Final Fantasy 7 Remake: First look at Shiva

We can't think of a mainline Final Fantasy title where the ice queen has looked anything but comely and in the long awaited Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Shiva looks most magnificent and proves once more why she is  the best looking monster girl to appear in a video game.

The ice-based deity was at long last unveiled in the Tokyo Game Show 2019 trailer in September, which showcased both herself and the fire demon Ifrit as they appear in the game, and fans caught a glimpse of party member Aeris summoning the frosty goddess in battle to freeze several enemies.

Square Enix game producer Yoshinori Kitase confirms, each party member can only equip one Summon Materia at a time, and attacking foes causes a Summon gauge to charge up. Once the Summon Gauge is complete, players can utilise their summoned ally, which is generally controlled by the CPU but can also be instructed to use special techniques with ATB charges.

The Summon remains on the battleground until the Summon Gauge depletes, at which point the summon unleashes their ultimate attack before withdrawing. It's a system that, while significantly different from the original version in Final Fantasy VII, stays authentic to the core of what FF7 Remake summons are meant to be - loud and impactful magical abilities.



Summoned monsters are some of the Final Fantasy series most adored mascots, and they're oftentimes the only ones who make the leap between numbered instalments as the games change worlds.

To know that they'll be just as essential in FF7 Remake as they were in the original iteration is a relieving moment for those who were worried they might be demoted to a minor role.

In the original game Shiva is a blueish-skinned female with a long ponytail who casts Diamond Dust. Final Fantasy 7 Remake's interpretation of Shiva is comparable in that respect, though her outfit is much more illusive and she's been given more fae or elven-like features.

What's most intriguing about this early reveal for Shiva is because in the original game players obtained the icy summon outside of  Midgar in a port town called Junon, though it appears in the remake you gain access to her much earlier.

Shiva remains one of the coolest summons in Final Fantasy and her redesign in the FF7 remake is quite beautiful, even more so than her prototype which pales in comparison.