Final Fantasy VII
1997
- role-playing (rpg)
- adventure
- fantasy
- science fiction
- single player
The story
The Western release of Final Fantasy VII (released as Final Fantasy VII International in Japan) included additional elements and alterations, such as streamlining of the menu and Materia system, reducing the health of enemies, new visual cues to help with navigation across the world map, and additional cutscenes relating to Cloud's past.
What it’s like
Sprawling pre-rendered backdrops of a steel-and-neon city, washed in sickly green reactor glow, give way to sunlit meadows and dusty desert roads, with blocky polygon characters moving across painted scenery. The palette swings between gloomy industrial grey and bright, almost toy-like greens and golds, and the battles bloom with flashy spell effects against stillness. The score is grand and melodic, built from synth strings and sweeping orchestral swells that rise into quiet piano for the sadder moments. Pacing is unhurried: long wanderings across the overworld, slow town exploration, and a turn-based combat rhythm that suits lazy evenings. Its vibe is wistful and earnest, with a rebellious cyberpunk edge and a melancholy undertow about identity, memory and loss. Violence is stylised and frequent in fights, with deaths and grief handled seriously but never graphically; there is no gore. It suits a long comfort session, a rainy weekend, or a late-night solo play, and it is for players who enjoy character-driven epics, sweeping soundtracks and patient, story-led adventure.
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