Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Every Confirmed & Leaked Detail We Know

3. Summons Can't Be Used In Every Battle

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Square Enix

Summons - super powerful magical beasts which can be conjured from the ether during battle - are amongst Final Fantasy's most enjoyable and iconic aspects, so it goes without saying that they're all present and correct in the Final Fantasy VII Remake.

Whereas in several Final Fantasies, summons going by a variety of monikers play a key role in the story, in Final Fantasy VII they were nothing more than hard-hitting, visually spectacular spells tied to materia. They were also absolute game breakers; at least one of the more obnoxiously lengthy summons could wipe the floor with the game's final boss whilst you made a cup of tea and a hot-buttered scone.

The system is set for a considerable shake-up in the remake. Summons, whilst still condensed into materia, can no longer be dredged from the depths on cue, but will instead stir into life during particularly challenging scenarios. As producer Yoshinori Kitase explained, equipped summon materia "resonates when certain conditions are met", and enter the battlefield as a "potent ally" with "extremely powerful attacks."

That's right; your beckoned beastie doesn't bugger off after its special move, but will stick around to help out until your foes are all thoroughly toast.

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Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.