Final Fantasy VII Remake’s enemy roster is filled with creative reimaginings of classic opponents from the original 1997 classic. Players do not just fight monsters, but also face off against humans working for the evil Shinra Corporation. While a large amount of these are worthless grunts and cannon fodder, the ten listed below will give players a run for their money.
Most are normal enemies one fights throughout the game, and a few of them are boss encounters. The different feel of combat when fighting humans versus monsters showcases the depth of Final Fantasy VII Remake’s battle system.
10 Elite Security Officer
As a souped-up version of the normal Security Officer, these guy do not put up much of a fight. Some swipes with the blade or normal attacks should be more than enough to send these goons to the great beyond. They are weak to fire and drop potions upon death.
9 Elite Riot Trooper
Since characters can block, it is only right for certain enemies to possess a similar ability. Goin for a frontal assault with melee attacks gets the player nowhere. Instead, use fire to do serious damage and disengage their shield. Additionally, one can roll behind them to hit their vulnerable spot. They are easier to take down with a full party, since the player can switch to a different character while the Riot Trooper focuses their attention on another party member.
8 Flame Trooper
Enemies who inflict a certain amount of damage per second are surprisingly deadly. Flame Troopers can sap the health from the party quickly, so just keep an eye on the health when they show up.
This is generally a good rule in any RPG, however. When they appear with a bunch of other Shinra soldiers, it is best to take them out first.
7 Elite Shock Trooper
Elite Shock Troopers are quickly recognizable for fans of the original Japanese RPG. Of all the redesigns, theirs perhaps resembles the original game’s look the most. They quickly evade melee hits, so players have to wait until the enemy starts attacking if they want to use physical combat. Magic is typically the better route against these troublesome Shinra soldiers.
6 Armored Shock Trooper
While they are similarly named to the aforementioned Elite Shock Trooper, they look completely different.
These soldiers are protected by a giant suit of armor, making them look more like an Autobot from Transformersthan an enemy from Final Fantasy. They even come with a beam sword, giving them a particular sci-fi feel. While they pack a mean punch and have a lot of health, lightning magic will help take these buff enemies down.
5 Rude
The Yurks are a massive part of the adventure, recurring from time to time to try and hinder the party’s progress or provide comedic relief. Players fight two members of the mercenary group in this title.
Both fights are tough at first, but become easier once the player recognizes the enemy’s pattern. Rude pulls off some mean wrestling moves, but recognizing the cues and knowing which move he is doing based on these is key to gaining the upper hand.
4 Reno
Reno talks big, and can usually back it up in combat. Players first encounter the redhead Turk shortly after they fall into the church and meet Aerith again at the beginning of Chapter Eight.
He is mean enough as is it with his truncheon, but he also deploys special orbs that shock Cloud. Use Punisher against Reno and switch to operator to quickly dispose of the orbs. The Turks boss fights are hard enough on their own, making their team up at the end of Chapter Twelve a particular pain for those ill-equipped for the battle.
3 3-C SOLDIER Operator
These fully-armored super-soldiers take on the party with a giant sword only surpassed by Cloud’s nearly comedically oversized arsenal.
Like most human enemies in the game, they are susceptible to flame attacks. However, they can also be staggered by good old fashioned melee hits and blocking at the right time.
2 Elite Helitrooper
Not only do these enemies pack a punch, but they are also incredibly irritating to deal with. Aerial combat in general is wonky, leaving much room for improvement in the sequels.
Instead, most players either resort to magic or blocking in punisher stance so they parry the attack whenever the Elite Helitrooper swoops down for a close hit. Barret makes them a little easier with his long-range shooting capabilities, but the player often fights them when he is out of the party.
1 Rufus
Rufus Shinra is the last human boss fight in the game and gives players a run for their money. He is quick, hits the player from a long distance with his gun, and a dog comes to his assistance, though thankfully the pup is not as bothersome as the phantom dog that helps out the Marauder from Doom Eternal.
A melee fight will take a while as the player only has a small window to attack whenever he reloads. However, Cloud can use Sleep or Stop, which doesn’t work all the time, but enough to make an impact.
