On the surface, it doesn’t seem likeFinal Fantasy 7 RemakeandMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxyhave a lot in common, but a quick glance at their storytelling techniques and combat mechanics reveal similarities. Both of them are linear narratives set in a fantastical universe, include RPG elements, and emphasize party mechanics. Cloud and Star-Lord are rarely ever alone, and their friends frequently steal the show.
Although the games are similar, there are also several differences in howFinal Fantasy 7 RemakeandGuardians of the Galaxyapproach storytelling and their large casts of characters.Final Fantasy 7did a better job with combat, butGuardians of the Galaxywas more creative in its narrative. If and when the games get sequels (Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2could be announced at any time), there are a lot of things they could learn from one another.
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Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 Should Have Meaningful Choices
BothFinal Fantasy 7 RemakeandGuardians of the Galaxyhave linear stories with similar level design, butGuardiansmade the story more interactive by giving players meaningful choices. It’s not a game likeDetroit: Become HumanorLife is Strangewhere the story is dramatically altered, but choices go a long way toward making each player’s experience unique.
Players get to make dialogue choices as Star-Lord throughout the game, but there are also some instances where the stakes are higher. For example, whenCosmo gives into the Matriarch’s Promise, the team has a chance to change his mind. Success or failure doesn’t change the outcome of the story, but it results in a different experience down the road.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2will probably have a linear story without any major branching paths if the first game is any indication, but it would be nice to see some different choices that impact players and improve replay value. People love to customize their experiences, and having some small story branches would be great to see in agame likeFinal Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2.
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 Needs More Playable Characters
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxyis very similar toFinal Fantasy 7 Remakewhere combatis concerned. Although they both only have one main character with a relatively small selection of attacks, they both rely heavily on party commands. However,Final Fantasy 7has one big advantage.
InFinal Fantasy 7,Cloudis the default character who players can control for the entire game if they want. However, during combat, it’s possible to switch from Cloud to another party member instead of just giving commands. Each character has different strengths and attacks: Aerith has magic attacks, Tifa is great in a fistfight, and Barret is perfect for ranged combat. Allowing players to switch characters and command party members makes for combat that is fast-paced, strategic, and exciting.
Guardians of the Galaxyhas party members with different skill sets, and it allows Star-Lord to request certain actions in combat, but it doesn’tallow players to actually control the other Guardians. Combat inGuardians of the Galaxygets pretty tedious and repetitive, but allowing players to switch up how they play and approach each situation would make it a lot more interesting.
The game emphasizes how the Guardians have unique skills, so adding more control would be a seamless way to let players experiment with other styles. IfGuardians of the Galaxygets a sequel, it should consider giving players more control over how they approach encounters and by letting them control the other Guardians.
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Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 Could Use Story-Based Abilities
One ofGuardians of the Galaxy’sbiggest strengths is how it gives each character their own individual arc. While it’s true that Drax and Rocket steal the show in this category, andGamora’s arc left something to be desired, each character does have a turning point. The Guardians learn in their own time that they need to let go of the things they’ve lost and realize that the team is a real family where everyone is valued.
With that turning point comes a special skill. For example, when Rocket realizes how much he loves the other Guardians, he decides it’s worth it to combine all of his explosive devices into one huge apparatus, causing huge amounts of damage. TheFive Barrel Barrage abilityrepresents the fact that he feels comfortable with the team and is willing to pull out all the stops for them.
Final Fantasy 7 Remakehad some great character moments with Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, and Barret, but it would kick everything up a notch if their turning points were reflected in gameplay. Adding a new power or mechanic that reflects the character’s change is a creative and immersive storytelling device that adds some extra flavor to the combat and makes character development feel more meaningful.
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 Needs More Exploration and Quests
BothFinal Fantasy 7 RemakeandGuardians of the Galaxyhave beautiful worldsand linear level design, butwhenever Cloud enters a new area like Sector 5 or Wall Market, he gets a chance to explore and make some money by completing small missions for civilians. Not having something like this inGuardians of the Galaxyis a big missed opportunity.
To be fair, this part ofFinal Fantasy 7isn’t perfect. A lot of the quests are uninspired, but they still gave Cloud a chance to explore the world and interact with it.Guardians of the Galaxyalmost had a section like this when the team first visits Knowhere, but it falls short in a lot of ways. There are opportunities to spend money, but doing so results in the Guardians not being able to pay their Nova Corps fine later, as there are very few chances to make that money back. There are also no quests or missions of any kind; the most exciting thing is exploring Tivan’s collection.
InGuardians of the Galaxy 2,there should be a lot more opportunities for side-quests and exploration. The Guardians are exactly the type of group to take odd jobs and side-gigs. TheGuardians of the Galaxynarrativedoes have a sense of urgency, and having side-quests could have hindered that, butGuardians 2should implement more exploration and quests to let players experience a real day in the life of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxyis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Final Fantasy 7 Remakeis available now on PC, PS4, and PS5.
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