Final Fantasy VII Rebirth reignites the player aid controversy

Since last week, the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth demo has given players a taste of what’s in store for them later this month. And we’ve seen interesting things like all the piano virtuosos who have taken the opportunity to present their own renditions, but now, one of the controversies of modern gaming has been revived, thanks to yellow paint.

Through posts on Twitter / X, users have shown how these visual aids have been added to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in places where the game uses yellow paint to indicate places where Cloud can continue his journey by climbing one of the game’s walls.

While some players see this as an “infection” that has come to Square Enix’s next title, others comment that it is a great help and accessibility feature for “people with low vision or cognitive disabilities to see at higher contrasts.

What is yellow paint in games?

Help in video games can be given in many ways, and in this case the case of yellow paint is a visual cue to help the player better identify interactive elements and paths that can be taken, from indicating doors, points on a wall to climb, among others.

This is a decision made by the game developers to help players based on the results of playtests and focus groups. The idea is to show, in a simpler way and without being an extra detail in the HUD, elements that can be interacted with, making them more noticeable.  This has appeared in several games since 2010, with The Last of Us being one of the first titles to use it, and in more recent games, like Horizon: Zero Dawn and the recent Resident Evil 4 Remake.

There are two camps regarding yellow paint in video games. While some believe that emphasizing these elements ruins immersion, others see them as tools that make games more accessible.

Whatever the side you are in this controversy, don’t forget that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will be available this February 29th, 2023.