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Final Fantasy VII Review (Switch eShop)
Better late than never, right?
Version Reviewed: North American
review by Mitch Vogel Tue, 02 Apr 2019 20:00:00 +0100
The release of Final Fantasy VII in 1997 was a watershed moment for both Square and the role-playing game genre as a whole, forever changing the status quo moving forward. After the previous six games had seen a release on Nintendo platforms, this marked the first time (of many) that Square's flagship series would be passing over the Big N, and with that change came a massive stylistic shift to the game itself. Ditching the tired swords-and-sorcery tropes that the previous games had harped on for years, Final Fantasy VII broke new ground by telling a dark and engrossing tale set in a Blade Runner-esque futuristic setting. It's safe to say that we're still feeling the effects of Final Fantasy VII's influence even in the RPGs of today's platforms, but the real question is this: how well does this stalwart classic hold up today?
Final Fantasy VII follows the adventures of everyone's favourite angsty, spiky-haired protagonist, Cloud Strife, a former SOLDIER now working with a terrorist organization to hit back at a megacorporation that's slowly sucking the life out of their dying planet. Despite Cloud's murky past, which he himself is unsure of, things are progressing relatively well in this small resistance campaign, but as the hours roll by and new players are brought into the fold, the gradually widening narrative reveals a much larger story at play that ultimately stems from the complex relationship that exists between Cloud and Sephiroth, the main villain. This is a story about the real dangers of late-stage capitalism and climate change, about the consequences of war and the sacrifices that must be made for the greater good. Despite the often campy and awkward dialogue, it's a story that remains eerily relevant in the modern age.
Assuming you haven't already spoiled most of it by this point and will be experiencing it for the first time, the story is sure to keep you engaged for most of its 40-ish hour run; this is a tale that's packed with plenty of plot twists and turns, and most of the main characters in your party are well-written and have believable dimension to them. Plus, despite the brooding and mature storytelling, there's plenty of lighthearted content here to keep things from becoming too dour, such as a memorable sequence (which would definitely not fly in a modern game release) in which Cloud dresses up as a woman and enters the in-universe equivalent of a brothel to chase after a friend who disappeared inside. Just when it feels like a bit too much of a downer, Final Fantasy VII demonstrates a remarkable ability to turn the tone around at the drop of a hat if need be, making for an adventure that's as unpredictable as it is enrapturing.
Though Final Fantasy VII is notoriously linear compared to some past entries, it still remains unabashedly an old-school Final Fantasy game, with random encounters, turn-based battles, and the ATB system all being par for the course here. As one would expect, the random encounter rate is tediously overbearing in many portions, but it can be helpfully offset by a modern feature Square worked into the re-release in which clicking down the left stick triples the speed of the whole game, turning those glacial, repetitive encounters against mook enemies into blink-and-you-miss-it blitzkriegs. It really can't be highlighted enough how much of a difference this simple addition makes to one's enjoyment of Final Fantasy VII, and while it ultimately stands as a band-aid for a design-based issue, it's an effective one that helps to gloss over some of the creakier aspects of a two-decades-old game.
When in combat, the classic battle system of Final Fantasy is present and correct, in which each character on screen has an 'action bar' that, once filled, allows them to attack, cast magic, or perform any other such actions. Even today, this ATB battle system proves to be a remarkably creative way of side-stepping the monotony of a turn-based battle system without losing the spirit and structure of one; it demands your constant attention and decision-making by applying that continuous pressure to make a quick choice, while also keeping things simple and straightforward.
New to Final Fantasy VII (at the time) is also the 'Limit Break' system, which adds a nice incentive for taking hefty beatings from your foes. Every attack a character endures will fill up that character's limit gauge a little bit more, and once it's full, they can then unleash a powerful skill that can turn the tide of the battle significantly – such as how Aeris can cast a party-wide healing spell, or Cloud can unleash his iconic Omnislash attack. It's admittedly not very complex, but the Limit Break system adds a little bit of variety to battles that can otherwise become repetitive with time.
With all this being said, the combat of Final Fantasy VII nowadays does create something of a 'been there, done that' feeling which can't be easily dismissed; it's the sort of thing that's aged gracefully, but it's certainly aged. Next to other, more modern RPGs, it's tough to not be put off by the antiquated combat design of Final Fantasy VII, but those of you who don't want to deal with combat can just as easily disable random encounters entirely or instantly buff all characters to max stats and steamroll over all opposition.
