The people think, "The Best FF". Sorry but i disagree. This game is overrated because just have a big change in graphics and the mode of play of previous FF's. Just that.

This game is a definition of a perfect game. Even if played today, this game is amazing. The story line is complex and engaging. The leveling system is great and it is consistent so you will always be getting stronger and better weapons. The way you can customize your characters is completely different from any other game I have ever played. The less you know about this game before you play it the better. If you have not played this game before or recently, get it. It is out on several different systems. Go get it!… Expand

this is the first one i ever played and i loved it however i was young back then so things never affected me much. after playing it these days i just cant go past disk 1 unless i get a save after it. its fun playing but lost its replay value for me. i would recomend final fantasy 6 over this

Best Final Fantasy games of all time. Great story, side quests and longevity. This game took months upon months to complete with a story that was intriguing and had me wanted to play more and more.

Let me start this review saying this: All the people giving this game low scores shouldn't be taken in consideration. The one thing all of them say that deserve credit is that the game is overrated (and that is the very reason why they feel like the game is not good, also, playing a game with either too much expectation or too much scorn has quite a few chances of making it feel and looks bad).

But how could not this game be overrated? This game saved Square-Soft from its doom, it was the second that sold the most in the PlayStation, and if revolutionized RPG, the graphics and game-play were way ahead of its time (interesting to see that people say that the game has bad graphics, well, aside from the fact that the game is from the PlayStation [and it is not the most beautiful game on the platform], did any of these people have taken in consideration the time in which the game was released? Because it was incredible for its time).

Graphics: 10/10

If I was going to take in consideration all the games released for the PS One, I would probably give FF VII a 8/10, but I'm taking in consideration the time it was released. Simply because it was something ahead of its time, and that is why it received so much praise regarding this, people were stunned by how beautiful this game was, specially when the summons were used.

Sound: 10/10

The soundtrack of this game is a masterpiece. The tracks are either beautiful or awesome, from the Fighting Theme to the World Map's theme (Cloud's theme) to the final boss theme (One Winged Angel), they are all good. Sound effects were also good, though I think some of them could have been a little better, there is nothing wrong with them.

Game-play: 10/10

The combat system is really good even for today's standards. The game features the Materia System, in which the player will use these "crystals" called Materia, which are the materialized source of the planet's energy to use their abilities. The Materias are divided in five types: Command Materia (which allow extra commands in battle), Magic Materia, Summon Materia, Support Materia (can be linked to other Materia to enhance their effects), and Independent Materia (which have many functions, such as stat increases and auto-abilities). Equipment are divided in three main sections: Weapon, Armor and Accessory. Both Weapon and Armor have Materia Slots, and this is where you will place then, there will be a limited number of slots, so think carefully about your strategy. The player will use the Materia accordingly to his needs, it won't be all the time, but there will also be times when it will be required of the player the use of a better strategy to fight some bosses (or even mini-games such as the ones in the Golden Saucer). The characters also have special abilities called "Limit Break", this is basically their strongest attack, which can only be used after the player has received quite some damage and the limit bar is fulfilled.
The battles work with a turn based system with real time elements, meaning each character and enemy will have its turn, but time also counts here, and if the player takes to long to make a decision that means he is gonna get hurt.

Story: 9,3

- Setting: The world of FF VII could be called a cyberpunk medieval world. It has beasts, legendary monsters, magic, guns, machines and other technological equipments. And the combination results in a very unique and incredible world that will never cease to amaze you. (10/10)
- Character Delopment: This is what FF VII lacks the most. And yet, it doesn't lack much. Yes, characters could have received more time, but each one of them, except for the side characters, has a moment or two in the story where they are the focus, they're all there for something, and at times, not for the best of reasons, but what can they do? Another very good point of the characters, is that they're all really human, the don't really fall for the "hero stereotype". (8/10)
- Story Progress: The plot is complex. Aside from the obvious criticism (which is not bad) towards the fact the mankind is ruining the planet by exploring the nature way too much, what stands out is that FF VII is a psychological thriller. You will be taken on a ride to discover the true psyche of the main character, and though at times confusing, it is really rewarding. The plot is also very subtle, as many relevant details tend to be either implied or mentioned only once. Many people still argue about who is the villain of the game because they fail to notice what is implied. Still, it is one of the best, if not the best aspect of the game. (10/10)

Replay Value: 8/10

The main reason to replay FF VII is it story and battles, the game itself is good enough to keep people coming even years after they have finished it, the world offers much to do, and there are quite a few side quests to keep people entertained even after they have finished the game.

Overall: 9, 46/10… Expand

I dont understand people saying its overrated. The only thing overrated is their inteligence...Its a perfect rpg game with a good development and argument...I can stay long time saying things but it will take me all night long so i leave you with only one word: Masterpiece.

I love how people say that it has bad graphics, horrible sounds and music, lame story and bad character development. Can't you people see that it's from 1997? It's the FIRST 3D game in the series. How can you expect a fully-HD realistic game when it's that old? Sure, it's a tad overrated, but that doesn't change the fact that it's awesome. I give it a 10 because it gives me large doses of nostalgia.… Expand

Most overrated game of all time, noise provided by fan-boys kills all the fun around the game. Furthermore worst of the PSX trio, lacks in complexity and detail, not as nearly emotinal as others.

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. How people can say this game is bad... I have no idea.

No attachent between gamer and characters? I F*****G cried when Aeris died. I was pissed off when Yuffie stole my materia. Every single part of this game had me gripped.

The visuals were great for their time. I know it;s not all about visuals but at the time of creation this was top notch stuff.

The fact that I can still play this today without caring about the visuals AT ALL speaks to the greatness of the story. Epic story arcs and emotional scenes

How many hours of gameplay? a lot more than call of duty : 'let's release the same game again 4' I promise you.

You because you didn't get it.. don't hate on it. Especially when all of your objections are total bull… Expand

Worst of the PS1 trio, a number of issues include a poor translation, weak graphics, and limited character development. This game definitely doesn't deserve universal acclaim over many less popular titles.

Luego de la trilogía de SNES, la saga ya estaba absolutamente instalada en occidente (mas allá de que aun desconocíamos los 3 juegos originales). Todo lo que se sabía de ahí para adelante era que el próximo juego se mudaría de la 64 a la PSX por razones técnicas, y luego silencio... Hasta que un día de 1997, un juego llegaba a los comercios sin hacer mucho ruido: FF7.
Tratar de describir este juego en palabras es todo un reto, pues la brutal cantidad de elementos que lo conforman producen un sumamente amplio abanico de sensaciones durante su desarrollo.
La historia es sencillamente deslumbrante, comenzando de una manera simple pero energética, y va evolucionando hasta llegar al punto de lo épico. La BSO es, como no podía ser menos en la saga, perfecta. La jugabilidad es asombrosa, y no ha podido ser igualada, ni si quiera imitada, al día de hoy.
Para hacerlo simple, tenemos aquí al mejor RPG de todos los tiempos. Teniendo en cuenta que este género es el "hardcore one" por excelencia, es sencillo darse cuenta de que estamos frente a uno de los juegos mas grandes de la historia, uno de los pocos en trascender al grado de "Leyenda".… Expand

Perfect 10!
Still holds up fine today, and completely outclass most newer games... just have to get used to the dated graphics abit, but after an hour or so into it, you wont even think about graphics anymore.

