I think what you don't realize is that people who want the whole story in one game are ok with it not being on this level of fidelity.

The last of us PS4 - REMASTER - same assets, story, music, pacing, guns, caracters, nothing relevant added. Just more quality on everything like textures, fps, loading times. Its almos like playing the same game but this time on your friends powerfull pc

Final Fantasy 12 PS4. Still a REMASTER, But with a few added elements, maybe expanded, a few rweaks to the combat system. Like playing the game on your friends powerful pc but the bought the goty edition with additional content.

RE2/Shadow of the colossus/FF7 - REMAKE - the game is 100% built from the ground. Some things need to change to adapt to new technology, new stuff will be added, some will be cut, there will be new mechanics, combat system etc. But you keep the core game. Main caracters, story, pivotal moments, how you get from point A to point B. Its still the same game but modernized.

God of War 2018/RE7/Modern Warefare 2019- its a REBOOT - you can even connect it with the main games, but everything is new. Past games may help with story and some background, but for all the rest you are free to go crazy. No strings attached. You can even ignore old games and there will be no problem. You start anew.

The difference with FF7? It should be a remake, but they drastically changed the story. Its on a new universe/dimension and this opens a pandora box to change a LOT of stuff in game, and of course it was done in purpose to tell the story in a different way. It will still be connected to the events of original FF7, but there is no obligation to follow it. Maybe aeris wont die. Maybe cloud wont go in a coma. A lot of time travel/dimension will be included. Even the objective may be different. Not save earth from seph's comet but maybe reconnect the dimensions and fighting some KH boss in the end. Hell this may be even be happenning inside that nonsense mess that is KH universe.

So FF7 sits between a remake, a reboot and a sequel for me. Hard to define. Its more like FF7-2 and not a remake, and this is NOT what I was expecting.

The bad? Im really disappointed and will buy it one it goes into super promotion
The good? Its going to be all new and Im really curious to see what will be releasing following it, where they can take this paralel dimension story in this amazing world. If they release the sequels.

you know, it just occurred to me....this game isn't even out yet. Wait and play it for yourself before deciding that the game's changes are an abomination based solely on what some reviews and early leaks have said...which, you know, are specifically designed to be headline-grabbing.

Iron Man 3 completely changed The Mandarin, and it made 1.2 billion dollars worldwide and got overall positive reviews. some people too beholden to the source material whined, but in the end the change worked and was fun and engaging and fit the story. Watchmen's ending was completely changed, and that was nearly universally agreed to be a positive change.

My point is, maybe you should all stop being alarmist over a game you haven't even played yet. Everything I've seen and everything I've heard about the game is very clearly telling the same story with some tweaks; I'm 99% sure you're all blowing this WAY out of proportion. You'd figure by now you'd have collectively learned that you really shouldn't stir up such a fuss over nothing. Seriously, everything from day one indicated to me that things would change, I genuinely don't understand how so many people could be so dense and so closeminded.

It's almost like...like the concept of remake and remaster and reboot are all on a spectrum and not binary. IT's almost like, as the world turns, things change and new ideas are brought forth and expanded upon. IT's almost like, not everything needs to neatly fit into previously existing definitions. It's almost like...and get this...the world is complicated and nuanced and most everything should be approached in a slightly different way that suits the situation and is thematically appropriate.

Things change, that's a fact of reality. and with Gaming as a medium constantly evolving and updating and trying out new things, the backlash to this is absolutely archaic. Hilariously outdated. Quaintly antiquated. 

My point is, it's actually immature and shortsighted to be tHIS upset about this. Not only is it rather ignorant to assume a REMAKE is going to be the exact same as the original, but everything in this game's built-up history has indicated that it's going to be a retelling of the same basic story. New rules, new format, new combat system, tweaked storey, changed features, etc. Adaptation requires change, that's creative writing 101. The only thing that's left to determine, from the stance of someone not trapped by the tradition of what came before, is whether or not the changes are GOOD! 

