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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Final Fantasy VII
Universal acclaim
Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 303 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Squaresoft
Genre(s): Role-Playing Game
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: June 1, 1997
Summary
It seems that an evil power company called Shinra, Inc. has found a way to mine this life energy, draining it from the earth, and using it to control the universe. Fortunately, a resistance organization know as AVALANCHE, has vowed to put an end to Shinra's destructive practices. The story focuses on Cloud, an ex-soldier of Shinra, who teams up with AVALANCHE, and along the way, encounters some very mysterious and powerful allies who help him fight against the deadly creatures Shinra has created to protect its empire. You, as the game player, will decide their fate. [Squaresoft]
Also On Metacritic
FILM: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
GAMES: Final Fantasy Anthology Final Fantasy Chronicles Final Fantasy IX Final Fantasy Origins Final Fantasy Tactics Final Fantasy VIII Final Fantasy X Final Fantasy X-2 Final Fantasy XI Final Fantasy XII
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
The first PS one installment of Final Fantasy is still one of the best ever. [Mar 2002, p.34]
Read Full Review >GameShark
Every aspect of the game is virtually flawless, from its movie inspired soundtrack, to the incredibly life-like FMV, to the detailed battle and Materia systems, to the boatload of simplistic and addictive mini-games. This is what RPG fans have been waiting for.
Read Full Review >PSX Nation
This is *the* one game you must buy or otherwise youll never see the true power of the PlayStation.
Read Full Review >All Game Guide
Each character, visual graphic, mini-game and every ounce of story has a depth so amplified that it will keep players engrossed for months.
Read Full Review >Absolute Playstation
This is the current apex in RPG games. In fact it is probably one of the best OVERALL games ever created for ANY system.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
Simply amazing, and even better than the Japanese version. They balanced out the fights and added a couple of Bosses and some extra footage to the game.
Read Full Review >IGN
All in all, it is impossible to not recommend Final Fanatsy VII to anyone who is even vaguely interested in RPGs.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Never before have technology, playability, and narrative combined as well as in Final Fantasy VII.
Read Full Review >TotalGames.net
Besides the high quality visuals, real time battle is the key element that is arousing unashamed geeks around the planet for Final Fantasy VII.
Read Full Review >My Gamer
With beautiful music, graphics and dynamic gameplay Final Fantasy VII is a testament to the evolution of video games.
Read Full Review >Gamestyle
You can play the game time and time again. Always finding something new, from a new piece of materia to a new place, to defeating the ultimate weapons. The story twists and turns all the time always keeping you guessing as to what will happen next.
Read Full Review >GMR Magazine
Brought RPGs into the Western spotlight and contained the most debated plot twist of an era. [Feb 2003, p.97]
Thunderbolt
Without a doubt, FF7 is one of the top Final Fantasy games out there. It is also one of the best RPG adventures of all time.
Read Full Review >Games Domain
Some of the best looking graphics and most involving storylines ever seen on a console.
Read Full Review >netjak
I think the story sucks, but the game is excellent. The thing about Final Fantasy VII is, whether you like it or hate it, the merits of the game can always be argued very strongly from either point.
Read Full Review >Gaming Maxx
The one drawback in my opinion would be the replay value, as many people would find it pointless to replay the entire game just for a few secrets, since the story is the main reason to play a game like this.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
Hundreds of hours of visually beautiful gameplay, but its frustrating incoherence will make many people cringe and put the game aside before they have even finished.
Read Full Review >Cincinnati Enquirer
The cinematic sequences, which propel the story line, have an anime quality that is dark, foreboding and engrossing.
Read Full Review >GameCritics
If Square Soft wants videogames to be compared equally to other forms of art, then they are going to have to gain that respect by producing a game that is more intellectually and culturally aware and not a game that is essentially a video game screaming for attention and respect.
Read Full Review >Electric Playground
There is tons of RPG combat, which is a little too slow for some people and slowed even further by all of the spectacular but lengthy spell animations.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 303 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
A. Nonymous gave it an8:
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.
Dr. Bem gave it a7:
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.
Logan Disney gave it a10:
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.
[Anonymous] gave it a6:
This game isn't bad by any means, but the thing is, why does everyone say it's the best game ever? Play it over again and tell me you don't find plenty of flaws this time around. The music is great and the combat is fun for a good amount of time, but the frequent random encounters, unlikeable characters, and laughably bad dialogue keep this from being great. You can feel free to try it out, but it's definitely an acquired taste, and by that, it's for people who are highly nostalgic or have somewhat low standards. It's sixty bucks right now, money with which you could get Tales of Vesperia, which avoids all of these problems. Plus, you could even get another game on the side.
Matt B gave it a10:
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.
Mergal gave it a10:
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!)
Jacob D. gave it a10:
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!
