PLAYSTATION
9.9
1997 · Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo
Final Fantasy VII
Square's magnum opus and the game that defined the JRPG genre for an entire generation. Final Fantasy VII blended cinematic storytelling, a richly imagined dystopian world, and a revolutionary Materia system into an adventure that millions of players still consider their all-time favorite.
💡 Final Fantasy VII — Key Facts
- → Final Fantasy VII was developed by Square and published by Square
- → Released in 1997 on PLAYSTATION
- → Genre: RPG
- → We rate it 9.9/10 — an absolute classic
- → Part of the final-fantasy franchise
- → Square's magnum opus and the game that defined the JRPG genre for an entire generation. Final Fantasy VII blended cinematic storytelling, a richly imagined dystopian world, and a revolutionary Materia system into an adventure that millions of players still consider their all-time favorite.
Overview
When Square released Final Fantasy VII in Japan on January 31, 1997, it arrived with unprecedented hype. The company had moved from Nintendo’s Super Famicom to Sony’s PlayStation, produced a spectacular tech demo showing Cloud Strife fighting a dragon in a fully three-dimensional environment, and invested a budget — reportedly around $45 million — that dwarfed any previous game. The pressure was immense. The result exceeded it.
Final Fantasy VII introduced millions of Western players to the JRPG genre, proving that video games could deliver storytelling comparable to literature and film. Its world — a dystopian planet being drained of its life force by the Shinra megacorporation — felt urgent, relevant, and genuinely alive in a way no game had previously achieved at that scale.
Gameplay
The battle system builds on the Active Time Battle system established in Final Fantasy IV, adding the Materia framework as its signature innovation. Materia are orbs of crystallized Mako energy that can be slotted into character equipment — each slot either independent or linked in pairs. Linked Materia interact with each other: pairing “All” Support Materia with a Fire spell hits all enemies; pairing “MP Absorb” with a powerful summon lets you sustain aggressive casting indefinitely.
The flexibility this creates is enormous. Players can specialize characters into pure physical fighters, versatile magic users, support healers, or hybrid builds. Mastering all Materia and breeding a Gold Chocobo to reach Knights of the Round provides one of gaming’s most satisfying optional achievement loops.
Story
Cloud Strife, a former member of Shinra’s elite SOLDIER unit, joins the eco-terrorist group AVALANCHE in bombing Mako reactors draining the planet’s energy. What begins as an anti-corporate action thriller expands into something cosmic: a battle against Sephiroth, a fallen SOLDIER whose union with alien entity Jenova threatens the destruction of all life on the planet.
Along the way, the game explores themes of identity, trauma, environmental collapse, and what it means to be human — heady territory for a medium still largely associated with saving princesses.
Why It’s a Classic
Final Fantasy VII earns its legendary status through the convergence of its story’s emotional power, Nobuo Uematsu’s extraordinary score, and the Materia system’s depth. The moment the game kills Aerith Gainsborough — a central party member — in the second act remains one of the most discussed story events in the medium’s history. It proved that video game characters could matter.
Legacy
Final Fantasy VII sold over 13 million copies on PlayStation and sparked a multimedia franchise including prequels, sequels, a CGI film (Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, 2005), and the ongoing remake series. Its influence on JRPG design, narrative ambition, and the cultural legitimacy of video game storytelling is incalculable.
Our Review
9.9
Masterpiece / 10
🎮
Gameplay
★★★★★
🎨
Graphics
★★★★★
🎵
Audio
★★★★★
🔄
Replay
★★★★★
Gameplay
The Active Time Battle system with the Materia magic framework is one of the most satisfying systems in RPG history. Materia can be combined, leveled, and customized to create wildly different play styles, giving players tremendous flexibility in how they build their party. Random encounters are frequent by modern standards, but the combat itself is engaging enough to carry the journey.
Graphics
Revolutionary for 1997 — the pre-rendered backgrounds are stunning, the FMV sequences were unlike anything previously seen on a home console, and the battle arena's polygonal characters, while crude by modern standards, conveyed emotion through pose and animation. The visual ambition was staggering for its time.
