Final Fantasy VII Remake — Beginner's Guide: Cloud, Tifa, Aerith and Combat
Final Fantasy VII Remake — A Beginner's Guide
Final Fantasy VII Remake isn’t just a re-release of the 1997 classic—it’s a complete reimagining: Square Enix has turned the first few hours of the original in Midgar into a massive 35-hour RPG with a hybrid combat system, rewritten dialogue, and stunning visuals. If you’ve never played “VII,” starting with the remake is a great idea, and this guide will help you find your way.
Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith—the heart of the story
The main character is Cloud Strife: a mercenary with a two-meter-long Buster Sword, a Spartan temperament, and a mysterious past in the elite SOLDIER unit. But the true heart of the party lies with the heroines. Tifa Lockhart, Cloud’s childhood friend and owner of the “Seventh Heaven” bar, combines charm, incredible punching power, and emotional depth—it’s no wonder she’s remained in the top ranks of the most popular video game characters for twenty years. Aerith Gainsborough, a flower seller from the slums of Sector 5, seems fragile, but the entire plot revolves around her and her mysterious connection to the planet. The remake generously expands the scenes featuring both of them—including the famous “dates” that depend on your choices.
The scene at the water tower, the climbs up the market wall, the dancing at “Honey and the Bee”—the remake fills Midgar with moments that took up just a couple of screens in the original. Tip: Don’t rush through the story in Chapters 3, 8, 9, and 14—that’s where the best everyday scenes with the heroines and key side quests that affect the final episodes are hidden.
Combat System: Action Plus Tactics
Battles take place in real time: normal attacks, blocks, and dodges build up the ATB gauge, and ATB segments are spent on abilities, spells, and items. Key Tips for Beginners:
- Switch between characters. The AI for allies doesn’t build up the ATB gauge very well—control each one in turn so that everyone’s gauge grows.
- Exploit weaknesses. Scanning enemies (the “Assess” Materia) reveals their vulnerabilities—hit them to fill the Stagger gauge and deal multiple hits of damage.
- Blocking is more effective than dodging against most attacks—dodging doesn’t grant invincibility, unlike in other action games.
- Tifa’s “Rage” and Cloud’s stance changes are the main tools for finishing off stunned enemies.
Materia—the heart of your build
Magic, summons, and passive skills—all of these are Materia slots that can be equipped on weapons and armor. The rules are simple: each fighter should have a healing Materia (Cure/Regen); “Elemental + Element” combinations in armor against elemental bosses; and a “Magnify + Cure” combination for mass healing in difficult chapters. Keep leveling up your Materia constantly—you earn AP after every battle, and a second “full” Cure will save you in the late game.
Midgar: What You Can’t Miss
In addition to the main story, the remake features arena battles, a darts minigame, pirate battles, and the “Legacy” quest involving the market wall. Be sure to complete the side quests in Chapters 3 and 8 all the way through—they unlock alternate outfits for Tifa and Aerith in Chapter 9, one of the game’s most talked-about scenes.
Quick Tips Before You Start
- Choose Normal difficulty: “Classic” mode oversimplifies the gameplay.
- Upgrade your weapons with SP points right away—don’t hoard them.
- Get the Summon Beasts (Shiva, Fat Chocobo) from Chadley as soon as they become available.
- In Chapter 9, accept all of Sam’s or Madame M’s quests—your choice affects the dresses.
- Save your game separately before the finale: after the credits, you’ll unlock chapter selection and Hard Mode.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is the perfect gateway to the universe: a familiar story told on a modern scale, and characters you can’t help but fall in love with. Next stop—Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.