Latest news with #FinalFantasyVII
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Is this the new golden age of video games?
Gamers are nostalgic people. Often, if you get chatting with someone about their favourites, you'll time-travel ten or twenty years in a single conversation, back to an era of cartridges, discs and dial-up internet. I'm no stranger to this. The very sight of a pixelated Pokémon sprite, and I can hear the S.S. Anne's theme ringing in my ears. When I see the modern Lara Croft, I'm transported back to the 90s, when you'd pass a PlayStation 1 controller between friends and take turns trying to keep the polygonal heroine alive in a death-trap tomb. I remember those massive raids in the original World of Warcraft on snail-speed internet, or how, even though I replayed Final Fantasy VII hundreds of times, I was always hunting for something new in a playthrough. My point is that when we think of the best games and experiences, we're often looking backwards. Rarely do we look around. Over time, you tend to assume that modern games are merely a flashier repeat of a successful formula. Especially as we're just moving on from a long-winded period of remakes and remasters, you convince yourself that we'll never return to those all-important watercooler moments. And yet, recent games are changing the script in a big way. As we approach the halfway point of 2025, with record-breaking sales, widespread critical acclaim, several spin-offs and adaptations in the works, and soundtracks charting across the world, is it safe to say we are witnessing the birth of a new age of creative glory with video games? Absolutely. A new wave of reinvention – narrative-rich games go from strength to strength Video games are now unmistakably at the epicentre of art and culture. That is a brave statement to make, but a true one at that. Without even needing to go near a console, they are everywhere. And you don't have to be a gamer to be influenced (and entertained) by them, either. Think about it. Turn on your TV, and there's no escaping the latest adaptation dominating the most-watched lists. The biggest blockbuster hits in recent memory? Most are, you guessed it, based on games. Musicians now pen chart-topping songs inspired by games, while orchestras recreate our favourite soundtracks inside packed arenas. World-class writers craft engrossing characters and worlds, while artists, designers and developers bring them to life in untold, magical ways in our homes. It's one of the few entertainment industries that draws on a rich array of extremely talented people under one mission. And this is why I believe we're on the cusp of a new golden era in gaming. The titles you are playing now are most likely going to be the movies, TV shows, novels, and concerts you and your family will enjoy in the next few years. Except for gamers, we don't have to wait for Hollywood to catch up. We can enjoy them now. This year. A prime example of this is Clair Obscur Expedition 33. Released under relative obscurity back in April, it is now ranked as one of the most critically acclaimed games ever made. Selling over 3.3 million copies in 3 months, it's already been greenlit for a movie adaptation, to the surprise of no one. Set in a Belle Époque-inspired fantasy world, the game tells the heartbreaking story of a team of young adults journeying into the unknown to try and defy their fate. Enchanting French music, powerhouse performances, and blending traditional gameplay mechanics with a modern flair were all the ingredients needed for critical acclaim and the title of a masterpiece. The game quickly won the hearts of millions of fans, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who posted on social media that the game was "a shining example of French audacity and creativity." Months later, the game continues to inspire the world through its story. And this is just one example from this year alone. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 was one of the first major releases of the year and has enjoyed equal acclaim and love from gamers. It sold over 2 million copies in just two weeks, capitalising on the world's thirst for all things historical fiction. Set in the 15th century, you play as Henry of Skalitz, whose journey from a humble blacksmith forge to the court of Kings is one of the most transformative and immersive experiences you can get. And if you're looking to get absolutely lost in an open world, you'll find a home here. No one can deny the sheer freedom this game allows you. With an estimated script of over 2.2 million words (most likely more), it's safe to say that a strong narrative is at the core of this Medieval adventure's success. The idea that the gaming industry has run out of stories to tell, or things to say, is simply untrue. The best interactive medium in the world One of the most exciting things about video games is how they tell their stories. The gameplay that takes you from A to B, keeps you guessing, keeps you immersed, and takes advantage of the rapid speed at which technology is evolving. With the right design, even the simplest idea can take on a completely new life. How the environment is presented or the colours used, how the music plays (and when), and who you get to play it with all contribute to games making a lasting impression. In March of this year, Split Fiction was released to universal acclaim, selling over 4 million copies to date. It's an action-adventure cooperative game that sees you and a friend assume the roles of aspiring writers, Mio and Zoe, who become