Metacritic Games

Final Fantasy VII (Playstation)

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]

Sony Computer Entertainment America
Role-Playing Game
Players: 1
T (Teen)
Developer: Squaresoft
Released June 1, 1997

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

92 / 100

Critic Reviews

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]
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.
100 PSX Nation
This is *the* one game you must buy or otherwise youll never see the true power of the PlayStation.
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.
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.
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.
95 IGN
All in all, it is impossible to not recommend Final Fanatsy VII to anyone who is even vaguely interested in RPGs.
95 GameSpot
Never before have technology, playability, and narrative combined as well as in Final Fantasy VII.
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.
92 My Gamer
With beautiful music, graphics and dynamic gameplay Final Fantasy VII is a testament to the evolution of video games.
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.
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.
90 Games Domain
Some of the best looking graphics and most involving storylines ever seen on a console.
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.
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.
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.
80 Cincinnati Enquirer
The cinematic sequences, which propel the story line, have an anime quality that is dark, foreboding and engrossing.
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.
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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