Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi has once again defended the use of the now-infamous "yellow paint" as a player guidance tool, asserting that "there is definitely a need" for it.
The practice of marking climbable ledges and walls with yellow paint has been a point of contention among gamers since it became prominent in titles like Uncharted on PlayStation 3. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth employs this method, and the subsequent player discussion around it reportedly surprised Hamaguchi himself.
In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, Hamaguchi acknowledged that some players dislike or don't require the yellow paint, but maintained its necessity.
"I am aware of the debate, whether it fits the game's world or not, and that some players want it while others don't," Hamaguchi stated. "From a game design perspective, however, there is a definite need for these kinds of guides. Different developers naturally experiment to find what works best and fits most appropriately for their specific game."
"There are certainly situations where, from a gameplay standpoint, you need to guide players and show them what is possible or required," he continued. "So, I believe the debate is more about *how* it's implemented, to what degree, and what methods are effective. There will always be people who say, 'No, that doesn't fit at all. We don't like it.' That's fine, but the need for guidance exists, and it's a topic worth examining."
When the debate resurfaced with Rebirth last year, some critics argued that such overt hand-holding was intrusive, not just in Final Fantasy 7 Remake but in modern gaming in general. Others countered that it serves as a helpful accessibility feature. Game developers also contributed to the discussion, noting that during playtests, players can become stuck, frustrated, and even quit if they cannot discern where to go. Consequently, clear—sometimes stylistically conspicuous—visual cues are deemed essential to direct players. Many have also pointed out that visual clues for progression have been a staple of video games for decades.
With discussion around the yellow paint in FF7R, who remembers the options red/green arrows plus giant pointer available in the original FF7? pic.twitter.com/qMLnKh3rGw
— John Linneman @dark1x.bsky.social (@dark1x) February 11, 2024
Given Hamaguchi's stance, fans can likely expect the yellow paint to feature in the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3. Speaking of the finale, Square Enix stated last year that it aimed to release the game by 2027. Anticipation for the trilogy's conclusion grew after the team revealed it had finished drafting the story earlier this year.
More recently, Hamaguchi clarified remarks that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 would "strike a balance" in pacing and be "more concise," assuring fans this did not imply any content would be cut.
While we await more news, you can read about why the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 team “will not cheat” in implementing the series' iconic airship. As for whether Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 will feature turn-based combat, Hamaguchi said the decision has not been "pre-determined yet." This comes despite the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game with traditional JRPG-inspired turn-based combat that recently confirmed sales of 5 million copies within five months.
