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Final Fantasy is among the longest running Japanese RPG franchises in video game history. The Dragon Quest series, which spans 27 years, is the current holder of that record. Still, it is worth mentioning that Squaresoft is responsible for some of the most significant additions into the Role Playing game catalogue, with perhaps Final Fantasy VII at the top of that list. Despite being associated with rabid fanboyism this game's importance is undeniable. [img width=518 height=389]http://gamingnews011.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/final_fantasy_7_logo1.jpg[/img] The seventh installment in the main series marked a change in which Squaresoft's RPGs were presented and played. In 1997 gamers experienced the first polygonal 3D Final Fantasy not on a Nintendo console, but on Sony's PlayStation. Until then all Final Fantasy games were released solely for the NES and Super Nintendo respectively. The shift to 3D presentation, use of pre-rendered cutscenes, and the sheer scope of the narrative meant that the game would not fit onto a standard cartridge. Sony's disc based system allowed Squaresoft to accomplish this and create something totally new and innovative. They had the freedom to stretch their creative muscles and develop their grandest, most epic adventure yet. The result was a game that required three discs and over 40 hours to play to completion. Squaresoft also established one of video games' most famous rivalry in the relationship between Cloud Strife and Sephiroth. The bond between the two characters formed the narrative arc that gripped so many players in the late 90s. Their relationship stemmed from young Cloud's aspirations to be as powerful as the mighty Sephiroth. However, in typical Role Playing game fashion, things are not as they seem once Cloud learns of Sephiroth's origins. No longer able to deny his past the super soldier sets out to destroy the world and the corporation he had sworn to protect. Thus the bitter rivalry formed between the two that captivated countless gamers. [img width=700 height=470]http://snackedup.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/final-fantasy-7-sephiroth-chosen-one.png[/img] The leap to 3D visuals and complex characters certainly contribute to Final Fantasy VII's prolific reputation, but that is not the most critical case for the game representing a milestone in RPG history. Final Fantasy VII was the best selling entry in the series at the time. Within 48 hours of its release the game hold sold approximately three million copies, and over eight million units worldwide by 1999. The game was a critical success garnering stellar reviews and becoming the first console RPG to earn widespread popularity outside Japan. RPGs were now something more than esoteric games that appealed only to geeky guys; it became a respected video game genre with more people than ever before exploring the nuances of Role Playing adventures. Squaresoft's seventh game in the main Final Fantasy series is still being discussed to this day. It is the subject of vehement demands for an HD remake and the source for several spin-offs including an animated feature film. The legacy of Final Fantasy VII lives on and even if it may not be one's favourite installment, the game definitely maintains a special place in gamers' collections as well as the RPG catalogue. [img width=610 height=250]http://basedonnothing.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/final-fantasy-vii-img19650-610x250.jpg[/img] Fun Final Fantasy VII FactsThe game was considered for a remake on the PlayStation 2 in 2001 Final Fantasy X's Spira is the 'ancestor' civilization which colonized the Planet of Final Fantasy VII. This is reinforced by Shinra's mention of potentially harnessing the Farplane as an energy source, which his descendants would go on to do with the Lifestream many centuries later, as the Shinra Electric Power Company. It was the first Final Fantasy to include incredibly powerful optional bosses
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I stayed at a friend's house when he first played Final Fantasy VII. It was the first time I'd seen a 3D game, and I owe a lot of my interest in gaming and programming to it.
The week that I stayed at my friend's place that summer really influenced my life as a teenager. I was introduced to a new world of gaming on the PSX, the influence of the internet with MechWarrior 3 and eventual original internet handle (I didn't own a computer until 8th grade), and entirely new music genres I'd never heard. He also had a Sega Genesis he wasn't using that he gave me, which was my first personal experience with Sega.
Final Fantasy's gameplay hasn't aged terribly well, but it was a trailblazer and I owe it a lot.
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I spent so much time on this game I probably put more hours into it than any other game I have ever played.
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@Shadow Kisuragi: I had the opposite experience with it. I heard a lot of buzz at school about it then went to a friend's house to check it out. I was so incredibly underwhelmed by it that I had literally zero interest in moving into the 3D gaming realm and held back on doing so for several years. When I eventually bought a 3D system it was an N64 because I didn't want to play any games like FFVII.
I eventually bought a copy many years later and played through it to give it a chance.
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Having played all the preceding games when they were current, VII was underwhelming for me. VI had such a huge score, strong story, interesting twists on the ATB system, and varied characters.
VII was a step backwards in many of these areas. I understand it now as a need to balance the change in development and adding in things like FMV. I'm not saying it is a bad game, as I did enjoy it, but it didn't have that same magic for me. The Materia system was really good though, and the summons did get pretty theatrical. It's a shame that this was the last of the series with Sakaguchi at the helm. I would have really liked to see where he would have taken the series next.
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It's great that this discussion has generated such opposing views. Keep it coming guys!
My personal story with the game is an interesting one. I bought it in 2002 on a whim and really disliked the opening hours. I thought it was terribly slow and I couldn't get into it at all. I put the game down and totally forgot about it. Early last year I found the game in a box in the basement and thought I should give it a go. Oddly enough, I loved it. VII is not my favourite game (I love 10). But the exploration of Cloud's fragile mind and the deep story line had me hooked.
