Good piece, also, 7th like ;)

Perhaps you can better articulate what I’m trying to say with this, I’m certain that we are getting a post-game content of a chapter select that will be similar to Tactics Ogre’s WORLD (Ways Of Reordering Life’s Destiny) System, and the CODA chapter similar to the Intermission DLC, in which you can easily access content that you previously missed and/or ignored that links to your clear save where the characters would be either in a hub area or a town before entering the final area. An obvious example would be the Gold Saucer. You can go on another skirmish with any of the characters, provided that you’ve completed their prerequisite character quests in which they served as the companion party member. Taking note that the nature of each party member quests are varied in gamplay.

Anybody else have flashbacks to Sazh in XIII going “You go, girl!!” in the boss immediately proceeding the near-suicide scene? 😂

Looks like they have the entire party the "Go explore the world" pass prior to the second Gold Saucer visit. Likely to show you too cement who you want for the date scene. Otherwise, the postgame is Hard mode/New game + just as it was in Remake. There was little time between when Aerith left the party and the end so that choice wasn't an option.

"That's really weird" (for the characters to go play darts after ****** dies.) Is it any weirder for Cloud & co. to go snowboarding? Or for them to muck around for hours in the Gold Saucer racing chocobos while Meteor is literally coming to wipe out all life?

Fantastic stuff brother! Curious what you think about the game possibly doing two different scenarios for the quest givers/party in side quests, one with lines written for if Aerith is there and another for if Aerith is MIA by the end. Kinda like how in RDR2 the side quests change depending on if you're doing them during the main campaign or in post. If I remember it even kept track of your progress during them with lines written for if that was the case. "There was this guy who was doing this for me, I appreciate you doing it" Things like that if I'm remembering correctly. Is this out of the realm of possibility for Square to implement? Found you through your previous video from a few months ago being recommended to me and it's fascinating hearing game design thoughts from an actual dev! Especially for my favorite game of all time. Keep it up!

I dont think there is gonna be canon postgame . They will say say to complete quests before finale . If aerith gonna die again, they will make Cloud change completely , im sure he will never smile again and kinda go crazy and so on

It will just be the same as remake with chapter select.

Another thought: Aerith being totally MIA from the postgame would be very impactful, and would echo the feeling of losing a party member like the OG. But it would also be frustrating if you haven’t completed sidequests that are tied to her presence. Sure, it adds replay value, but could break immersion for a complete playthrough. Plus, if she’s missing from a non-canon “rewind” style postgame before the final boss, it’s frustrating that she’s missing without even being dead. My gut says if they go that route, postgame will be prior to the final boss, and Aerith is just magically with you because video games.

should i play crisis core before ff7 rebirth? I only played ff7 remake(and cant play ff7 og)