Compare Starfield vs Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Accessibility is a serious weak spot in the most critical take, with one reviewer saying the limited options leave some players shut out rather than merely inconvenienced.

Enemy and security behavior drew sharp complaints, especially where foes seemed easy to exploit or failed to react convincingly.

Synergy Ability animations are praised for personality and relationship expression.

Art direction splits opinion, with NASA-punk praised for a distinctive look in some places and dismissed as bland or ineffective in others.

Art direction receives high praise for maximalist world creation and imaginative modern design.

Atmosphere is uneven. Some players miss the expected Bethesda charm, while others are pulled in by the large sci-fi setting.

Atmosphere is praised for beauty, loss, escapism, and a strong sense of place.

Boss fights are regarded as major highlights, with reviewers praising their spectacle, challenge, and layered design.

Bug frequency varies widely by version and platform, from almost no issues to repeated freezes, broken interactions, and crash-adjacent problems.

Reported bug frequency is low, with multiple reviewers saying they encountered no bugs or only minor visual issues.

Character creation earns praise for depth, with reviewers liking how far customization and background setup can go.

Companions and character arcs are a relative strength when reviewers spend time with them, though the broader cast is not universally loved.

Character development is a standout consensus strength, with reviewers emphasizing deeper bonds, richer backstories, and more rounded portrayals across the party.

The roster is praised for adding distinct, memorable party members whose combat styles and personalities broaden the experience.

The checkpoint system is praised for reducing repetition during tricky chocobo-taming sections.

Combat is one of the better-liked systems overall, often described as Bethesda’s strongest gunplay yet, though a few reviewers still find it basic or merely serviceable.

Combat is one of the strongest points: reviewers repeatedly praise the hybrid action/ATB foundation, Synergy additions, tactical depth, and character-specific playstyles, while only a few note occasional clumsy or frustrating encounters.

Companions are divisive. Some reviewers enjoy their stories and usefulness, while others complain about chatty behavior, getting stuck, or interrupting the flow.

One review specifically says AI-controlled party behavior and aerial-combat complaints from Remake were addressed through Synergy systems.

Content volume is a major selling point, with reviewers pointing to many quests, systems, updates, and activities that can keep players busy for a long time.

The game is packed with minigames, card battles, side activities, races, and regional diversions; most reviewers praise the abundance, while a few feel it becomes too much.

The core loop works best for players who enjoy Bethesda-style wandering, looting, and quest chaining, though it can take time to settle in.

Reviewers describe the overall loop as a much larger and more satisfying RPG experience than Remake, with battle, exploration, and side systems keeping them engaged.

Crafting, outposts, mods, and ship-building depth stand out, but the same systems can feel under-explained or tedious when resource handling gets in the way.

Crafting receives limited support and one reviewer found little need to engage with it.

Stability is inconsistent. Some players report only rare crashes, while others describe freezing, repeated restarts, or crashes serious enough to interrupt progress.

Crash stability is strong in the limited evidence, with one reviewer reporting no crashes.

Dialogue is polarizing: one reviewer calls conversation trees best-in-class, while others find the writing flat, generic, or dated.

Dialogue is praised for charming quiet moments, sharp exchanges, and touching character interactions.

Difficulty earns limited praise where late missions test combat skill without feeling unfair.

Difficulty balance is mostly manageable and rewarding, but reviewers mention a strange spike, demanding bosses, and encounters that occasionally test patience.

DLC and expansion value is mixed. Some reviews like the added content, while others call specific expansions dull or worth waiting on sale for patches.

The economy and resource balance are recurring frustrations, especially around ship costs, resource pricing, inventory clutter, and limited trading fantasy.

Emotional impact is very strong overall, producing tears, reflection, and attachment, though one review says the ending's delivery undermines a crucial moment.

Postgame content is viewed positively for adding more to do after the main story.

Enemy variety is praised in combat-focused reviews, though one reviewer found open-world mobs bland and rote.

Environmental detail is often praised, especially city detail, planet presentation, and the sense of visual scale.

Environmental detail is heavily praised for making Gaia's landscapes, regions, and familiar locations feel vivid and emotionally resonant.

Exploration is the biggest fault line. Some players love the scale and city discovery, while many criticize empty planets, fast-travel dependency, and repeated points of interest.