trapped in life-like simulations of their stories. As well as a gripping story that covers everything from love and joy to grief and loneliness, the true magic of the game lies in how you play it and with whom. Together with a friend online, you'll explore this game in split-screen, and every couple of minutes, a brand new mechanic is introduced to keep both of you transfixed. In one instance, you're parkouring across a Medieval city of ogres; the next, you're trying to escape an exploding sci-fi world on motorbikes. And then, in a flash, you're raising dragons in a fantasy realm before transforming into magical pigs to solve puzzles. Several times, I was rendered speechless from sheer laughter at what the game allowed (and expected) me to do. Pigs fly when Split Fiction launches on PS5 March 6 🌈 Hands-on report dives into the imaginative co-op adventure: — PlayStation (@PlayStation) February 14, 2025 It's modern experiences like these that hark back to those golden-era, nostalgic vibes of passing the controller around the room so everyone has a turn. Of linking your Game Boy together with a cable in person just to trade something. Now? Now, you can jump online with friends thousands of miles away and experience something magical together in real-time. Modern games break down distance and barriers in a truly unique way, something I think we often take for granted. Backwards compatibility also means that the games we grew up loving can be re-experienced in new ways on modern systems. So, whether it's through cooperative gameplay, a multiplayer mode, VR technology, or some new technology yet to be unveiled, games will always find new ways to entertain and bring us all together. The challenges that lie ahead Video games are not without their challenges. And we can't look at all the recent magic and success of the year through rose-tinted glasses. Widespread layoffs across the sector (including over 14,000 in 2024 alone) are still a major threat to the safety, security and well-being of the industry, which has no doubt robbed us of some amazing projects and creatives. Failed games like Suicide Squad or Concord from last year continue to haunt the airwaves, causing a ripple effect that sinks other promising projects still stranded in development. The rising cost of development, along with concerns over microtransactions and the reliance on live-service platforms, could also be seen as crippling creativity. Listen: Today With Cliare Byrne Show on Sony's gaming flop Concord But then, we can return to the games of 2025, and there's some silver lining. Clair Obscur Expedition 33, for example, is an indie title developed in a fraction of the time its peers took, and with a significantly smaller team to boot. Or Split Fiction, whose generous friend's pass means an owner can invite a friend to play across any platform for free, halving its sales potential but doubling the fun we can all expect from it. While the future remains uncertain, the present is clear: great games continue to be made. And great studios are finding ways to tell their stories, defying the odds and limitations. I'm confident that there will be waves of future gamers looking back on this decade (and this year), with the fondest of memories. And we've still six months left to enjoy! Who knows what the next new games of 2025 will have in store for us? But one thing is for sure - you no longer need to look back in time to experience a masterpiece.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy Collab Has A Card For Every Cid (With One Exception)
I don't go here (Magic: The Gathering, that is), but I'm obsessed with the new MTG and Final Fantasy collaboration. I swore off trading card games when I realized how much money people dump into cracking packs, but I can still appreciate some good Final Fantasy art when I see it. Something I also appreciate is a good bit, and the Magic x Final Fantasy collab handled one of the series' long-running constants in a truly clever way that even I, someone who doesn't understand the ruleset of the card game, can appreciate. I'm talking about Cid, a recurring name given to different characters in each mainline Final Fantasy. For those who don't play Square Enix's RPG anthology series, every Final Fantasy has a character named Cid (though he doesn't appear physically in the first game, thus he isn't featured in the Magic collab), but it's never the same guy twice. If you were to line up every version of Cid next to each other, you'd probably have no idea any of them were related in any way. But they all share the same name, and some of them are among the most beloved characters in the series. Final Fantasy XVI's iteration was easily the breakout star of the RPG in 2023, and Final Fantasy VII's Cid is a personal favorite of mine across the series' long history. So, how do you handle 15 disparate characters who only share a name and (usually) some mechanical skill? You make a card for each of them, of course. Magic: The Gathering will include 15 different cards titled 'Cid, Timeless Artificer.' Each card has the same in-game function, so there's no favoritism on display here, even for more popular Cids. You can have any number of them in your deck, so you could have several variations to use in a game rather than having to pick your favorite. However, there is one wrinkle in all of this worth mentioning: Final Fantasy XV's Cindy (Cidney in some territories) is nowhere to be seen. This omission recalls some weird semantic debates over who the true 'Cid' of the 15th game is, as there is indeed a character named Cid in it and he has a card in this set, but his granddaughter Cindy is the mechanic the team interfaces with most of the time. The character spurred strong and sometimes divided opinions among players in 2016, as she was the first female Cid in the series, while also appearing in one of the most notably male-centric Final Fantasy games (for good and ill) and wearing a revealing outfit that was controversial, to say the least. She may get a card down the line, but she wasn't part of the initial Cid showcase. You can click through to see the other 15 cards. The Magic x Final Fantasy set will hit store shelves on June 13. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Geek Culture
