Final Fantasy VII Revelation Opens With Its Biggest Twist Early
A hands-on account of Final Fantasy VII Revelation's opening demo shows an earlier, more linear story start, new party members and a revamped class system.
According to TechRadar, a reviewer has now played roughly the first 45 minutes of Final Fantasy VII Revelation, following an earlier and longer demo shown at Gamescom 2026. The newer segment is more linear than the earlier one and begins at the start of the game. It places Cloud and his companions in a position to confront a major plot twist from the 1997 original, but the reviewer notes that this happens much sooner than it did in the first game.
The reviewer describes the demo as short, saying it took about 30 to 45 minutes to finish. Two characters, Vincent and Cid, feature prominently. Cid is formally added as an active fighting member at the start of the segment. Most of the party in the reviewer's session used the FITS system, which TechRadar describes as Revelation's version of the job or class system found in other Square Enix games.
The reviewer says they wanted to focus mainly on the story rather than the combat or systems. The source material does not describe the full game's release date, price, platforms or how much of the story the demo covers, so those details remain unconfirmed in this report.
Background
Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997, is one of the most influential role-playing games ever made. Its story follows Cloud Strife, a former soldier turned mercenary, as he and an eco-activist group confront a corporation that extracts the planet's life energy. Its major twists were revealed gradually over a long runtime, and many players remember the mid-game and late-game reveals as turning points in the series.
Square Enix has spent years revisiting the original. The 2020 remake reworked the opening chapters into a full modern production, and it was followed by a second part that expanded the story further and altered some of the original's structure. Those projects showed that fans were receptive to reinterpretations, but they also drew debate about how faithful the changes should be.
Revelation appears to belong to the same broader effort. Using a new title and a new story structure, it signals that the developers are willing to reorder familiar events rather than follow the 1997 pacing. Square Enix has also used a common job-based class system across several of its franchises, which helps explain why a system like FITS would be familiar to players who have played its other games. Changes like these often shape how a studio's remakes and spin-offs are received, particularly when a beloved story is retold.
Why it matters
The most significant detail in the report is the timing of the twist. In the original, the reveal arrives well into the story, and much of its emotional weight comes from the patience with which the game builds toward it. If Revelation moves that moment to the beginning, the experience changes from a slow discovery into something closer to a dramatic setup. Players who know the original may find the surprise diminished, while players who are new to the story may experience it without the same built-up expectation.
The report also suggests a more linear structure for this opening portion. For a series known for open exploration and optional side content, that could mark a shift in how the developers balance guided storytelling and freedom. A linear start may make the early hours feel tighter and more cinematic, but it may also limit the sense of discovery that defined the original's early exploration.
The addition of Vincent and Cid as active party members is notable because they are characters whose roles in the wider story have been debated by fans for decades. Giving them a more prominent place early on could reshape how the group's dynamics develop. The FITS system, meanwhile, shows the studio continuing to rethink how characters grow and specialize, a choice that will matter to players who care about build variety and tactical depth.
For readers following the game, the important point is that the account comes from a short early segment and cannot reveal how the full story unfolds. Any conclusions about pacing, tone or the quality of the reinterpretation should wait for more of the game to be available.
What to watch
Readers should watch for official confirmation of the release date, platforms and price, none of which are established in the source material. It will also be useful to see how much of the story the full game covers and whether the early twist is handled as a turning point or as a setup for later reveals.
Fans will likely look closely at how Vincent and Cid are written and integrated into the party. The balance between the linear opening and the open-world structure seen in earlier entries will also be worth tracking, as will how the FITS system develops over the course of a full playthrough.
Finally, watch how other reviewers and players respond once more of the game is available. Early impressions from a short demo are useful, but they can shift as the broader story and systems come into view.
Viewpoints
Commentary from our columns: three angles on this story.
The Skeptic open questions and weak points
Moving the series' most famous reveal to the opening hour is a bold choice, and it deserves a hard look before anyone celebrates it. The original's twist landed because it arrived after long investment in the characters and the world. Remove that buildup and the payoff risks feeling like a plot point rather than a shock. Fans will also ask whether a linear start is a sign of confidence or a sign that the design needs guidance to hold attention. A 30 to 45 minute demo cannot answer those questions. It can only raise them. Before concluding that the restructuring works, we need to see whether the story keeps its weight once the early surprise is spent. Until then, the strongest claim anyone can make is that the choice is interesting and untested.
The Optimist the hopeful reading
There is something genuinely exciting about a studio that will reorder one of gaming's most beloved stories instead of simply repeating it. A familiar twist arriving early gives longtime fans a fresh way to feel the old dread, and it gives newcomers a jolt that the 1997 pacing never offered. Bringing Vincent and Cid into the party more prominently also suggests that characters who were once sidelined may get room to matter. The FITS system points the same way, offering players a chance to shape their heroes in new ways. Nothing here is guaranteed, and the demo is short. Still, a remake and reimagining that dares to surprise people who already know the ending is a healthy sign for the series.
The User what changes for people who use it
For someone who sits down to play this, the biggest change may be how the opening feels. A more linear start means fewer moments to wander and more guided scenes, which could be welcome for players who want a clear path or frustrating for those who like to explore on their own. The FITS system is also worth paying attention to, since if it works like job systems in other Square Enix games, players will need to think about how they assign roles to their party. Vincent and Cid being active from the start could make early battles feel different, too. The report does not say how long the full game will be or how much of the story the opening covers, so players should plan for uncertainty. For now, the practical advice is to wait for more hands-on time before deciding whether the new structure suits your style.