I can't believe I'm going to review a game that's 15 years old, but I'm bored so here it goes. When FFVII first came out I was absolutely blown away by it. Asked me then and I would have told you it was the best game ever. Now 15 years later, I will attempt to review it in a more objective manner. I recently made a FF pilgrimage of sorts, playing through every game in the main series, so my impressions are still fresh in mind. Obviously, I cannot really talk about the graphics as being 15 years old, that's hardly going to be fair. But I do remember how awesome I thought they were as a kid. The battle system made me very nostalgic for the way JRPG's used to be. Simple but deep, and you can clear this game without having to resort to grinding out levels. The game features a wide variety of mini-games, most of which are a great amount of fun (I must have done that snowboarding game about 50 times before I moved on). The big question though is how does the story and characters hold up. I truly hated Advent Children, and honestly I have been pretty disappointed by the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII as a whole. After playing through the game , it was crystal clear why there is a Compilation: The story is one of the finest told in the series. Cloud isn't as emo as he has become, Sephiroth is still a menacing figure, Barrett is still a racist Mr. T. Ripoff, and Rufus Shinra is still the most interesting character. Overall, for all younger gamers I recommend picking this one up on the PSN. Don't miss out on one of the best games in the franchise!… Expand

A little tear is coming down on my face thinking that with the horrible games we have today there will never be a masterpiece like FF VII. Long live FF VII and good old J-RPGs.

Final Fantasy 7 is a decent game. i have played 7-8 times. Everytime i play, the scene and atmosphere make you seems to living inside the game. This game not only RPG Genre, One part of it is Adventure,
Full of secret area, bosses in the open area, you can use highwind travel in the air, or submarine in the sea or chocoboo(like a bird) to explore secret area. In early stage of the game, you are in the city of Midgar, a future-like design city impress you. Soon You will then go to open map and start your trip,
the Open Map main theme is very enjoyable, i sometimes stop a while listen to it until it ends. Also many BGM is enjoyable. Such as Tifa scheme, Aerith theme, Battle scheme, one winged angel(boss theme)etc. Character design is epic, each character has their own story. And look like they have soul even this is a game. When Aeris died, Cloud driven to crazy, and with BGM, i sure you must be in touch. In later stage of the game, after 20-30 hours, you come back Midgar city, it feels like i am back home. FF7 most impress me is the cut-scene CG, the Opening scene is epic and has something to do with ending scene(aeris appear first and last). FF7 give you not epic gameplay, but what you are in touch with the story by incredible CG, BGM, Character design. It is the best RPG game ever, since i have played FF9, 10, 13-2
which not comparable with FF7. i give a 10+1 score.… Expand

What an epic game this was/is. I absolutely love how this game starts out, I'd say the best beginning ever in a video game (The city of Midgar). Every aspect of this game is awesome, whether it's the battles/bosses, music, or story, they are all amazing!!! I would have to say that this game is hands down the best FF ever made, and that's saying a lot for such an incredible series. If you can get passed the boxy character models in this game, you are in for one truly enjoyable ride! A bit of advice, this game is definitely challenging and is what makes it great. You could be doing fine and then all of a sudden a boss will decimate you. You then have to go out and level up, which is fun to do. The secrets and Golden Saucer adds a lot of fun content as well and FF7 has some serious end game content. Not to mention this game also has one of the slickest end bosses and the most beautiful soundtrack of all.… Expand

A game that blew me away then and is just as much fun now. Called "The game that sold the Playstation" and I can see why. It's fun and entertaining, with hours and hours of gameplay and more if you like exploring and levelling up to be mega hard come the boss fights. Plus lots of the coolest characters and definately coolest bad guy. Once you can explore the world it's truly epic, with side quests. With FFXII and Persona4, this is a stand out game, it's just epic, as simple as that. One of the best games I've ever played, which is saying a lot, and even though it seems ancient now and dated its still a game i come back too. With Suikoden and Grandia II its the cream of RPG… Expand

Simply the best game ever.
The music, characters, storyline and environments work together to make the best game ever. Just in the sheer amount of work that was undergone to make this game, it is a labor of love and it shows.
Incredible. Epic.

This is by far my favorite RPG of all time. I consider Legend of Zelda OoT/Chrono Trigger close to it though, and still playing Final Fantasy 6, but the mood in this game just appeals to me so much more. The spin offs they released are utter crap though, so I'm not some blind fanboy. Being one of the only games to really get me attached to the story, even though people consider it overrated, but the flawless mood the game sets is beyond anything I have ever seen in another game since it.

You jump right into the gameplay without some long boring cinematic and it is one of the best execution of story progression in RPG history. This game is a must play for everyone, no matter how your preferences for games are.

I just wish Square-Enix could make games like this again. You will unlikely see another classic fantasy for a long time, so you better play the classics until then.… Expand

With Final Fantasy VII, it became clear to me that SCEA had no idea what makes me actually want to play an RPG. Sure, the graphics were interesting, but the game play was so ridiculously slow. Also, the graphics often made the game MORE difficult, because it isn't clear where you can travel and which areas are merely background. The linear storyline left little room for exploration. And the ridiculously long cinematics that accompany some of the combat maneuvers were just unbearable. I totally understand how many people love this game: the story was more complex than most games up to this point. However, the obsession with story and graphics over gameplay made this one a game I wish I could have returned to the store.… Expand

Final Fantasy VII is a classic game and it deserves to be a classic game. It has a great story and great characters that make you want to play the entire game and also give it a high replay value. The only down side of the game is the turn based combat but that was the norm for the time in which it was made. If your looking for a good classic RPG to play Final Fantasy VII is defiantly a must play and that is why it deserves a 10 out of 10.… Expand

As close to perfection in a game as you're ever likely to see. The finest sound track in gaming history, orchestral and oozing with atmosphere which suits the beautifully drawn scenery. The character graphics, whilst not A-grade stuff, have charm in abundance, radiating atypical JRPG at every turn (see Cait Sith for details!) Speaking of the characters, every single one of them are memorable by name, even if you haven't played the title for a decade. The Turks, Yuffie, Vincent... these are side characters yet they roll off the tongue. Even the enemies do; Emerald Weapon remains ingrained in the minds of a whole generation of gamers.

