Yesterday, Sq. Enix dropped the demo for Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Cut up into two components, the primary arrived with the flashback sequence, telling the occasions of Cloud and Sephiroth’s journey to Nibelheim. It was emotional and highly effective. And I spent most of my time with it taking part in the piano.

It ought to actually come as no shock that this occurred. First off, I’m the man who will get side-tracked by every thing in an RPG. I went out of my strategy to not spend all my evaluation time in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth on Dondoko Island, and I spent ages chasing higher Gwent playing cards for my deck in The Witcher 3. Closing Fantasy is arguably, when it chooses to be, the king of time-absorbing side-games: Blitzball, Sphere Break, Fort Condor, and the titanic Triple Triad.

The important thing of life

The piano just isn’t even essentially the most glamorous side-game in Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Yesterday’s State of Play teased a brand new card sport in Queen’s Blood, which can most likely devour my hours wholesale. However on this new demo, after sneaking into Tifa’s room, I knew I needed to slam on the ivories only a bit.

There, I discovered the true secret boss: getting a star-rating on Tifa’s Theme. It meant hitting each word, and hitting it on Nice; not simply Good or Okay, however Nice. On two totally different makes an attempt, I flubbed the ultimate word. I felt the identical embarrassment I did in band class method again, struggling to hit a excessive B-flat on my trombone. I’d wish to think about Cloud squirmed a bit as he recalled all this in entrance of the celebration.

Finally, I cleared it and received my star-rating. I’m undecided if it even carries over to the complete Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth or not, however I’m a minimum of fairly assured in my piano abilities now, sufficient to reacquire the star if need-be. Cloud stood up, and closed the shelf over the keys. Then pulled the seat again out and uncovered them. I used to be not accomplished but.

Anyhow, right here’s Wonderwall

I went on to play different songs. Like, simply play music. As a result of the piano in FF7 Rebirth isn’t only a rhythm mini-game, it’s a full-on piano, very similar to the guitar in The Final of Us Half II. I truly actually love that this has change into a “factor” in video games. It jogs my memory a little bit of Goals, in a bizarre method. A easy, efficient software that can be utilized to make masterpieces. Or disasterpieces.

So sure, I performed a surprisingly good rendition of A-ha’s “Take On Me.” I dabbled into some classics, with explicit favorites like Debussy’s “Claire de Lune” and Holst’s “Jupiter.” I even tried a “Dearly Beloved” rendition, which felt becoming, however I struggled a bit with a number of the octave and key administration.

Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth‘s piano is surprisingly strong. Every stick handles hitting a tone within the C-scale, with triggers modifying for semitones (your sharps and flats), or in the event you’re utilizing the chords, minor shifts. There are some nice choices for chords, by the way in which. I cherished with the ability to flip over to alternate chords like a serious seventh, it actually provides a depth to the doable sound house.

However regardless of the wealth of choices, I hit some stumbles with truly taking part in music on the piano in Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth, exterior of its direction-driven minigame. The octave-shift is essentially the most notable roadblock. In case your fingers are manipulating the triggers and sticks, shifting to the face buttons for an octave up or down is arduous. I can’t consider Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth and its piano minigame are the issues that made me significantly think about back-paddles on a controller.

I’d additionally wish to see some customization choices, by way of structure. With the ability to shift the bottom key of the radial menu, and even lock in a spin wheel of some chosen choices (i.e. G, C, D, Em) for ease of entry, would make a world’s price of distinction. I additionally notice I’ve now typed a number of in-depth paragraphs analyzing one mini-game in a huge, content-filled RPG. Nevertheless it’s a Wednesday and that is my hyper-fixation for the morning, so roll with me on it.

Gimme the beat Cloud, and free my soul

I’m not the one one who’s latched onto the piano, fortunately. It didn’t take lengthy for Cloud’s improv classes to flood social media. Some are, like “Dearly Beloved,” becoming. Right here’s one consumer taking part in a reasonably rendition of “Easy and Clear,” an authorized banger:

Does it get extra cursed? You guess it does. I’ll allow you to simply hit play and have the identical response I did when the notes hit on this subsequent one.

So sure, something is feasible, even The Black Parade. Ahem. WHEN CLOUD WAS. A YOUNG BOY.

I’ve little doubt that Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth will soak up hours and hours of my time. Nevertheless it’s the aspect content material that does actually draw me in. Though I actually loved my time with Closing Fantasy XVI, it did really feel prefer it was lacking that little further. I wanted Clive to get method too right into a aggressive card sport. Actually, you already know Clive would bust out a guitar and sing “Push”. So let him!

The piano isn’t only a enjoyable homage to the unique, however fleshed out into an entire minigame and separate house for gamers to tinker round in. Will everybody cease right here and spend valuable hours taking part in “A Thousand Miles” as a substitute of saving the world? No. However for these of us who will, there’s the Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth piano. And I simply assume that’s neat.

As for the remainder of the demo? Yeah, it’s good. It’s the flashback sequence from Nibelheim. It’s received some cool twists, and I like seeing this scene play out with the Remake trilogy’s graphics and manufacturing. I’m involved in seeing that every one in-context later this month. For now, I’m going to whereas away the hours between from time to time composing Cloud’s subsequent hit cowl.

The demo for Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth is stay proper now on PSN, and the complete sport goes stay for PS5 on February 29.