For those of you that wish to play through the game as it was designed, there's plenty of depth to the 'Materia" system that governs character growth. Eschewing the popular jobs system of past games, Final Fantasy VII makes all its characters basically classless, with equippable Materia dictating their role in a fight. Materia act as skills that are attached to the armour and items your characters equip, and certain Materiae equipped on the same piece of equipment will create synergistic buffs, such as how a multiplier Materia will allow you to cast an offensive spell that hits all enemies instead of just one. Materia can be swapped between party members at will and level-up independently from the characters that wield them, which makes for a customization experience that gives you surprising control over what each party member can contribute to battle. The Materia system feels a bit surface level in many ways, but the real strength here is simply the fun of swapping up character roles every now and then for a change of pace in battle flow.
As an early PlayStation title, Final Fantasy VII released right at the peak of that time when everyone in the industry was trying to figure out how to make good games in 3D, and it unfortunately shows. Even compared to Final Fantasy IX, which released a few years later on the same console, Final Fantasy VII is a rather ugly game to behold, as lumpy character models with Popeye-like anatomies saunter around the grainy, pre-rendered backgrounds. To be fair, the backgrounds themselves aren't half bad, featuring plenty of atmospheric, detailed environments that do a great job of setting the tone; the issue is how much they clash with the 3D models, which stick out like a sore thumb. Though it becomes easier to look past the disparity between the backgrounds and character models as you invest more hours into Final Fantasy VII, it's still all too common to lose track of exactly what your character can or can't interact with on any given screen. There's a reason that pre-rendered backgrounds have been left firmly in the past for video games, and Final Fantasy VII stands as an example of why.
Luckily, the soundtrack has lost none of the charm or effect that it had back in the day, and it stands as a testament to the skill of legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu. Final Fantasy VII has a soundtrack as wide-ranging as that of a film, with each track acting as an excellent tone-setter for the often-emotional events that unfold. Whether it be the warm, guitar-laden lullaby of the village of Kalm, or the iconic, menacing dirge of the opening sequence, Final Fantasy VII's music is sure to capture your imagination and help drive the narrative forward in ways that the visuals can't quite manage.
Final Fantasy VII is the sort of game that speaks for itself, a touchstone of game design that played a large role in setting the standard of RPGs for years to come. It goes without saying that you should give Final Fantasy VII a shot if you consider yourself to be a fan of RPGs, as this is an experience unlike any other in many ways. With that being said, it's also the sort of thing that has since been surpassed in almost every manner by games that took the concepts it introduced and expanded upon them in plenty of new and more interesting ways. Final Fantasy VII is a relic of its time, but that doesn't mean it's to be respected any less; if you can look past the obviously antiquated elements, this is a well-paced, engaging RPG that's still fun to play today – it's more than worthy of your time.
Great 8/10
Review copy provided by Square Enix
About Mitch Vogel
Mitch has been a fan of Nintendo ever since he got his start on the GBA in 2005. When he's not busy playing games or writing, you can find him down at his local MMA training facility learning how to punish the unrighteous.
RazorThin
Tue 2nd Apr 2019
Personally I find it difficult to use a media's age as a negative against it. I have recently been getting into older games from my childhood as well as before my time I never had a chance to play. Some of these games have shown their age, maybe enough so I lose interest, but I don't dock it against the game. I just picked up NFS Underground 2 for the OG Xbox, only played it a little as a kid. At first the game feels dated, but the more I play it the more "into" the game I get. I can see past the 480p graphics and appreciate a solid experience to be had. I am excited to get FF7 when I recieve my next paycheck and play this classic!
CdrJameson
I managed to completely miss the Final Fantasy games first time round. I'm really enjoying being able to play FFIX and FFVII at last. Even without the nostalgia element they're still fun to play.
BoilerBroJoe
Since I haven't played a JRPG since 1996, I have a feeling none of these problems will bother me. Still hoping they can patch in some AI-improved backgrounds and the PC MIDI soundtrack though!
SenseiDje
THIS Time, i swear to get that damn materia out of the spacecraft...
