When we previewed Final Fantasy 7 Remake before its release in 2020, it seemed clear that Square Enix wanted to show off the new active combat system and the game’s visuals. It was, by and large, an opportunity to see how this remake captured the spirit of the original, with some key changes. What wasn’t apparent at the time was how much the full version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake was going to subvert fan expectations with a story that deviates from its predecessor.