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Red XIII playable in Final Fantasy VII Remake, but with limitations

Final Fantasy VII Remake players are not allowed to take control of Red XIII, but a save game file editor can make him a playable character — with limitations.

A save editor by Xeeynamo that was created for the Kingdom Hearts series has been updated to work with the Final Fantasy VII Remake. Players may use the software to modify inventory, materials, and character levels, as well as add Red XIII to the party as a playable character.

Yep Red XIII is playable via save editing pic.twitter.com/9eoacm2VsA

— James (@MP1stLara) April 22, 2020

Red XIII comes with attack animations for the Square button, but does not have a special attack linked to the Triangle button. He also is also removed from the party after cutscenes, or when another party member leaves.

Previously, in an interview with VG247, Final Fantasy VII Remake co-director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed that while Red XIII will be part of the story, as revealed in a trailer for the RPG, the players will not be able to control him during battle. Instead, Red XIII will be fighting alongside the crew as an A.I.-controlled guest character.

“We felt the point at which Red XIII joins the party in the story is very late on, so we thought, ‘OK, if we’re gonna have him as a full character and try and get the player to enjoy his character development arc and growth as a character through that, it’s not really enough time to do that’,” Hamaguchi said.

The first episode of the Final Fantasy VII Remake ends just as Cloud and his team depart Midgar. Red XIII, who appears shortly before that, will be the focal point of the story as the crew head to Cosmo Canyon.

With Red XIII created as a guest character, this means that the normally playable characters for the first episode of the Final Fantasy VII Remake are limited to Cloud, Barrett, Tifa, and Aerith. That is certainly a formidable team players can rely on while in Midgar.

Final Fantasy VII Remake next episode

The first episode of the Final Fantasy VII Remake rolled out on April 10. Square Enix has not provided a release date for the next chapter in the modern retelling of the classic RPG, so it is unclear how long players will have to wait before they will be able to continue Cloud’s journey and see a fully fleshed-out Red XIII in action.

Updated April 24, 2020: Added information that a save game editor will make Red XIII playable.

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