Summary
WithFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s adoption of open-world game design, players can expect to come across similar categories of activities in each of the game’s regions. Combat challenges, activating towers, collecting artifacts; each of these standard components of open-world games are part ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s core gameplay loop, only players get the novelty of completing them as one of the most iconic groups of protagonists in one of gaming’s most beloved settings. One ofRebirth’s open-world activities involves tracking down each of its seven regions' Protorelics – ancient treasures left behind by the Cetra – and in the process, players discover one of the game’s best secrets and Easter eggs.
Similar toFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, nearly all ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s best summon Materiaare locked behind open-world activities and Combat Simulator challenges, which subsequently makes helping out Chadley well worth the player’s time. Of course, inRebirth,this equates to needing to complete as many of the game’s open-world activities as possible, and the first Protorelic players acquire as part of that task gives Cloud his initial glimpse of a mysterious-looking figure clad in the traditional yoroi of the samurai. If this Eccentric Swordsman looks familiar to longtimeFinal Fantasyfans, that’s because he’s an important recurring figure throughout the series.
The following contains spoilers forFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
CollectingFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s first Protorelic might give Cloud his initial glimpse of the game’s mysterious samurai, but that happens to just be the beginning step of a multi-part quest. Seeking out the second Protorelic inthe Junon regionresults in players both getting to experienceRebirth’s reimagining of the classic Fort Condor tactics mini-game and the reveal of the samurai’s identity as the Eccentric Swordsman. Eventually, through collecting more Protorelics and continuing to run into this enigmatic figure, players learn that it’s none other than the legendary warrior Gilgamesh.
By collecting all ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Protorelics, players unlock the ability to earn Gilgamesh as the game’s secret summon Materia. But that’s just the first part, as actually proving the party’s worth to the legendary warrior involves visiting him on his own island in the Meridian Ocean and completing a grueling, but rewarding, gauntlet of battles against the game’s summon monsters.Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthmakes players work for the ability to summon Gilgamesh, but the juice is worth the squeeze to unlock one of theFinal Fantasyseries' more iconic recurring characters.
Gilgamesh’s History Within the Final Fantasy Series Explained
Players’first introduction to Gilgameshwould come courtesy ofFinal Fantasy 5, where the character routinely shows up as a recurring villain and henchman for the game’s antagonist, Exdeath. Following a change of heart toward the end of the game, Gilgamesh switches sides to become an unlikely ally, which sets a precedent for the remainder of his appearances throughout the series. Gilgamesh is indeed a strange and eccentric character in each of theFinal Fantasygames he shows up in, as he’s sometimes friend, foe, summon monster, or an interesting amalgamation of all three.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s inclusion of Gilgamesh despite his not being a part ofthe originalFinal Fantasy 7is a clear homage to the series' past and the reverence that the game has for the history of the franchise. Gilgamesh would go on to appear in nearly every mainlineFinal Fantasyfollowing his debut inFinal Fantasy 5to become the most commonly recurring character in the franchise, and his inclusion inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthfeels like an appropriate way to make amends for the fan-favorite character’s absence from the original game.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
