While it was part of the demo that was released a month before Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the Nibelheim tutorial chapter is still worth playing in the full game.
Not only does it teach players the basics of exploration, combat, and interaction in packed locations, but it also features story and lore the demo missed out on. But it’s also quite a time-sink for those who don’t know how long it’ll take them to work through.
How long is the Nibelheim tutorial chapter in FF7 Rebirth?
The Nibelheim tutorial chapter in FF7 Rebirth takes roughly two hours to complete. I’ve been through it twice. Once in the demo and once in the full game to compare both experiences. Each time, this section of the game took me at least two hours, though I wasted an extra 30 minutes in the demo version running around the town and playing much more with the piano than I’d like to admit.
Should you replay the Nibelheim chapter if you already completed the FF7 Rebirth Demo?
Yes, in my opinion, you should absolutely replay the Nibelheim chapter in FF7 Rebirth, even if you’ve already completed it in the demo. It’s well worth completing this section of the demo because of the bonus rewards you can unlock for your main playthrough. However, the reason you should then opt to replay it in the full game is because of the details are not included in the demo version of Nibelheim.
For example, there are small, subtle changes between the demo and the final version of Nibelheim in FF7 Rebirth, including chest and item placements and certain interactions. While I can’t name them all, the main change that made me sit up in my chair and really pay attention is the difference in the cutscenes with Cloud and Sephiroth. Obviously, some details are omitted from the demo to avoid spoilers. Having played the demo and then the final product, I felt like I got a lot more out of my main playthrough because I noticed this and other changes and was further immersed in the story by feeling like I was finally seeing the truth.
Another change that I and many players noticed is the removal of a certain piece of sheet music. Tifa’s Theme is playable on the piano in Nibelheim in the demo, but not in the final version of FF7 Rebirth. It’s disappointing because all you want to do is play a banger as soon as you get there, but you can’t unless you’ve memorized it.
