It’s been nearly four years since our last episode – the same four years since Final Fantasy VII Remake arrived on the PlayStation 4. Andrew & Alex let loose with this raw & previously-unreleased chat about Square Enix’s brilliant reimagining of their 1997 masterpiece.
Yes, we’ve secretly had this one waiting in the wings all this time. Final Fantasy VII was somewhat omnipresent for us growing up together, so we always wanted to do right by it with a proper episode (or even a mini-series). But after revisiting our off-the-cuff takeaways ahead of Rebirth, we agreed: it’s time. Buckle up, because we jump right into Remake’s divergent ending, unpack some of its most pivotal changes to FFVII’s memorable opening chapter, as well as explore our theories for the road ahead.
WARNING: this is a SPOILER-heavy episode!
This goes not only for Remake, but also for the original FFVII. So if you’re new to the story entirely, haven’t completed Remake, or are simply looking forward to Rebirth without having played either, just know that we admire your curiosity.
On the status of the show:
Thank you to anyone who’s ever listened to Screen Looking over the past several years. We’ve missed doing this show, and although we’re still not sure what the future holds for it, we’re dedicating this episode to you. Until next time, you can find us at Kalm.
Additional Credits & Notes
- Andrew Kuhar is a UI/UX Product Designer at thatgamecompany. His favorite party member is Red XIII, and his favorite summoning materia is Phoenix.
- Alex Koval has co-hosted Screen Looking with Andrew since its first episode in 2018. His favorite party member is Vincent, and his favorite summoning materia is… wait for it… Alexander.
- Artwork by Yoshitaka Amano, from their silkscreen prints for Final Fantasy VII.
- Music in this episode comes from the OSTs to Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (2024), composed by Nobuo Uematsu.
- Clips were sourced from YouTube, thanks to gameplay captures by Dark Knight Player, Ruba, and Zanar Aesthetics.
- Show your love by leaving us a rating & review on your favorite podcasting service, and sharing Screen Looking with a friend or two.
It’s time for a bonus round.
If you’re new to the show, this is an excellent place to start tuning in to the Screen Looking podcast. In our first bonus episode, Alex Koval and I take a respite from the deep dives for a chill, candid conversation about our tastes in video games – and how our personalities inform them.
In addition, we have a special announcement at the top of the episode, followed by some fun ideas for future installments.
We’ll be returning soon with more deep and varied explorations of why video games are such an interesting medium, discovering new stories and rediscovering old favorites. For now, we simply couldn’t wait to keep the conversation rolling.
Additional Notes & Credits
- Music in today’s episode is by Mono Memory – an 80’s inspired synthwave producer based in Edinburgh. The song is called “Crystal Beach” and can be found here on Bandcamp.
- Photograph by Hilary Bovay, my partner, previous guest of the show (E.2 & E.3), and co-host of The She League Podcast.
- “Ludonarrative dissonance is the conflict between a video game’s narrative told through the story and the narrative told through the gameplay. Ludonarrative, a compound of ludology and narrative, refers to the intersection in a video game of ludic elements and narrative elements.” –Wikipedia
- “What’re ya’ sellin’? What’re ya’ buyin’?”
Love ’em or hate ’em, the most unforgettable video game worlds are usually buried in snow. In this special winter episode, friends & listeners of the show write in with the ones they remember most.
Regardless of whether they’re frustrating, fun or simply a change of scenery, a “good” snow-themed level will push any game’s design to the absolute brink. They surprise us with bold visuals and subvert our expectations of a game’s environments. At the very least, they know how to stand out. Challenging yet wondrous to explore, these virtual worlds left an indelible impression on those who survived them. Today, I get to share their stories with you.
Grab a warm beverage, abandon your chores, and commiserate with me on that extended commute as I open up the mailbag for this special edition of the Screen Looking podcast.
Additional Credits & Notes:
- Recipe: Yeto’s Superb Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Soup (thanks, Cory!)
- The opening theme for today’s episode is a remastered version of Final Fantasy VII‘s “Buried in Snow,” recreated by Pontus Hultgren — a freelance composer/orchestrator based in Sweden. Visit his YouTube channel to hear more.
- Additional music in today’s episode comes from each entry and their respective OSTs, including: Banjo-Kazooie, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, Donkey Kong Country, Goldeneye 007, Journey, The Last of Us, The Legend of Zelda series, Mario 64, Max Payne, Metal Gear Solid, Puzzle Agent, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game, and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.
- Thank you to everybody who wrote in! Video games have the unique power to connect us across far distances, and I can’t think of a better way for the show to celebrate that this season.