This review contains spoilers
Final Fantasy VII (FF7 for short) is an absolute classic. It is by far one of the most popular and influencing JRPG titles ever, with it placing among the top 5 PS1 titles of all time during PlayStation's vote, alongside the likes of Metal Gear Solid, Crash Bandicoot and Crash Bandicoot: WARPED, and rightly so. But what makes this game so special?
The first thing that comes to many minds when you mention the name FF7 is the cast of characters. FF7's cast is beautifully diverse, likeable and relatable, with each character having their own inner dilemmas that they must overcome, be it finding their own identity, the fear of losing loved ones, and even learning to forgive loved ones, admitting when they themselves are wrong. These are all personal issues that are faced globally every day. Cloud puts it best when he says, "What are we all fighting for? I want us all to understand that."
FF7 also has one of the most iconic stories in all of gaming, with a couple of the most infamous plot twists to ever happen. The story is crafted wonderfully, even if a couple of aspects are a little complex, ever teetering on the edge of plot hole territory. Not only is it a tale of saving the world, but also a tale of companionship, love, and revenge. I guess you could sum up most JRPGs with that sentence, but FF7 does it like no other. As well as telling a tale about saving the world, it also goes into the topics of pollution, the environment, and corporate greed, brilliantly tying them all together within the plot. Plus, the lore and world building that FF7 went onto, including exploring the events leading up to FF7 in more detail via Crisis Core (something the original only does with two major flashback sequences and an optional one in the Shinra Mansion later in the game) makes FF7 even more special.
In terms of gameplay, as is the case with every mainline Final Fantasy going up to FF10, FF7 has a turn based battle system, and utilizes the 'Active Time Battle' system that has been a staple of the series, in one form or another, since FF4. As is the case in most Final Fantasy games, the ATB system makes it so the order of combat is based on speed stats, rather than being purely turn based. Therefore, an enemy may get multiple commands in before the player, rather than it simply being you attack, then they attack, such as in games like Pokémon.
ATB, as usual, also comes with multiple modes in the config menu, being 'Wait', 'Recommended' and 'Active'. This allows the player to have some minor control over the game's difficulty, with Wait being the best for beginners, and Active being more challenging for veteran players.
FF7 also introduces a really neat ability system in the form of 'materia'. Materia serves as one of many pivotal plot points, but also allows the player to gain access to a vast majority of their abilities, including magic, summons, and different commands. You also have access to materia that can enhance your other materia, and materia that can support and enhance your party members. As you fight more, you will gain AP, which levels up your materia, unlocking new abilities. However, you only have access to said abilities as long as that materia is equipped, which means the player often has to rearrange their materia to optimize themselves for what is to come.
Outside of battle, FF7 has a wonderfully open world, with some linearity in specific places, like towns and cities. Midgar is particularly linear, but considering how cramped and claustrophobic the Midgar slums are, this comes as no surprise. The world map is wide open, and whilst you typically advance in the direction it wants you to for the first few hours, once modes of travel such as the buggy and the Tiny Bronco can be accessed, the world opens up more, allowing access to previous areas, and new parts you previously couldn't access. Even more secret areas eventually become accessible once the Highwind is unlocked and if you take the time to breed chocobos.
One thing that makes me particularly nostalgic every time I replay this game is its soundtrack. The music of FF7 is among the best of not only Final Fantasy titles, but of all gaming. From awesome battle themes to dramatic melodies, FF7's soundtrack is one that nobody will ever forget.
Of course, not every game is perfect. At the very least, not every game ages perfectly. FF7 is no exception.
Whilst it may have been groundbreaking on release, graphically, FF7 has not necessarily aged well at all. With its little chibi-LEGO-esque overworld figures, and super polygonal models in battle, the original FF7 can be somewhat of an eyesore, if you are not used to such visuals in gaming. However, I do not feel that this takes away from what the game has to offer otherwise.
The one thing I do feel is probably the worst part of FF7 is its obsession with minigames. Many of the minigames are entirely optional, such as 'Mog the Moogle' and most of the little games at the Golden Saucer, but many are mandatory to play at least once to progress the story, and in some cases, only exist as a one time roadblock in the story's progression. Some are great fun. I could spend hours doing the chocobo races, and the motorcycle chase is one of the most iconic parts of the game. However, minigames like the submarine battle, the snowboarding, and the CPR minigame in Junon, can be incredibly boring, and often ruin the pace of the story. The mandatory snowboarding round at the start of disc/part 2 is particularly annoying, as it gives no indication to the controls, and if you don't know how to do tight turns, you will crash on nearly every single corner. Regardless, the annoyance that these moments cause pales in comparison to the warmth and joy that the rest of the game brings, and is therefore negligible in the long run.
