When a group of rebellions strike the Shinra Company, they are thrown into a race to save the world from certain destruction. They have no idea of the evil hiding in the shadows, or what he is capable of doing. And what transpires is beyond anyones imagining. Love, friendship, and sacrifice will thrust them to their very limits, as they struggle to save the world they love, and keep their memories from disappearing forever.
Final fantasy VII, released in 1997 is one of those games that you will remember for ever. For some it is the first 3-D game they have ever played. For most in America, it was the first Final Fantasy to be played. Up until the time of release, RPG's had remained a very small part of the gaming world. Games Like Final Fantasy II (IV), III (VI), and Chrono Trigger was showing that RPG's were indeed something to be reckoned with, but Final Fantasy VII blew the RPG doors wide open.
It has even gone so far as to be called the greatest game ever made. Though everyone might not agree with that statement, it certainly has taken its place in gaming history, and is still highly regarded some 12 years later. But the question is why? why is it this game holds such sway over evey other title in the Final fantasy cannon? Even when I wrote my very first review of VII three years ago, I actually had to change it because of the backlash for saying it certainly was not the best Final Fantasy out there. (My personal favorite is VI) Well, I took the time to play the game again, after almost 6 years of letting it collect dust, to get some screen captures and such. I thought I would give a new review, while it is still fresh in my head. My opinion on it not being the best Final fantasy still holds true, but I would agree it is certainly an amazing game, even now.
Firs off is the graphics. Though we are 12 years later, and these graphics are VERY outdated, I can easily remember marveling at them when this came out. The new look of 3-D was simply amazing. Everything from the intricle, but somewhat sloppy, cut scenes, to the summons...everything was awesome. The colors were vivid and lush, the movement was fluid, and even the backgrounds were just eye popping with detail. it was something to behold for someone fresh off the 16 bit era of the SNES.
Story...the story was definitely one of the two high points of the game. depth, appeal, stories hidden within stories, drama, action, and add a dash of humor. The story of Final fantasy VII had everything you would expect from a feature film, but inside a video game world. You laughed with the characters antics and jokes, you sat on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what happened next, and you cried when things were at their worst. To this day, Aerith's death, Red XIII's good bye to his grandfather, and reunion with his father Seto still bring more than a few tears to my eyes. There is the strongest connections with the characters and their lives than I have seen within a video game. I believe this was done with the handling of the characters themselves. You could not say you are not one of the characters in the group, or that you do not know someone just like one of them. Their personal stories, as well as the main line of the game was done superbly. It would be perhaps the greatest story in Final Fantasy, if the translation team at the time had not mucked it up so much.
The sound of Final Fantasy VII is the other high point of the game. The music can easily be recognized by anyone who has played the game, even if they haven't in years. It is said to be the best scoring of any game out there. The music almost tops Super mario Brothers as being the most recognized score in video game history. Each melody fits the respected character, and the background music sets the tone for the scenes perfectly. The score of VII has been sampled, redone, and used in various other forms from film, to TV, and even other video games. The soundtrack is one of the most popular game soundtracks around. The music is the emotion of the game hands down. Without the music, the game would definitely not be what it is now.
The game play was easy enough for Final fantasy veterans. It was also pretty easy to get the hang of for the new comers too. Square used the highly successful ATB system, that was established with Final fantasy IV. You choose the characters actions, then watched the fight unfold. There was hte addition of Materia to add a fresh feel to the game, as well as new menu abilities. All was easy to get into, and made for a more fun game to play.
The side missions and mini games were abundant in Final Fantasy VII as well. There was more than enough distractions for those who were looking to take a break from the main story of the game. The Gold Saucer was like a giant amusement park, and featured a whole array of things to do and play. The advent of optional bosses became more than just huge in VII as well. The WEAPON fights proved to satisfy the challenge hungry gamers of the time.
This might not be the greatest Final Fantasy there is. But I did see the amount of heart and dedication that went into the game. VII set the bar for all other titles after it to unprecedented heights. The fan base for VII is just beyond huge, and it has become so popular, that it has spawned its own series. I will say that Final Fantasy VII is a icon in the gaming universe, and it does deserve praise for the standards it set and broke. If you have not played this title on either the PS1 or the PC...have you been living under a rock?!? You need to go out and play the original version, before they screw up the whole thing with a updated version.
*Warning*Watching the trailer on the right will spoil a major plot point in the game. You have been warned.
Happy Anniversary Final Fantasy VII! Thank you for a decade of memories
The sound of Final Fantasy VII is the other high point of the game. The music can easily be recognized by anyone who has played the game, even if they haven't in years. It is said to be the best scoring of any game out there. The music almost tops Super mario Brothers as being the most recognized score in video game history. Each melody fits the respected character, and the background music sets the tone for the scenes perfectly. The score of VII has been sampled, redone, and used in various other forms from film, to TV, and even other video games. The soundtrack is one of the most popular game soundtracks around. The music is the emotion of the game hands down. Without the music, the game would definitely not be what it is now.
Compilation of VII