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Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: SCEA
Genre: RPG
Region: NTSC
Format:
Release Date: 31 Aug 97
User Rating
10 (743 votes) -
Overview
The quintessential RPG, Final Fantasy VII was a best-seller the day it hit the shelves. With three disks packed full of FMV, the game boasts the most spectacular effects of its time.
You take on the role of Cloud Strife, an ex-special forces soldier for a shady government organisation. Cloud has turned mercenary and his first mission involves an attack on his previous employers. The plot twists and turns with such vigorous intensity, that by the end you are left mildly dazed. From somewhat humble beginnings, Cloud is drawn into a conflict of epic proportions, at which the life of the very planet itself is at risk.
Damn, this is good!
Gameplay
Beginners to the genre might be perplexed as to the controls at first - but they are easy to pick up (unless you're a right lemon), and you will soon feel comfortable with them.
Combat is based on an Active Time Batte system in which each combatant may make an action after a period of time set by his Speed characteristic. It all sounds very complicated, but believe me - it's not. The player controls up to three characters at a time, facing up to five enemies. With over two hundred different types of monsters, bosses, and enemy characters to face (plus different combinations between them), there is a huge variety of tactics you will need to cope with. Basic commands for the characters include Attack, use Magic, use Item and Summon. The last being an opportunity to call on a very big, hard and graphically impressive entity to come and kick seven shades out of your opponents.
I can honestly say I have never encountered another PSX title which has really grabbed me as has Final Fantasy VII.
Graphics
Being a platinum title (In the UK), the graphics are slightly antique, but they are adequate for the genre, and some of the FMV is breathtaking (Please bear in mind there is hours of it!).
In-game play is blocky, but pleasing. The designers have aimed for a slightly cartoony Manga-style approach to the characters which has produced a very aesthetic easy-to-watch game. If superb graphics really are your thing, check out the sequel, Final Fantasy VIII.
Fun Factor
The real task in Final Fantasy VII is not completing the game, but rather advancing the charcters with new weapons, armour, experience and techniques. The game is infinitely detailed when it comes to improving characters, there are literally hundreds of challenges within the game with the aim of improving one aspect or another. One particularly memorable point is the development of Limit Break techniques.
Limit Break attacks are available after a character has taken a severe beating, it represents a angry explosion of violence, bringing the option of some really spectacular skills. Cloud's first limit break is a simple jumping attack with his huge sword - enough to seriously hurt or kill many enemies, his most advanced Limit Break technique will kill all but the strongest monsters immediately. Each character has between 4 and 7 techniques to learn and there are 9 characters, that's a lot of Limit Breaks! With this being just oen small aspect of character development you will begin to grasp the sheer size of the game.
Overall
The best ever PSX game when it first came out - it is worth buying even if you don't have the sequel yet. It should keep you busy for up to eighty hours if you explore everything, and the first thing you will do upon having finished it is play it again.
- Gameplay
10.0 - Graphics
9.0 - Fun Factor
9.0 - Overall
9.0
