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Going Through It in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
The open world of Cloud Strife & Co. is weirdly relatable.
So the motley crew of Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, Barrett, and a mohawk-rocking, talking dog called Red XIII embark on the kind of open-world adventure that fans of the series have long clamored for. “Toybox” implies a kind of childlike joy — surprise, delight — which is certainly found in the moments where you track wildlife to find twinkling “lifesprings.” But Rebirth also has a sometimes painful adolescent streak, particularly in its handling of Cloud’s love interests, Tifa and Aerith, who are often presented as little more than objects of titillation. It is also camp, sometimes tedious (a segue fetch quest is pure filler), and yet ultimately lands upon an enthralling harmony of character, story, and setting infused with light-touch silliness and emotional intensity.
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