Warning: spoilers follow for both Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the original game. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Final Fantasy 7 Remake isn’t just a straight retelling of the original game’s story. Instead, it turns the first few hours of that tale into a massive JRPG in its own right, expanding on ideas and even adding a few new ones. Want to know what’s different? These are the seven biggest changes to Final Fantasy 7’s story in the remake. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/03/final-fantasy-7-remake-vs-final-fantasy-7-early-scenes-compared"]

Avalanche is huge, and has a spy in Shinra

Unlike in the original game, Avalanche is not just a tiny rag-tag band of warriors. Instead, it’s a much larger organisation with multiple cells, of which our heroes are just one. Barret’s team isn’t much loved by Avalanche’s leaders, though, hence their independent-like status. The organisation at large is surprisingly well equipped, with an arsenal of weapons and even helicopters. Both of these come in handy as Avalanche basically has to bail out Cloud and his pals at a couple of points in the story. More helpful, though, is the fact that Avalanche has a man on the inside at Shinra: Midgar’s Mayor Domino. Dissatisfied with being demoted to little more than a librarian, Mayor Domino helps Cloud with his attack on Shinra HQ.

Shinra blows up its own reactor

Unlike the original game, the bomb Cloud and Barret set in the Sector 1 reactor in Remake does not blow the facility up. Instead, Shinra does the dirty work itself, causing an explosion far bigger and more devastating than Avalanche had planned. But why did the company do this? Surely they’d want to keep the Mako reactors working, in order to generate electricity and profit? Well, turns out the one thing that makes more profit than energy is war. Shinra wants to encourage the population of Midgar to support a second war with the nation of Wutai, and so it begins to spread propaganda that Avalanche is in allegiance with them. In the original, Wutai is never brought up in relation to Avalanche, and the only direct sabotage of Midgar by Shinra is when they drop the Sector 7 plate, which remains here. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="legacyId=20028754&captions=true"]

Jessie’s mission

One of few completely new locations in Final Fantasy 7 Remake is the Sector 7 Employee Housing Area, a residential zone on Midgar’s upper plate. Here we get to see how the wealthier people of the city live, as well as visit Jessie’s family home. Turns out her mom is very, very good at making pizza. Apart from this entire mission being new, including the attack on a Shinra warehouse to secure more explosives, we’re also introduced to a whole new villain in the form of Roche, a flamboyant member of Shinra’s elite SOLDIER division. This marks Roche’s first and only appearance in the whole game, but it’s pretty memorable thanks to some absurd motorbike acrobatics and a boss fight that sees Cloud 1v1 him within a circle of Shinra guards, as if they were in a Midgar underground sword-fighting club.

Sector 7’s hidden lab

We’ve already established that Shinra is pretty evil, but did you know they’re evil as in secret-underground-lab-conducting-human-expeirments evil? After the company drops an entire sector of the upper city on the slums to try and wipe out Avalanche, the party discovers a hidden laboratory that’s been operating in secret beneath Sector 7 – something that doesn’t exist (or at least is never mentioned) in the original. While exploring its tunnels in search of Wedge, Barret and Tifa discover practically a whole army of fishman-like creatures who attack them on sight. These creatures are failed experiments, and appear to be Remake’s answer to the original game’s Makonoids; humans who have been saturated with Mako to the point that they have become monsters. These creatures were not revealed until Cloud’s later flashback to the Nibelheim Incident in the original game, but bringing a similar story into Remake helps cement Shinra as the big bad that it is. Well, until Sephiroth takes on that job, of course. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/06/final-fantasy-7-remake-review"]

Whispers of Fate

The most frequently appearing new element in Remake’s story are the Whispers. These hooded spirits seemingly prevent Cloud from dying after falling from Sector 5, and protect Aerith from being captured by Reno and his Shinra guards. And, in one of the biggest changes from the original, Barret is not only killed by Sephiroth, but these spectres restore him to life, too. Red XIII explains that these entities are Whispers of Fate, and their entire existence is dedicated to ensuring Destiny (yes, with a capital D) plays out according to plan. Red XIII only learns of their nature after connecting with Aerith, and so it stands to reason that the Whispers may be connected to the Ancients. In the penultimate boss battle, the team battles against their own destinies in a fight against the gigantic Whisper Harbinger within a singularity. The Harbinger is joined by three additional Whispers; one armed with a sword, another with a gun, and a third with melee fist attacks. Just like Cloud, Barret, and Tifa. Yup, it all gets a bit meta. Or, as our review puts it, “Some Kingdom Hearts BS”.

