I can't quite believe I'm running around Kalm in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. But here I am, in chapter 2 of the game, looking around a modern recreation of the idyllic town I once came to know so many years ago in the original 1997 release. Cloud and the gang have just spent the night in an inn and when I first head outside, I'm struck by how alive the town feels; all abustle with locals and visitors going about their day. Not unlike rediscovering Midgar in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, it's a place that feels both familiar and new. From stepping through the square to visiting shops, I take a moment just to appreciate how detailed everything is. I even get a kick out of hearing the updated take on the classic town theme begin to play in the background as I explore.
What I enjoy most about my time in Kalm, though, is the way it introduces me to one of the new features of Rebirth – and it's one that gets right to the heart of what makes me so excited for the follow-up. Just as Remake let us see new sides to its iconic cast of characters by letting us spend more time with them between the action, Rebirth is putting a greater focus on party bonds in every respect, from the combat to the story.
