Within the ultimate moments of Remaining Fantasy 7 Remake, Cloud finds himself at Future’s Crossroads. Sephiroth has torn a gap within the cloth of actuality, and a thrashing gateway into an unknown future beckons. It is a daunting prospect that’s made much more so when Aerith says the following step of their journey will contain “altering greater than destiny itself.” This was an announcement of intent from developer Sq. Enix that recommended its retelling of one of the crucial beloved tales in online game historical past could not play out how followers anticipate, or maybe need. It is a second wherein characters and gamers alike share within the unsettling nature of uncertainty. Earlier than they step by way of the gateway, Tifa asks Aerith, “What’s going to we discover on the opposite facet?” to which she replies, “Freedom. Boundless, terrifying freedom.” And he or she was proper.
Remaining Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a sport a couple of battle between destiny and freedom, but in addition the fragile stability between authorship and company. By means of gameplay techniques that encourage exploration, Rebirth empowers gamers to find the world round them and chart their path by way of it. And thru its story, it presents a compelling narrative in regards to the harmful affect of exploiting pure sources, in addition to the human causes and penalties of radical environmentalism. Nevertheless it’s a narrative that, in the end, is outlined and destined to finish in very particular methods, for higher or for worse. The equilibrium between contrasting ideologies is never good, and that is evident in Remaining Fantasy 7 Rebirth, a sport that’s rewarding for the handfuls of hours it allows company, however is irritating within the few hours that creator the collection’ future.
Whereas the occasions of Remake have been confined to Midgar and largely linear, Rebirth pushes again the borders to let gamers discover new horizons on their phrases. Throughout 60-plus hours, Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, Barrett, and some different occasion members comply with within the footsteps of the mysterious pale-skinned and dark-robed people briefly encountered in Remake. Though they’re largely incapable of speaking past pained groans, they’re nonetheless key to monitoring down Sephiroth and stopping him from destroying the world. Their gradual onward march is what plots the group’s course by way of the sport’s numerous locales.
The journey begins within the verdant fields of the Grasslands simply exterior Midgar, a direct and stark distinction to Remake, which takes place primarily within the greys of a metropolis constructed upon industrial equipment and below the boot of the Shinra Electrical Firm. The Grasslands are lush, with quaint homesteads to bump into, Chocobo ranches to go to, and harmful wetlands to barter. Like each location within the sport, it is all dropped at life with an attention-grabbing vibrancy accentuated by a rousing orchestral soundtrack constructed on immediately recognizable musical motifs. The Grasslands are the best place to instill the sense of openness that Rebirth makes use of to distinguish itself from the earlier entry within the collection, whereas additionally driving residence the magnitude of the duty that lies forward.
From there, it is off to the decrease reaches of Junon, a transport hub that exists within the shadow of Midgar. It is a spot that was given life and alternative by Shinra and its business of siphoning mako from the planet however can be stifled by it. The crimson rocks and majestic geological formations of Cosmo Canyon and the thriving jungles of Gongaga additional show the planet at its most stunning and present that communities can kind a mutually useful concord with nature. Costa Del Sol, in the meantime, is an unique hub of tourism the place folks have an easygoing perspective and Gold Saucer stands as a monument to opulence constructed upon the exploitation of a treasured useful resource.
Touring between them entails navigating treacherous mythril mines, crusing on cruise ships, taking cable vehicles, and utilizing different types of transportation that bridge areas in a approach that creates the phantasm of a related world. The seams between them are noticeable even when it turns into potential to freely transfer round through land, sea, or air, nevertheless it’s by no means an issue as a result of they’re substantial sufficient to create an amazing sense of scale. Additionally they have a variety of aesthetics that makes every area distinct and are given continuity by way of narrative-driven pathing. It won’t be an open world within the conventional sense, however its vastness actually makes it really feel like one.
Whereas it might be extra acceptable to say Rebirth is made up of open zones, the stuff you do inside them are typical open-world style fodder. What makes Remaining Fantasy 7 Rebirth outstanding is that it executes a well-recognized design template in service of reinforcing key themes of the sport. It is all pushed by World Intel, which returning character and hyper-boffin Chadley makes use of to construct a database of the world. Finishing what is basically busywork and producing world intel permits Chadley to develop and improve Materia, gadgets that bestow magic skills and expertise on characters.
