Square Enix has released a free demo for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PlayStation 5, after showing the second part of the remake of the 1997 classic in a special State of Play stream on Tuesday.
The demo consists of two parts, with the second being added later in an update. The first part, available now, is almost the first full chapter of the game. You can play as hero Cloud and antagonist Sephiroth in an early flashback section called ‘the Nibelheim episode’, based on a memorable moment from the original game. It’s very dramatic and is a brilliant starting point for the Final Fantasy 7 story.
The second part of the demo, which will be added between now and the game’s release on February 29, will give players a taste of combat and exploration in a more open setting, Junon, culminating in a boss battle in the fishing village of Under Junon. . In this second part you can choose from Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret and Red XIII to form a party of three and experiment with the characters’ synergies as you hunt monsters on the world map before facing a boss . Polygon got the chance to play this section in September, and it’s a good preview of most of it Rebirth will play as.
Unfortunately, as the demo contains sections from all over the world Rebirthprogress will not carry over to the full game once it launches for PS5 on February 29.
Elsewhere in the State of Play, Square Enix offered a deep dive Rebirth‘s structure and features, including the often surreal and funny side-quests and mini-games that will flesh out what appears to be a colorful and expansive adventure.
Polygon recently got the chance to play the opening hours of Rebirth. After that memorable first chapter recalling the Nibelheim Incident, the action shifts to the picturesque town of Kalm, where Cloud and his friends rest after the events of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. There we were able to talk to the party and locals and explore some of the game’s systems, including a promising Gwent-esque collectible card game called Queen’s Blood. After escaping a Shinra attack on Kalm, the action moved to the Grasslands for open exploration, reminiscent of the Junon section of the demo.