And the story... I doubt that we'll see anything that comes close to it ever again. To this day the only game to have legitimately made me cry with a scene that anyone who has played this game will know about.

In short, it's a classic in every sense of the word. If they ever re-release this on a modern platform it will sell out again and again, because even if you've put 100+ hours into this title you still want more.

There are minor faults, don't get me wrong. But they really are minor to the point of not worth mentioning - for example, there's a few translation issues, one or two of the mini games are frustrating, the world map can be confusing and chocobo breeding is nigh on impossible without a guide, but that's literally it. If you're a gaming enthusiast and haven't played this title, go out now, buy a PlayStation 1 from a second hand store and pick up a copy of FF7 - because your gaming career isn't complete without a showdown with Sephiroth on your CV.

It's probably the only game I'll ever score a legitimate 10/10 for, because when taken as a package, in terms of duration, replayability, storyline, atmosphere, gameplay... it's perfect, and I don't think it'll ever be beaten.… Expand

From nowadays viewpoint the graphics might be terrible. Since this aspect doesnt make a game worse for my part, I can still say: epic game. Deep story, interesting gameplay, awesome characters, challenging fights, fine balancing... Today still one of the best games ever made.

You just can't consider yourself a serious gamer if you haven't tried this game. Everything here is great: great story, great battle mechanics, great character development, great amount of items, great characters, great length... So, basically, you need to play this game at least once in your life.

Final Fantasy has only been able to do something better than this once: Final Fantasy X. This is THE game of the PS1, flawless. Beautifully made and it also has the best story line ever.
This game must never be seen as "overrated" for it truly stands up to its legendary title

A masterpiece.

In short, the most defining RPG of the 32-bit era! It's existence spawned a slew of inferior spin off games and movies, but most importantly helped establish the genre and it's transition from 2D to 3D. Good Plot, hours worth of side quests, great music, rewarding, & addictive. Visuals are obviously dated, but remain charming and were amazing for it's time.

Perhaps the greatest video game ever made. The story is engrossing, the graphics...were...awesome, the gameplay is awesome, and then there's Chocobo racing.

VERY GOOD GAME! People *cough* I mean kids think the game is bad because of the bad graphics and bad gameplay. Yet the graphics are very good for that time. The gameplay is solid and very well written.
People so say this game is bad never played through it OR are very young. go back to playing call of duty you kids.

Decent game, not as strong as the other titles in the series. Interesting character development but the plot seemed forced at times. Audio is about what you can expect for an early PS1 game, nothing too impressive. Same goes for graphics, unfortunately these graphics do not age well at all. Notable exception to that is the cut scenes, which do look good even today. Gameplay itself is alright, the materia system is very well done, but other than that not much stands out to me about the battle system.

Now, I fully admit I didn't play this game until a few years after it had been released. As such many people may disagree with my comments about the graphics since I was indeed comparing them to other, later titles on the PS1.… Expand

Please excuse me if at any moment i offend any one,but i was just reading all of the bad reviews and i can't believe it.... this game is not only a classic, but its amazing in every way especially for its time. the main character is a mystery. That provides curiosity to the player "whats going on?" "who is this guy?" "what is SOLDIER?" and a billion more questions. Its has everything it needs to engross a player in to the game the music is catchy and nice. I feel the graphics are good for its time other disagree that's fine because in any case the story makes up for it. this game was and could still be considered one of the best games ever. the fact there is no voice act provides for the mind to work its imagination a bit. if u like sure some things some times make little sense, but these things are just part of what makes it that much better it leaves you wanting more. this game is so good that i freaking played 6h straight slept 4h only to play another 6h. this game is awesome and i still cant believe there exist people who don't like it... it makes me sad. But, seriously get this game u'll love it and if u don't your'e one of the few who can't appreciate true genies. No offense.… Expand

Final Fantasy VII is a true classic, one of the greatest pieces of videogame ever made and still cherished by many. It brought a graphical revolution to consoles in its release and also added a deep and powerful storyline that slowly evolves into the typical save-the-world stuff that is a mark of the Final Fantasy series. The characters are extremely charismatic, with an extremely good protagonist (people hate him because he is lazy and traumatized, but that's exactly where he's a good character) and the whole game system (from battle to menu) is extremely addictive. You'll have plenty of time of fun here, about 60 hours for those who take their time and make some of the sidequests, more if you wish to unravel every detail of this huge game that tops the content of many of today's behemoths. If you consider yourself and RPG fan and is not a crying boy who wishes only top-notch graphics of the Xbox and PS3, Final Fantasy VII still tops most of the others games of the genre.… Expand

Final Fantasy VII is the epic RPG ever made. It came in 1997 with pure magic, dreams and a beauty never dresses. Those that we it play it, we discover a video game with heart.

I really do not want to give this game a poor rating, because I truly believe that this game succeeded in living up to the hype... but only the first time I played it. After that, the more glaring holes in the story began popping up. Other than that, the characters are lifeless tropes upon tropes. Only a few characters did I actually like, those being Red XIII, Cid, Cloud before he became all emo and whiny in Advent Children, and Cait Sith. Yes, I actually like Cait Sith. Please don't kill me. But other than those three, the other characters are lifeless, emotionless, and are pretty much there to fill their cliche. And despite the lame main characters, I also think that the main villain, Sephiroth, is also one of the weakest in the franchise. His motivations are honestly very stupid, and his final form was very lame. The music is... okay, I guess. Only Crazy Motorcycle really stood out to me in the game's massive soundtrack, but other than that, I either dismissed the rest of them or just did not like them (ONE WINGED ANGEL IS OVERRATED). And the story is a pretty flawed one, which I'm sad to say, because this is STILL one of the better storylines in the Final Fantasy series!

So, as a final say, this game really suffers from cliched characters, really gaping plot holes, a dismissible soundtrack, and… Expand

Loving all the 0 rage on this page, really...a lot of people saying poor graphics haha really? These graphics were mind blowing when this game came out in the 90's. Game play is incredible and the game takes many many hours to complete. This may not be your favorite game but when you bash it and rate it a 0 you fail at life... this game is PERFECTION PERIOD.

Best RPG of all times if not the best game of all time. Considering that the last PlayStation game to be released was in 2005, or 2004 depending on the region, of course there are going to be games with better graphics. You also have to consider art direction and the context of the game. Saying Minecraft is a terrible game because it isn't as pretty as Skyrim isn't a valid argument, and how much VO do you want out of a game. As I recall, possibly incorrectly, game like chrono cross, released 2 or 3 years later had about as much as FF7. 327-18 is a substantial enough lead for me however.… Expand

A sprawling and enthralling game that always has a new trick up its sleeve. This game is seen as a classic and deserves the title. Though not quite as brilliant as FF6, this game is still bursting with originality, heart, action and just about anything else you would ever want from a video game.

