The Great Mako Debate: Why the Director Thinks You Should Bench the Polygons (For Now)
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Final Fantasy 7's director Naoki Hamaguchi suggests newcomers should play the Remake trilogy before the original to get a better first impression, while also introducing 'Streamlined Progression' for upcoming Switch 2 and Xbox ports.
Right, so apparently Naoki Hamaguchi thinks we should flip the script on one of the most sacred traditions in gaming history. I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. For years, the ‘proper’ way to experience the saga of Cloud Strife and his oversized cutlery was simple: you play the 1997 original, you appreciate the blocky hands and the MIDI music, and only *then* do you earn the right to see Sephiroth in 4K. But according to a recent report by James Ratcliff over at Game Rant, the man steering the Remake ship is suggesting we do the exact opposite.
Hamaguchi-san, the director behind the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, has waded into the ‘Original vs. Remake’ debate with a take that might make some of the old-school wizards in the community drop their controllers. He reckons that if you’re a newcomer, you should actually start with the Remake. Now, before you start casting Fire3 at your screen, let’s look at the digital tea leaves and see what he’s actually saying.
The core of his argument is all about that ‘first impression.’ We live in an era of high-fidelity wizardry where a blade of grass has more polygons than Cloud’s entire body did in 1997. Hamaguchi argues that the updated graphics and the cinematic presentation style of the ongoing trilogy—which currently includes *Remake* and *Rebirth*—leave a significantly stronger mark on a fresh mind. He told Game Rant that while the original has its merits (understatement of the century, mate), he wants people to enjoy the Remake as a 'fresh experience on its own.'
It’s a bold move. It’s like a master potion-maker telling you to drink the flashy, neon-blue concoction before trying the dusty, ancestral brew that actually invented the recipe. But does he have a point? From a purely aesthetic perspective, sure. If you’re trying to sell a teenager on the magic of Midgar today, showing them a pre-rendered background from the 90s is a harder sell than the sprawling, sun-drenched vistas of *Rebirth*. But I’ve got a bit of that gentle skepticism brewing in my gut. Is it just about the graphics, or is Square Enix trying to reshape how we view the narrative hierarchy?
You see, for those of us who have lived through the original game, the Remake trilogy isn’t just a ‘remake.’ Without diving too deep into spoiler territory, let’s just say there’s some meta-magic happening under the hood. It’s almost a sequel disguised as a recreation. By suggesting newcomers start with the Remake, Hamaguchi is essentially saying the new timeline is the definitive entry point. It’s a fascinating pivot, especially considering how much of the Remake’s emotional weight relies on you knowing exactly what happened in the original. It’s like watching a magic trick where the magician assumes you already know how the rabbit got in the hat, but tells you to ignore the hat anyway.
But wait, there’s more to this brew. Hamaguchi also dropped some news about the upcoming *Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade* ports for the Switch 2 and Xbox, slated for January 22. This is where things get really interesting for the ‘I don’t have 100 hours to spare’ crowd. These versions are coming with something called ‘Streamlined Progression.’ Essentially, they’re giving players the ability to toggle things like full limit break gauges, double experience points, and maximum materia levels from the jump.
Now, I’m all for accessibility—truly, I am. But I can’t help but raise an eyebrow. Is it still a ‘fresh experience’ if you’re basically playing with God Mode turned on? It feels a bit like reading a classic novel but having a wizard whisper the ending in your ear every five pages. It’s an interesting move for a company that’s usually quite protective of its difficulty curves. It suggests that Square Enix is less worried about you 'beating' the game and more concerned with you 'consuming' the story so you’re ready for the third and final chapter currently in development.
On the flip side of the coin, for those of us who still crave the physical touch of a cartridge (and I reckon there are plenty of you left), there’s a silver lining. Square Enix isn't completely abandoning the old ways. On December 9, they’re releasing a physical Switch twin-pack featuring the original *Final Fantasy 7* and *Final Fantasy 8 Remastered* for about 40 bucks. It’s a nice nod to the collectors and the purists who believe that if it doesn’t look like a collection of triangles, it’s not really Final Fantasy.
So, what does this all mean for the actual gamers on the ground? Well, it tells me that Square Enix is trying to bridge a massive generational gap. They’re dealing with a franchise that is effectively a piece of digital folklore, and they’re terrified of it becoming a museum piece. By pushing the Remake as the 'first' experience, they’re trying to ensure the brand stays relevant in a world of ray-tracing and instant gratification.
I’m cautiously optimistic about this approach, though I still reckon playing the original first adds a layer of 'holy crap' to the Remake that you just can't get otherwise. It’s like seeing a black-and-white sketch of a cathedral and then walking into the real thing. Both are beautiful, but the context of the sketch makes the stone and glass feel that much more miraculous.
Whether you’re a veteran who’s been grinding Mako since the Clinton administration or a newcomer wondering why everyone is so obsessed with a guy in a turtleneck, the message is clear: the world of Gaia is more accessible than ever. Just don’t be surprised if, after playing the Remake, you find yourself wandering back to the 1997 polygons anyway. Sometimes the old spells are the most potent ones, after all.
Credit where it’s due: this deep dive into Hamaguchi’s philosophy was inspired by James Ratcliff’s reporting over at Game Rant. He’s been tracking the Square Enix saga with the kind of focus I usually reserve for trying to figure out how to clip through world geometry. If you want the raw facts without my wizardly ramblings, his original piece is the place to go.
Tags: Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Square Enix, JRPG, Gaming News, Nintendo Switch 2
Original article: Game Rant