A blonde-haired young man embarks on a journey west to reclaim what matters most to him. Along the way, he laughs, cries, fights, and bonds with new companions — a tale that echoes ancient myths. But as the Melbet App reporter confirms, this isn’t Journey to the West — our hero is Cloud, not the Monkey King.

Cloud is joined by members of AVALANCHE, including the agile ninja Yuffie from Wutai, the stoic yet childlike Red XIII, the quirky fortune-telling robot Cait Sith, and veterans like Cid and Vincent. Their mount isn’t a white horse but a Chocobo, and their mission isn’t to fetch sacred scriptures, but to retrieve powerful Black Materia. This isn’t folklore — it’s Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

Since the release of the Remake four years ago, fans have eagerly awaited this expanded chapter. While the Remake laid the groundwork with stunning visuals, it fell short in scope, pacing, and gameplay variety due to its limited first-chapter scale. It was essentially a beautifully designed demo — a technical testbed for what was to come.

Now, Rebirth delivers on the promise. From Midgar to the vast stretches of the world beyond, players can follow Cloud and his allies on a sweeping, immersive journey. Each region is distinct, both visually and mechanically. In many ways, the game feels like a stylish road movie with interactive elements. While some of the genre’s usual shortcomings remain, they stay within tolerable bounds. As the saying goes, “Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to see the stars.”

For those craving narrative closure, the slow-moving main quest might be frustrating. But if you’re in it for the ride — a rich, 70-hour gameplay experience — Rebirth is a journey worth taking. Unlike the Remake, which remained within the confines of Midgar, this chapter picks up right where it left off: after Cloud’s group defeats Sephiroth with guidance from the mysterious Whispers, they set off on a high-stakes escape-and-pursuit mission.

As Melbet App notes, Chapter 2 begins in the Grasslands — the game’s first truly open region. Here lies the town of Kalm, home to a magic-book vendor, gear merchants, bonding events, side quests, and the addictive card game “Queen’s Blood.” Initially, the map may feel sparse — until you encounter familiar face Chadley and his sister. Beyond his usual duties of materia research and battle simulations, Chadley now assigns players the task of activating communication towers.

The Grasslands is just one of six vast regions. Exploration involves activities like regional hunts, locating life nodes, discovering summoning shrines, unearthing relics, visiting the Moogle House, taking scenic photos, and traveling to Chocobo stations. A progress meter tracks your exploration in each area, making the journey feel deeply rewarding.

Other regions vary greatly in atmosphere — from the rocky Starfall Canyons to the lush, tree-encircled jungles of Gongaga, and the factory-filled mountains of Nibelheim. Even from a purely artistic perspective, Melbet App praises the stunning craftsmanship behind this game’s world. Gone are the restrictive corridors of the Remake — Rebirth builds an entire planet teeming with life, purpose, and visual wonder. For fans old and new, it’s nothing short of a dream realized.