Sephiroth and Jenova

It’s not a huge surprise that Remake’s final boss is Sephiroth - who better for a final clash? - but his appearance is an important change as he never makes an on-screen appearance during the Midgar section of the original game. Despite him now being around, his role isn’t really expanded, just reinforced: he’s a really evil guy who wants to destroy the planet. What has changed is his link with Aerith; rather than Cloud, it is she who convinces the group that Sephiroth must be stopped, and she seemingly has much more knowledge about him than she has been letting on. In addition to Sephiroth, we also get a new battle with his ‘mother’, Jenova. After Sephiroth breaks into the Shinra building using his clones to steal the creature’s body, he unleashes it against Cloud in the form of Jenova Dreamweaver. Again, this is almost identical to how Sephiroth uses Jenova in the original game, it just happens much earlier in the story in order to stage it during the timeframe Remake is set in. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=final-fantasy-7-remake-over-100-screenshots&captions=true"]

Zack is alive

Here we go: the biggest - and no doubt most controversial - change to Final Fantasy 7’s story is the reveal that Zack Fair, Cloud’s war buddy and Aerith’s ex, is alive. Sort of. During the original game, Zack and Cloud escape from the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim after being subject to human experiments as part of Professor Hojo’s Jenova Reunion project. Dragging a barely conscious Cloud, Zack walks towards Midgar in hope of building a new life as a mercenary. As he reaches the city’s borders, he is brutally gunned down by Shinra guards. Left to die by the soldiers, Cloud crawls to his body and takes up the Buster Sword. This scene is also seen in the PSP prequel Crisis Core, albeit made more dramatic and flamboyant. In Remake, however, Zack fights off a whole squad of Shinra soldiers, leaving them dead at his feet. He then picks Cloud back up and continues his journey towards Midgar, very much not dead. Importantly, it appears that this all happens in an alternate timeline. A chips packet blows past in the wind, and as the camera focuses on for just a couple of seconds, you can see that it features the hat-wearing dog mascot frequently seen during Cloud’s journey through Midgar. However, rather than a helmet-wearing beagle, the dog is now a cap-wearing border terrier, which points to an alternate reality. Quite how this ties into Cloud’s reality remains to be seen. [poilib element="accentDivider"] And those are the biggest changes from the original story in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. There's plenty more, but they are the seven with most impact. For more, why not check out our breakdown of how long the Remake is, our unboxing of the expensive Collector's Edition featuring Cloud on his bike, and our pick of the weirdest parts of the original game. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

This week in Grand Theft Auto Online, claim GTA$500,000 for logging in, complete 10 Daily Objectives to claim a J Lager Beer Hat and GTA$1,000,000, and more.

Deliberate ranked match disconnects in Pokemon Sword and Shield could now get you permanently banned the online portion of the game. The Pokemon Company released a statement (translated via Google) on April 8 indicating that future disconnectors could be banned if it discovers the disconnect is deliberate, especially in instances where a player disconnects before the match is over to stop them from incurring a loss on their record. Based on the statement, it seems this is now in effect. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=25-most-wanted-pokemon-not-in-sword-and-shield&captions=true"] The statement explains that, after repeated disconnects from online battles, players will be excluded from any future ranked battles and competitions (live or online). It goes on to say that the company may go onto temporarily or permanently ban offenders too. "In the future," it concludes, "we will continue to monitor and continue to respond to malicious operations and inconveniences caused by intentional internet disconnections so that players can enjoy the game with peace of mind." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/20/every-new-pokemon-in-sword-and-shield"] Deliberate disconnects have been a problem in Pokemon Sword and Shield for months now. If you take a stroll through the Pokemon subreddit, you'll find players confused about this happening, and others upset that it's not been met with consequences. These players will hopefully soon not need to worry about deliberate disconnects any longer. How these bans will be determined or enacted is unknown at this time. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=pokemon-sword-and-shield-legendaries&captions=true"] If you haven't yet read about Pokemon Sword and Shield's newest Pokemon, Zarude, now is the perfect time as new details about it were revealed recently. You can also read about Pokemon Home and how to trade Pokemon in Pokemon Sword and Shield using Pokemon Home. And if you just want to smile, watch this adorable little girl win a major Pokemon championship in Australia. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

