The airship has long been a hallmark of the Final Fantasy franchise, serving as a gateway to exploration, freedom, and progression. With Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 on the horizon, the reimagined Highwind offers Square Enix an opportunity to modernize airship mechanics while paying homage to its roots.
As Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has already redefined exploration with its “wide linear” approach, the airship in the trilogy’s conclusion must rise beyond mere transportation to solidify its place in Final Fantasy 7 history.
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The Legacy of Airships in Final Fantasy
Airships have always been more than just vehicles in Final Fantasy games. In Final Fantasy 4, the Enterprise introduced the thrill of exploring uncharted skies, while Final Fantasy 9’s Invincible became a plot device intertwined with the game’s climax. Encountering the Highwind in the original Final Fantasy 7 was a pivotal moment, allowing players to fully explore the map and confront the looming threat of Sephiroth.
Modernizing airship gameplay in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 could draw from these examples, blending narrative significance with interactive mechanics. This wouldn’t just honor the series’ history but also enrich the player experience in meaningful ways.
Expanding Airship Features in Final Fantasy 7
Square Enix has hinted that airship gameplay will play a key role in the final installment of the trilogy. While past Final Fantasy airships largely served as a mode of travel, the Highwind in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 could offer something much more dynamic.
Combat integration could be one revolutionary step. Players could find themselves using the Highwind to engage in battles against massive Weapons, such as Ruby or Emerald, in high-stakes aerial combat. This would align with the series’ history of epic encounters while introducing a fresh gameplay mechanic. The Highwind could also become a mobile base, allowing players to customize party builds, upgrade equipment, or interact with NPCs onboard between missions.
Additionally, environmental storytelling tied to the Highwind could make the world feel more alive. For instance, the crew could react to story developments, and players might unlock new dialogue or missions by interacting with them during flights.
Sticking the Landing with a Lofty Story
The challenge for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 goes beyond airship mechanics. Square Enix must conclude its ambitious trilogy while delivering a satisfying and coherent ending to the multiverse-spanning story introduced in Final Fantasy 7 Remake and expanded in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Sephiroth’s multiversal plans and the divergence of timelines have raised the stakes to unprecedented levels. The airship could be pivotal in this narrative, perhaps acting as a bridge between realities or a tool for combating Sephiroth’s ambitions. A climactic sequence involving the Highwind—whether through a daring escape, an aerial showdown, or a journey into the Lifestream—could cement its place as a central piece of the story. This approach would mirror the original Final Fantasy 7’s blending of gameplay and storytelling, elevating the Highwind from a functional asset to a narrative symbol.
Honoring Final Fantasy 7 Nostalgia While Embracing Innovation
Balancing nostalgia with innovation is a tightrope that Square Enix has walked successfully in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series. The final game must ensure the Highwind respects the charm of its 1997 counterpart while embracing the potential of modern technology and gameplay.
For example, while maintaining its design, the Highwind could feature advanced customization options, allowing players to tweak its appearance, speed, and capabilities. A return to the thrilling freedom of exploration seen in older Final Fantasy titles could also be appropriate, but this should be paired with meaningful content, such as hidden areas, secret bosses, and lore-rich locations that can only be accessed via the airship.
This combination of old and new would make the Highwind not just a tribute to the past but also a testament to the evolution of the franchise. As Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has already expanded the scope of the world, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 has the chance to make airship travel a defining feature of the trilogy’s legacy.
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
- Released
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February 29, 2024
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 4
- ESRB
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T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- How Long To Beat
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40 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
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N/A
- OpenCritic Rating
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Mighty
- PC Release Date
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January 23, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
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February 29, 2024
