Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a behemoth of a game filled with countless side quests, mini-games, and a wealth of open-world activities, all layered atop an extensive main storyline. However, director Naoki Hamaguchi has come to the defense of certain lengthy and polarizing segments—most notably, Cait Sith—stating that he believes these sections were not excessively elongated as some critics suggest.
While many players enjoyed the optional open-world elements, the areas that received backlash were the compulsory segments that seemed tedious. The standout example is a protracted hour-long sequence that requires players to control Cait Sith, engaging in box-throwing puzzles that many felt were far from exhilarating.
In a discussion with Screenrant, Hamaguchi expressed a different viewpoint. He suggested that the issue may stem from players feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of games available, leading them to want quicker resolutions.
“Regarding time management in certain sections, especially in FF7 Rebirth, I honestly don’t believe that they were longer than necessary,” he stated. “I feel like nowadays, players just have too much to do and too much to play; so they often feel the urge that something has to be concluded quickly.”
Balancing Feedback for Future Installments
Even though he doesn’t entirely align with the criticism, the development team is taking player feedback into consideration as they work on the forthcoming Final Fantasy 7 Part 3, or whatever it is ultimately named. “As we work on the conclusion to the trilogy, we are striking a balance on how story arcs are told and spread out so as to ensure that the game feels a bit more concise,” Hamaguchi noted.
The developers are also aware of JRPG fans’ curiosity about Aerith’s fate, and they’ve made a conscious effort to keep that information under wraps until the finale.