Warning: this article contains spoilers for both Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the original Final Fantasy 7.  [poilib element="accentDivider"] Final Fantasy 7 Remake is not the 'full game'. That is to say, while it is a complete RPG in its own right, it does not cover the whole plot of the 1997 original. Instead, it is just the first in a multi-part series of games that will tell the full story. With that in mind, it’s understandable if the first question you thought of is ‘where does Final Fantasy 7 Remake end?’ especially if you’ve played the original PlayStation game. If answers are what you seek, then this is the place to find them. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/06/every-limit-break-in-final-fantasy-7-remake"] As Square Enix has stated several times before, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is just the Midgar section of the original game. That means the two Mako reactors, the slums, Wall Market, and the towering Shinra HQ building. Nothing beyond the borders of the steel city is shown at all, aside from in the odd flashback. The very final scene of Remake sees Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Aerith, and Red XIII walking away from Midgar into the world of Gaia, with plans to stop Sephiroth from destroying the planet. It’s almost exactly as it was at the end of the Midgar section of the original game. That means that you don’t get to see the town of Kalm or anywhere from the original game’s open world, but you do get to play through iconic moments like the fight with Rufus on top of the Shinra building, the escape down the highway on Cloud’s bike, and the big battle with the Motor Ball tank. That’s not to say everything in the finale of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is the same as it was in the original, though. This is, after all, a reimagining and heavily expanded version of the story, and so there are new surprises to experience. If you want to see the finale with fresh eyes, then turn away now, because spoilers are coming. Warning: more detailed spoilers follow for the finale of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=final-fantasy-7-remake-over-100-screenshots&captions=true"] The final chapter of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is around an hour of entirely new story beats, involving two major boss battles and the introduction of a key new plot thread. The final boss is Sephiroth, which is understandable considering his status as the story’s big bad, but the boss preceding him directly ties into Remake’s new and expanded narrative. So while the final scene may be taken from the original game, almost everything else in the last chapter of Remake is brand new. By concluding just after the party escapes Midgar, it leaves a sequel to pick up as they proceed to Kalm, Fort Condor, Junon Harbour, the glittering domes of the Gold Saucer, and beyond. Don’t expect that journey to be exactly as you remember it, though; Remake’s new narrative additions mean we’ll likely be seeing all of this in a brand new light. So that’s where Final Fantasy 7 Remake ends, and it’ll take you anywhere between 30 and 40 hours to get there. That’s a far cry from the five or so hours it takes when playing the original game. If you’re looking for more Final Fantasy 7 Remake, then why not check out our review, or see why Final Fantasy is the biggest RPG of all time. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

The Pokemon Company has revealed a powerful new AoE healing ability for upcoming Mythical Pokemon, Zarude.

Infamous horror movie Cannibal Holocaust will live on thanks to a video game sequel, launching this November on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Steam. Ruggero Deodato, Cannibal is being created to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Cannibal Holocaust, a cult horror film that debuted in 1980. The premise of the film involves a rescue mission to save a group of filmmakers who were attempting to create a documentary about a cannibal tribe in the Amazon rainforest. It was banned in a variety of countries upon its release due to its violent content - many were convinced at the time that it was a snuff film due to its realism. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/cannibal-reveal-trailer"] The film was one of the arbiters of the found footage genre, which was further popularized by the likes of The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield. As per the game's website, Ruggero Deodato, Cannibal will deliver the themes that have popularised the movie saga: "natives lives, told in its rawness, and cannibalism, powerful metaphors that reveal the most disturbing and deep impulses in our society." The game is an "interactive horror graphic adventure" and is being made in Unity with direction from Ruggero Deodato. "The player will take control of different characters, to reveal, little by little, the background that led them to a desperate expedition to the virgin jungles of Borneo," the game's website reads. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/02/15/apocalypse-now-game-quits-kickstarter-asks-for-5-million"] The game will be available starting in November 2020 on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC and select mobile devices. It's not as unusual a situation as it might seem – back in 2017, a set of developers took to Kickstarter to pitch an Apocalypse Now game, which they described as "like Fallout: New Vegas on acid in Vietnam." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter. 