LetsGoSwitch
I really enjoyed FF7 but I found not much replayablility. Eh I buy games and then sell them if they're RPG's
BlackenedHalo
guys? are you really so lazy that you couldnt take your own screenshots?
@BoilerBroJoe they wont
TheFongz
An all time classic. Worthy of a replay every 2 or 3 years, I'm overjoyed to have this on Switch.
Beermonkey
I do like FF7 but FF9 is my favourite. It's still cool to have them on the switch. Xenogears would be a lovely addition though... One can dream.
kingbk
FF6 (3) on the SNES is still my all-time favorite in the series.
It's great to have Square Enix back on Nintendo platforms. Now get the Kingdom Hearts series and Chrono Trigger remastered on the Switch.
mister_magnus
This is brutal. "Better Late Than Never." No doubt. Where have all the reviews on this site gone? This is a game that was originally released in 1997 yet we're treated to paragraph after paragraph of catch-up plot. Let's just jump into a review of the port, please. We're well aware of the ins and outs of FFVII by now.
I feel more and more in the dark about the quality of what games are coming out on the Switch as reviews begin to lag more and more and cover less and less ground. /r
NotTelevision
That fast forward feature seems like a real lifesaver here. I remember the game taking far longer than 40 hours to complete, especially when taking into account random battles and level grinding. Being able to fast forward through them would negate the biggest issue this and subsequent FF games have.
Broosh
I just recently willed myself to play to disc 3 of the OG PS1 version. Loving it and glad I did, but this article doesn't lie, those 3x speed and no random encounter buttons are a godsend at times.
60frames-please
I would guess this has the frame rates of 60 fps for menus, 30 fps for overworld, and 15 fps for battles? If they would bump it all up to 60 that'd be nice! I'd much rather have ports of Chrono Trigger and FFVI, since those would undoubtedly run at 60 fps. I remember the first time I saw FF VII and was horrified at the choppy battles. My friend, who was thrilled to finally be playing FF VII, was very defensive of the game! I couldn't play it though.
Yosher
And just to think, a year ago we would never have been able to dream of seeing a Final Fantasy VII review on a Nintendo-only website. Real glad this game is finally on a Nintendo platform. Still gotta beat it, but that will come after I beat Yoshi's Crafted World!
This was the first in the series that I had to give up on, and I am a little sad to admit that I haven't completed any of the subsequent games either.
This games marked a point where they lost my interest, which might have more to do with me and where I was at, than anything to do with the game, really.
At least now I know it's around, and still in good condition, should I feel like giving it a second chance.
Kirby_Girl
Fast Forward addition sounds good. I do like what story is about in this game and the setting. It was definitely different for it's time and even now. So much of rpgs is about fantasy. Which isn't bad but is so cliche sometimes. It always feels so refreshing when a game takes place in another setting. Which is why I also like Earthbound or Persona as well. Feels good to see a modern setting or alternative setting. Now we can get more varied main characters as well that would be great, too. Just change it UP. How many guys with swords fight androgynous baddies must we be forced to deal with? I heard Undertale is a nice change of pace but I still have yet to play it. The fervor around it killed my interest. I'm not into giving the cold shoulder on things that just happen to be popular either. It's not so much popularity as the general memes and strange behavior that's a bit off putting but I'm still thinking about playing it. I still like to try things out.
mauhlin12
Have they fixed the glitch where the overworld music resets after every battle?
JuiceMan_V
I like FF8 and FF12.
FF7 is highly overrated to me.
eternalcube
Finished it back in the day, but never really liked it. I don't understand the hype. There are so many jrpgs that blow this out of the water. Overrated, imho.
Desrever
Even when the game was brand-spanking-new, I had issues with the blocky polygonal graphics. I specifically remember playing the part where...
<<<ahem... spoilers for those of you just picking it up on Switch>>>
...where Red XIII's grandpa passes away while talking with him. I didn't actually know he died because they tried to use the crappy polygons as actors, and act out his death and Red XIII's reaction without any text. I couldn't make out what was going on and didn't actually realize what was happening until another play through much later. It was a massive leap forward in gaming, but still not quite advanced enough to pull off this kind of story telling.