Simply the best. Of course, perfection doesn´t exist, but I think this is the videogame most near it. Why? Everything is incredible: its story, its characters, music, battle system. Also the graphics were amazing by the time it was released. I was not interested at all in Final Fantasy until I finished it. Now I´m a final fantasy fan, only because of it. Trust me, this game will learn you to appreciate the world of videogames and to value how a good game must be. If you don´t like it, it´s because you haven´t played it well. Anyone who loves videogames should have it.… Expand

One of my all-time favorite games, and my favorite Final Fantasy game. It's a long and good game with lots of character and excitement. The combat system and game mechanics i general is rock solid, the characters deep and the plot complex, but not too over the top either. A must-play for all fans of the series and RPG's alike

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Some people commenting here are very jaded. I recently tried to re-play this game, and over 15 years later, it was to a certain extent tedious, but considering how many great RPG's have come out and how far game development has come in that amount of time, it's really no surprise. However, to those saying the story was horrible, perhaps you play alot of shooters with extremely linear and copy pasted stories. I am HUGE on story development, and must say in today's era of gaming, that aspect is truly lacking. The story of FF7 was one of the deepest and most immersing I have experienced. It was intricately written and placed, each main character had their own background fleshed out (which is alot more than most games can say these days), how they all came together, some purposely, some seemingly random. The characters played off each other very well, to the point that you feel as if you're part of it while they convey their emotions into you. When Aeris dies, you almost feel yourself die a little inside. When you learn of Cloud's mysterious past, you find that most of what he believes is not necessarily true, and that he lived vicariously through Zack n Sephiroth. His tortured, twisted, demented mind shows exactly why he is a man of few words, and little emotion. The many twists throughout the story, I found at the time to be quite unexpected and enthralling. Each little FMV sequence and dialogue tying this illustrious narrative together. Not to mention the sand-box aspect of the game, where there are so many side-quests, that involve more than just stupid fetch quests (the side quests of today's RPG's), that sometimes also add to the story, or tie up a loose end, were imaginative and great. The arcade! Awesome! In today's RPG's fetch quests are all of the sidequests. That and crafting items, lame... If you can honestly say you dislike this game, or think it's overrated, you are missing a part of your soul. Or you enjoy the horrible re-hash of Oblivion that is every RPG coming out these days, which every single one is lacking in story, but it's ok, you can mash the A button all day and feel satisfied. I'll enjoy what yesteryear has to offer, while you drone the simple minded, lackluster stories, un-artistic, button mashing crap of today's generation. You are probably the same people that hated the new Duke Nukem, because it didn't have really-real-realistic graphics and it wasn't MW3. It's people like you that killed awesome epic gaming, in exchange for marketing research that makes every game these days a remake of last year's game of the year... Bring on some more epic Turn-based RPG's, screw these brainless idiots!… Expand

best game ever. No videogame storyline has ever affected me in such a way. I've probably played it around 7 or 8 times. But about 6 months after I play it, i want to again. No other game is like that for me. Also, best music. The piano collections are incredible. 8, 9, and 10 are great, but the stories aren't nearly as good. Thats why I'm always surprised to hear 7 isn't somebody's favorite

Maybe it's the fact that I played this game too late. First time I beat it beginning to finish was freshman year in my college career back in 2009 so the impact on me was not so great vs those fans who played it as a kid back in 1997. But nonetheless the story is alright along with game play and the character. The biggest thing I didn't like was the music and the moody atmosphere. Maybe its because I already had standard for video games and this was far from the first video game I ever played so impression I got from this game was not as good as some other RPGs. But I pay my respect to what is consider one of the greatest video game ever made.… Expand

Final Fantasy VII is one of the greatest video games of all time, amazing characters, amazing story and amazing soundtrack, there is no other final fantasy like it and or ever will be, an amazing video game a complete Masterpiece

This game is fantastic. By far the best of its time and my favorite and likely the best pure rpg ever. The plot is well written and despite bad graphics this game managesn to make every pixel count. The story is shrowded in mystery and you uncover many twists in the plot that will affect you emotionnaly. It is a game with many secrets and skills at your disposal. Im on my second playthrough and there are still things i want to go back and do. Still secrets i find. Still a game that amazes me… Expand

The game that made me love gaming. If you never played it, do yourself a favor and do so. A little outdated graphics wise but nothing a remake will not fix, hint hint Square. But don't let that stop you from playing this great game.

I have recently begun a playthrough of all of the Final Fantasy games I own including some I missed out on as a child (I, IV and V). I was bitterly disappointed with the newest effort and wanted to lose myself in a time when I really loved this series. I hadn't played this game in 6 years so I was looking forward to it. As soon as the camera pans down from the stars and you see Aerith I got chills, and I realized while playing that the atmosphere and the edge Final Fantasy used to have is long gone, as well as the ability to make me care for characters. Now this game isn't perfect no matter what the overzealous fans say; the mechanics are dated, the translation is botched and the disc 2 pacing is weird to say the least....but the charm of the game is so powerful that I was able to overlook it. And the music is truly magnificent.… Expand

If someone asks me what my favourite game of all time is, the answer is quick and blunt; Final Fantasy VII. I bought this game solely because on the back there was a man on a snowboard. Little did I know of the magnitude of my decision. FFVII introduced me to the JRPG genre, and I fell in love. The story starts small but evolves into a brilliant, thorough, engaging epic. You connect with each and every character in the game. Be it the ones you control or the ones you face. You never lose track of your main goal but can spend hours exploring and then continuing on your focus. As you progress you develop your characters, learn more about their history and the major plot. Everything is just so perfectly synchronized. The atmosphere, music, scenery, characters, combat and enemies ties together in such a great epic adventure I had never in my life experienced. It's now been 13 years since the release and at the time the graphics and cinematics were beyond what you would expect for the console. As time went by and the Final Fantasy franchise slowly rotted into the ground, releasing games that would never compare to this classic. Changing a system that was far from broken and generally tearing up the name, this game stands out as the best achievement of Squaresoft. I keep trying out their newest installment only to stop half way ending up back where I started. Graphics is not as important anymore. I would rather play a good game with outdated graphics than a shallow cosmetic excuse of a game. If you haven't tried this game yet, you're in for a treat irrelevant of the graphics.… Expand

A great game. Not the best in the series though. Sure, it had newer 3D graphics, but it has 2D characters and a plot that really needed some refining. And as many people know, graphics do not make a game awesome. A new wave of FF (and rpg) fans surged in with the release of this game and has become a demi god amongst them. Definitely pick it up.