Rob Lowe is said to be in preliminary talks with Ryan Murphy to take on the role of Joe Exotic, the central figure in the wildly popular Netflix docuseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, in a new scripted adaptation. According to Deadline, Lowe and Murphy are considering producing their own version of the Tiger King tale, though it's not currently known whether the project would take the form of a movie or limited series, as discussions are apparently still in the very early stages. Lowe teased the Tiger King-inspired project over on Instagram where he posted a series of photos dressed up as Joe "Exotic" Maldonado-Passage, wearing a blonde wig, baseball cap and cheetah print shirt. "Rob Exotic. UPDATE: Ryan Murphy and I will be developing our version of this insane story. Stay tuned!" Lowe wrote in the accompanying caption. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/03/tiger-kings-joe-exotic-wants-brad-pitt-or-joe-dirt-to-play-him-ign-now"] In real life, Joe is currently serving 22-years in federal prison for two counts of a murder-for-hire plot against Carole Baskin, the operator of Big Cat Rescue, and over twelve wildlife violations, including the killing of five tigers, per a report from The Washington Post. Joe is the central character in Netflix's Tiger King documentary, which has experienced a huge "lightning in a bottle" moment recently, as people continue to self-isolate and look for buzz-worthy things to watch. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-true-crime-shows-and-movies-to-watch-online&captions=true"] In our review of Tiger King, we called it "a fascinating and depressing look inside a community of big cat fanatics," which would make a worthy addition to the watchlists of "true crime fans hungry for something different." For more on the series, read our follow-up piece to find out what happened to the cast of colourful characters and take a look at our rundown of recommendations for other true crime shows and movies available to stream right now. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

A Canadian author and his family have spent their time in isolation recreating a makeshift, live-action tribute to the iconic Simpsons intro. The video subsequently captured the attention of The Simpsons showrunner Al Jean and was also shared by the show’s official Twitter account. Joel Sutherland posted the homemade homage to social media on Wednesday, which features his family clad in repurposed Halloween outfits and various household items standing in for crucial props. A recorder replaces Lisa’s saxophone and a hot dog becomes the crucial inanimate carbon rod. Check it out below:

Social Isolation, Day 23

Kids: We're booooored! What can we do? Wife *cleaning basement*: What are we ever going to do with these Simpsons Halloween costumes we only wore once? Me: pic.twitter.com/6oLiyvdcWu — Joel A. Sutherland (@joelasutherland) April 8, 2020

Sutherland isn’t the only Simpsons fan using his time in isolation to celebrate the show; a fan recently made headlines down under by crafting meticulous custom Simpsons shirts for every team in the Australian Football League. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=simpsons-fan-designs-custom-guernseys-for-every-afl-club&captions=true"] In other Simpsons news, it’s been confirmed Disney will offer the first 19-and-a-bit seasons of The Simpsons in their correct 4:3 aspect ratio at the end of May. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office and would've written saxamaphone if he wasn't certain too many humourless lumps would regard it as a typo. Embiggen his Twitter followers @MrLukeReilly.

This week in Red Dead Online, jump into four new Showdown maps with Throwing Knives and Shotguns and get double rewards for doing so.

Actor Kevin Conroy will be returning to the world of Batman: The Animated Series, but with a slight twist. According to DC, Conroy will be performing a live reading of a new comic called Batman: The Adventures Continue. The reading will take place on Thursday, April 9 at 10am PST and will be broadcast on DC's Instagram page. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=batman-the-adventures-continue-art-and-toys&captions=true"] For those not familiar with The Adventures Continue, this new digital-first comic book series is designed as a continuation of Batman: The Animated Series. Along with an accompanying toy line from DC Direct, The Adventures Continue will introduce a number of major characters into the DC Animated Universe, including Jason Todd, Deathstroke and Azrael. The series is written by BTAS producers Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, with art from former Batman Adventures artist Ty Templeton. Batman: The Adventures Continue - Chapter 1 was released digitally on April 1. Chapter 2 is scheduled to arrive on April 15. While DC will eventually release print versions of the series, the recent shutdown of Diamond Comic Distributors will likely delay their release schedule. DC has said it's exploring a "multi-distributor model" in order to resume shipping new comics to stores during the COVID-19 pandemic, but so far no concrete plans have been announced. This is just the latest example of Conroy returning to his most iconic role. Conroy recently got the chance to play a live-action version of Bruce Wayne for the first time during The CW's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/19/batman-beyonds-kevin-conroy-and-will-friedle-swap-lines-comic-con-2019"] For even more on the legacy of Batman: The Animated Series, find out how that show's version of the Batmobile inspired the car in Matt Reeves' movie The Batman. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.