Especially considering how rich the story and plot of Final Fantasy VI is (Or, III depending on when/where you played it). In particular, after you do "the thing with the statues" and are suddenly in control of Ceres on the small island. I think that was the first time in my life that little 16-bit sprites genuinely moved me to tears. And while I was still obsessed with FF7 and had notebooks from school filled to the brim with doodles of Cloud, Vincent, and Sephiroth, it was never able to hit me in the feels as hard as <<<and now spoilers for those who haven't played 6>>>
watching that poor little sprite of Ceres lose her grandpa and slowly give up hope, resulting in her suicide attempt. No FMV cut-scene can quite match how gut wrenching that moment was.
TL;DR: Storytelling > Graphics
@JuiceMan_V : I agree. Personally, I prefer 8, 9 and 12.
7, 10 and the rest are overrated.
ummyeahnintendo
This is my first time playing it. Never got to as a kid and it is really fun so far. I think the art style is really unique even if it is old, it has character
KingBowser86
Well at least you didn't pull what NintendoWire did today. And we don't need a million "Y was the Best" comments - each game is radically different from the other and people are welcome to enjoy the one(s) they want.
Do feel free to discuss mechanics and elements, though.
SBandy
I completed it before on PS3 when it was just the PS1 version.
Bought it again for Switch (looks great on the Switch screen) hoping to complete it again and this time have an idea of what the hell is going on in the story as I believe the translation has been tidied up.
Strangely I also wish I could turn off all the benefits like speed up and auto limit break as I want to beat the game honestly but these are too tempting to use.
BeefSanta
Hm, no mention of the glitches? Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying the port and 3x speed... But the area/overworld music resets after every battle. It was less noticeable in the FF9 port, but very distracting here.
Some FMVs, when transferring back to gameplay, end with a black screen flash. It's fast but people sensitive to flashes may want to think about it.
Also probably not to be experienced by most players, but playing Tifa's piano in hi speed mode can crash the game.
High speed in general for these two ports is risky during some scenes. Save it for overworld travel and battles, tho, and you should be safe.
Still enjoying it, but people should be aware.
@mauhlin12
DFaceG_Rebooted
I've only ever played two Final Fantasy games, and never really got into either. However, with VII coming to Switch, and seeing as its most widely regarded as one of the best (not taking opinions, just looking at the most popular here), it might be a good idea to start with this one.
SquareOneMJ
This game is currently number one on the Nintendo Switch eshop and Cuphead is not far behind it on pre-orders alone... what a time to be alive!
retro_player_22
Even though I play this to death throughout multiple platforms (all of which are likely Sony platforms), this is the first time I play this on a Nintendo system and I'm glad it delivers. Now if only this got a physical release along with FF8 and FF9 then that would be sweet.
KryptoniteKrunch
This will my first time playing through this one. Really great to have this on a handheld too, hard to play RPGs on TV/PC anymore, imo.
Baart
Yeah nevermind now and vuck Square for not releasing this on any Nintendo system for the 20 years they could have easily done this.
MajinSoul
I think the graphics have aged terribly but thankfully the rest of the game is still great. Fantastic music and gameplay. The story is alright aswell. I just love to see all these Final Fantasy games on the Switch
RadioHedgeFund
I could play this game over and over again forever! I remember Christmas '97 when I did nothing for 2 weeks of school holiday apart from play this. When I went to visit family for New Year I spent every waking moment I could on my cousin's PlayStation instead of family time. This was the first game I ever got seriously addicted to (in the same way you can't put down a good book) and damn I enjoyed every minute of it.
SouthpawGrammar
This game is a true classic.
Well written review, summed it up nicely.
@Medic_alert got a GameCube? The MGS port for it is fabulous.
wazlon
Not sure I have time to play through the game again because it's so long. Reminds me of my childhood though, when I had more time to spend with friends and play video games.
@mister_magnus agreed
Mgalens
to be fair the issue with the characters clashing with the backdrops is something which is far more noticeable than it was back on the psone due to the ports of the game using higher resolution character models while still keeping the old low res backdrops.
Tyranexx
Welp, that's another for the wish list.
LinktotheFuture
I wish they would have remastered this for the 3DS like they did Ocarina of Time. I don't think I could get past these graphics.
JaxonH
This is one of the greatest video games of all time, up there with Super Mario World and Zelda Ocarina of Time.
Dated, for sure, but an all time classic.