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
'Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade' Lands Nintendo Switch 2 Release
The Final Fantasy Remake series director Naoki Hamaguchi has revealed that the first game in the trilogy, 2021's Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade , will be getting a Nintendo Switch 2 release. Announced via Nintendo's latest Creator's Voice episode, Hamaguchi revealed that it was possible to bring the game to the handheld platform due to the improvements of the Switch 2 over its predecessor, stating that 'With the power of the Switch 2, we can now recreate Midgar with full specs.' The game will also incorporate the console's GameChat feature, allowing players to share their screens and talk to friends in real time while playing. 'Being able to play this game on the Switch 2 in handheld mode means you can play it on the train while commuting to work,' Hamaguchi added, 'I'm very excited to see this game playable on a portable system [and] I have high hopes that we can build a strong partnership between Nintendo and the Final Fantasy brand.' Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is the enhanced PS5 version of the original 2020 remake on the PS4, which not only improved the title's graphical fidelity and framerate, but also included its Intermission DLC, which featured the Materia Hunter Yuffie Kisaragi. The game greatly expanded upon Square Enix's classic 1997 RPG Final Fantasy VII , offering the definitive way to relive the Midgar experience. Although only Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade has been confirmed for Nintendo's latest console so far, Hamaguchi did suggest that the other games in the trilogy, 2024's Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and its upcoming final entry, will head to the Switch 2 sometime in the future, as he ended the video by saying: 'I hope players are looking forward to the Final Fantasy VII Remake series on Switch 2.' Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade's Switch 2 version doesn't have a firm release date yet, but more is sure to be revealed as the upcoming console approaches its release on 5 June 2025. The game is currently available on the PS5 and PC. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. Final Fantasy VII final fantasy vii remake intergrade Switch 2
Digital Trends
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
The Nintendo Switch 2 could get the full Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will make its way to the Nintendo Switch 2, but it might not be alone. In a Nintendo Creator's Voice interview, series director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed that Remake Intergrade would come to Switch 2, something we already knew from an April announcement. It's a line about four minutes into the video that has caught gamers' attention: 'And with the release of the Final Fantasy VII Remake series on Switch 2, it would make me very happy if two generations connect and share a bond over the characters.' Hamaguchi's phrasing suggests that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and the final entry in the series are not out of the realm of possibility for release on the Nintendo Switch 2 in the future. He said that porting the game to Nintendo Switch 2 is possible thanks to its upgraded specs. 'We'd like players to feel the same excitement and surprise they felt playing the original game when they play the remake on Switch 2. With the power of Switch 2, we can now recreate Midgar with full specs.' Recommended Videos Final Fantasy VII Remake Integrade is an upgraded version of the PS4 Final Fantasy VII Remake that scales the graphics up for modern consoles and includes the Intermission DLC and the introduction of Yuffie as a character. 'The first video game system I ever played as a child was made by Nintendo, so to this day, I have a special fondness for Nintendo platforms,' Hamaguchi says. The first Final Fantasy launched on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 and remained on Nintendo consoles until 1997 with the launch of the original Final Fantasy VII. In a way, bringing the remake back to a Nintendo console brings the franchise full circle. Hamaguchi ends the interview by saying, 'I have high hopes that we can build a strong partnership between Nintendo and the Final Fantasy brand.' Please enable Javascript to view this content
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
10 best video game villains of all time
