As a first time player in 2023, it is impossible for me to truly understand just how astonishing Final Fantasy VII was back in 1997. But it is perhaps the highest mark of praise I can give it that even over 25 years later, much of that wonder still bleeds through. From its story and the way it's told, to the incredible pacing and eclectic progression pathways through the game and its myriad of enjoyable (and often obtuse) side content, Final Fantasy VII now stands tall as a monolith to everything JRPGs spent the NES and SNES generations building toward. A pinnacle achievement that will probably impress forever. Even a decade from now, some of the visual abstraction FFVII uses to tell its story won't be commonplace in its industry.

In short, a game that stands the test of time as well as any PS1 game can. Thank god for the 3X speed in the PS4 port tho.