Newcomers should be ready to pounce on Final Fantasy X, and Final Fantasy XII. Those are the "modern classics" (and by modern I mean 6th generation remasters, which still holds up really well)
LastNightsGrime
Playing "FF7" for the first time as a 30 year old on the Switch. It's amazing.
Painkiller_Mike
If I didn't own the original PS One version on the Vita I would have bought this on day one.
Ralizah
The game is certainly ugly by modern standards, although it's easier to be kind to the presentation if you grew up with it. FF7 looks... charming to me. It reminds me of the past. I didn't play the original Mario 64 or Ocarina of Time until I was an adult, and the hideous visuals (combined with somewhat archaic game design) made it hard for me to appreciate them at the time. I re-discovered OoT again in 2011 with the 3DS remaster, and the visual face-lift did wonders for my ability to appreciate the game (I'll never love it, but it is, of course, a legendary title, and worthy of a playthrough). I still don't enjoy Mario 64 in any of its incarnations, unfortunately.
Anyway, while the 3D character models didn't age well, what has is the scope of the game. This was one of the first true video game blockbusters, and certainly one of the first games of its kind in the JRPG genre. Its dark and complex storytelling also gave Western audiences a new appreciation for the potential of the video game medium as a whole.
I might download this one day, because I purchase FF7 on EVERY platform it releases on (although that streak will be coming to an end, because I just don't see myself purchasing an Xbone, which is also receiving this classic), but, as with the PS4 version, I really don't appreciate that you can't disable the cheat features in a menu or something. I'm a gamer who likes to be able to use everything at my disposal when playing a game, and having what amounts to a "god mode" available at the push of a button really spoils these last few re-releases for me. Even if I get this on Switch, I'll likely continue playing my PS1/PC/PS1 Classics versions of the game.
Also, I wouldn't call this excessively linear at all. The game opens up and becomes like a typical (older) Final Fantasy game after you leave Midgar, complete with a plethora of side quests, hidden bosses and items, unlockable characters, and, eventually, an airship which you can use to explore the entire world.
@LastNightsGrime Same here. Same age and everything! I've felt quite a bit left out never having played this game over the years.
I personally prefer VI with it's beautiful pixel art. Bring that one to Switch...
mikegamer
Only spent 8 dollars thanks to the gold coins I had, so it was worth it
Not my favorite Final Fantasy games due to its several unnecessary sequels and prequels (Advent Children, Before Crisis, Crisis Core, etc). The character design in game looked very Roblox (LOL). The Materia system was great, but it made All the characters looked same. I still prefer FF VIII and FF IX instead.
darthstuey
@RazorThin hear hear 👊 I have been collecting Atari 2600 carts over the last few months and both myself and my kids have been loving them. Some of the new homebrew titles are excellent. The visuals are no where near hd. 😂
@BeefSanta Thanks. I have plenty of other RPGs to play right now and I'll consider replaying FF7 once these issues have been patched.
BlackPoison
I never liked FF7 even if I have never played it. I never liked Cloud and I don't like him now either. But the only Final Fantasy games I like are Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy XIII. I tried liking FFX but it wasn't my type.
LavaTwilight
It seems to me that everyone here is either 'im playing it for the first time as a remake' on ps3/4 or switch, or they played it when it was originally released and is therefore an expert of this title. I fall into the latter category and for those who are playing it for the first time I do feel sorry because this was a game that was best experienced when it first came out. I truly believe that those who don't like this game is because they never played it at the time it was released. This game was ground-breaking at the time and will always be one of my favourite games of all time.
Audiobrainiac
I'll be getting this for sure my next paycheck. Now give us ff8 please!
Itzdmo
Square Enix releases a 23 year old rom with barely any work done to it and still includes bugs that were never fixed.
Have the audacity to charge money for it. Despite the rom, which this version is based, being freely available just about anywhere on the web.
This site shills out a review saying "it's the best version".
Comments full of monkeys excited about it.
No wonder gaming is heading where it is. We can't even trust these fan sites anymore. Bunch of shills telling readers it's the best version...if you had any integrity or cared about gaming, you would review it poorly and warn readers not to pay 20 bucks for what amounts to an asset flip rom in 2019.
Look. I get it. Im starved for new games too. But pandering to square Enix and Nintendos insistence on selling copies of roms that are worth peanuts is making it worse. Why would they build a new game from the ground up when monkeys are buying 23 year old roms?
