General Information
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the highly anticipated second entry in the trilogy that began with the 2020 FF7 Remake, has captured the hearts of fans all over the world. Developed by Square Enix, this PlayStation 5 exclusive title brings the franchise back to its roots with vast open zones to explore. In this comprehensive performance review, we will delve into the game's performance on the PS5, examining its various modes of play and the impact of the recent performance and visual quality patch.
As an exclusive title for the PlayStation 5, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth takes advantage of the console's power and capabilities. Similar to the Intergrade upgrade released in 2021, the game is built on the Unreal Engine 4 and offers players the choice between a Graphics or Performance mode, along with the option to enable HDR.
Before the patch, the game already performed well, with minimal dropped frames in the 30fps capped Graphics mode. The Performance mode, on the other hand, sacrifices some visual quality to achieve a smooth 60fps experience. Although occasional hiccups were observed in long-distance battles and scenes with heavy particle effects, the frame rate remained within an acceptable range. Even during intense battles, the game maintained a solid 30fps in Graphics mode and a minimum of 50fps in Performance mode.
With the recent 1.01 patch, stability was improved in the game's worst-performing sections. Real-time cutscenes that previously dipped to 52fps saw a slight improvement, with lows of 54fps. While this may seem like a minor increase, it ensures a smoother gaming experience with more frames within the required refresh rate. The patch also aimed to address image quality issues that were reported by the community and highlighted in the demo performance review.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth offers two main modes: Graphics and Performance. While both modes share similar visual and technical characteristics, there are some differences to take note of. The Graphics mode provides a full 3840x2160p output, which can scale down to approximately 2880x1620p. The game utilizes a heavy Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA) implementation, resulting in a softer image. Prior to the patch, the TAA used a spatial upscale technique to maintain a target 4K output.
The Performance mode, on the other hand, aims to deliver a smooth 60fps experience by reducing the visual fidelity. In non-dense areas with minimal effects, the mode reaches a high of around 2880x1620p. However, in denser sections or battles with heavy particle effects, the resolution can drop to 1920x1080p. Similar to the Graphics mode, the Performance mode also utilizes spatial upscaling to achieve a 4K output, albeit with fewer pixels and a softer image. Despite these differences, the overall visual and effects quality remain largely consistent across both modes.
The recent patch focused on improving the Performance mode, with no noticeable changes in image quality or performance in the Graphics mode. The team aimed to enhance the sharpness of the image to compensate for the lack of pixel samples, resulting in improved detail and clarity on high-frequency textures. However, it should be noted that the game still suffers from low-fidelity assets, particularly in the textures of walls, rocks, and characters. While the patch provided a small increase in visual quality, a more comprehensive update may be required to address these issues.
One of the standout elements of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the impressive character models. During battles, players are treated to a visual spectacle with alpha flames, GPU-accelerated particles, and physics-based destruction. The game also features well-placed lighting and shadows, creating a dynamic and immersive experience. Cinematic sequences take these visuals to the next level, showcasing improved lighting, shadows, and material quality. The attention to detail in character rigging and facial animations is truly remarkable.
Despite these strengths, the game does suffer from some weaknesses in the overall world design. Many areas lack high-fidelity detail, resulting in a lack of distinct objects or characters. The low-definition textures and drab color palettes of certain elements further contribute to this issue. However, cutscenes and battles manage to shine, demonstrating the impressive visual quality reminiscent of the original PlayStation game. It is worth noting that the large scale of the game seems to have impacted the production assets and variety, particularly in real-time segments.
In conclusion, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on the PlayStation 5 offers an exceptional gaming experience with its performance and visual quality. The game performs admirably in both Graphics and Performance modes, delivering a solid 30fps or 60fps experience, respectively. The recent patch has further improved stability and made minor enhancements to image quality in the Performance mode. However, the game does suffer from some low-fidelity assets and lack of detail in certain areas. While the patch provided a slight improvement, a more substantial update may be necessary to address these issues.
Overall, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a worthy addition to the franchise, building upon the success of its predecessor while introducing new and exciting elements. Despite its visual shortcomings in certain areas, the game still manages to captivate players with its engaging gameplay and immersive world. With its impressive character models, dynamic lighting, and epic battles, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth continues to uphold the legacy of the beloved original game.