Best game ever made PERIOD. Everything about it was incredible characters, customization the works so detailed. Its this very game that got me into RPG and gaming altogether

By far my most FAVORITE game of all time. Everything in this masterpiece is a living work of art, and is truly what every gamer should experience. We follow Cloud, an ex-member of SOLDIER, who soon joines a group AVALANCHE, and tries to stop midgar from sucking up all of the earth's life. The story is greatly emotional, from twist after twist. The game also features only the greatest villain of all time, Sephiroth. The music is the best in the industry, and in my opinion better than Mario or Zelda (OPINION!), and the graphics may not be the best, but it was 1997, what do you expect? The fighting is a turn-based style, and works not only in a RPG way, but can be action-like, and have a lot of strategy to it. If you're breeding chocobos one place, or riding down snow mountains in the other, FF7 has as much content to last for a couple of days. The characters are the best part, from cloud, to tifa, to cid, you will get many memorable characters who are known today as the best ever imagined by Square. Ultimately, this is the BEST Final Fantasy ever made, and will always be in my heart as my favorite game of all time.… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Hands down the best game I've ever played. Surprising since the first few hours were shaky, and I was only spurred on by my friend telling me I needed to keep going....

First few hours review: The graphics seem dodgy, your character is made out of a triangle or two. You get text instead of voice acting. You get dumped into a battle system that seems unnatural and clunky. The story is an infantile anti-corporate mess. The main character has no personality. 3/10

Final review: The graphics are great, the crappiness of your characters becomes loveable and the technique used for the backgrounds creates a unique and beautiful world, that actually looks great. The world map is awesome, and the variety and sheer character of the environments is breathtaking. At one point you return to the city you started in after being away on your travels for a while and it's an utter joy just because you get to experience the place again. An utterly immersive world.
The text dialogue overcomes the uselessness of every piece of voice acting ever in a video game, and the script is amazing. I actually care what each person has to say, and I find myself emotionally invested not only in my own character but every one of the supporting cast I pick up along the way.
The battle system is the best I have ever used, you will find yourself using every technique it has to offer, magic, summons and melee all have their place and you will use them equally. The balance is perfect, if you follow the story without spending hours levelling up for the sake of it each battle is just the right difficulty.
The story itself is a piece of artistic genius. I never cared so much about a computer game, ever. It has all the action, comedy and drama you would ever want, and then goes further to touch on deeper subjects like destiny, good and evil, the meaning of life, love, death, self worth, all of that stuff. Just beautiful. At times you will struggle to hold back tears and in other moments you will be punching the air with win. Your character is a heavily flawed guy, and his victories are not only defeating his enemies, but defeating the significant emotional issues he has been carrying around. It was brave on the part of the writers to put such weaknesses into a main character, but for me it made me root for him way more than if he was standard hero dude with a "kind of troubled" past. This fella is actually a total freak, and to pull himself out of the mental rut he's in gives him more power than could be achieved otherwise. Another wonderful thing about his flaws is they are pretty much the same weaknesses as the bad guy, but because of how Sephiroth deals with them you hate him equally as much as you love Cloud. That's a lot, by the way. This guy is the ultimate badass, and two of his scenes in particular (fire in a village, sword in a back) are the most frightening and shocking things you will see in a video game. A guy that is genetically the same as Cloud, starting with the same identity crisis, but by the end battle so hateful that you are hell bent on annihilating him. Shakespearean I tell ya. And you will be rewarded after the battle with the simplest but most badass automated showdown you could ever see. OOOOOMMMNIIIISLLLASSHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Oh and the soundtrack is one of the best ever. Unforgettable.

I could go on, I mean I really could go on for a long time describing all the good things in this game. I've played it over 1000 hours (really) since it came out all those years ago, and nothing has surpassed it for me since. Metal Gear Solid is sitting all scratched up in a press somewhere, Gran Turismo gets whipped out every couple of years for a race or two. Medal of Honour has had about 100 better successors and I don't know where that disc is anymore. Final Fantasy 7 on the other hand will always have a place under my TV. Impossible to beat. If you've never played it, find the game and a psx if necessary. And as my friend told me all those years ago, stick through the first couple of hours, by god will you be glad you did.… Expand

Sephiroth is an example of one of those game villains who just "don't" die. The earlier villain offering, Kefka, from Final Fantasy VI was manical, psychotic, and succeeded in scorching the earth. When he died, that was it, he died. Playing whack-a-mole with Sephiroth got boring. It's hard to tell he's even the villain. You start the game fighting Shinra corp. You might ask yourself why you have to even fight Sephiroth. I wondered the same thing.

Onto the parts I loved. I loved having a nice variety of characters to choose from. I loved the materia system, exploring the world and finding new bosses to kill. The Golden Saucer was awesome, lots of minigames and other things to do. More RPG developers need to learn players love having a mid-game hub to do other tasks rather than advancing the story. It's a shame square hasn't learned from their success though, as newer games in the series usually lack anything with 10% of the depth of the Golden Saucer.

Main villain was weak, but it's still a great RPG experience, a far gap between a 9 and 10 though.… Expand

A game with a well-written story that broke ground for showcasing its revolutionary 3D visuals. Not my favorite title in the Final Fantasy series, but still an enjoyable ride nonetheless. Unfortunately, the success of said title has spawned its own mediocre sequel in the form of a movie, Advent Children. The game itself is not as overrated as some people would lead you to believe. It's just... really popular.… Expand

I am going to give it a 10, just because of the mini games. I have not seen any other game with so many different mini games: snowboarding, motorcycling and the strategy game where you defended the base with different troops.

Of course there is still: arm wrestling, boxing, basketball, piano, chocobo racing, shooting game at speed square, torpedo attack the submarine simulator and many other for example in Gold Saucer.… Expand

If there was such thing as a perfect game, this would most likely be it. It still outmatches many titles to this date. It's a serious shame there are not many games as good as Final Fantasy 7.

This was the last truly great FF game for me. Granted, it's not as good as 6, but it's pretty darn good. They replaced the elegance of 6's relic/esper system with a combined "materia" system. The materia develop with use, and can be swapped between characters. This allows for some really interesting economics in the way you choose to develop and assign materia. Many of the negative user reviews seem to focus on the weak storyline. That may be true. Frankly, I don't play FF games for the stories. For me, the joy of RPGs is in the economics of item management and in this department, FF7 excels.… Expand

This game is still one of the best RPG's ever made, let alone one of the best games ever made. A fantastic narrative, with a story line that builds up enough tension to warrant continuing to play through the rest of the fantastic campaign that this game is based around. Some of the people below who gave it 0 are abosolutely ridiculous and they clearly don't know what makes a well developed game. As someone who is studying game development I know what I'm talking about and the design aspects are fantastic. Someone below in their review talks about 'no voice'. Voice acting doesn't make a game and also consider the time this masterpiece was made back in 1997 for the rise of the playstation home console system. NOT at all overrated an absolute gem everyone should try, now just need a remake :)… Expand

FFVII not only changed the history of gaming, it made a footprint impossible to fade away, this game as more time keeps passing by, much better it gets. Soothing music score, nice graphics, cool RPG system and the best story in all the FF and Maybe all the video games to date.

