8 Tiny Gameplay Tweaks That Changed EVERYTHING

Final Fantasy purists found themselves in a bit of a strange situation with the release of the Final Fantasy VII Remake, as on the one hand here was a game that looked incredible and was sporting a story that many consider to be the pinnacle of the series, but on the other side, this was a title that tore out chunks of said story, mixed in new elements and basically set out on its own path with a confident stride.

For some the changes were too much, for others, it was a wonder to see a modern twist on a beloved tale, but the one thing that both sides agreed on, was that the game played so well that it almost didn't matter. The battle system in particular received massive praise for how it took the established Active Time Battle System and revamped it to make sure downtime was at a minimum and enjoyment at a maximum.

While the ATB gauge would fill by itself over time, and once full allow access to spells and special abilities, the Remake added in the twist that the bar could also be filled by attacking or parrying enemies, meaning that instead of waiting for your chance to strike, the player could switch between members, chain together attacks, and then switch back to those ready to unleash their more powerful moves.

It turns what was once a static battle system into a dynamic and deeply rewarding one, with you pushing further with risky attacks to shave off seconds of the gauge fill time. I absolutely adore the change and honestly can't see them wanting to step back from this going forward.