No square Enix doesn't deserve praise for waiting 23 years to bring one of their best games to a nintendo platform. They deserve to be called out for waiting 23 years and then flipping it on the eshop during an off month.
Crono1973
Wed 3rd Apr 2019
It's so ret..interesting that some people actually define the Final Fantasy series by 'the Nintendo games' and 'the Playstation games'.
If you missed out on good games because they weren't on a Nintendo system, you only hurt yourself.
thesilverbrick
I'm about ten hours in and I'm definitely having fun, and I've never played it before, so nostalgia isn't a factor. I can see why this game is revered so much, though it absolutely is showing its age (this game is hideous). I'm grateful to get a chance to play it through, though I imagine it would've been more impactful 22 years ago.
@Itzdmo I've never played or owned Final Fantasy VII. I'm really glad that FFVII was released on the Switch, because it got me to finally play the game, since I find playing games in handheld mode on the Switch so comfortable and enjoyable. I don't care if the ROM is "freely available" online. I've never owned the game, so that would be wrong for me to download it, and there's no more convenient format to play it than the Switch, IMO.
impurekind
Your article title is a contradiction.
To understand the 10/10 that this classic deserved, it's on a CRT.
Fandabidozi
@eternalcube
You think XIII is overrated?
I like ff8 more. But this time I may finally finish 7. Already downloaded it to my switch. Come on squenix, bring 8 and 6 now too!
This is the first Final Fantasy game I've ever played, as Ocarina of Time was the first The Legend of Zelda that I've played. I enjoyed it on PC but I couldn't beat it (last CD was broken or missing) so I'm looking forward to playing it on Xbox.
The totally random screenshots do not do justice to the game. It is pretty, the invocations and effects are really nice. I love the environments and the soundtrack. Then I played IV on DS, I still remember the compressed audio, and X and X-2 on PS4, which I also loved. Then I got XV and the XIII trilogy on Xbox One X, they are S-enhanced (XIII) and X-enhanced. I need to play them and get the others too so I have all the main Final Fantasy games.
Superzone13
Pretty crazy that it took 22 years for FF7 to finally make its way to a Nintendo console. All the N64 owners back in the 90s finally don't have to be jealous anymore!
marandahir
And this is the enhanced remastered version. The original version was blurrier and blockier (though less grainy because, like most pre-render backgrounds of the time, the game was made to be played on a CRT).
@Superzone13 22 more years is what Square Enix will require for the remake!
@darthstuey I love it when younger generations are exposed to older media. As a kid I have fond memories of using cassettes and VHS tapes even after CDs, DVDs, and digital media became the norm. Makes them appreciate our past and our future. Can't stand it when kids make big deals these days over something being "old". I hope your kids enjoy exploring more classics!
Giygas_95
Played through this on PS3 in summer 2016 and loved it...got it a couple years later on PS4 and got to the last dungeon, but then I quit for some reason. Then I got this version just because I love the game and thought it'd be awesome to have on a Nintendo system, and a portable one at that. I played the first few minutes of it, but I was having a hard time getting into it. Maybe it's just because I've already played through it twice...or the fact that I've kind of lost interest in most RPGs in recent months. These games can feel so slow at times...
Kevember
I really hate the use of phrases like "showing its age" or "not aging well" when talking about games. Old games were made to be played and enjoyed by anyone at any time; they don't have to look like they came out yesterday. Just because the graphics are not that great or some of the mechanics are a bit clunky doesn't mean we can't enjoy them as much as we did when they first came out.
@Kevember Well said! Only a wise guy would say that and your avatar is smart.
Yep... that is what 3D games once looked like. Great to live in 2019 😐
Didn't buy it for $9.99 on VITA or $15 on PS4 or $12 on Steam. Being on Switch not changing that.
SolarJetman
@Crono1973 Dude, people refer to the "Nintendo" and "PS" games because it's a logical delineation. FFVII gave the series a dramatic facelift. 1 to 3 (on NES/Famicom) and 4-6 (SNES/Super Fam) all had the same flat, overhead perspective compared with the PS games' far more detailed, 3D look. Those labels are not a comment on quality, as there are great games throughout the series.
FarkyValentine
The game has been showing its age since Final Fantasy VIII. It's a solid experience but in many ways, the SNES final fantasies have aged better.