The gameplay loop entails discovering Remnawave towers, scaling them, after which activating them in order that they reveal extra actions to do within the surrounding space. From there, you are able to do fight assignments, seize treasure from excavation websites, tackle highly effective fiends, examine sanctuaries, or acquire sources. On paper, it is the atypical and uninspiring Ubisoft system many grew bored with years in the past, however its implementation is extra considerate than it appears.
Remaining Fantasy 7’s story as a complete is in regards to the harm a parasitic company is doing to the planet by draining it of mako, which in flip is harming the lifestream, an ethereal power that offers life to the planet. Remake explored the implications of this on a small and really human scale by specializing in Midgar and its folks. By means of Cloud, we witnessed how the lives of atypical residents have been destroyed by Shinra and the way its ongoing excavation of mako has allowed it to realize full management over each side of society. This attitude was important to justifying the actions of Cloud and Avalanche, who’re successfully eco-terrorists. By empathizing with folks, Avalanche’s actions and struggle for the folks turned righteous.
Rebirth broadens that perspective to point out the struggle is additionally for the way forward for the planet. For instance how a lot larger the stakes are, it wants to point out the affect that Shinra is having on the world past Midgar and the way folks in all corners of that world have had their lives turned the other way up. It efficiently does this by engendering a deeper connection and understanding of the world within the participant. On a basic degree, it asks them to discover their environment to seek out actions, which helps mentally map out the topography of every location and develop familiarity with it, however then every exercise feeds into strengthening that connection to the world in trade for tangible rewards and character development.
Lifesprings, for instance, are places the place the lifestream has manifested as pure, uncooked mako. Till now, mako has solely been offered as a gasoline or as materia, however the areas round lifesprings are the place nature is prospering, with an abundance of pure sources that may be collected and utilized to craft therapeutic gadgets, thus reinforcing the concept the lifestream and mako are treasured and life-giving. Excavation websites require gamers to make use of a Chocobo to smell out buried transmuter chips that can be utilized to forge tools, however these places are additionally the scars of so-called progress that comes at the price of diminishing the facility of the lifestream, so gamers get a first-hand have a look at what Shinra is doing to the planet. Fight assignments contain defeating particular fiends on the planet, however the participant is offered with in-depth details about targets that contributes to an evolving understanding of the ecology of the world and the way abuse of mako has remodeled it.
The fight simulator can be the place summons may be challenged and, if defeated, referred to as to offer assist in battle. Nonetheless, they dwell as much as their legendary standing by being extremely tough to struggle, taking little or no harm, and even unleashing assaults that may immediately wipe out the whole occasion. Beating a summon is nigh inconceivable for all however essentially the most affected person and expert gamers and infrequently a practical endeavor to pursue. Nonetheless, one of many actions out on the planet entails discovering Sanctuaries, which include crystalline information of those legendary beasts. Gathering data from a summon’s designated sanctuaries gives Chadley with perception that may be utilized to make the battles simpler. With every extra sanctuary, the summon battle turns into much less punishing till the struggle could be very manageable. Once more, that is an especially good approach of taking a rote exercise, imbuing it with narrative significance, and in addition paying it off with gameplay implications.
Discovering a few of these actions may be tough as they’re typically tucked away in darkish corners of the map or positioned at heights that require scaling buildings to achieve, however the sport makes use of in-game signposting and steering to direct the participant with out making it senseless. Springseeker owls will come to you and hoot to get your consideration, then lead you within the route of a lifespring, very similar to the foxes in Ghost of Tsushima. For fast-travel factors, an cute child Chocobo will excitedly bounce over to steer you to Chocobo Stops which have fallen into disrepair so you may repair them up and get them working once more. All of the whereas, unlocking towers and finishing actions will generate intel factors that Chadley can use to make new materia or improve them.
The gameplay in these actions is repeated throughout every area and infrequently takes surprising turns into new territory or places a singular spin on the method, so it says lots that even then there is not a single a part of Rebirth’s overworld actions that comes throughout as throwaway or pointless. Whether or not you take pleasure in doing them is a matter of private desire, however they persistently felt helpful to me. Each exercise is paired with a gameplay system that’s impacted by finishing it, and the loop of finishing world intel in a area is tough to interrupt out of. It is an virtually totally frictionless expertise that has significant rewards and contributes to the sensation of development. However, greater than that, it fosters a closeness to the sport world and offers weight to the bigger battle to avoid wasting the planet.
