With 2023 coming to an end, it’s time for the 2023 Final Weapon Awards! There are a total of eight awards we will be giving out this year, which are the following:
- Game of the Year
- Innovation in Game Direction
- Excellence in Storytelling
- Best Art Direction
- Best Original Score
- Technical Achievement
- Best Indie Game
- Most Anticipated Game
This article will showcase each Final Weapon staff member’s pick for Most Anticipated Game, which recognizes an upcoming title we can’t wait to get our hands on. With that, here are our picks for the Most Anticipated Game Award.
Staff Most Anticipated Game Picks
Andrew – Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
My most anticipated game this year is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. As an avid fan of the Final Fantasy VII franchise, I’ve been following the news of this game very closely. Finishing Final Fantasy VII Remake was an experience I will never forget, and it only left me curious about the future. The promised vast open world, upgraded combat system, and a new story with interesting surprises can only keep me waiting for so long. Also, seeing Vincent Valentine and Cid revealed recently increased my hype even further, as they are some of my favorite designed video game characters. I am absolutely hoping for the best with this game!
Itch – Dragon’s Dogma II
2024 is looking like another solid year for games, so it’s a bit difficult to decide which title I’m anticipating the most. However, after much contemplation, I will have to go with Dragon’s Dogma 2. It’s always neat to see a cult classic get a sequel after several years, and it’s looking like it won’t disappoint.
Capcom has been consistently putting out great game after great game in recent years, so it’s a safe bet to assume Dragon’s Dogma 2 will be no exception in this regard. As a fan of action RPGs, I will be excited to see what this long-awaited sequel will bring to the table. It also helps that the legendary Hideaki Itsuno will be returning to direct.
That being said, there are still many incredibly exciting titles on the way soon. As honorable mentions, I’m also looking forward to Tekken 8 and Black Myth: Wukong. I’m sure Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will be absolutely fantastic as well, but I currently do not own a PlayStation 5, so that’s out of the question for me for the time being. For now, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the game I’m looking forward to the most.
Noah – Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
In all my years of playing games, I can safely say I have never been more excited for a game. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the sequel to 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake, and this is where the story and world of Final Fantasy VII will finally begin to take shape. Rebirth will take players into the world of Gaia beyond Midgar, allowing you to explore iconic locations like Nibelheim, Cosmo Canyon, the Gold Saucer, and so much more. The end of Final Fantasy VII Remake opened the possibilities for Rebirth, with the party no longer bound to the destiny and fate that was set for them. This alone has made the wait for Rebirth so exciting, as no one truly knows what’s going to happen.
Truly, the possibilities are endless with a title of this size. It’s sitting at 150GB and will end at The Forgotten Capital, the iconic area that marks the end of Disc 1 in Final Fantasy VII. If you’ve played the original game, it’s safe to say that we are in for one emotional ride. I’m looking forward to spending the majority of my 2024 replaying Rebirth after I earn the coveted Platinum trophy. Naoki Hamaguchi, Yoshinori Kitase, Kazushige Nojima, and Tetsuya Nomura are crafting “The Empire Strikes Back” of Final Fantasy VII in what is arguably the most ambitious video game remake of all time.
Saras – Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is set to be one of Square Enix’s biggest JRPGs of all time. The game will continue the story initially set up in Final Fantasy VII Remake as the ongoing trilogy promises to create a new twist on the Final Fantasy VII series. Rebirth is the most anticipated entry in the franchise, featuring an open world, new characters, and a story that promises to be bittersweet, heartbreaking, and hopeful all at once.
Final Fantasy VII has always been one of the best JRPGs of all time. The Remake Trilogy has brought the series to modern audiences, including myself. Final Fantasy VII Remake made me fully invested in the story of Final Fantasy VII. Yet Rebirth is the game I’ve been waiting for as it will adapt some of my favorite parts from the original game. I can’t wait to see how emotional Rebirth will make me.
Soul – Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth looks to be one of the most exciting games of 2024, and I absolutely can’t wait for it. It’s my most anticipated game because I want to see how Cloud and Sephiroth’s story unfolds with the implications that have been teased so far. I’m also extremely excited to see Zack enter the fold as a potential playable character. The sky is the limit for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, but Square Enix will probably break through that a well!