Overall, Final Fantasy VII is a game that has sparked joy in a vast majority of Final Fantasy fans since its original release. It is no wonder why it is still considered one of, if not the most iconic video games of all time, not only in its genre, but in all of gaming. It is a title that will stick with me on a lifelong basis, and I look forward to my future playthroughs.
The first thing that comes to many minds when you mention the name FF7 is the cast of characters. FF7's cast is beautifully diverse, likeable and relatable, with each character having their own inner dilemmas that they must overcome, be it finding their own identity, the fear of losing loved ones, and even learning to forgive loved ones, admitting when they themselves are wrong. These are all personal issues that are faced globally every day. Cloud puts it best when he says, "What are we all fighting for? I want us all to understand that."
FF7 also has one of the most iconic stories in all of gaming, with a couple of the most infamous plot twists to ever happen. The story is crafted wonderfully, even if a couple of aspects are a little complex, ever teetering on the edge of plot hole territory. Not only is it a tale of saving the world, but also a tale of companionship, love, and revenge. I guess you could sum up most JRPGs with that sentence, but FF7 does it like no other. As well as telling a tale about saving the world, it also goes into the topics of pollution, the environment, and corporate greed, brilliantly tying them all together within the plot. Plus, the lore and world building that FF7 went onto, including exploring the events leading up to FF7 in more detail via Crisis Core (something the original only does with two major flashback sequences and an optional one in the Shinra Mansion later in the game) makes FF7 even more special.
In terms of gameplay, as is the case with every mainline Final Fantasy going up to FF10, FF7 has a turn based battle system, and utilizes the 'Active Time Battle' system that has been a staple of the series, in one form or another, since FF4. As is the case in most Final Fantasy games, the ATB system makes it so the order of combat is based on speed stats, rather than being purely turn based. Therefore, an enemy may get multiple commands in before the player, rather than it simply being you attack, then they attack, such as in games like Pokémon.
ATB, as usual, also comes with multiple modes in the config menu, being 'Wait', 'Recommended' and 'Active'. This allows the player to have some minor control over the game's difficulty, with Wait being the best for beginners, and Active being more challenging for veteran players.
FF7 also introduces a really neat ability system in the form of 'materia'. Materia serves as one of many pivotal plot points, but also allows the player to gain access to a vast majority of their abilities, including magic, summons, and different commands. You also have access to materia that can enhance your other materia, and materia that can support and enhance your party members. As you fight more, you will gain AP, which levels up your materia, unlocking new abilities. However, you only have access to said abilities as long as that materia is equipped, which means the player often has to rearrange their materia to optimize themselves for what is to come.
Outside of battle, FF7 has a wonderfully open world, with some linearity in specific places, like towns and cities. Midgar is particularly linear, but considering how cramped and claustrophobic the Midgar slums are, this comes as no surprise. The world map is wide open, and whilst you typically advance in the direction it wants you to for the first few hours, once modes of travel such as the buggy and the Tiny Bronco can be accessed, the world opens up more, allowing access to previous areas, and new parts you previously couldn't access. Even more secret areas eventually become accessible once the Highwind is unlocked and if you take the time to breed chocobos.
One thing that makes me particularly nostalgic every time I replay this game is its soundtrack. The music of FF7 is among the best of not only Final Fantasy titles, but of all gaming. From awesome battle themes to dramatic melodies, FF7's soundtrack is one that nobody will ever forget.
Of course, not every game is perfect. At the very least, not every game ages perfectly. FF7 is no exception.
Whilst it may have been groundbreaking on release, graphically, FF7 has not necessarily aged well at all. With its little chibi-LEGO-esque overworld figures, and super polygonal models in battle, the original FF7 can be somewhat of an eyesore, if you are not used to such visuals in gaming. However, I do not feel that this takes away from what the game has to offer otherwise.
The one thing I do feel is probably the worst part of FF7 is its obsession with minigames. Many of the minigames are entirely optional, such as 'Mog the Moogle' and most of the little games at the Golden Saucer, but many are mandatory to play at least once to progress the story, and in some cases, only exist as a one time roadblock in the story's progression. Some are great fun. I could spend hours doing the chocobo races, and the motorcycle chase is one of the most iconic parts of the game. However, minigames like the submarine battle, the snowboarding, and the CPR minigame in Junon, can be incredibly boring, and often ruin the pace of the story. The mandatory snowboarding round at the start of disc/part 2 is particularly annoying, as it gives no indication to the controls, and if you don't know how to do tight turns, you will crash on nearly every single corner. Regardless, the annoyance that these moments cause pales in comparison to the warmth and joy that the rest of the game brings, and is therefore negligible in the long run.
Overall, Final Fantasy VII is a game that has sparked joy in a vast majority of Final Fantasy fans since its original release. It is no wonder why it is still considered one of, if not the most iconic video games of all time, not only in its genre, but in all of gaming. It is a title that will stick with me on a lifelong basis, and I look forward to my future playthroughs.