Favorite game ever. If you haven't played, and don't mind oldschool graphics, then this game will not disappoint.

A decent game with various flaws including two-dimensional characters, lackluster gameplay and a story that suffers from being too complex and pretentious for it's own good.

It is a good game and very enjoyable and I do recommend it, however various elements of the story are not quite what the game's die-hard fans will want you to believe.

Definitely in the Top 3 JRPG's ever and top 5 RPG's ever. Great characters, fantastic storyline, ahead of its time with its 3D graphics. The other +'s includes that it had a gigantic 3D world to explore, it had a wonderful music selection (loved the battle music) and it had just the right amount of mini-games to spice things up without becoming ridiculous. Few games captivated me more as a kid, and I doubt most of the new games ever will. This game is definitely a worthy contender as one of the greatest games ever.

P.S. I could live without a remake. It might be nice, but I enjoy the original enough to play it without HD graphics.… Expand

I liked this game but 8 and 10 are by a clear mile the best ever final fantasy games. Square soft made the good games and square Enix are just total garbage!

The Story of FF VII is well known for a good reason. Its a complex and deep story sucking you in and never letting you out. Also the Materia System is really fun, because you have many and interesting combinations. Great game.

To keep it simple. Plot = Hit and miss but one of the most involving and epic in the series. Gameplay = Reached the zenith of JRPGs. Graphics = Gouraud shading looks horrible nowadays but at the time was incredibly atmospheric. Music = Incredibly well done for a VG at the time. It doesn't really bother me nowadays but when you play it again the translations in the game are truly laughable.

Final Fantasy VII is an experience that everyone should try at least once. I have played through it a few times and I can say that this game truly deserves a medal. I honestly believe that it is the best game that has ever been made based on several factors. For me, Storyline is a big factor. FF7 is a game that actively progresses through the story. There are no long breaks where nothing seems to happen. The actual battling is turn based, rapid, and thrilling. Containing an almost never ending assortment of difficult and amusing enemies and bosses that will keep you entertained throughout all three disks. The plot is immense, with surprises, twists, and excitement up until the stunning climax. Graphics wise, the game is not lacking. Although the characters may be somewhat blocky, the battles and cut scenes are magnificent. The soundtrack is one of my favorite parts of the game. The soundtrack fits well with the gameplay and the battle themes are just amazing. Overall, I give it a perfect 10.… Expand

Amazing game worth playing again and again. One of the greatest games of all time with a impressive one-hundred hour length and fantastic graphics for its time. The graphics today will look aged, but the game play will still be as amazing as the day it was released. The appreciation of Japanese role play games have diminished over the years, with its only true high-definition successor being Lost Odyssey on the XBOX 360.

If you haven't played Final Fantasy VII, then I suggest you do. The characters are love-able, the game play is memorable and the game play is epic!… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Best RPG ever all other final Fantasies after this were ok but no where near as high quality as this one. It has one of the sadiest moments ever when Aerith dies. A RPG that will make u cry laught and make you feel for the characters epically cloud… Expand

This game is by far one of the most influential games of the late 1990's. Not only did it pave the way for more RPG's (In the United States), but it showed what one game has to offer. Final Fantasy VII (7) has one of the best stories of any RPG (In my opinion), amazing gameplay, and amazing graphics (For it's time, of course.) The sound quality is excellent, and the script is top notch. The music is phenomenal. The gameplay however, is more of your normal Final Fantasy turned based action, but it fits the game perfectly. If you haven't picked this one up, do so, it's amazing! (You can get a copy off the Playstation network for a low price!)… Expand

What can i say, excellent cast of characters with interesting backgrounds and even though this games has one of the best stories ever in my opinion that is not what make Final Fantasy VII shine above the rest. Both Xenogears and Chrono Cross had deeper and more interesting stories, but what makes this game my all time favorite is the world itself. You will explore every corner of a huge planet, from the huge and futuristic city of Midgar, to the lost Forgotten Capital, hidden temples, deserts, snow, underwater and a little bit of outer space and everything fits together in a perfect mix (science vs magic). The game is very unpredictable (especially when disc2 kicks in) and never gets boring even though it is 50 hours long. However stay away from the recently released spin-offs Dirge of Cerberus and Advent Children! While in the original game Cloud was a messed up and confused soul, in the AC version he is just a emo punk.
My conclusion of this game is simple: Masterpiece!… Expand

It is a great game for it's time, seeming to be a major step from the previous games. The one creative perspective of the game is it's plot. Of course, the game play is also very creative in that on top of fighting monsters, you may have to do somewhat goofy objectives in the game - like one part towards the beginning... Anyways, anyone who thinks this looks like a good game and has the ability to play it, I believe you'll enjoy it!… Expand

My first RPG. This game introduced me to my current favorite genre. Everything about this game is amazing and even to this day it's hard to replicate the enjoyment this game produced at the time.

Incredible game. Not perfect - there were some mini-games I didn't like (the condor fortress RTS thing for one) and I thought the battles went slowly considering how much you needed to level up. Party/item/materia management was a bit tedious, but it was vital to your success. The story had me entranced for the most part. I was completely surprised and intrigued when you find out Cloud may not be Cloud, though it felt slightly forced (Tifa should have said something way earlier). And FFVII is much more a game than modern RPGs. There's a lot you have to figure out on your own and some alternate directions the story can take in addition to sidequests. It's much more interactive. Also, I was surprised at how long the game actually took to finish and all the content and areas there were to explore. The monsters were....freaking random, but original. I loved the pre-final battle against giant Sephiroth where you had two parties to use. It made me a little disappointed when I got to the real final battle (talk about slow and tedious). But I really did fall in love with it when I played it. The character development is incredible and I loved the whole package despite a few complaints here and there.… Expand

a great RPG and one of the best of the FF series . almost every thing about this game is great , a excellent combat system and i loved the materia system . a solid story , around 40+ hours of gameplay depending on what you all do , fantastic graphics for its day , intresting charicters , the plot flows perfectly , lots of side stuff to do . about my only 2 gripes with this game is the final boss battle with jenova and sephroth are way to easy . even though on my second play through i speed ran at is fast as i could and jenova and sephroth are just a cake walk to beat . the ending also sucks but if you see FF7 advent children it does help improve it . still despite that this is a real solid RPG in every other department ,… Expand

Formula for an incredible game;
Memorable characters: check.
Substantial length: check.
Complex narrative: check.
Climactic ending: check.
Popular to spawn its own mini-series: check.

