The creators of the Final Fantasy game series not only release their titles for consoles and PCs but also for mobile devices. Last fall, in support of Final Fantasy VII Remake, they introduced a free-to-play mobile version named Final Fantasy VII | Ever Crisis. Subsequently, the game became available on Steam, where it can be downloaded at no cost. Driven by curiosity, we downloaded it to see how the developers had adapted the game for mobile platforms, which we had previously played on PC.
In Final Fantasy VII | Ever Crisis, the characters are depicted as chibi-style figures in the main story and cutscenes, and they transform into the well-known characters from the Remake version during turn-based combat. The game unfolds without voice-over dialogue; instead, the text is displayed on the screen. Additionally, videos from Final Fantasy VII Remake are incorporated, featuring Japanese voice acting with English subtitles.
Let’s examine and compare!
Cloud receives a flower from Iris
Let’s consider the iconic scene, well-known among series enthusiasts. It marks the first encounter between the protagonist, Cloud, and the heroine, Iris Gainsborough. This event unfolds in the town square, shortly after the reactor explosion, at the onset of the game. In the Remake version, this meeting concludes with Iris rewarding Cloud with a yellow flower for saving her.
In the Ever Crisis edition, Iris doesn’t hand over the flower; instead, she proposes to sell it for one coin (Gil). The player has the option to accept the offer and receive the flower.
Alternatively, the player can decline. If so, a disheartened Iris bids farewell to the hero and departs from the square.
Tifa receives a flower from Cloud
The tale of the flower unfolds further in the subsequent chapter, where Cloud encounters Tifa Lockhart at the 7th Heaven Bar. During their exchange, she notices the flower adorning the hero’s vest and is presented with it as a gift in the Remake.
In the Ever Crisis edition, players must decide whom to present the flower to | Tifa or Barrett’s daughter, Marlene, who is also in the scene. Tifa will express gratitude to the protagonist if she receives the flower.
Should the player choose Marlene, she will quietly take the flower and retreat behind Tifa.
Cloud and Tifa’s Stellar Memories
A scene fondly remembered by many features the childhood memories of Cloud and Tifa, where they converse atop a water tower against a backdrop of a starry sky. Cloud discloses his plans to move to Midgar come spring to join the ranks of Soldier and emulate his hero, Sephiroth. Tifa, in turn, extracts a promise from him to come to her aid once he attains the status of a first-class soldier should she ever find herself in peril.
Contrary to the initial two scenes, this romantic interlude shows little variation between the two versions of the game.
Cloud and Iris’s conversation in the park
The following scene, deemed romantic, unfolds between Cloud and Iris in Evergreen Park. Iris invites Cloud to take a brief respite before they proceed. Beneath the starlit sky, she shares the tale of her first love, yet keeps the identity of her beloved undisclosed.
In the Ever Crisis rendition, this scene is suddenly disrupted by Tifa’s entrance in a Chocobo-drawn van.
Conversely, in the Remake, the dialogue between the characters concludes peacefully. Subsequently, in a distinct scene, Tifa is seen arriving in a van en route to Don Corneo.
In Ever Crisis, Tifa makes her entrance in the van donning a revealing blue peignoir. In the Remake, however, her attire varies based on the player’s response to a prior chapter’s query, ranging from exotic to sporty.
Cloud in a woman’s dress
The developers have significantly reworked Don Corneo’s story in the mobile game. For instance, in the Ever Crisis version, players cannot dance as Cloud on the Honey Fantasy stage, nor can they encounter Madame M. Nonetheless, Cloud must still don a woman’s dress to infiltrate Corneo’s mansion and rescue Tifa. In this iteration, Cloud is outfitted in a black and blue dress featuring a corset.
In the Remake, Cloud’s attire varies based on the sidequests completed earlier. The protagonist may wear either a blue dress with a corset or a simple black, floor-length dress.
In Ever Crisis, Iris greets the protagonist in a red, off-the-shoulder evening dress with a plunging neckline. Similarly, in the Remake, she can wear various dresses, just like Cloud.
Cloud on a motorcycle
In the game’s final chapter, the heroes find themselves trapped inside the Shinra Corporation building. Just when all seems lost in the Remake version, Cloud makes a dramatic entrance on a motorcycle. He swiftly dispatches the enemies, paving the way for the heroes to board the truck.
Conversely, in the Ever Crisis version, the sequence of events is altered | the team boards the truck first, followed by Cloud’s epic arrival on the motorcycle.
This scene is noteworthy for a particular reason. In the Remake version, another character, Roche, also on a motorcycle, makes appearances that could be considered even more dramatic than Cloud’s.
Conclusion
Adapting the game for mobile platforms required the developers to implement numerous changes. The team behind Final Fantasy VII | Ever Crisis has revised the storyline, altered character designs, revamped the combat system, and introduced new hero stories and engaging content. The story cutscenes have also undergone modifications; some offer variability, while others are interactive. Iconic scenes have been reimagined, yet they still preserve the essence of the original game amidst these updates.