Audio
Nobuo Uematsu's score is the gold standard of video game music. 'One-Winged Angel,' 'Aerith's Theme,' 'Those Who Fight Further,' and dozens more are ingrained in gaming culture. The MIDI-quality PlayStation audio delivers these compositions with remarkable force given the hardware constraints.
Replayability
A single playthrough runs 40–80 hours, with optional content including the Weapon boss fights, Chocobo breeding for Knights of the Round materia, and the Vincent and Yuffie optional characters extending it further. The story's emotional peaks encourage return visits, and a New Game+ mentality for hunting hidden content sustains long-term engagement.
Historical Significance
Final Fantasy VII is arguably the single game most responsible for the JRPG genre's popularity in the West. It introduced hundreds of thousands of North American and European players to narrative-driven RPGs, proved the PlayStation was a platform for ambitious adult storytelling, and generated cultural conversation that lasted decades — culminating in the 2020–2024 episodic remake project.
✅ Pros
- + One of the most emotionally powerful stories in video game history
- + Materia system offers deep, flexible character customization
- + Enormous world with dozens of hours of optional content
- + Nobuo Uematsu's score is an all-time masterpiece
- + Aerith's fate remains one of gaming's most shocking moments
- + Gold Saucer mini-games and side content are genuinely entertaining
- + Groundbreaking cinematic presentation for its era
❌ Cons
- - Polygonal character models look dated and inconsistent with the beautiful pre-rendered backgrounds
- - Translation in the original localization contains numerous errors and awkward phrasing
- - Random encounter rate can be exhausting during exploration
- - Some late-game optional bosses require extreme grinding
- - Disc load times for FMV sequences interrupt story pacing occasionally
Also Known As
FF7Final Fantasy 7ファイナルファンタジーVII
In the Series
Final Fantasy VII FAQ
Is Aerith's death avoidable?
No — Aerith Gainsborough's death at the hands of Sephiroth in the Forgotten Capital is a fixed story event that cannot be prevented through any in-game action. Countless rumors circulated in schoolyards and early internet forums about revival methods (involving a specific series of actions or items), but all were false. The death was intentional and is one of the most discussed story moments in RPG history.
What is the Materia system?
Materia are crystallized magical energy that can be slotted into weapons and armor to grant spells, summons, and special abilities. They level up through use, and many can be 'mastered' to unlock stronger versions or be sold for significant Gil. The system's depth comes from Materia combinations — pairing a Command Materia with Support Materia creates powerful linked effects, allowing players to craft highly personalized builds.
How many discs does Final Fantasy VII have?
The original PlayStation release required three CDs. Disc 1 covers the beginning of the game through the team's departure from Midgar and the early exploration of the world. Disc 2 spans the bulk of the mid-game content. Disc 3 covers the final segment including the Northern Crater endgame. PC and all subsequent digital releases are single-installation packages.
Who are the optional playable characters?
Two party members are entirely optional: Yuffie Kisaragi, a ninja from Wutai who ambushes the party in forest areas, and Vincent Valentine, a mysterious former Turk found sleeping in a coffin beneath the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim. Both require specific actions to recruit and have their own backstory content, but neither is necessary to complete the main story.
What is the most powerful Materia in the game?
Knights of the Round is widely considered the most powerful summon Materia, dealing 13 hits of massive non-elemental damage. It can only be obtained by breeding a Gold Chocobo and riding it to a hidden island. When paired with the W-Summon and Mime Materia, it can effectively end most encounters immediately.
Has Final Fantasy VII been remade?
Yes — Final Fantasy VII Remake was released in April 2020 for PlayStation 4, covering only the Midgar portion of the original game in greatly expanded form. Its sequel, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (2024), covers the journey from Midgar to the Temple of the Ancients. A third installment is planned to complete the story. These remakes are explicitly alternate-timeline stories rather than direct remakes.