Image via: Nintendo The battles may be won by the heroes in the world of video games but the villains do manage to strike a note for us. Be it madmen of a flamboyant nature or cold masterminds calculations, villains are potent enough to enthrall the players, sometimes far more than the heroes. It is their quintessential status, wickedly memorized speeches, and alluring charisma that captures every moment of attention from the audience. Here are ten great video game villains who made a mark with their unique brand of hell in gaming. 1. Bowser (Mario Series) With a somewhat cartoonish appearance and straightforward villainy, he has managed to endure. From 1985 till date, the King of the Koopas has continually kidnapped Princess Peach and fought against Mario. He is simple enough to fit changes of character into an interesting historical background-the original villain Bowser stands for the first boss many an upstart gamer ever faced. This places Bowser in an interesting spot-more than just an antagonist, the very essence of gaming. Top 20 Greatest Video Game Villains Of All Time by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo 2. BB (Fate/Grand Order) BB is that villain that one can never come to grips with—she is always ten steps ahead of you, just when you think you've caught up. With that mischievous grin and the ability to warp reality, she is continually shifting the ground on which we play, forcing players to question what is real. Cloned in characters like Meltryllis and Passionlip, BB's influence extends across the Fate universe, making her one of the most unforgettable and incredibly infuriating foes. 3. Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII) When it comes to pure menace and class, there really are hardly any whose competition is Sephiroth. Long silver hair, a ridiculously long sword, and an eerie theme song—literally the definition of a "cool villain." His calculated acts of cruelty-everyone knows about the particular one that, shall we say, went down big time in FFVII cementing him inside the annals of time as a legendary antagonist who fashioned a whole generation's perception of what a proper nemesis should be. 4. Dr. Robotnik (Sonic the Hedgehog) The mustachioed genius is the classic representation of brains versus brawn. Behind his comical, almost absurd, facade, Dr. Robotnik is truly brilliant—constructing deadly machines, wicked theme parks, and even Sonic clones. There go his plans, nearly always failing, but his resilience makes sure he stands front and back for decades. He's a villain you like to laugh at while he tries to take over the world. 101 Most Iconic Video Game Villains Of All Time 5. Kefka (Final Fantasy VI) Imagine a clown with the powers of a god and the morals of a sociopath. That is Kefka. Most villains never really want to destroy the world-they only threaten to do so; Kefka does it and then enjoys the show. Because of his unpredictable behavior and nihilistic philosophy that makes him one of the most frightening characters in gaming, he doesn't just break the rules-he burns the rulebook. 6. Dagoth Ur (The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind) The line blurring between villain and tragic figure is common when it comes to Dagoth Ur. Once Nerevar's comrade, he now rises to become a godlike force that seeks to reshape the whole of Morrowind. His motivations remain elusive—some would say divine retribution, while others might say rebellion on a philosophical level. He invades the minds of mortals through dreams and mutters grand monologues of dread; he is less a boss fight and more of an existential crisis wrapped in ancient prophecy. 7. Vaas Montenegro (Far Cry 3) Michael Mando managed to redefine a video game villain in his portrayal of Vaas. Erratic, magnetic, and deeply unhinged, Vaas doubles as a philosopher and a warlord. His now infamous quoted discourse on the definition of insanity is an impeccable example of the unraveling of his own mind. More than just a villain, he acts as a mirror reflecting the crumbling morality of the player. 8. Albert Wesker (Resident Evil Series) Cold, calculated, and genetically enhanced, Albert Wesker is horror's take on the supervillain archetypal figure. A master manipulator who has betrayed more than one would count, he will survive two or three betrayals to emerge from the shadows, each comeback now more powerful than before. Red eyes shining through a glare and his slicked-back hair make him the frightening face of Umbrella's experiments and, soon after, the virus-induced apocalypse. The Video Game Villain Tier List 9. Micah Bell (Red Dead Redemption 2) Micah is no dashing villain. Far from it—he's too real-and that's where the charm is lost. Outlandish tyrants and world-enders would see his type as mere ants compared to their feet. A destructively underrated betrayer in the midst of you, a snake coiling among tall grasses. Credit goes to Arthur Morgan for his foil: Micah is the death of honor in an already dying world. Thus, he ashore does not need magic, copious powers to be hated-the man has it all with cowardly cunning and a grin of contempt. 10. Vergil (Devil May Cry series) Vergil is what Dante is not—stoic, ruthless, and power-hungry. Since they are twins, the fights are truly personal, emotional, and epic. The one who will acquit him of all his cruelty and barbarous deeds are the public that love him for his willpower and style of combat that has become second to none. His one-liners are a gold mine for memes, and his sword-action is fandom's favorite even at his worst. QUOTES FROM GAME VILLAINS WHO WERE COMPLETELY RIGHT These villains don't just oppose our heroes--they define them. They challenge us, provoke us, and in some cases even earn our respect. These are some characters that prove that an excellent villain will be just as iconic as a hero. After all, without darkness, the light cannot shine that brilliantly.
