One of the most controversial changes in the upcoming Final Fantasy VII remake is the change of the battle system from the classic turn based one in the original game, to the more real time action one that the remake seems to be going for. A lot of fans of the original game are afraid that the original game’s pacing or spirit might be lost in the transition- but in recent interview with Famitsu (translated by DualShockers), Director Tetsuya Nomura and Producer Yoshinori Kitase attempt to explain all the changes.
The battle system will basically be strategic, and not as action oriented as Kingdom Hearts or Dissidia: Final Fantasy. It will include an ATB gauge and Limit Breaks, though they will obviously be changed from the original game. The party will include three members like in the original game, and you’ll be able to freely switch the one you’re controlling among them at any time, like in Final Fantasy X. On the other hand, if you don’t want to switch, you don’t have to, though doing so may make things easier for you.
Final Fantasy VII Remake will launch in 2017.