Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Hands-On: Sephiroth Playable for First Time in Series

Square-Enix opened its Los Angeles headquarters to a select group of players in September, offering the first extended look at Final Fantasy VII Rebirth through two substantial demo chapters running on PlayStation 5 hardware. The moment that will resonate most with longtime fans arrives early: Sephiroth, the series' most iconic antagonist, is finally playable for the first time in a mainline game—a gap of twenty-six years since the original PlayStation release.

The first demo section takes players back five years before the events of the main story, into the Nibel Mako Reactor with Cloud, Sephiroth, and a younger Tifa. In the original game, Sephiroth appeared in this sequence but only as an AI-controlled ally, never under direct player command. Rebirth changes that. Sephiroth arrives as a counter-focused fighter, a deliberate contrast to Cloud's more aggressive Operator and Punisher stances. His moveset in this early chapter is limited—only Zanshin for ranged attacks and Hell's Gate for aerial strikes are available—but his presence shapes the combat philosophy. The game introduces Synergy Skills, team attacks that blend both characters' fighting styles. Cloud and Sephiroth unlock Dualblade Dance, a move that becomes essential during the chapter's final boss encounter. Cloud gains access to Voidshatter and Counterfire, the latter nullifying enemy counters with ranged pressure. Sephiroth's signature limit break, Octaslash, remains intact. Standard attacks flow from the Square button into combo chains; holding it triggers ranged strikes. The Triangle button branches into finishing moves like Pierce and Sword Dance. Holding R1 activates Retaliation Stance, allowing well-timed parries with Square to counter incoming attacks.

The reactor exploration unfolds across roughly thirty minutes, including a mandatory environmental puzzle where players power up and navigate a cleaning robot to purify poisoned air blocking an elevator. The chapter culminates against the Materia Guardian, a six-legged beast that demands both characters work in concert. Sephiroth delivers cutting remarks throughout—reminding Cloud to target the creature's legs, needling him to avoid damage—while his blade work contrasts sharply with Cloud's raw power. Numerous cutscenes punctuate the fight, layering spectacle onto mechanical challenge.

The second demo chapter, titled The Open Wilds of Junon, shifts the experience entirely. Here, Rebirth reveals its ambition to move beyond the narrow streets of Midgar into genuine open terrain. Players encounter cultists—mostly silent, occasionally groaning—who hint at the Reunion storyline to come. The landscape stretches toward Junon and its massive cannon perched on seaside cliffs. Cloud's party gains access to black chocobos, allowing fast transit across the fields in minutes. But the real draw lies in the side content: restoring bus stop signs to unlock fast travel points, gathering crafting materials to build cushions that serve as rest stations (replacing the series' traditional tents), and hunting rare and notorious monsters for currency and World Intel rewards. An unseen NPC named MAI provides background lore about the creatures players encounter, adding texture to the hunting system.

The demo allows players to field one of three preset party combinations from five available heroes—Cloud with Tifa and Aerith, Aerith with Red XIII, or Red XIII with Barret. Unused party members cheer from the sidelines, maintaining presence even when benched. Monster hunts come with specific objectives: stagger enemies within time limits, defeat flying creatures before they take to the air, or complete other tactical challenges. A bounty hangs over AVALANCHE's heads, all five members still at large including Biggs and Jessie, yet Junon's mayor declines to collect the reward. The demo concludes with an encounter between Yuffie and the Terror of the Deep, a monstrous fish about to make her dinner. The ensuing boss fight emphasizes environmental hazards and area-of-effect attacks, teaching players to stay mobile rather than hold ground.

The demo runs in Graphical Fidelity mode targeting 4K resolution; Performance Mode targeting 60 frames per second was available but not used during this session. A Classic mode similar to the first Remake's turn-based option was not available to test, though a Square-Enix representative expressed hope it would appear in the final release. Time still slows when accessing ability menus, preserving tactical breathing room within the action-focused combat. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launches exclusively on PlayStation 5 on February 29, 2024, with no PC release date announced, though the simultaneous announcement of Remake's Steam port suggests a PC version may eventually arrive. Players carrying save files from either the PlayStation 4 or 5 version of Remake, or from the Episode INTERmission DLC, will unlock Leviathan and Ramuh summon materia in Rebirth, though levels and other items do not transfer—the two games are designed as standalone experiences. A digital bundle offering both Remake Intergrade and Rebirth is available for preorder at $69.99.