Final Fantasy 7 Remake Director Defends Yellow Paint Use

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi is once again defending the controversial use of "yellow paint" to guide players, stating that "there is definitely a need" for such visual cues.

The practice of marking climbable ledges and walls with yellow paint in video games has sparked ongoing discussion among players, especially since it became prominent in titles like Uncharted on PlayStation 3. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth also employs this method, and the ensuing player reactions even surprised Hamaguchi with the intensity of the debate it generated.

In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, Hamaguchi acknowledged that some players dislike or don't require the yellow paint, but he maintained that it serves a necessary purpose.

"I understand the debate about whether it fits the game's world or who wants it versus who doesn't," Hamaguchi stated. "From a game design perspective, I believe this kind of guidance is absolutely needed in many situations. Different developers naturally experiment to find the most effective and appropriate implementation for their specific game."

"Guiding players from a gameplay standpoint, showing them their possible actions and objectives, is essential at times," he added. "So, while the debate often focuses on the method, intensity, and effectiveness of the implementation—and there will always be players who feel it's a poor fit—I believe the underlying need for guidance is real and worth serious consideration."

When the yellow paint debate resurfaced with Rebirth last year, some critics expressed displeasure with what they saw as overly intrusive hand-holding, not just in Final Fantasy 7 Remake but in modern gaming as a whole. Others, however, emphasized its value as a helpful accessibility feature. Developers also contributed to the conversation, noting that during playtests, players can become stuck, frustrated, and even stop playing altogether if they can't discern the path forward. This reality often necessitates clear, if sometimes obvious or unrealistic, visual indicators to direct players. It's also been noted that visual cues for navigation and progression have been a staple of game design 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

Based on Hamaguchi's remarks, it seems likely the yellow paint will make a return in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3. On that subject, Square Enix stated last year that it aims to release the final installment by 2027. Anticipation for the trilogy's conclusion grew further when the development team revealed it had finished writing the story earlier this year.

More recently, Hamaguchi clarified his earlier comments about Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 aiming to "strike a balance" in pacing and be "more concise," assuring fans that this does not mean any content will be cut from the game.

While we await more news, you can read about why the development team “will not cheat” regarding Final Fantasy 7’s iconic airship in the next part. 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.