High Performance Gaming on the PS5
As an exclusive title for the PlayStation 5, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth takes advantage of the console's power and capabilities. Similar to the Intergrade upgrade released in 2021, the game is built on the Unreal Engine 4 and offers players the choice between a Graphics or Performance mode, along with the option to enable HDR.
Before the patch, the game already performed well, with minimal dropped frames in the 30fps capped Graphics mode. The Performance mode, on the other hand, sacrifices some visual quality to achieve a smooth 60fps experience. Although occasional hiccups were observed in long-distance battles and scenes with heavy particle effects, the frame rate remained within an acceptable range. Even during intense battles, the game maintained a solid 30fps in Graphics mode and a minimum of 50fps in Performance mode.
With the recent 1.01 patch, stability was improved in the game's worst-performing sections. Real-time cutscenes that previously dipped to 52fps saw a slight improvement, with lows of 54fps. While this may seem like a minor increase, it ensures a smoother gaming experience with more frames within the required refresh rate. The patch also aimed to address image quality issues that were reported by the community and highlighted in the demo performance review.
Visual Quality and Modes
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth offers two main modes: Graphics and Performance. While both modes share similar visual and technical characteristics, there are some differences to take note of. The Graphics mode provides a full 3840x2160p output, which can scale down to approximately 2880x1620p. The game utilizes a heavy Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA) implementation, resulting in a softer image. Prior to the patch, the TAA used a spatial upscale technique to maintain a target 4K output.
The Performance mode, on the other hand, aims to deliver a smooth 60fps experience by reducing the visual fidelity. In non-dense areas with minimal effects, the mode reaches a high of around 2880x1620p. However, in denser sections or battles with heavy particle effects, the resolution can drop to 1920x1080p. Similar to the Graphics mode, the Performance mode also utilizes spatial upscaling to achieve a 4K output, albeit with fewer pixels and a softer image. Despite these differences, the overall visual and effects quality remain largely consistent across both modes.
The recent patch focused on improving the Performance mode, with no noticeable changes in image quality or performance in the Graphics mode. The team aimed to enhance the sharpness of the image to compensate for the lack of pixel samples, resulting in improved detail and clarity on high-frequency textures. However, it should be noted that the game still suffers from low-fidelity assets, particularly in the textures of walls, rocks, and characters. While the patch provided a small increase in visual quality, a more comprehensive update may be required to address these issues.
Characters and World Details
One of the standout elements of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the impressive character models. During battles, players are treated to a visual spectacle with alpha flames, GPU-accelerated particles, and physics-based destruction. The game also features well-placed lighting and shadows, creating a dynamic and immersive experience. Cinematic sequences take these visuals to the next level, showcasing improved lighting, shadows, and material quality. The attention to detail in character rigging and facial animations is truly remarkable.
Despite these strengths, the game does suffer from some weaknesses in the overall world design. Many areas lack high-fidelity detail, resulting in a lack of distinct objects or characters. The low-definition textures and drab color palettes of certain elements further contribute to this issue. However, cutscenes and battles manage to shine, demonstrating the impressive visual quality reminiscent of the original PlayStation game. It is worth noting that the large scale of the game seems to have impacted the production assets and variety, particularly in real-time segments.
Verdict
In conclusion, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on the PlayStation 5 offers an exceptional gaming experience with its performance and visual quality. The game performs admirably in both Graphics and Performance modes, delivering a solid 30fps or 60fps experience, respectively. The recent patch has further improved stability and made minor enhancements to image quality in the Performance mode. However, the game does suffer from some low-fidelity assets and lack of detail in certain areas. While the patch provided a slight improvement, a more substantial update may be necessary to address these issues.
Overall, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a worthy addition to the franchise, building upon the success of its predecessor while introducing new and exciting elements. Despite its visual shortcomings in certain areas, the game still manages to captivate players with its engaging gameplay and immersive world. With its impressive character models, dynamic lighting, and epic battles, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth continues to uphold the legacy of the beloved original game.