Remake introduced a disparate group of individuals along with the unified objective of stopping Shinra. However that was a means of discovery that concerned peeling the layers again on every member of Avalanche to seek out what they’re combating for and why. In doing so, the group grew nearer collectively, previous friendships have been renewed, and new ones have been solid as they resolved to struggle for his or her futures. In that pivotal second at Future’s Crossroads, Aerith pleaded for her associates’ assist in ending the lifestream’s struggling and saving the planet from destruction. “I do know that, collectively, we will do that,” she mentioned. Name it earnest or saccharine, however on the soul of Remaining Fantasy as a franchise is the bond between folks and what they’ll obtain collectively. And that is one other theme that can be emphasised by way of Rebirth’s gameplay–specifically its fight techniques.
The sport largely performs the identical as Remake; that’s to say, it’s an expertly constructed suite of techniques that mix the responsiveness of a satisfying motion sport with the thought-about and methodical nature of a turn-based technique sport. This hybrid was a revelation in Remake, and it has solely been enhanced in Rebirth. The development comes from a give attention to the synergy between characters, which ratchets up the dynamism of fight whereas additionally introducing new mechanics to make use of within the warmth of battle. Whereas each character has a primary assault that may be executed repeatedly by hammering a button, particular actions are ruled by an ATB bar that’s cut up into segments. Skills, spells, and using gadgets every have a price related to them. The one option to pay that value is to refill segments of the ATB bar by attacking or defending. That is the way it goes in Remake, too, however in Rebirth the speed at which the ATB fills up is noticeably slower, which signifies that every character will face extra of an uphill battle when going it alone. Nonetheless, Rebirth introduces synergy expertise that mix the efforts of a number of characters and, when used, velocity up how shortly the ATB bar fills up.
Synergy expertise may be offensive or defensive and are free to make use of repeatedly. They alone will not win you any fights since most aren’t notably damaging, however they’ll have utility past topping up the ATB shortly. Aerith can, for instance, request one other character step in entrance of hazard to defend her briefly, giving her sufficient respiratory room to make use of an merchandise or fireplace off a spell uninterrupted. Cloud can have his sword enhanced by Tifa’s harmful energy or Aerith’s magic and ship a charged overhead slam, growing harm a bit. These synergy expertise are important to being profitable in battle.
Rebirth is noticeably more durable than Remake as a result of it makes particular calls for of gamers. The earlier sport’s stress and stagger system returns, nevertheless it’s a lot more durable to push enemies onto the again foot because the sport is strict about exploiting weaknesses to achieve the pressured and staggered states. Enemies additionally pack a a lot more durable punch this time, so it is crucial to determine their weaknesses utilizing the Assess skill after which hammer away at it as shortly as potential. The one approach to try this is to execute synergy expertise to shortly construct ATB bars, then fireplace off elemental spells, buff different skills, or put teammates ready to do the identical. As an added wrinkle, using sure regular skills which might be marked with an icon additionally builds in direction of using a drastically extra highly effective synergy skill. When two characters hit the required quantity of synergy, they’ll mix for a flashy cinematic transfer that appears cool, but in addition offers vital harm and applies buffs.
Cloud and Tifa can mix for Relentless Rush, throughout which he launches her towards the enemy so the duo can assault in tandem. If used on a staggered foe, it’s going to lengthen the period of time they keep in that state. Purple XIII and Barret can pair up for Overfang, throughout which Barret throws Purple XIII at enemies at excessive velocity to do harm but in addition raises each of their restrict ranges, quickening the method of accessing the tremendous highly effective restrict breaks. Repeated use of synergy skills will increase the associated fee, incentivizing selection so you may at all times be prepared to show the tide of battle must you want it.
Rebirth’s fight is constructed on a confirmed framework, which implies the underlying techniques have been established and set in place. Nonetheless, the addition of synergy permits the sport to create circumstances the place cautious methods must be employed, they usually may even allow ridiculous combos of skills which might be borderline game-breaking, however a lot enjoyable to tug off. The talent ceiling is fairly excessive for these all for actually pushing the techniques to their limits. Total although, battles are much less like freeform motion and extra like fight puzzles, and the gameplay is healthier due to it. There are additionally conditions the place holding it easy and mashing out primary assaults till you may fireplace off a spell works, too, so there is a good mixture of demanding and senseless fight.