All this, and other things, make Final Fantasy VII an incredible game, which I will say is NOT overrated.

Mmmm...........................materia......................

I'm going to have to agree with Chris B B, Raxsah W and the others below who said this is overrated. Look, i'll give the game the credit it deserves; It was the first game to really make RPG's mainstream, perhaps even cool. In some ways it was influential. The graphics, music and storyline set new standards for PS1 and it just felt bigger and more epic then any RPG before it. However it has also aged badly in some ways as well. Anyone who isn't blinded by fanboyism can see that this is basically a conventional RPG with dated turn based combat, a good plot and excellent PS1 graphics and sound. Ther's nothing TRULY innovative about FF7 or it's gameplay and that's the point that fanboys calling it the best game ever need to think about (not that they will). There are games on the PS1, even, that are more innovative, with gameplay that TRULY pushes bounderies; Metal Gear Solid for example. So fanboys, you're entitled to your opinion but i think you're all deluded. FF7 is NOT the best game ever. FF7 is NOT the best game on the PS1. FF7 is NOT even the best RPG ever. FF7 is just a very good game.… Expand

Where does one begin? Do we address the attention to detail with scenery and weapons. Or do we grasp onto the easy to understand and execute gameplay? FFVII is very much, an RPG of the "golden age". It provided more story than any game of any genre at the time, and catered to the elitist in many. FF7 was just that good. It still is. Especially when companies are nickel and dime-ing with DLC. We get to see what a complete and full game feels like. If I had to describe the genre FF7 is in, I would call it RPG Sandboxing. As nothing is linear unless the player makes it so, and even the limit breaks can be put on hold while you play a decent array of mini games. The game is the epitome of micron managing. If playing at Gold Saucer isn't for the player, one could raise and breed Chocobo's. Or explore hidden areas, or even locate that favorite weapon. FF7 has it all. Wish to pick up and play? then theres nothing to it. The game is as simple as Checkers and as complex as Chess. This is not a "like it or hate it" game, that term doesn't even apply to this, the game has far too many things to do, that even people who prefer a different type of genre will easily enjoy FF7. The story is immersive, the characters actually develop, and the plot is easy to follow without getting preachy. FF7 does what most 60 dollar Xbox games can't. Keep in mind this was when games like Zelda 64 came out. FF7 delivers.… Expand

This is the best FF in the series, and if not the best, defiantly one of the best game in any system (from Atari to ps3). The game included wonderful cinematic scenes, incredible story, socking moments, a feeling of connection with the characters and incredible fights. If the older remember the moment in time when FF went from 2d to 3d and made a huge impact in the whole industry with it stunning backdrops and design. Enix's favourite. Truly innovative for its time.… Expand

Incredibly overrated. Don't get me wrong, it is a good game but I think that this 'cult' following that it has going on is way over the top. For one, there is really no attatchment between gamer and character. I mean, come on Cloud, where is your sense of personality? I know why he's like that, I know the background so you cannot tel me I do not know what I'm talking about and it's perfectly understandable, it just doesn't make for good gameplay. The storyline is average at best. You have an evil scientist experiment with human and alien DNA, off the rail Soldier who goe mad after learning about the experiments he underwent and a giant meteor about to hit the planet. Which part of that storyline is terribly imaginative I ask you? The only thing that particularly strikes me as interesting is the story of Jenova. Graphics. Need I go on? Even the graphics on the earlier N64 games are better than that. I will admit that graphics aren't everything in a good game, but they do help and if they are too poor then the overall enjoyment of the game is lowered. The only game I lthroroughly enjoyed in the FF7 series would have to be Crisis Core, but I won't go into that because that shoudl be saved for a different thread =] Overall, I do not believe that people should hold this game on a pedestal as they currently do as it is simply not worth the effort. However, I would recommend at least playing part of it; borrow it off a friend maybe? It's a bit like marmite this game, you either love it or you hate it so it's best to try it out before you make an opinion on it.… Expand

What can i say about FFVII besides that it is hideously overrated. I think the only thing it deserves credit for is being the first step toward 3d rpgs but i always found it to be a very flimsy step. If you honestly look at FFVII and all it has to offer you find that the only thing that it improved or introduced were better graphics. the gameplay was just like the other ATB bar based FF games and the materia system was surprisingly similar to that of 6. overall the storyline was nothing special. the characters are one of the most overrated things about this game. The have flair and style but no personality to back it up. let me tell you something kids, having a big sword and spikey hair does not make you a good, well written character. the characters, in my opinion, lacked that certain depth to draw me in. While a decent game for the time it was not revolutionary. What gamers saw, was the same thing they had been playing for years, but now in a fancy 3D coating. Consequently, every little thing FFVII seemed revolutionary and original just because this was the first time they were seeing this stuff in 3D. just because it introduced nicer graphics, that does not make it a masterpiece. when it comes down to it, the future of RPGs wasn… Expand

To consider this game's rating, I'd have to say I'll compare to when it came out, because that's when I got it. The graphics were a revolutionary idea, even though now the polygons look horrible and deformed, it had a captivating story, characters and soundtrack, and the battles were enjoyable, especially the battles with Emerald and Ruby WEAPON.

O.K. this is a very fun, addictive RPG in fact the best final fantasy game ever unless a miracle happens and they mke ff7 2 but that will never happen sadly but this is a MUST HAVE!!!!!!!!

Out of the Final Fantasy games I've played, this is not my favorite. That honor goes the Final Fantasy VI. In fact, I think this game is a bit overrated. However, it is still an unforgettable classic that RPG fans should definitely play. (As if there's any RPG fan that hasn't played it.) I must say, after playing through it recently, I think the polygonal models have aged horribly, at least out of battle. I realize the game is 12 years old, so I wasn't expecting Killzone 2 calibur graphics, but they're still almost painful to look at. I'm sure they were truly mind-blowing when the game first was released, but it's 2009 now. In battle, they're actually still impressive, in a way.The summons in particular are still awesome to look at. The pre-rendered backgrounds still hold up, as well. The story is somewhat confusing, but I found it entertaining and even moving at times. At times Sephiroth's motives were unclear to me. (Even more confusing was that it wasn't even Sephiroth...O.o) I also had trouble figuring out who exactly Cloud is, but for the sake of spoiler-avoidance, I won't go into detail. (Though I'm sure most of you have probably heard the story, anyway.) The gameplay holds up well. Lots of classic ATB battles are to be had, and it's fun tweaking your characters and making them into machines of destruction. One of my favorite things about Final Fantasy VII is the music. Nobuo Uematsu created a masterpiece with the game's soundtrack. Just look up some orchestrated versions of some of the songs, and I'll guarantee you'll be in awe. While I still think that Final Fantasy VII is overrated and has too many fanboys, I can't deny it's a great game. I can't imagine that any serious RPG fans are left that haven't played it, but if there are, I'd recommend they check it out.… Expand

Final Fantasy VII is not a bad game, but it's certainly not a great one either. There are a good number of memorable moments and the story is decent, but the spotty pacing, strict adherence to linearity, terrible dialogue and boring battles that take up far too much of the game bring down what is otherwise a masterpiece. People tend to remember the good parts of the game and fail to understand that more or less everything has aged atrociously.… Expand

The best game ever made, without a doubt. An incredible storyline and great characters add to the perfectly suited music of the game and pioneering (heheh) graphics of the game to make it one of few games I could play forever and never stop loving it.

