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Final Fantasy VII

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Final Fantasy VII
92
9.0 User Score:

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]

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...

100

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

The first PS one installment of Final Fantasy is still one of the best ever. [Mar 2002, p.34]

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100

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.

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100

PSX Nation

This is *the* one game you must buy or otherwise youll never see the true power of the PlayStation.

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100

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.

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97

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.

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95

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.

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95

IGN

All in all, it is impossible to not recommend Final Fanatsy VII to anyone who is even vaguely interested in RPGs.

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95

GameSpot

Never before have technology, playability, and narrative combined as well as in Final Fantasy VII.

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93

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.

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92

My Gamer

With beautiful music, graphics and dynamic gameplay Final Fantasy VII is a testament to the evolution of video games.

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90

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.

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90

GMR Magazine

Brought RPGs into the Western spotlight and contained the most debated plot twist of an era. [Feb 2003, p.97]

90

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.

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90

Games Domain

Some of the best looking graphics and most involving storylines ever seen on a console.

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84

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.

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83

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.

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83

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.

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80

Cincinnati Enquirer

The cinematic sequences, which propel the story line, have an anime quality that is dark, foreboding and engrossing.

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80

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.

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75

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.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 310 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
Greatest game ever made, thats all you need to know. It's perfection, better than Biosock, even better than Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time or Metal Gear Solid. It's just magnificent from start to finish, anyone that hasnt played this game, go out and buy it now,

Rayvior gave it a10:
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.

peter m gave it a10:
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.

Raxsah W gave it a5:
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.

Chris B B gave it an8:
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’t reliant on FFVII. If FVII didn’t come along we would have had something else in its place by the end of the same year and im sure that game would have become overblown just like FFVII. Other 3D rpgs were being produced at the same time as FFVII. so really, FFVII’s importance is greatly exaggerated. Bottom line, it is not the best game ever made, it is not the best RPG ever made, it is not the best final fantasy game ever made, and it is not even the best ps1 game ever made.

Derek G. gave it a10:
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.

[anonymous] gave it a10:
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!!!!!!!!

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