Seeing characters counting on one another consistently and having back-and-forths as they tear down enemies brings an exhilarating new depth to the best way fight performs, feels, and appears. It leverages the occasions of Remake and the numerous battles these characters have gone by way of collectively to point out the closeness that occasion has with one another, making a story dynamic and the lynchpin of its fight, which is a bit of stroke of genius. It is one other implausible execution of the concept themes may be leveraged to strengthen gameplay mechanics.
Rebirth additionally carries over development techniques from Remake. Characters degree up by accruing expertise in battle that can, in time, enhance stats resembling assault and protection. On prime of that, AP is generated and contributes in direction of leveling up materia, strengthening the efficiency of magic and unlocking larger tiers of spells–the solely approach to make use of the firaga spell is to ensure the hearth materia is developed, for instance. Equally, weapons have distinctive skills that, when used, increase your proficiency with mentioned weapon. As soon as mastered, the distinctive skill of a weapon can then be utilized even if you’re not wielding it.
New for Rebirth, nonetheless, are weapon expertise and the Folio system. The previous is the flexibility to unlock distinctive weapon expertise by elevating the general weapon degree. These expertise are slotted into weapons in the identical approach materia is, and supply a wide range of bonuses resembling elevating stats, growing the effectiveness of character-specific states, or buffing magical skills. It is one other small option to improve that sense of development. Folios are themed manuscripts particular to every character: The Artwork of Swordplay for Cloud, Method of the Fist for Tifa, Sharpshooter’s Companion for Barret, and so forth. As you degree up, talent factors develop into out there and may be spent to outline a mode for characters by unlocking sure stat boosts or gauge behaviors. For instance, it is potential to create a defensive strategy for Cloud that bolsters his skill to take harm or to give attention to getting the restrict bar stuffed as shortly as potential by making him an offensive powerhouse. The system is not open-ended to the purpose the place there are many potential builds and for essentially the most half it’s fairly straightforward to unlock nearly all of upgrades, even when it may be a gradual course of to try this. Because of this, it is useful to give attention to a extra particular construct and regulate for the scenario by resetting and redistributing the factors. The Folio can be the place extra synergy skills are unlocked, in addition to elemental spells which might be executed utilizing ATB as an alternative of MP. This won’t look like a giant deal, however making certain everybody can at all times do an elemental spell ought to inform you about how essential exploiting weaknesses is.
The largest query going into Rebirth was how it could deal with its story and characterization. Particularly, if and the way it could change how the story has already performed out. For essentially the most half, it does not make any drastic alterations, and the broad beats of the story that occur after Cloud and Avalanche go away Midgar are the identical. Rebirth does what Remake did and brings shade and richness to the narrative that merely wasn’t potential earlier than by delving deeper into its characters. The find-Sephiroth-and-save-the-world narrative thread will get pushed to the background and left dangling for vital stretches of the sport so the primary forged can take heart stage, and it really works very nicely.
Though Remake alluded to backstories and explored them on a really floor degree, Cloud was at all times the primary driver of the narrative. It was the story of a mercenary who solely ever fought for himself studying to struggle for and with others. This time, he successfully performs a supporting position within the story of the opposite characters up till one thing Sephiroth-related occurs. A lot of his story is instructed by way of the lens of Tifa, a childhood pal who has slowly developed a closeness with him. Cloud’s historical past is murky, even to himself, however Tifa has the clearest recollection of it, and as his psychological state begins to spin uncontrolled below the manipulation of Sephiroth, she serves as his anchor and it results in some tender moments. However on the identical time, she has her personal traumatic historical past to take care of, having misplaced her father as a consequence of Shinra and Sephiroth’s actions. Importantly, the backstories and the exploration of them do not do something to decrease the characters, and in reality, make every character extra human and deserving of empathy. Whereas Tifa has her moments of weak spot, she additionally rises above the challenges to point out she has the internal energy to match her outer one.
