The third part of the acclaimed remake of Final Fantasy VII, titled Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, will feature a surprising but simplified profession system, limiting each character to four specific combat roles. The information revealed suggests a more direct approach to customizing battles, as confirmed by the game director.
Confirmation of the so-called FITS (Function Integrated Tactical Suitwear) system was one of the big news from the game’s full reveal in June, promising players the ability to customize Cloud and his companions to better suit the needs of the battlefield. Although the initial idea generated speculation about a wide range of classes, the new details point to a more contained strategy.
Details of the new combat role system
Director Naoki Hamaguchi clarified in an interview that Revelation’s job system is quite lean. He stated that “the FITS system has four different costumes for each character, and each of them has a very defined role.” This means that instead of a branching system with countless classes, players will have more focused and pre-determined options for each party member.
An example already demonstrated was Tifa’s transformation into a sorceress capable of using magic, illustrating the versatility that each of these four functions can offer. Despite the limited number of costumes, Hamaguchi emphasized that creating these roles requires considerable effort, given the large number of playable characters in the saga.
The strategic simplicity of FITS and its roles
The decision to implement a system with only four functions per character may seem restrictive at first glance, but it carries an important strategic logic for the development of modern games. In an action RPG like Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, a simplified structure can optimize combat balance, allowing the development team to create more cohesive abilities and synergies for each role. This can result in a more fluid and less frustrating gameplay experience, where each “FIT” choice has a clear and well-defined impact on battle strategies.
Unlike the classic games in the franchise, where managing dozens of classes was easier to implement in a 2D turn-based environment, the visual and mechanical complexity of current 3D games requires a greater focus on quality rather than quantity of customization options.
Challenges in creating multiple classes in current games
The justification for the more direct approach of the FITS system lies in the immense technical and design challenges faced by contemporary game developers. Hamaguchi explained that it is “insanely difficult” to create dozens of distinct classes for each playable character. This difficulty manifests itself in several aspects of the development process:
- 3D Modeling and Animations:Each new “job” or costume requires the creation of unique 3D models, along with a complex set of animations for attacks, spells and special moves.
- Combat Balancing:In an action-based combat system, introducing too many classes makes balancing extremely complicated. It is necessary to ensure that all options are viable and that none become overly powerful or weak.
- Development Resources:The time and resources required to implement, test, and polish a wide variety of classes are massive, which can take focus away from other important areas of the game.
This reality contrasts sharply with older Final Fantasy titles, especially 2D ones, where the absence of detailed 3D models and complex animations allowed greater freedom in creating vast and intricate profession systems.
Questions about character customization
Despite confirmations about the number of jobs per character, some crucial details still remain open. It’s unclear whether the four available roles will be the same for all party members or whether each character will have access to a unique set of roles. For example, would the warrior and mage roles seen in reveal trailers be two of the four available to everyone, or would they be exclusive to certain characters?
Considering that the team can have up to eight characters, if the game follows the cast of the original Final Fantasy VII, the distribution and exclusivity of these roles will make a significant difference in the depth of customization. The answer to these questions will shape players’ expectations regarding the strategic freedom and diversity of builds that will be possible to achieve.
What changes for players with the design decision
For fans of the franchise, the reveal of a more contained job system in Final Fantasy 7 Revelation means a focused experience, where depth comes from the mastery of a few well-defined functions, rather than the breadth of many. This can encourage players to experiment and improve their strategies with each of the four roles, rather than getting lost in a sea of options.
The decision also suggests that Square Enix is prioritizing the quality of execution of each function, ensuring that they are visually distinct, mechanically solid, and well integrated into the action combat system. Players can expect tighter gameplay and a greater focus on interactions between party members and their specific roles, setting the stage for the game’s highly anticipated arrival in 2027.