I know it's not the greatest game in the series but it's among the best Final Fantasies without a doubt. It marked a change in the FF series.
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I hated the game way back when I first tried it. I recently picked up a copy to give it a shot but haven't had the time.
Though I do question your statement that it was the first Final Fantasy to have optional bosses. In FF IV there were plenty of areas that did not require a playthrough, such as the Land of Summoned Monsters. Fighting Leviathan and Asura was not required to beat the game and I personally would consider them bosses, since effing Asura was one of the harder opponents in the game.
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this is one that i really need to play someday, i've beaten the first one on NES and XIII on PS3...i think i missed some in between haha.
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Ugh not more about this lame game! LOL kidding aside this game is top 5 for me. I had rented FF3 and Chrono Trigger when I was really young and was drawn to them for whatever reasons. My older brother never really played RPGs but for some reason he was super into getting VII and I'm glad he did! I think I was around 10 when it came out and I can't count the number of new games I've started over the years. I just played a little last week actually. Getting "dressed" up in Wall Market LOL. Personally it's my favorite one. I really like 6, 8 & 10 too!
@Fleach is 10 your favorite?
@techwizard that's crazy! i've beat 7, 8 and 10. Got really far on 1, 2 & 3/6?
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@monkees19: Isn't the Land of Summoned Monster a side quest? By optional bosses I was referring to the Weapons which are just roaming the world map. Thanks, though, for pointing out something that slipped my mind. Appreciate it!
@techwizard: VII is good, but as most people have already mentioned, there are better Final Fantasies out there. I do agree that it's over hyped by people. I'd give it a solid 8/10. Have a look at the user reviews on metacritic and you'll see what I mean. Think of like someone saying, "I like apples, but Red Delicious are better than Granny Smith."
@h1ghw1nd: Got ya riled up, huh? I'm happy to have played VII and have it in my collection, but 10 is my favourite probably because I played it at an impressionable age. The cinematic story line was great. I also loved the conditional battle system. I thought it was so strategic in that it allowed me to plan who would attack whom or which type of attack I should use, because it all affected the order of the turns in battle.
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This game was my life in 1997. What else can be said that hasn't already been said about this game?
Thanks for the nostalgia kick Fleach.
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Glad you enjoyed the article. It seems so many people enjoyed this game and I'm happy to have been able to bring fellow community members back to those good old days.
It also seems that a little debate has sparked about which Final Fantasy is the best VI or VII. That's a tough one to answer but I was reading this blog that brings up a great point:
"Final Fantasy is the NES classic that started this whole affair, Final Fantasy IV is the one that launched the idea of an emotional story backing the RPG elements, Final Fantasy V solidified the popular job system system, Final Fantasy VII mainstreamed the series and turned it into a more cinematic experience, Final Fantasy VIII was that weird experimental one which proved the series could work outside of established ideas, etc…"
Here's the link to the blog: http://www.technobuffalo.com/2012/08/31/5-final-fantasy-games-worth-playing-for-the-25th-anniversary/
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@RetroRage Same for me. 1st FF that I played, loved it. Still love it, though it's not my favorite.
@Fleach I love your point about playing games at an "impressionable age". People tend to "find their favorites" then.
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Great article, Fleach. I happened to queue up the Overworld Theme after reading this. Got me all misty eyed and stuff. Good job, dude. While I won't comment on the my feelings of the game, I will say that this is one of my top ten videogame soundtracks of all time.
I craziness surrounding this game was great. I worked at a game store and I remember some poor dork trying to tell me just how heart-breaking the death of Aeris was. Poor chump was tearing up and making life . The bummer was that since this was the game that broke RPG games into the mainstream, there was a ton more talk around the store than I would have liked. In fact, the game was ruined for me by a regular customer who waltzed in with an end-game save, slapped it into one of the PSXs running FFVII, and showed us the ending. Still have never been able to finish it. Shame.
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Back when I was a kid this was my 2nd Final Fantasy game (long time readers of my blog should know the first one). At the time I enjoyed the experience despite not liking the Popeye art style. I liked the customization that materia allowed, but I was never big on the story.
Over time I managed to hone in on my biggest complaint with the game's story: Shinra Corp. is a much better villain than Sephiroth. The entire idea of corrupt corporations not having a single care about their own world because of profit and total control is a much more powerful theme than "Chase this violent murderer across the world." The game itself seems confused by this shift because the story just pushes on the brakes and goes into flashback mode as soon as you leave Midgar. They have to explain why Sephiroth is such a big villain, with Shinra, we got to see it with our own eyes.
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Great point Psycho, that's a fantastic observation. You made me think about the plot to the game and I have to agree with you. Shinra would have made an awesome villain. That could have meant the game's themes could be more interesting, relevant, and timeless. Had this been the focus the game could have been a commentary on economic profiteering at the expense of the populace.
Thanks so much for that insightful comment!
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Final Fantasy VII ate up the entirety of Summer '98 for me. To this date, I don't know that I've beaten another game as completely and thoroughly.
Would love to give it another go - I haven't played it again since that summer - but can't see myself doing so without a HD remake. The polygonal graphics were a struggle for me then, were near-unplayable for me in 2003, and downright off-limits for me now.
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