Exploration is broadly praised for rewarding curiosity with sights, activities, and regional depth, especially when the world design feels handcrafted rather than checklist-driven.

Facial animation and conversation presentation feel dated to several reviewers, even when voice work is praised.

Expressive faces are credited with amplifying the cast's emotional drama.

Fans of space RPGs and Mass Effect-style adventures may feel at home, but this is not framed as faithful to an existing Starfield franchise.

Reviewers strongly praise its respect for Final Fantasy VII's legacy while still modernizing or reshaping it.

The gifting comments are positive, but the reviews do not give a detailed family-suitability analysis.

Fast travel is convenient but also one of the most repeated complaints, with many reviewers saying it fragments the space fantasy.

Fast travel is praised as well-designed, plentiful, and fast.

Ship flight and space combat can be fun, especially after updates, but several reviewers say travel still feels limited or merely good enough.

Frame rate impressions depend on platform. PS5 and PS5 Pro comments range from smoother performance to fluctuating modes that still need work.

Overall fun is sharply split. Many players are hooked or having a blast, while others find the game boring, underwhelming, or only fun for a narrow sandbox audience.

Reviewers frequently describe the game, combat, Queen's Blood, and minigames as extremely fun despite pacing or bloat caveats.

General gameplay draws both praise and disappointment: it offers a huge Bethesda-style RPG framework, but some reviewers find the actual moment-to-moment play bland.

Visuals are usually a strength, with praise for gorgeous graphics and presentation, though some reviewers call the look dated or bland.

Visuals are often praised for cutscenes, vistas, and character models, but performance-mode blur and occasional inconsistency reduce the score in several reviews.

Grind and bloat are manageable when players avoid completionist impulses, but the amount of optional content can be overwhelming.

Handheld suitability is mixed: Steam Deck/PC handheld play is possible but compromised, while PlayStation Portal use is praised.

Innovation is praised in the game's density, polish, and inventive design ambition.

The learning curve is steep. Several reviewers say Starfield has many systems and does not explain enough up front.

The interlocking combat and progression systems can feel overwhelming at first, but reviewers say they become rewarding once understood.

Level design criticism focuses on repeated arenas and spaces that do not support the scope of the world.

Level design ranges from exceptional set pieces to divisive dungeons, with the Cait Sith/Shinra Manor-style segments and hallway-like stretches drawing the sharpest criticism.

Loading screens are one of the most consistent complaints. A few note short load times, but many say frequent transitions and menus make the universe feel chopped up.

Load times and fast-travel speed are praised as quick and convenient.

World Intel and regional information are praised for deepening understanding of Final Fantasy VII's world.

Map and compass design is criticized as insufficient for complex terrain such as Gongaga.

Menus and inventory are repeated pain points, with reviewers calling the UI clunky, slow, or shockingly poor for a game with so much item management.

Menu usability has a notable complaint around the lack of saveable loadouts for equipment and Materia setups.

Mission design is uneven: some missions and factions are memorable, while others feel short, repetitive, or underdeveloped.

Some mandatory or heavily gamified tasks were criticized for interrupting flow and failing to give players breathing room.

Mission variety is mixed because Chadley-style objectives and world intel can repeat across regions despite the game offering many different activities overall.

Mods and Creations are a meaningful plus for some reviewers because they can improve rough edges and deepen the experience.

Movement is mixed: broad traversal supports adventure, but dodging, climbing, chocobo handling, and uneven-ground movement drew complaints for feeling awkward or stiff.

The main story is one of the most mixed areas. Some reviewers find it surprisingly interesting or a useful guide, while others call it weak, flat, or forgettable.

Narrative response is divided: reviewers praise the character-driven journey and remixed story, but several criticize thin macro plotting, convolution, or the ending's execution.

Onboarding is a weak spot because important systems can be under-explained, leaving players to figure out menus, building, and progression on their own.

Onboarding is uneven: Red XIII's recap helps returning players, but multiple reviewers warn newcomers may still be lost.

The open-world structure disappoints reviewers who expected seamless discovery, with empty terrain and repeated outposts undercutting the sense of a living galaxy.