Anyone who rates this game lower then a 9 is one of those people who just likes to go a different direction then the crowd. They would do this for anything. If there was a movie everyone loved.... they would make up a reason to hate it. Best game of all time. Haters, hope you enjoy lying to yourself your whole life.

I was surprised for how long this game was! 4 discs on a playstation! i really don't know how people finish that in 10 hours! i took about 40 hours, having fun in the mini games a bit on the way... replaying the wall market side quests section for how taboo it was, i suppose. i really don't know any other game with a crossdresser as the protagonist; adding in a brothel, and a gym for gay men. I really don't know any other game that would have those things. o.o so, i'll thank Final Fantasy VII for leading much of the gaming world into 3D and being so creative about it, though i'm only exaggerating the crossdresser comment of the wall market slums part here for kicks. (but, teehee, you could get sexy cologne!)… Expand

One of my favorite games of all time, it has a intriguing story line with very in depth characters. the fighting system works amazingly well, and it can be hard at parts.here are so many secrets and things to find you will spend hours going over everything, i know i did!

one of times great masterpieces. i wont even discuss how great a game it is because i know some will unconditionally support it and others will act the same against it, but ever since i played it when i was 5 years old back in 1997 to now when i am 17 and still playing this piece, i still get emotionally involved in the huge, deep storyline. if only someone were to create a novel from this game, the artistic story could be shared to everyone, even those that love to hate video games of the sort.… Expand

I was with the detractors who are puzzled about the praise that is lavished on this game and believe it to be one of the most over rated of all time. I say was because I have had a BIG change of heart after completing the game for the second time ( after a gap of 10 years!) the other day. I finally can see what the fans have been saying all along - this is without doubt one of the greatest games of all time and probably my personal favourite game. The best 16 bit rpgs can't touch this - yes, including Chrono Trigger. I am suprised myself at how my second experience has so transformed my views and feelings about this game. I think the main reason why is that I had a grasp of the complex plot (with a bit of help from plot analysis articles by fans) much better this time around. The story and characters and music are what really lifts this game above most other story driven games. Having said that every aspect of the game is well designed including the battle system. If you have only tried this game once, not liked it much but suspect it might be worth a second try I recommend you do. You may be in for a big pleasant suprise.… Expand

I am a really huge fan of the final fantasy series, but my favorite of all times is final fantasy 7. I just wish that they still sold that game. I've been trying to find that game for a long time. Please start selling that game again. I really want to get that game. That is my number one adventure game and I love that game so much. It is awesome. Please e-mail me and let me know if you have a copy of the game. I'm starting my own game also.… Expand

The best Rpg ever. To this day, and its all in the story.

The most overrated game ever. Lots of ADD-afflicted kids worship this game and refuse to try anything 2-D. This is sad.

Perhaps not the best game of all time, but among the best. To respond to what was stated by Mike M., there are numerous flaws in his criticism. First -- the graphics were absolutely spectacular for being the beginning of the Playstation Era. I remember, after playing Final Fantasy VIII and IX, thinking back at how much "worse" the VII graphics were. However, upon playing VII again I realized my error. The fact is, they did absolutely amazing things with the resources they had. Second, regarding the characters. Mike's comments lead me to wonder if he played through the entire game, specifically to Disk 3. They do indeed start by presenting the characters as the usual stereotypes. However, through the game you find out more about each character, including some major things that make them anything but your ordinary "wooden, teen-programmed protagonists." Third, you call Sephiroth an "angst-ridden villain who we must accept as evil simply because he acts like it, with little discernible motivation." There are places you would get lynched for saying this. First, Sephiroth is perhaps one of the most complex villains of all time, because he is truly likable. In addition, his actions are clearly being influenced by an outside source (Jenova), which has an unknown degree of control over him. In addition, his relationship and history with the main character leave room for major psychological examination. I have written college papers on the subject of Sephiroth, and so I think we can drop the mistaken notion you seem to have that he is stereotypical. In addition, the primary struggle in the story is not "ultimate good versus ultimate evil." When truly examined (assuming you've played through the entire game), you can see that the primary conflict is the psychological conflict that the main character has with himself. Even the final battle can be viewed entirely as an allegory for a struggle inside his mind. "Good and evil" are not the sides presented. The "good" characters are clearly flawed, even somewhat villainous in their own ways. The "evil" characters are clearly gifted and most are very likable, despite being on the opposite side of the conflict. There were indeed more groundbreaking projects, similar deep stories, and these games should have a better reputation. This does not, however, diminish the amazing gameplay, graphics (yes, graphics), story, characters, and structure of this game. It's more than a "good JRPG." It's a great, universal RPG that is one of the most timeless classics we have seen in the genre.… Expand

This game is a work of art... I played this game for 70 hours and I had a hard time fighting the final battle not because it was hard(if you can beat the ultimate weapons, Sephiroth is nothing) it was hard becasue I did not want the game to end,this is the only game i have ever played that made me mourn at the thought of it coming to an end. The graphics were outstanding... the best of its time period. if you dont agree prove it.... tell me a title to look at. But as I remeber it, games went from SNES/SAGA graphics to FF7. the story is the greatest but in my opinion the freedom of this game is what made it the most revolutionary game I have ever played. of the 70 hours of game play 10 hours were story the other 60 were free reign of an entire world with vehicals to navagate every inch of the planet sized map, with side quest and character development that you are FREE to explore or not THIS GAME IS THE BEST GAME I HAVE EVER PLAYED.… Expand

I have to agree with tyler. i got this game when it came out first and was absolutely blown away... 1997 i think. i cant see how it could be described as sub par - sub par to what ? what else was really comparible to ff7 at the time? out of every game ive ever played i still rate it no1- best game ive ever played and im sure alot of people would agree.

How is anyone supposed to care about these characters? For being so storyline-driven, it's a very un-intriguing story.

My favorite game of all time! totally deserves a 10!