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Releases / Re: [FF7PC-98/Steam] New Threat Mod (v2.0.99993)

« on: 2024-03-02 16:47:31 »

I'd play Type A first. It feels like a faithful adaptation but still enhances quite a lot, making both the storyline more sensible and the combat more balanced. Combined with graphical and musical mods, NT Type A makes the game feel like the definitive version, or the "true remaster", without all the padding and overly convoluted extras of the Remake/Rebirth, while giving you the full storyline. I'm still planning to play through Type B on my next run, but remember, that one will take quite a lot of liberties in the storyline (especially the Midgar section) and the boss roster.

Yeah I think this is the way to go because I finished FF7 a very long time ago (when the first PC version was released) so Type A would maybe bring back nice memories but feel fresh.

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Releases / Re: [FF7PC-98/Steam] New Threat Mod (v2.0.99993)

« on: 2024-03-02 01:33:45 »

Another hint I would give. In the vanilla game, status ailments are quite useless, as mobs are easy enough, while bosses are immune to them. In this mod, some bosses are vulnerable to status ailments, so it's worth using some of them, especially Slow and Poison. I also recommend leveling up the Seal materia for one special fight (I don't want to spoil it), as Silence or Sleep makes the fight much easier. I didn't find much use for Mystify (Confuse/Berserk) or Transform (Mini/Toad) materias, but Hades + Added Effect (or Bad Breath) is still an effective way for crippling mobs.

You're welcome. I'm glad I could be of help.

I share your sentiment about the Remake. In my opinion, FF7 Vanilla is timeless first and foremost thanks to its pace. Even nowadays, I think it's still one of the best-paced videogame stories I've ever experienced. The Remake features cool moments, but that's what YouTube videos are for. (If anything, the scene in which Aerith beats up a goon with a chair makes the existence of the Remake worth it.^^)

There are hints I'd like to give, but then they would be spoilers.

I'd have a few tips to help you better experience the game, but they're pretty basic, as I said I'm a casual player. So I apologize in advance if you already know them.
- Version 2.0 emphasizes competitive balance and team building. The SP point system, and the revamped Materia and weapons with their bonus and malus to stats, give a lot of freedom when it comes to character building. However, turning all characters into Jack-of-All-Stats is not necessarily a good idea. It's notably preferable to have at least one character specialized in Magic and one specialized in Physical attacks (and speed) in the team. The game and Sega Chief on this very board stress the point several times.
- Similarly, before a boss fight, it's best to think a little of which character will do what. No need for long complex strategies either - at least on average difficulty. But make sure you have selected one character whose main role will be to heal and cast the buff spells. (A good chunk of the bosses are more aggressive, and deal more damage.)
- The Summon Materia are among the best ways to alter stats for your character builds with their high bonus and malus. For instance, Choco-Mog makes its wielder more fragile, but gives boosts in Strength and Dexterity any physical hitter will want. Try to not sell old weapons. Sometimes, they have interesting stat bonuses.

I'll end with more precise hints.
- Destruct is a must for almost any boss fight - in New Threat bosses love to buff themselves with Barrier and/or M.Barrier. It may sound obvious, but I remember Destruct was so useless in the vanilla game that it took me the better part of my first playthrough to finally take the habit to use it.^^
- Dexterity is your most important stat. It's the one that governs the speed of your ATB gauge. No matter what build you choose for a character, try to not lower it too much. Or if you lower it with one Materia, compensate the loss. (Some of the Materia who raise Magic or Strength the most also lower Dexterity.)
- Haste is a cool buff, but it also speeds up your other positive status effects. If possible, it's preferable to give Dexterity boosts with a Materia or equipment. (When a character has a high Dexterity, it's as if they permanently have the Haste status effect without its drawbacks.)

Hope you'll enjoy your playthrough!

Awesome guys, thanks again. Super pumped to give this a try. Now I just have to make up my mind about which Type to play first!

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Releases / Re: [FF7PC-98/Steam] New Threat Mod (v2.0.99993)

« on: 2024-02-29 22:31:00 »

You're welcome.

When it comes to difficulty, Type A and Type B felt pretty similar to me. I remember having a slightly easier time in my Type B playthrough, but that was also because at that point I had finished Type A, and I had a better understanding of the strategy to use.

If you only have a vague remembrance of Final Fantasy 7's original plot, I'd recommend Type A. Type B rearranges the events of the Midgar Arc and includes shout-outs to Final Fantasy 7 Remake, so I think it's best experienced when one has a rather clear picture of the original plot. My advice would be to do a Type A playthrough, and then try (at least) the Midgar Arc of Type B to see all the differences. (Minor grips against Type B aside, the amount of work Sega Chief invested is stunning, and deserves to be praised and experienced.) You can of course keep on playing Type B once out of Midgar to see the alternate boss roster, but know that outside of boss fights, there won't be much difference with Type A.

All the major additions are available in both Types. (Save of course for the alternate Midgar scenario and boss roster which are exclusive to Type B.) The biggest plot change (no spoiler) which can be unlocked after the Midgar Arc is available in Type A and Type B. Same with the scenes that are altered after said arc (like Yuffie's and Vincent's recruitments or the Junon escape in Disk 2.) They are the same in both types.

When it comes to random battles, Version 2.0 only features the vanilla formations whether you play Type A or B - albeit with slightly different patterns to make them a bit more challenging. Only version 1.5 drastically changes the random battle formations.