All I see is a bunch of people whining about an adaptation making changes, much like when people complained about Ciri maybe not being white or other equally nonsensical public outrages over nothing. Just a bunch of whiny brats who find it personally insulting that a 20+ years later remake of a game they love wasn't exactly the same, or same enough for their personal guidelines. Again, at the very least, wait until the actual damn game is out and you've played through it to determine if these changes work for you or not. Who knows, it might genuinely be a better story, with better character development, and more reasonable explanations. Who knows? you don't. you can't. Not yet. 

Emmm... have you read the whole quote you copy/pasted? "thanks to the technological power and the quality of entertainment provided by the current generation”, all without forgetting “try to capture elements of the original with respect". That, together with the other quotes I provided you and the hundreds of other interviews and declarations out there... Makes people think that there are going to be changes and additions thanks to what it's possible with today's technology, both in the gameplay and story department, but whathever those are, they are going to be faitful and respectful with the original story. We knew it was not gonna be a 1:1 remake. Most remakes of this level aren't. What we didn't know and they NEVER suggested, was that it was gonna be a reboot.

I provided evidence. And you are still in denial. I have nothing more to say to you. Be happy with your reboot of the original FF VII story.

Due to your lack of respect for other's people opinions, your lack of understanding about what people are actually complaining, and most of all, and your sense of self entitlement I won't even continue the discussion with you, you have a nice day sir.

''In general, the simplest way to remember the difference between a reboot and a remake is to remember that for a film to be a reboot, it should be resetting a chronology that's been established over multiple films. A remake is concerned with updating a single film, sometimes slavishly''

So... just what they did with this game. They reset the original chronology that was stablished in the original game. Also, you have to take into account that this is the first act of this project. They have reset the story in the end of the first arc. Just like many reboots do (Terminator Genysis). The fact that this first part follows for most of its duration its original counterpart doesn't mean shit because this is just the beginning. They have stablished the reset, and that reset is gonna affect absolutely everything that comes after it, completely transforming FF VII story as we know. By your own definition, this is a reboot.

IT's probably for the best. I'm right about this, people are being stupid and entitled, and I'm kind of sick of people not understanding the core pillars of how adaptation works or are willfully ignorant of the fact that things are more nuanced than some people like to assume. This doesn't fit into one exclusive category, and even if it did, the category is up for some creative interpretation. 

the fact that some people are genuinely angry that THEIR interpretation of 'remake' doesn't fit with Square-Enix's vision of how they're remaking the game is hilarious to me. 

In most debates, there are right and wrong answers. there are better arguments and worse arguments. This is one of those times. The people being upset about changes to a game they haven't played yet that was always meant to be a reimagining of sorts to a classic game is an example of gamer entitlement and outrage culture. At the very least, none of your complaints hold even the slightest bit of weight until you've played the game. Until then, it's all conjecture and hearsay and extrapolation. Anyone can misinterpret something they don't fully comprehend in order to be upset about it. That's very common (too common), but that doesn't make it right. 

Yep, that's the main thing. It's pretty clear this is just an introduction for a lot of other changes to come. Which to tell you the truth I really don't care, Square is 100% free to do what they want. The original game is still there and since I have a physical copy I can play it whenever I want. But for me that's not what was advertised. A story in another dimension/timeline with very important plot things changed, including characters, is not what was advertised, at least for me. So I'm glad I did not preorder as usual, and now I can set up my expectations correctly about what is the product. Time will tell if people will be happy with the changes.

To be honest, as fan, what I really wanted was an updated version of the original game, like a PC version with a lot of mods. The Ps4 HD version is lazy, they didn't even included hands to the characters.  

It is a Remake dude. A remake means to make something again, which they did in Version 2.0. It features a new game engine, improved server infrastructure, revamped gameplay, interface, and story. It kept all the main characters, locations, enemies, and villains. In addition to adding new locations, and new characters. etc

It's a nonissue. They got themselves to blame.

You're joking right?