Every game for this franchise runs out of steam in some way or level, but at least with 4, I'm more engaged with this type of gameplay format that's crucial in using your sound senses than I am with the formulated button-mashing ones from previous games - even though the sound mixing itself constantly trolls you lmao.

I also enjoyed the setting in this entry. Playing a traumatized child that could no longer find happiness or comfort in the things he once loved. Privacy doesn't exist anymore, not even in your room. Would you rather survive with continuous mental anguish or die from your demons?

i dont even know where to start since theres so much to say and so much to go over but i think a good jumping point might be just how charming final fantasy vii is. its bursting with it. the npc dialogue is wonderful and a shocking amount of love and time is put into small details of characters that all build up to create people who feel real. people you may have meet before. people you relate heavily too. the writing is stellar but i think the art direction also plays a big role in fleshing out the world. i have no nostalgia for ffvii (i was born years after its release and played it for the first time a couple years ago) and i think some of the art in this game is still wonderful and beautiful. the locations are incredible- midgar as a whole. junon. the forgotten city. and even smaller scale things like random npc houses that are lovingly designed and truly look like someone lives their life there. character and charm bursts from every corner. and i think the fmv cutscenes look so cool im heavily attached to the plasticy early 3D renders of 1990s square works.

all this work in character and small details does wonders for the story. a story which i have a high respect for its themes and messages. ffvii conflicts at their center all stem from shinra. a fascist imperialistic typical evil awful empire. the early parts of the game are spent in midgars lower class area. this is an impactful depiction of shinras crimes since the piles of ruble. trash. and overall misery of the people on the lower plate is immediately noticeable and everywhere. i think shinra is an excellent villain and i think the story told about them environmental stuff and such is still very important. i especially appreciate that ffvii never sways into an "all people are evil and ruin the planet" its more nuanced and makes sure to point out how shinra hurts the people of gaia and the planet. there are issues here and there with characters and parts of the plot and message i dont like but i think its overall good

i really like the main party. i think everyone is likable and has some form of cool mechanic in battle. the only bad party member is cid.

ffvii is about many things. life death love environment capitalism and understanding of ones self and others. each point is handled with grace in my opinion. and interesting perspectives and ideas are brought to each topic.

i really appreciate ffviis perspective on death. a very important point in this game is that no one is sacrificed or dies for a reason. at one point cloud implies so and is immediately corrected by tifa. death is just a thing that happens. it just happens and you cant live your life trying to look for why things happened the way they did.

the characters are wonderful. barret and tifa are very admirable with how hard they work to make the world a better place. i like clouds story a lot and i think with the twists his character makes he becomes very relatable and i think it was kinda cool for square to show some flaws with the cool action guy trope to create something more human.

the combat system is a treat and i find myself wanting to replay just so i can mess around and have fun materia builds. the overworld is fun. the music is stellar. the art is incredible. and over all i think its themes and messages are very important and will continue to be. i think its a masterwork of a game.