Final Fantasy 7
Reviewed By America Online
Rating: 100%
Maker: Square
Genre: RPG
ESRB Rating: ? ----------------------------
There is so much to write about Final Fantasy VII that it's almost hard to know where to begin, much less keep everything organized so that it makes sense. FFVII is much more than an RPG - it is also an action game; it is also an immersive entertainment experience, combining a movie, a novel, and a video game into one comprehensive package.
Let's start with the graphics - they are by far the best ever seen in a PSX game. Not only do you have backgrounds that look like they were taken right out of a movie, but you also have 3D modes where you and your party move around the countryside, battle modes with richly detailed fighting scenes (complete with tons of different magic spells, each of which have their own animation), action scenes (like the moving street battle on motorcycles), and the best FMV to date.
The FMV is not standard by any means. Instead of the FMV you might find in a standard game (where you get a video clip when you jump to the next level), the FMV in FFVII is integrated throughout the game. It isn't just cut-scenes, rather it is used not only for transitions, but to also tell the story. There were times when I actually felt my pulse pound as I watched the FMV, like when Sephiroth met his "mother" (I won't say any more because I don't want to give it away...). FFVII uses FMV the way it should be used - not as window dressing, but as an integral part of the game's experience.
Even if a game has good graphics, it can't be truly great unless the gameplay is there as well, and FFVII doesn't disappoint. Whether you are running around inside of a reactor, trekking around the countryside on a Chocobo, or casting spells in a battle, the gameplay is smooth and impressive. Battle mode is particularly fun. FFVII takes the standard RPG battle mode to the next level. It adds a real-time element to standard turn based fighting games. You can't just sit there and plan out your strategy because your enemies will pound you while you hesitate.
Each of the characters you control has various weapons and magic spells. Each weapon and piece of armor has slots in it. In these slots you can place "materia." Materia gives you magical abilities. For example, if you equip your sword with "fire" materia, you can cast a fire spell on one opponent. But if you equip the sword with "fire" and "all" materia, you can cast the same fire spell on all opponents. One key to success in FFVII is in finding out the best ways to combine materia. There are many different combinations to play with, each with differing effects. Materia types include fire, ice, elemental, steal, cure, heal, lightning, sense, and many, many more.
You also have a wide variety of "items" you can use in battle. These range from potions (which restore your health), to hand grenades, to the Phoenix Down (which can bring a character back from the dead if he dies in battle - I've unfortunately had to use a few of these), and, once again, many, many more.
The battle modes have a cinematic quality. Not only are they fun to play, but they are fun to watch. Each attack and spell have unique animations. They are on the same level of the special effects you might see in a sci-fi movie. The camera angle moves randomly during battles, giving each one a different twist and keeping them from getting stale.
FFVII is a huge game, spanning three CDs. It took me about eight hours just to get out of the first city. Once I did, I found myself walking around the countryside. I brought up the world map - and much to my surprise, the city I had just left was but one small dot on a huge map littered with more places to explore. The game's size ensures that you will get many hours of gameplay for your gaming dollar.
Final Fantasy VII had been previously released in Japan. The Japanese don't have the same societal concerns as we Americans do in video games - they often have more cussing and adult themes than American games do. When FFVII was translated for the US, Square made it a point to not remove the adult language and themes. Even though they are in there, they are nothing worse than you would see or hear in a PG rated movie.
Final Fantasy VII is truly one of the best games ever made. It has set a new standard for the PSX. Games like Super Mario 64 for the N64 or Mechwarrior 2 for the PC somehow defined how good those gaming platforms could be. FFVII does the same thing for the PSX. It raises the bar - now we not only know what is possible from the PSX, but what we should expect from the PSX, and future PSX games will have a lot to live up to. I highly recommend it.
