Final Fantasy 7 Remake is an excellent retelling of the 1997 classic, but it offers so much more than a revamped battle system and updated graphics. The remake itself comes packed with new story elements and intimidating hard mode.
Upon beating the game, players will have access to Chapter Select and Hard Mode in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. The former needs no introduction, but the latter is more than just tougher enemies to face. Hard mode in the game handicaps players significantly, and here’s everything there is to know about it.
It’s New Game+ with a punch
There’s no New Game+ in the remake, but upon restarting from Chapter 1 with Hard Mode on, players will carry over every Materia, weapon, and level they had from their previous playthrough. They’re not going to be overpowered, though, as enemies will be significantly tougher this time around.
No items are allowed
Perhaps the hardest part of Hard Mode is the fact that players can’t use items while playing throughout. That means they’ll have to rely on Materia and pure skill during battles. While this may sound simple, this also means players have to plan their moves very well as the moment they deplete their mana; they’ll no longer have the means to heal or revive teammates in battle.
New challenges await
The biggest addition when it comes to hard mode is several new challenges that will await players in the Shinra Battle Simulator at the end of Chapter 16. What’s great is that players don’t need to run through the entire game again to try out these new challenges.
All players need to do is pick either Chapter 16 or 17 in Hard Mode, then they’ll have to talk to Chadley to get to these challenges. These, by far, are the toughest battles that players will face in the remake, so they’ll need to be properly-equipped and leveled to beat them.
What players should be after is the final boss in the Shinra Battle Simulator. This will be the toughest the game has. To partake in the challenge, players will need to get all Battle Intel Reports, win every battle at the Corneo Colosseum, and get every summons by beating every VR challenge. The reward at the end of doing all this is a battle against the formidable Pride and Joy.
Hard Mode is essentially the biggest endgame content that the remake has. While challenging, this will be a good way to make the most out of the game, especially for those looking for a challenge.
Image used courtesy of Sony/YouTube