Barret returns to his hometown and is met with a chilly welcome. His demeanor modifications from the boisterous, idealistic de facto chief of Avalanche to being meek and not sure of himself. He is riddled with guilt and it is not till his tragic historical past is laid naked that we be taught why that is the case. We see what set him on the trail of combating for the planet and bringing down Shinra. Barret is a household man, and the sport’s emotional depiction of the ache and accountability he shoulders is an eye-opening have a look at what lies beneath his assured floor. Purple XII’s equally tragic previous is contextualized upon his return to Cosmo Canyon, the place we be taught way more about him as he learns in regards to the position his household performed within the legacy of his folks. There’s care and a spotlight paid to those characters which might be befitting of the excessive esteem they maintain inside the tradition of video video games. There is a cause Remaining Fantasy 7’s characters are so beloved, and Rebirth solely strengthens that.
At instances, the writing and supply of dialogue may be unnatural or awkward, however for those who’re in a position to purchase into the melodrama, it is refreshing how unapologetically earnest every character is, and the exaggerated nature of every character’s character is scene-setting for memorable moments. One such instance is Cloud having to provide a rousing speech to Shinra troopers and, though it is a goofy state of affairs, he slowly loses himself as Aerith and Tifa egg him on and it reveals a facet of Cloud that wasn’t seen in Remake or the unique sport. We consider Cloud as a stoney-face, brooding, massive sword boy, nevertheless it seems he loves a very good pep discuss when he is in snug environment. Moments like this are the soul of Rebirth’s narrative and regularly exhibit wonderful character work that pushes previous what would possibly initially appear cringy.
These particular person tales are bolstered by moments that improve the connection between characters. Get together members every have bonds with Cloud, the energy of which grows relying on dialogue decisions and, extra importantly, facet missions. Throughout every of the sport’s areas, there are folks in want of a serving to hand. These missions are hardly ever thrilling from a gameplay perspective, however they supply a pleasant tonal shift that brings some levity to occasions. Additionally they present the chance to get a greater sense of how Shinra has modified the world by talking to individuals who maintain totally different beliefs and views. It is not at all times doom and gloom, as on quite a lot of events I discovered myself amidst individuals who have managed to seek out pleasure within the easy issues in life or discovered the way to use the land respectfully to thrive. For each story of tragedy and loss by the hands of Shinra, there’s a story that evokes hope and a cause to struggle on.
Cloud is normally paired with one other character for these facet missions, in order that they’re additionally useful for getting high quality time with characters. Not solely does this deepen Cloud’s bond with every one, nevertheless it additionally makes them extra well-rounded as characters. They’re additionally the place we frequently get to see how Cloud has modified from the stoic, impassive mercenary into somebody who cares for his associates. There is a second the place Cloud guarantees he’ll be there for somebody, and their response is a far cry from the best way they’d have reacted in Remake–it was a genuinely candy second that reveals how far they’ve come. The bond degree additionally comes into play later within the sport when you must resolve who to spend some high quality time with. Rebirth can be surprisingly humorous, and far of that humor is discovered within the facet quests. A few of it comes by way of the writing and comedic supply of strains, however there are fairly a number of wacky conditions and hijinx which might be performed for laughs, and the sport nails them. There’s additionally a self-referential side that Rebirth revels in; Fort Condor, for instance, switches the artwork type of the sport to mimic the blocky character fashions of the unique sport, besides in tremendous excessive decision. That type pops up elsewhere, too, and it is at all times a delight to see it.
In between these moments is the place the primary narrative performs out and, sadly, it’s a lot much less constant in high quality and assured in its supply. I discovered the pacing of the sport to be a major problem, and it is largely because of the center stretch being an excessive amount of like the unique model of Remaining Fantasy 7. A major chunk of the sport turns into, at finest, a distraction and, at worst, filler. After increase steam, the primary story involves a grinding halt because the gang basically goes on a number of holidays and makes frivolous actions their major focus. There are key moments inside these chapters that transfer the plot ahead, introduce characters, or carry plenty of emotional weight, however they’re held hostage by gameplay that’s tonally misplaced and seems like padding. The payoff of those moments is lessened by the exhausting means of leaping by way of hoops to get to them.
