I’m gonna allow you to in on a bit secret: game-feeds is bizarre. I can’t consider a single particular person on workers (in addition to me, clearly) who is aware of tips on how to correctly get pleasure from good climate. My coworkers brazenly have a good time the crisp breeze of nostalgic autumnal air. They cheer on the first annual snowfall. Simply final week, somebody in our native Slack channel really helpful going outdoors for lunch to benefit from the climate. The excessive that day? 63 levels Fahrenheit. However at any time when the temperature hits 90 F, it’s all, “Ugh, it’s horrible outdoors,” or “That is means too sizzling,” or “Ari, you’re gonna begin sporting sunscreen this yr, proper?”
So I would catch some warmth for this, however within the spirit of Retreat Week, somebody needed to be courageous sufficient to say it: Remaining Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Costa del Sol is the best trip fantasy. If I needed to go anyplace within the (digital) world, it’d be Costa del Sol.
I by no means performed the unique Remaining Fantasy 7, so I can’t communicate to Costa del Sol’s tourism bona fides in that recreation, however its iteration in 2024’s Remaining Fantasy 7 Rebirth actually has all of it. For a couple of yr now, I’ve been daydreaming of determining tips on how to plug myself into the Matrix, purely so I can do a weekend in Costa del Sol.
It’s not simply the glistening blue waves (although these are good) nor the swaying palm timber (additionally good). Costa del Sol displays the enviably relaxed vibe that so usually appears to outline hot-weather locations.
For one factor, the actions you avail your self of are charmingly low-stakes: swimsuit procuring, a card recreation, a pictures tour, some Rocket League with Pets. The PS5 doesn’t assist olfactory tech but, however as you stroll round, you may virtually odor the mojitos by the display. (Although you know you’re ready at the very least half an hour for the one you ordered to reach.) You navigate the boardwalk on a Segway, for crying out loud, a car actually designed to attenuate the hassle of getting from place to position.
However take into account when precisely the Costa del Sol chapter arrives in Remaining Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Previous to visiting the seashore, you spend Rebirth on the run. You infiltrate enemy armies, struggle large monsters, race dolphins, futz with gear menus, and in any other case interact in actions most rational people would deem worrying. However then you definitely get on a cruise and make landfall at a spot so remarkably chill, your most worrying activity includes renovating a seaside lodge. It’s the primary second in Rebirth the place you’re pressured to decelerate a beat.
Positive, the sandstone streets of Costa del Sol are possible too sizzling to stroll barefoot on. That lodge on the principle drag for certain has busted air con, not like the presumably extra temperature-controlled Gold Saucer. However Costa del Sol stays such an interesting daydream as a result of it basically portrays the one factor any profitable vacation must be: a break, and a well-earned one at that.