Klunk23
@Kevember Except if a game looks and plays worse than modern games, it's absolutely going to impact the enjoyment of somebody playing it for the first time. Which is why many reviews will often site "poor ageing" as a reason for down gradeing a game. As somebody who grew up after the N64/PS1 era of gaming, I find most games from that era pretty hit or miss for me. For example, I think Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time have held up pretty well, I enjoy both games quite a bit. Mario Kart 64 on the other hand, I found impossible to enjoy having come from playing the modern Mario Karts. It's ok if you can enjoy games from this period just as much as when you first played them, in fact I'm glad you can. But how they've aged is absolutely an important subject when discussing how much they can be enjoyed by modern audiences.
Dr_Corndog
I last played FFVII in 2006. We'll soon see how it holds up.
HexagonSun
Final Fantasy VII is still one of my all-time favorite games. It's hard to understand just how amazing the experience was if you didn't play it when it originally released. It's awesome to finally have this on a Nintendo console. I miss the turn based battles that were standard in jrpgs back then. The materia system is great and gives a lot of customization options. Sure, it shows its age but it's still a fantastic game.
Now I just need Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time to have my favorite 5th generation games on one console.
Reignmaker
Dated 3d is the worst
noobish_hat
8/10 (*******) lol
(You swore! That's not so lovely! - Matthew010)
mattesdude
The things that are looked down upon here (random encounters, pre rendered backgrounds, the battle system) are the parts I enjoy the most! Wish we could get this stuff back...or even a FF more like 4-6!
"A Timeless RPG Classic That's Beginning To Show Its Age"
If it's beginning to show its age then it's not timeless, that's oxymoronic.
Timeless: 'not affected by the passage of time or changes in fashion'
i.e. not showing its age.
Lazy writing.
@kingbk As long as it isn't the godawful Chrono Trigger PC version, I don't get why they don't remaster the DS version when it's the best. As for KH having the HD Remixes would be great, 2.8 and III would require a lot more work given the techinal limitations
Finally a staple of the PS1 era arrives to a Nintendo console, pretty crazy to think this day would come. While it isn't my favorite of the franchise (I find VI, IX and X vastly superior in terms of story and gameplay mechanics, I sure love the sphere grid system) it's still worth to play it to experience one of the most iconic games ever
@eternalcube Context is everything and for a lot of people this game was their first exposure to both Final Fantasy and RPG's in general, nevermind being one of the earliest 3D games making extensive use of FMVs to tell its story. The equivalent on Nintendo would be playing Ocarina of time, as both games were staples of their respective consoles. Obviously it hasn't aged well graphics wise, even the story seems pretty average compared to other entries in the same franchise (especially VI) but it is an important part of gaming history that simply doesn't hold the same impact playing for the first time in 2019 as oppossed to having played it back in 1997
Balta666
I adore this game and yes the nostalgia is high on me as this was the game that introduced me to my favourite genre...
The port is good overall, like in FF IX I don't feel the necessity of using any of the cheats but I actually am missing one feature from IX port that is the continue feature (I already lost progress twice in VII the first due to software crash after some grinding and the second because I stupidly did not save before attempting a side quest boss fight). Ix also crashed on me a few times, one of them during the final credits but the continue feature pit me back after the fights...
lemonjellydude
a 10/10 for me, i am probably biased as I played it first time around so it will always hold a special place for me. I dont necassarily agree with the term ' showing its age' as so many games that are coming out at the moment are retro looking or pixel based. so it feels unfair to suggest its showing its age as why would a 22 year old game not be showing its age? for me the slightly blocky goofy graphics are what adds charm to it. Also to me the gameplay and story are surely the most important aspects. this game has so much to do! and its fun and the story is fantastic.
SKTTR
If the sound issues get fixed + physical version, then I'd love to play this game.
jcvandan
I hate random encounters. It's the most cheap and lazy game mechanic ever invented. It completely kills the ability to explore a game world.
Jjj0hnn
I'm all for the 3x speed mode, but it's way too tempting to click the right stick, which gives you full health, magic and limit breaks. It takes away so much from the game, I wish they'd left it out.
Yes I know you don't have to use it..