There is a significant difference in Type A in my opinion already, in the sense that the original bosses have been altered, and most of them feel like different fights. (Not hugely different, of course, but they for sure require more strategy and management of your characters than their vanilla counterparts.) One instance that's not too-spoilery: Air Buster went from a complete joke to a decent challenge and one of my favorite boss fights because it's been made durable enough to withstand a good chunk of attacks, and strong enough to deal higher damage, so that it can take advantage of its shtick of counter-attacking. Type A also adds from time to time mini-bosses and bosses at some key moments (some of them optional, some of them mandatory). Once again, I don't want to spoil their arrival, but there is a decent number of them all things considered. From memory: 2 or 3 during the Midgar arc, 3 for the rest of Disk 1, 4 in Disk 2 (I'm counting mini-boss fights against squads of elite troopers), and a good chunk of new optional superbosses in Disk 3.

However, if you want truly different boss fights that happen regularly, then Type B features that. (Plus, some of the added mini-bosses and bosses are also featured in Type B. And of course all the superbosses are.)

Wow really appreciate your spoiler-free feedback. I'm so torn between which type to choose but you seem to like Type A more. I haven't played the remake yet (not happy about Square-Enix splitting it into multiple games and padding each game out), so I won't understand any shout-outs to the remake in Type B. I guess I will go for Type A. Anything else you wanna share (spoiler-free) as tips and/or hints to enjoy the play-through more?

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Releases / Re: [FF7PC-98/Steam] New Threat Mod (v2.0.99993)

« on: 2024-02-29 00:26:19 »

Yeah I can review the drain formula change (and Osmose), and I'll adjust Howling Moon.

Ah thanks for finding this, I'll add it to the front post.

I'd recommend 2.0 as I feel I refined it a fair bit but people tell me they prefer 1.5 as it's a bit harder and has a little more stuff to do.

Hello! I'm not a veteran of this Board, but for whatever my advice is worth, here's a quick feedback:

As a casual player who discovered New Threat late, I'd recommend 2.0.
Version 1.5 has more radical changes, notably other enemy formations and optional tournaments and an optional dungeon, but is rougher gameplay-wise in my opinion. Version 2.0 is closer to the vanilla game, but also a lot more polished, and I prefer 2.0's approach when it comes to re-balancing the game.

I'd recommend Type A (adjusted vanilla story) over Type B. Type B has a lot of merits, but its beginning can be a bit misleading. I'll try to explain it without spoilers: What I mean is that the kind of major tweaks of the plot such as the one you mentioned only take place during the Midgar arc. The rest of the story features an alternate boss roster (save for some plot-important bosses), but follows the tracks of the vanilla story (save for one or two minor details). There are a couple of big changes after the Midgar arc, but they can also be encountered in a Type A playthrough. Type A features enough differences with the vanilla game for the experience to feel different (the familiar bosses have altered patterns, a couple of mini-bosses and bosses have been added at some moments, the dialogues have been improved to clarify the story, plus a couple of changes that would be spoilers...).

I'm playing with the normal difficulty. For someone who never tried any hard mod and whose only experience with ff7 is the vanilla game, the midcore approach of New Threat means I was able to beat most bosses on my first try, albeit sometimes with difficulty, save for a couple of ones for which I needed two or three tries. However, I can't say what the hard mod of New Threat is worth.

Thank you both for the feedback. Yes I also read some people prefer 1.5 more than 2.0. However, since the creator is telling me to go with 2.0, then this is what I will do. Should I go with Type A or B? To be honest I don't remember much aside from the major story beats, but is one Type harder than the other? Is there already a significant difference in story and battle/enemies in Type A from Vanilla? Or should I go with Type B? Does Type B have any major additions that I will miss out on if go with Type A (extra battles, secrets, materia/spells/weapons/etc)?

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Releases / Re: [FF7PC-98/Steam] New Threat Mod (v2.0.99993)

« on: 2024-02-27 02:03:34 »

Hi Sega Chief and all,

I have played and finished FF7 a loooong time ago and I'm thinking of giving it a new play-through with New Threat. My question is what do you guys recommend? 1.5 or 2.0? And which mode? I don't really care if the story diverges greatly and I love hard games as long as it's not HP bloat. I started to test out version 2.0 and it was cool to see how things diverge right at the beginning with a certain someone joining right away in type B. So please give your feedback on which version I should play and please elaborate without any spoilers! Thank you for the amazing work on this project!

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Releases / Re: [FF7PC][TSUNAMODS] Satsuki Yatoshi Mod - SYW V5 (last update 23/03/2021)

« on: 2021-04-19 15:31:27 »

Unfortunately I already uninstalled the game because I decided to wait for now before replaying it. Basically Cloud seems to move faster than the movie and ends up going to the top right of the screen during the FMV playback and then just "drops" to the bottom of the screen and he's no longer visible. I replayed the same part with your standard FMV IRO file and it worked perfectly, so I think the issue is with the 30 fps fmv IRO file.

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Releases / Re: [FF7PC][TSUNAMODS] Satsuki Yatoshi Mod - SYW V5 (last update 23/03/2021)

« on: 2021-04-18 21:48:06 »

Hello, when using the 30 fps fmv mod, I notice that Cloud's movement is all wrong when he looks up at the reactor in the beginning of the game after defining Barrett's name. I assume this has to do with the 30 vs 15 fps animation of the 3D model, is this not fixable? Or maybe it's a bug?