Remaking a game like Final Fantasy 7 is a nearly impossible task. How do you redefine one of the most important games ever made, and make sure it brings in new fans without alienating the old? When the Remake trilogy was announced, it was an unprecedented project, something we’d never seen in video games. Now, in retrospect, we know the successes and failures of what Square Enix has done with two games.
One factor there’s almost no debate on, though, is Remake and Rebirth’s universally beloved battle system. It’s a masterful modernization of the series’ iconic combat, and a passion project for battle director Teruki Endo – who always wanted to work on a Final Fantasy game. During the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025, Endo gave a presentation on crafting the innovative combat system, and Inverse had an exclusive interview to learn even more.