The open-world structure is the most divisive area: many reviewers admire its scale and reward loops, while others criticize bloat, repetition, and momentum-breaking busywork.

Originality gets some credit for the space RPG ambition, though several reviews also call the formula familiar.

Originality is supported by reviewers who say the reimagined story still surprises them despite familiarity with the original.

Pacing is uneven. Reviewers describe slow openings, rushed-feeling story beats, and stronger stretches once the game finally clicks.

Pacing is mixed: some reviewers like the scenic, character-forward route, but many complain that open-world checklists, minigames, and late sections slow or derail the main story.

Performance varies by hardware and mode, from smooth PS5 impressions to inconsistent PS5 Pro behavior and demanding PC requirements.

Performance is mixed across platforms and modes: some reviews report smooth play, while others criticize blur, pop-in, texture streaming, or technical tradeoffs.

Platform-specific support is mixed: PS5 features and smoothness are praised, but the physical-disc/download and internet requirements frustrate some buyers.

PS5-specific features receive light but positive mention through DualSense motion controls and haptics.

Polish is better than many expected for a Bethesda-scale RPG, though it does not eliminate bugs, crashes, or rough UI.

Polish is generally high but not flawless, with minor hiccups, visual issues, or areas needing more shoring up.

Progression is a relative strength, with skill trees, outposts, and build growth giving players multiple ways to shape their playstyle.

Folios and related progression systems are considered useful and flexible by several reviewers, though at least one found character leveling and skill growth confusing.

Puzzle design receives limited but strong praise through the lockpicking minigame.

Side quests and faction quests are among the most praised parts, even when the main story disappoints.

Side quests are generally viewed positively when they deepen party relationships or world context, though some reviewers call out filler, repetition, or isolated dull tasks.

As a remake/reimagining, Rebirth is widely praised for honoring the original while expanding, modernizing, and sometimes boldly changing it.

Replay value is positive for players who like long RPGs, new game plus, and self-directed builds.

Replay value is strong thanks to hard mode, New Game Plus, postgame options, relationship outcomes, and many remaining activities.

Sandbox freedom is one of Starfield’s main attractions for the right player, with reviewers praising the ability to wander, build, survey, and pursue your own goals.

Skill trees earn praise for meaningful perks and challenge-based progression that gives builds structure.

Sound design is a high point in the strongest audio-focused review, especially ship and ambient effects.

Sound design is mixed: effects and environmental audio can impress, but multiple reviews mention poor mixing or music drowning out dialogue.

The soundtrack earns strong praise where discussed, with orchestral and sweeping music fitting the space setting well.

The soundtrack is an overwhelming consensus strength, repeatedly described as incredible, phenomenal, moving, and among the series' best.

The small stealth segments were singled out as a weak link, especially because the engine was not seen as well-suited to stealth maneuvers.

Tutorial quality is a complaint when players want more help; several reviews say the game leaves too much unexplained.

The character upgrade system is viewed as more nuanced and strategic than Remake's approach.

Interface design is a regular drawback, especially with maps, menus, and navigation that feel awkward for a game this large.

Value depends on taste and edition. Fans can get a strong price-to-playtime ratio, while skeptics may find the full-price or DLC value harder to justify.

Value is strong because of the game's length and abundance of content, though some reviewers question whether it asks for too much time.

The REV-8/vehicle addition helps planet traversal, but user reports also connect surface driving with freezes.

Visual spectacle is strong, although one reviewer notes motion blur can obscure otherwise striking battle imagery.

Voice acting is often praised, sometimes even when the writing or facial presentation gets criticized.

Voice acting is one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly calling out expressive, emotional, and well-cast performances.

Weapon balance is only lightly addressed, with one review saying the combat tools get the job done.

World-building is divisive: some admire the sci-fi scale, while others find the vision of humanity and space underwhelming.

World-building is praised for making Gaia feel more alive, detailed, and newly understandable compared with older versions.

World interactions such as animals leading to objectives and fast-travel points were seen as pleasant touches that make Gaia feel reactive, though repetition remains a caveat.

Writing quality is one of the weaker areas for critical reviewers, especially in main-quest dialogue and characterizations.

Writing is strongly praised for expanding the original, deepening the human element, and selling relationships, even when broader story choices remain divisive.