FF7 Boss Confirms Fortnite Inspired Highwind Jump
When the buzz surrounding Final Fantasy 7 Revelation began, it was instantly memed. The concept of jumping out of the Highwind, the massive airship that serves as the central mechanic of the game, quickly became a source of jokes, with characters like Cloud Strife famously asking, “where we droppin'”.
But beneath the laughter and the viral jokes, the design team had a fascinating evolution to discuss. The Highwind is fundamentally a throwback to the original RPG, serving as the party’s transport across the world. However, modern realism demands a change in perspective. In the era of immersive gameplay, simply dropping to the ground when exiting the ship feels dated.
Director Naoki Hamaguchi and the team opted for a dynamic, modern approach. Instead of a simple descent, the party now launches themselves off the side of the airship and performs a thrilling skydive down onto the map below. This shift transforms the experience, trading simple teleportation for real, kinetic movement.
This new method allows players to fly freely around the world and choose exactly which area they want to pop off into, honoring the spirit of the original game while embracing contemporary freedom. It’s a masterful blend of deep nostalgia and fresh, exhilarating gameplay.
When this innovative mechanic was shown in early previews, the connection to other popular games was inevitable. The inspiration, it turned out, was partially drawn from the mechanics seen in Fortnite.
Hamaguchi himself acknowledged this link, admitting that the inspiration from the massively popular battle royale game played a role in the design. It’s an interesting parallel, given that Final Fantasy 7 remains one of the few major franchises that hasn’t yet seen a major crossover with titles like Fortnite, unlike other franchises that have participated in such collaborations.
This connection highlights how game design can borrow from disparate sources to create something entirely new. By blending classic RPG grandeur with modern, chaotic movement, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation manages to deliver a genuinely unique experience.
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