I played the game. I’m only at Chapter 15 right now and I can tell you flat out, this game is blatantly fucking with people that played the original.

*spoilers*

As someone that played the original I actually had a small hope that they might avert the plate collapse at this point. It was becoming very clear that Aerith somehow knew what was going to happen before it did and I genuinely hoped she might have a chance to stop it. Alas she couldn’t risk trying for fear…

No you're right. I was furious. It all felt very real, watching the governing body just murder people for convenience. Horrible and bracing and real.

Meh, as a gay person never had an issue with the original, other gay people’s opinions are available and just as valid.

Damn, are you allergic to fun?

This is the sort of change that I think would find near unanimous approval. This was definitely one of the parts that I cringed about when I pictured a completely faithful remake (among others), and so it definitely needed a full scale reworking.

I would probably react the same way Cloud did; wide eyed and closed off body language. That’s his character in general, isn’t it? Sticking to what he’s comfortable with and trying not to deviate, is what FFVIIr Cloud is all about.

I really love the updated Wall Market - and Honey Bee Inn specifically. I actually worked at a gay nightclub in the very early aughts - so still a handful of years after Final Fantasy VII’s debut - but this entire scene is, as you said, extremely reminiscent of that late nineties/early aughts club vibe.

I don't know what I was expecting the new iteration of the honeybee scene to be but when I found myself in the middle of a full blown club dance off I could not stop smiling haha.

Cloud is an Edgelord! This version definitely makes it more clear that Clouds terse interactions towards the beginning of the game are basically an act of what he thinks a super cool dude would do and say. 

I loved how apprehensive Cloud was at the idea of dancing in front of a crowd and then how into it he gets once the actual number begins. That and “yeah, nailed it, I know, moving on!” 

Cloud asserting that he was nailing the look was easily one of his best lines in the game. Up there with suggesting Barret needs to “Get help” for literally hearing the planet talk to him.

I immediately fell in love with Jessie. She was so shameless about her flirting that it was charming. I fell doubly in love with her when Wedge made a point of telling Cloud that the whole flirting thing was just a game to her. It’s perfect character shading. You could tell he’s seen it before, or has had it happen to…

no, from a POPULARITY standpoint, which is what the phrase “household name” is referring it. merit is 100% irrelevant. FFVII made Final Fantasy a household name because it sold a billion units. nothing to do with graphics or story or gameplay or anything else.

I love it in context of Wedge’s remarks about it being an act. I was a little bit of a drama kid in high school and I knew more than a couple of girls back then who didn’t grow out of that “heavy flirting because it’s dramatic” phase until much later.

I’m pretty far into the game at this point (in the sewers). I didn't play the original at all and really avoided all JRPGs until FF XIII, but holy shit am I enjoying this game. It's so good

As far as the ladies of FF7R, I’m team Jessie, although Tifa is a close 2nd, Jessie has more attitude. I’m only Ch8 and so far haven’t warmed up to Aerith yet..

Seems like they softened up Cloud’s personality a little more as he spends more time with the other characters, which I am liking. Whenever he makes the occasional “merc” one-liners deeper into the game, the group almost treats those like in-jokes. Makes sense to me. They really fleshed out all of the characters and…

it’s true.  you can geek out over how much better VI was all you want but it was VII that broke the franchise mainstream.

I wish she wouldn’t stop.