How Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Corel Region Perfectly Encapsulates its Tragedy

Stepping into Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth‘s North Corel is like entering another world. From the resort beaches of Costa del Sol to the dilapidated shacks and barren grounds of a settlement long still recovering, the town is a somber look into the remnants of Shinra’s wrath. The ghosts of North Corel are still clearly present, as its people lament the loss of their families and turn that anger toward Barret, whose backstory comes alive through their pain. The way Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth renders North Corel within the rest of the region shows just how effectively it conveys this tragedy, moving between the glitz and glamor of Shinra’s tourist attractions to the harrowing losses from their influence.

Rebirth brings Final Fantasy 7‘s Corel to life through a wider lens into the devastation of Shinra, structuring its storytelling in a way that provides real impact. Balancing its gameplay between linear and non-linear exploration, the Corel region becomes much more evocative due in part to how Barret’s story is slowly drip-fed to the player. As Cloud and company travel inland, the difference between the region’s coast and the land past Mt. Corel is both startling and poignant in FF7‘s themes of environmental destruction, made more tangible through Barret’s past and the effects on North Corel’s people.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Corel Region Treats Its World-Building With Care

The Gold Saucer

Rebirth manages to strike a balance between its comedic, light-hearted downtime and the somber tragedies of its world, and the Gold Saucer is used to great effect in demonstrating this. The Saucer is a masterclass in excess, and part of what makes it so compelling is this sense of glamor and fun. There’s actual merit to the amusement park as an escape, and even some decent characters like Dio, who contribute towards its success. Still, the reminders of what comes with Shinra’s ventures remain, made evident through the region’s surrounding desolation. This comes to a head with Dyne’s attack, showing this tragedy seeping into even the “happiest” of places.

Tragedy Resurfacing

As Rebirth builds momentum toward Barret and Dyne’s reunion, the choice to reveal the full extent of what happened at North Corel after visiting the Gold Saucer makes the flashback even more devastating, and the ways in which North Corel and Dyne are expanded on show just how tragic these circumstances are. For Barret, having been disillusioned by the idea of a better life through Shinra’s reactor shouldn’t make him the bad guy, but he has to carry the guilt of pushing for it either way. Though the blame should lie squarely on Shinra’s shoulders, that doesn’t stop him from being ostracized from his home and treated as a scapegoat.

Moving Between Hostile and Hospitable

The same can be said for Dyne, whose reveal is utterly heartbreaking. Pushing himself out of anger and nearing the edge of psychosis, he holds that same contempt for Barret, leaving their showdown both solemn and powerful. The ensuing boss battle is strikingly effective, made more emotional through FF7 Rebirth‘s use of party locking during story events, in this case, having Barret as the sole member of the fight. The sheer emotion and loss of Dyne and the rest of North Corel’s people, including Barret himself, is visceral as the two clash, helping to cement Shinra at large as the true villain of Final Fantasy 7‘s story.

The following open-world exploration of Corel’s desert lands feels both hollow and destitute, though that balance between life and destruction remains. This is demonstrated as the region moves into Gongaga, where its jungles are teeming with wildlife, and its abandoned reactor reclaimed by nature. Rebirth‘s frequent shift between hostile and hospitable manages to make its world-building all the more tangible, showing the game’s effectiveness at oscillating not just in environment, but tone as well. It is through this that Corel manages to show the full extent of its tragedy.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Released

February 29, 2024

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence

How Long To Beat

40 Hours

Metascore

93

PS Plus Availability

N/A

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