Gold Saucer is essentially the most emblematic of the difficulty. It’s an iconic a part of the unique sport, and whereas the brand new model is undoubtedly spectacular visually and the way it captures the sensation of being in a theme park, it primarily exists as a container for a bunch of minigames, similar to its earlier incarnation. These are enjoyable and nostalgic, and it is pleasant to see the occasion enjoyment of having enjoyable by way of sequences which might be quintessentially and unapologetically video gamey, however they’re additionally brick partitions to narrative momentum and cannot be bypassed. As an alternative, experiencing disparate gameplay concepts packaged up as minigames turns into the story, and it is arduous to not get irked when the gang is taking part in carnival video games, frolicking round in beachwear, or racing chocobo for hours on finish whereas the destiny of the world hangs within the stability.
I am all for minigames and I perceive that Gold Saucer is an iconic a part of the unique sport. The period of time I spent taking part in Queens Blood, a implausible new in-universe card sport that gave me flashbacks to a Triple Triad, is proof I really like a very good distraction, however they are not a distraction–they’re the main target. It harkens again to a time when gameplay concepts outlined what the story could be, versus being a mirrored image of the extra refined storytelling alternatives we’ve got now, so I discovered myself compelled to run round a confusingly laid-out theme park going from one minigame to the following simply so I may get again to the liberty of the skin world and pursue the primary quest once more. This occurs simply sufficient instances back-to-back to nullify any whimsical high quality that taking part in these minigames has, whereas additionally disrupting the tempo of the sport in a significant approach.
Remaining Fantasy Rebirth does not falter in terms of particular person tales. They make up the overwhelming majority of the sport’s runtime and narrative substance, however within the moments which might be positioned to have the foremost penalties for the way the story performs out going ahead, Rebirth stumbles repeatedly. I discovered myself confused and annoyed by the point I rolled credit. It wasn’t sufficient to spoil how a lot I loved the expertise as a complete, however sufficient to be nervous that the story could also be going someplace that is not at the moment inspiring a lot enthusiasm from me.
The prospect of a reimagined Remaining Fantasy 7 story that acknowledges the previous whereas additionally exploring a brand new future is thrilling. My largest concern was that the setup on the finish of Remake and the implications of it may result in the story changing into convoluted and, sadly, that is precisely what occurs within the ultimate stretch of the sport. Every time I give it some thought, I am both much less sure of what’s going on and what it means or I am perplexed at why it occurred that approach. I cherished that Remake folded in all the extra concepts that expanded the world of Remaining Fantasy 7, and Rebirth was poised to lean into that additional, nevertheless it ended up making the core story a lot worse and never doing proper by a personality key to that factor. I can perceive what Sq. Enix was going for and it is an concept that I like as a result of it is stuffed with probably attention-grabbing narrative pathways, however its supply is so poor that I do not assume most individuals will see that potential.
There’s one particular second that has been the topic of will-they-won’t-they hypothesis for years, and the way it resolves manages to be complicated to the purpose of being incomprehensible. For the unique Remaining Fantasy 7, it turned an iconic second crystalized within the minds of hundreds of thousands by its emotionally devastating impact–and for a lot of, it modified the best way they thought of online game characters. In Rebirth, it’s bewildering and undermines a number of characters, diminishing and obfuscating qualities that outline who they’re, the selections they make, and their motivations for doing so, whereas additionally being unclear about what is definitely occurring. Aerith, particularly, is robbed of a second that’s so essential to her character by the messy supply; the message is misplaced amongst narrative noise that wasn’t there earlier than and it is so uncharacteristic of a sport that in any other case is sharp in the way it presents its characters. In my case, there was additionally an occasion the place the best way the story unfolded and a personality behaved contradicted how the actions I had taken up till that time dictated it ought to have performed out. After all, all of that is open to interpretation and maybe some will discover which means the place I could not, however having to untangle a narrative in a determined bid to make sense of it is not what I wished to be doing when the journey was full.
Fortunately, what Remaining Fantasy Rebirth succeeds at eclipses what it fumbles. It is a fantastically designed gameplay expertise that instills a way of freedom whereas additionally making exploration rewarding in a significant approach. Refined gameplay that makes character synergy a focus breathes new life into the slick and satisfying fight, and all of the whereas it reinforces the underlying themes of the story. As a sport that has the unenviable job of dwelling as much as one of many strongest legacies within the medium, it’s a worthy second chapter. Whether or not Sq. Enix can deliver all of it collectively within the third and ultimate half would be the topic of a lot dialogue from right here on out. Identical to at Future’s Crossroads, an unknown future beckons as soon as once more, and something remains to be potential.