Apex Legends’ Final Fantasy crossover disappoints players with $300 Buster Sword that blocks gameplay visibility
Introduction: The Crossover That Disappointed
Apex Legends’ ambitious crossover with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has delivered the iconic Buster Sword, but player testing reveals it’s a disappointing addition that fails to justify its massive cost.
The Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth event launch brought the legendary Buster Sword to Apex Legends, but community feedback paints a grim picture of gameplay functionality and value proposition.
When Apex Legends and Final Fantasy announced their surprise collaboration during The Game Awards, both communities erupted with excitement. The partnership promised an array of Final Fantasy-themed cosmetics headlined by Cloud Strife’s legendary Buster Sword, creating massive anticipation among crossover enthusiasts.
The initial excitement has dramatically cooled as players discovered the practical limitations and exorbitant costs associated with obtaining this iconic weapon. What seemed like a dream collaboration has turned into a cautionary tale about premium cosmetic implementation.
The $300 Price Tag: What You Actually Get
The financial commitment required to obtain the Buster Sword has become a major point of contention. Players face a staggering $300+ investment to unlock all event content unless they’ve stockpiled substantial crafting materials beforehand.
This premium event features 36 distinct cosmetics to collect, with the ultimate prizes being the Buster Sword R5 (a universal Mythic weapon usable by any legend) and the “One-Winged Angel” death box cosmetic. The progression system requires players to obtain nearly every item before accessing these flagship rewards.
One dedicated player took it upon themselves to demonstrate the actual value proposition. Twitter/X user SomeoneWhoLeaks invested significant resources—crafting 20 event packs and purchasing the remaining collection—specifically to provide community transparency about the Buster Sword’s performance.
Their verdict was brutally honest and immediately viral: “The sword sucks,” accompanied by real-time gameplay footage demonstrating the weapon’s practical limitations during combat scenarios.
Gameplay Problems: Why the Buster Sword Fails
I CRAFTED 20 PACKS AND BOUGHT OUT THE REST OF THE EVENT SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO
THE SWORD SUCKS, THIS IS THE RUNNING ANIMATION. YOU NEVER SEE IT UNLESS YOU ARE SWINGING IT. LOVE OF GOD SAVE YOUR MONEY pic.twitter.com/6eaz8m4M9U
Running animation + Spinning, GGs I am going to play russian roulette with a full cylinder pic.twitter.com/Lj1gBu4vTe
The core problem lies in the Buster Sword’s implementation. During standard movement and gameplay, the weapon remains completely invisible to the player, only appearing during attack animations. This design choice defeats the purpose of a cosmetic meant to be displayed prominently.
When the sword does appear during combat sequences, it creates significant visibility issues. The massive weapon model occupies substantial screen real estate, potentially obstructing enemy tracking and environmental awareness during crucial firefight moments.
From a development perspective, Respawn Entertainment faced a challenging design dilemma. Creating an accurately sized Buster Sword inevitably leads to screen obstruction, while scaling it down would draw criticism for betraying the weapon’s iconic proportions from Final Fantasy lore.
The visibility problem becomes more frustrating when considering existing in-game precedents. Characters like Rampart carry massive equipment like her mounted turret without similar visibility issues, proving that large object implementation can be handled more effectively.
Community Backlash and Alternative Solutions
The community response has been overwhelmingly critical, with many players echoing the sentiment that Respawn missed an opportunity to implement the Buster Sword more effectively.
SomeoneWhoLeaks proposed specific alternative implementation methods that would have preserved both the weapon’s iconic appearance and gameplay functionality. They suggested adopting approaches similar to Rampart’s visible equipment or Crypto’s heirloom sword, which rests at his side during movement.
like crypto’s or similar to it pic.twitter.com/XOLL3vBxAX
These existing implementations demonstrate that Respawn already has technical solutions for displaying large melee weapons without compromising gameplay visibility. Crypto’s data knife and other heirloom items remain visible during standard movement while avoiding screen obstruction issues.
The disappointment is particularly sharp given the massive anticipation surrounding this crossover event. Final Fantasy and Apex Legends fans had high expectations for a collaboration between two gaming giants, making the implementation shortcomings feel like a significant missed opportunity.
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Smart Spending: How to Approach the Event
For players considering participating in the Final Fantasy crossover event, strategic spending approaches can help maximize value while minimizing financial risk.
First, carefully evaluate which specific cosmetics provide genuine value for your playstyle. The Buster Sword may be the headline attraction, but individual weapon skins or legend cosmetics might offer better visibility and functionality for actual gameplay.
Consider waiting for community feedback on any future crossover events before committing significant resources. Early adopters often pay premium prices for untested cosmetics that may have unforeseen gameplay limitations.
If you do decide to participate, set a strict budget beforehand and stick to it. The event’s structure encourages continuous spending to reach the final rewards, so establishing financial boundaries prevents overspending on disappointing content.
Unfortunately for an event that generated massive excitement, Apex Legends may have mishandled this high-profile crossover. Players should monitor future updates to see if Respawn addresses the community feedback and improves the Buster Sword’s implementation.
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