An option to turn it off from the start would be good.
kurtasbestos
I'll still never be able to forgive this game for being the darling of the RPG world when Shining Force III and Panzer Dragoon Saga were OBVIOUSLY far superior in every way. Other than that fact that only like three people played those games. Man... I was an angsty Sega-loving-sony-hating jerk of a teenager.
@kurtasbestos PDS was a great game, Sega should release PDS soon on switch to compete with FF7 once again. Round 2?
This game is terrific actually, sure not as good as 6 but 6 is my favorite game of all time so I don't really hold that against it. (Can we please have 6 at some point, I can only play the steam version so many times)
play this game
garfreek
Halfway the first disc, playing for the first time, and I can't stress enough how much you need to pay this awesome have!
@Fandabidozi : FF XIII is not overrated. It's a trash. I bought it for $10 from steam, but still not even worth it.
@Kr96: Dear, don't put OoT with FF7 in the same sentence / comment. Tbh, I never owned a N64. I enjoyed so many games on psx back in the day, but FF7 isn't one of them. Even FF6 was better in story and gameplay. Glad to hear you are enjoying it though, but please, OoT is at another level.
@eternalcube Well I do think both games are overrated as hell, didn't age that well and the nostalgia surrounding them is very strong (OoT 3D fixed a lot of problems, mind you), and even then there's fun to be had in them
CasePB
FF7 started showing its age once FF8 came out lol.
@Kr96 : Played OoT and MM during the wii gen, btw. Stunning to say the least. OoT 3D added the icing on the cake, so guess what? Bought it again and played it like never before. FF7 is good, but I don't understand why it gets all the hype. Some other FFs are even way better. Just try 12 to see for yourself. If you say it didn't age well, do you mean the graphics?
SwitchVogel
@lemonjellydude I'd say 'showing its age' is a euphemism for 'it's not very good by today's standards'. I find it a bit difficult to review ports of decades old games like these for this very reason. Like, I see why FF7 was such a big deal back in its day, but we've since gone on to much bigger and better things as game design standards have raised. Does that mean it deserves a low score, then? I wouldn't say so, but that just brings to mind another question: does the score even matter at this point? I doubt this review has swayed many people one way or the other, FF7--along with many other classic games--is the type of game that most people already know whether or not they'll be interested in playing.
@eternalcube Absolutely, VII's graphics are horrendous even in this HD remaster. I've yet to play XII so I'll probably try it on Switch, my personal favorites thus far are VI for the story and X for the sphere grid system. As for OoT the game is really good despite nostalgia, not arguing with that, I have it on 3DS and it really improved aspects with the gameplay and graphics that were somewhat antiquated
BulbasaurusRex
@RazorThin Well, a retro game's graphics and sound should only be judged against what was possible on the system of release, but antiquated design and game mechanics should still be judged against modern standards (except for the rare case where like the presentation a better solution wasn't possible at the time), especially when dealing with an advanced port that's had a chance to fix the worst issues (which thankfully have mostly been adressed here).
That being said, this game shouldn't be knocked too badly for featuring a battle system that's still excellent on its own merits (even by modern standards) just because some other games have since improved a little on its foundation.
@mister_magnus As a Nintendo focused site, they're well aware that many of us (myself included) are not aware of the "ins and outs" of this game. I fully appreciate how they handled this review. They still provided enough info about the differences with this remaster.
As for their dwindling number of reviews, that's a different issue.
@Fandabidozi : I'm calm as ice, darling.
SeerCoot
The first gen Switch already has big unsightly bezels, and this game is apparently presented to us with big black borders.
The PS Vita allowed me to stretch the emulated screen a little. Does the Switch version do the same?
bert0503
Mon 8th Apr 2019
This game is one of my favorites of all time. That scene with the white materia going down the steps is etched in my mind....
brickbear
It's a good game, but for me it ranks 4th/5th in the final fantasy series.
Glad I can take it on the switch if I can get back to it someday.
SummerPlay
Tue 16th Apr 2019
I played this on Vita.
PocketQ3
@Franklin Was so thinking the same thing when I saw the title.
Thu 25th Apr 2019
Nostalgia-bait; it looks and plays like complete ass—always has and always will.
ryobi85
Mon 15th Jul 2019
this game is my childhood and played 10 times through my 20s.it's a 9 at least and one of my fave games.great experience and any rpgfan a must 👍👍👍
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