Let me be honest - when I first heard about the weapon skills and Folio system in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, I was skeptical. Having spent countless hours with the original game and the Remake, I wondered if these new mechanics would feel like unnecessary complications or genuine enhancements to the combat system. What I discovered through extensive playtime - I'd estimate around 80 hours across multiple playthroughs - completely transformed how I approach character building and combat strategy. These systems aren't just additional features; they fundamentally change how you engage with the game's tactical possibilities while maintaining that familiar Final Fantasy feel.
The weapon skills system initially reminded me of materia slots, but it quickly revealed its unique depth. Each weapon now has its own progression path that unlocks specific abilities as you use it more frequently in combat. I found myself deliberately rotating through different weapons even when I had statistically superior options, just to unlock those unique skills. Cloud's Buster Sword, for instance, eventually unlocks "Focused Thrust" which dramatically increases stagger buildup, while Tifa's Leather Gloves can gain "Overpower" that significantly boosts her attack power after perfect dodges. What's fascinating is how these skills aren't tied to your character level but specifically to your weapon proficiency, encouraging experimentation with different loadouts. I probably spent the first 15 hours of my playthrough constantly switching weapons before settling on my preferred combinations, and even then, I'd find reasons to revisit older weapons for specific boss fights.
Now let's talk about the Folio system, which honestly became my favorite part of character progression. Each character has their own themed manuscript - Cloud with "The Art of Swordplay," Tifa with "Way of the Fist," Barret with "Sharpshooter's Companion," and so on. As you level up, you earn skill points that can be allocated across various branches of these folios. Early on, I made the mistake of trying to create "balanced" builds for everyone, spreading points thinly across different paths. This approach worked fine for normal encounters but proved disastrous against tougher bosses around the 25-hour mark. That's when I realized the system rewards specialization. I ended up resetting my points - which costs a negligible amount of gil, by the way - and focused Cloud entirely on building his limit break faster while making Barret into a defensive tank who could draw enemy attention and survive massive damage.
The beauty of the Folio system lies in how it enables distinct playstyles without overwhelming you with choices. While it's true that you'll eventually unlock most abilities in a single playthrough - I'd estimate about 85-90% of the tree if you complete all side content - the strategic importance comes from which upgrades you prioritize early and mid-game. I personally favored building Cloud as an offensive powerhouse, investing heavily in nodes that reduced ATB costs for his strongest abilities and increased his critical hit rate. Meanwhile, I specialized Aerith entirely around magic damage and MP conservation, making her an elemental spell specialist who could exploit weaknesses without quickly depleting her resources.
Speaking of elemental spells, here's where the Folio system introduces its most brilliant innovation: ATB-based elemental abilities. Traditional spells still consume MP, but the Folio unlocks additional elemental attacks that use ATB charges instead. This might sound like a minor distinction, but in practice, it completely changes how you approach elemental weaknesses. I found myself using these ATB-based elemental skills far more frequently than standard spells, especially during prolonged dungeons where MP conservation becomes critical. Against enemies weak to fire, for example, having Cloud's "Blazing Sword" ability available without MP cost meant I could exploit that weakness consistently throughout entire areas without worrying about my magic reserves.
The synergy abilities unlocked through the Folio deserve special mention too. These partner attacks not only deal significant damage but often provide strategic advantages beyond raw numbers. Cloud and Tifa's "Synergized Art of War" doesn't just hit hard - it builds stagger incredibly fast while providing both characters with temporary damage reduction. I found myself planning my entire combat flow around these synergy moves, especially during boss fights where proper timing could turn the tide of battle. What's impressive is how these abilities feel earned through your progression decisions rather than just being handed to you automatically.
If I have one criticism of these systems, it's that the interface could be more intuitive. Tracking which weapons need more proficiency or comparing different Folio paths requires more menu navigation than I'd prefer. I probably spent a good 5-6 hours total just managing these systems across my playthrough, which sometimes disrupted the game's pacing. However, the depth they add to character customization more than justifies this minor inconvenience. The ability to reset and reallocate Folio points so cheaply encourages experimentation, allowing you to adapt your strategy for specific challenges without penalty.
What ultimately makes these systems work so well is how they complement rather than complicate the established combat mechanics. They provide meaningful progression beyond simple stat increases, giving you tangible new capabilities that change how you approach encounters. By my second playthrough, I had developed completely different builds for each character - a high-risk, high-reward setup for Tifa focused on building stagger multipliers, a support-oriented Barret who could heal and buff allies while maintaining defensive pressure, and a hybrid Cloud who balanced physical damage with situational spellcasting. The systems offer just enough flexibility to enable personal expression without becoming overwhelming or requiring min-max optimization for standard difficulty.
Looking back, the weapon skills and Folio system represent what modern RPG progression should aspire to - deep enough to reward strategic thinking and experimentation, accessible enough to remain engaging rather than frustrating, and integrated seamlessly into both narrative and gameplay. They've set a new standard for character progression in action RPGs, one that I hope other developers will study and learn from. The sense of ownership I felt over my party's development far exceeded what I experienced in the original game or even the first Remake, creating a personalized journey that still remained true to the characters we've loved for decades.