Final Fantasy 7 Review

Normally I leave my reviews spoil free but I won't with FF7. Who here hasn't play this game? I thought so. Where can I begin?
There are many people who sees FF7 as the best rpg, while other say it's a sore eye to the FF series. But one thing that no one can deny is that FF7 changed and set the standard for rpgs to come. For that reason alone FF7 will be in the history book as the rpg that change the genre. Before FF7, rpgs were only attactive to the die hard core fans. Now these days, more and more mainstream fans cross over. FF7 also help change the way rpgs are made in terms of story and gameplay. Before FF7, most rpgs story were plain and simple (basic save the world and rescue the princess). Now rpgs stories are more in-depth and offer more gameplay (mini-games and multiple endings). The one thing that stick out with FF7 is that when you play FF7, it's a roller coaster ride that you want to keep going and going. Shall we break it down?

Since it's been a long time since I played this game, I'll keep the summary short. Besides everyone pretty much know the story by now.
The story starts off with members of a resistance group known as Avalanche, on a mission to stop Shinra, a corrupt organization. You play a mercenary working for Avalanche name Cloud. Cloud soon crosses path with an old nemesis name Sephiroth. This is where your story quest begins.
What is great and unique about this story is that it's a very emotional one that will hit you in every direction. The story will make you happy, sad, mad, depress all at the same time. Who here wasn't shock when Aeris died? Who here wasn't sadden by it? Who here wasn't mad by it?? Or how about Yuffie? Who here wasn't all pissed off when she ran off with all your materias?? For the first time ever, the player actually feel involve in the game. This is what makes FF7 story so great. It really gets you emotionally involve. The story also gives us plot twist that keeps us on our toes. How about the plot twist about Cloud's secret (Zack)?? Surprised you, didn't it? Or Cait Sith identity?
Overrall to this day no other rpg pushed my emotional button like FF7 did. Suikoden came close but that's about it.

FF7 has a large number of great characters. By now everyone who has played the game, got their favorite. What's even great about this is that each character has their own little background story. Sure most of the background character developement focus on Cloud but the game still gave us a look at the history behind each character. Meaning they all have their own little story to make us care about them. This is something FF8 failed to do with it's characters. I'm going to give it a 9 cause my favorite ended up dead.

By todays standard, FF7 graphics wasn't that much of a big achevement. But back then, it was a different story. I remembered clearly when I first played the game when it first came out. It was like, "Wow. How they do that?"There was no other playstation game that had use the kind of graphics that FF7 used. It was cutting edge. Even today, FF7 graphics are still better than other games right now. To simply put. It's use of FMV/CG was stunning.

I'll make it clear. I've never been a big fan of video game music. Makes no difference to me what kind of music is playing during the game. But I will say that FF7 has one of the widest selections of music for any game. What makes this so great is that each music fit perfectly for the situation during the game. Come on, fess up. Don't you get choke up sometimes hearing Aeris midi?

Well, in terms of gameplay, FF7 is quite straight forward. A player shouldn't have too much problem with the game. Some bosses may be a little hard but nothing that a little practice can't solve. What I like about the gameplay is that it incorporate mini games to the actual gameplay itself. This gives the game a little added fun to an already fun game. Whether you're trying to catch a chocobo or sink a red submarine, there's always something that will keep you interested. Now for the battle system.

Battle System: While the battle system is the same basic traditional turn base one, it now uses real time. In other words, don't spend too long deciding what to do cause the enemies won't wait for you to finish deciding before attacking you again. Of course almost all of today's rpgs are base on real time. Another thing that FF7 pave the way for is the use of the 3 party members system instead of the usual 4 or 5 members. Now I'm not a big fan of the 3 members system at all. This is one of the few flaws I have with FF7. I also blame FF7 for influencing other rpgs to use 3 members system as well. One other thing that FF7 uses that is unique and very cool is the use of limit breaks. Limit breaks are a fighter's last desperate special attack before his/her hps run out. FF7 uses these limit breaks just the right amount without over exposing them. On the otherhand, FF8 tend to overuse it's limit breaks. Still, overrall FF7 gameplay and battle system is done nicely to help broaden the enjoyment for fans within the series and to those that are new to the series.

As for the extra stuff that you can do in the game. There's trying to raise and breed a gold chocobo. Fighting the two weapons, Emerald and Ruby. Getting the characters limits. Chocobo raising. Theses are some of the things that popped in my head at a glance. Of course there's probably more to do in terms of extra stuff.
The replay value comes soley from the enjoyment of the game during your first time at it. There's no multiple endings or extra special mode that you can access. Now who here has only played FF7 once?? I thought so. Pretty much everyone has at least played the game twice.

My final thought is this. FF7 may not be my favorite rpg nor is it the best rpg out there. The one thing that it is, is that it will provide you with the best emotional enjoyment of all the rpgs out there. Something that many rpgs failed to do. Final score would be a 9 or a 9.5. Give or take a half point depending on how you look at it.

Happiest Moment: Death of Sephiroth. Revenge is sweet. Nobody kills my favorite character and gets away with it.

Final Fantasy VII: Will You Cry, If I Die?

Final Fantasy VII:
Will You Cry, If I Die?