With Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, director Naoki Hamaguchi made it clear that his remake of a beloved classic would honor the original story while also feeling like its own distinct tale. Though there’s still much to be discovered about the path he is taking us — and whether we will like it or not — it’s evident that Hamaguchi’s ambitious three-part remake project is creating the foundation on which the Final Fantasy series can thrive in future generations.

