Final Fantasy VII
by SquareSoft
Our Price: $249.95
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Video Games
See more product details and other editions
Product Summary
Author: Black LabelBrand: SquareSoft
Published: 1997
Release Date: 1997-08-01
Platform: PlayStation
Publisher: SquareSoft
Product features:
- classic
Video Game Reviews of Final Fantasy VII
Customer Review: Should We Discipline Our Use of Science and Technology?
Summary: 5 Stars
Final Fantasy VII (for the original Sony PlayStation) is a wide sweeping role playing game (RPG) that seems infinitely replayable for those who love the story.
The game draws from popular fantasy and SF themes such as science experiments gone bad, mad scientists, the power of science to improve the life of everyday people, environmentalism in the extreme, revolution against powerful and tyrannical industrial-military powers (to help save the planet in the case of some characters), and possibly the middle of the road message of disciplining our selves in the use of power that we attain through science and technology. For example, a powerful industrial-military complex called Shinra governs the first city in the game, Midgar, and has influence over most of the world.
The game is set in a fantasy world, with independent cities (with local governance of sorts) and in a dangerous environment of mutant and mythological and mechanical creatures and devious agents of the Shinra.
However, the most dangerous villain in the game ends up centering on a single person, Sephiroth (who the Shinra help fight against in the end actually). Many of the monsters you fight in the game are the product of scientific experimentation. Shinra experiments with a mythological form of energy that the game introduces as "Mako". Mako is harnessed in reactors and can also condense through natural processes to produce materia. Materia is a crystal-like object that allows for certain types of magic and skills and other properties.
The Shinra also started a Jenova Project to inject Mako right into the cells of people to create powerful fighters, including individuals in a force of elites called Soldier. Sephiroth is part of the project, as is the main character Cloud, so all through the game Cloud struggles with multiple parts of himself that don't all get along with each other. Cloud begins the game much like a gunfighter in American westerns; he is a man from a clouded history, immense in power (or so we find out in the plot but you have to build up the character of course), and uncertain who he really is.
In many ways the game is the ultimate geek fest. Three of the minor characters get their names from lesser Star Wars characters (Star Wars Trilogy). One of the other characters, Cait Sith is possibly named after the Sith lords in Star Wars, but in any case the character is not just a spy but he is also a remotely controlled toy. Apparently, a Shinra employee controls the character from Shinra headquarters in Midgar. There is at least one character with a philosopher's name, Heidegger (Basic Writings). The landscape is quaint and mostly ancient looking, as in the landscape of The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary, One Vol. Edition. There are many mythological creatures, such as dragons and god-like materia summons (Shiva, Leviathan, etc.). There are many races of beings, including the Ancients (but they are close to extinction) and Red XIII's tribe of intelligent dog-warriors (and, of course, all the Mako-created monsters). There are magical spells, powerful swords (and many other ancient and modern weapons), but also many modern pieces of technology such as air crafts, spaceships, robots and other machines that fight against you (for example, one machine enemy looks just like the machine that goes crazy in "Robocop").
The game also celebrates the idea of launching into space in one of its plot points, with an interesting short discussion of the goals of science (to explore and discover new ways to gain power over nature, such as proving that we can get into space), vs. the goals of naturalism (to live harmonious with the planet and discipline our selves to restrain our use of power so that we don't destroy ourselves). The whole story is very similar to the main ideas of several Michael Crichton novels such as The Andromeda Strain and Jurassic Park in that Crichton questions the survival value of human intelligence. Crichton wonders whether we will go the way of the dinosaurs through undisciplined use of science and abuse of the powers it allows us to use to manipulate and transform nature.
The story line behind Final Fantasy VII makes the same sort of Crichton-like argument. Though it uses more exotic means at times, such as the whole story line of Sephiroth (the main villain) in his quest to gain power over something called the Life-Stream, and in the description of a Planet's dependence on a stream or cycle of souls-and-life for its existence. (Yes, I sit there wondering how planets could exist without any signs of life or souls on them; they should die and fall apart.) But these exotic ideas aside, the game's story still makes countless illustrations of science and technology giving humans such tremendous power that we would have the power to destroy the planet and our selves -- even the power to produce some one like Sephiroth, who becomes an angel of death (of sorts). This makes the story sort of like an extreme dystopian SF-fantasy movie-like game!
As you see, I love the story! And I think it is well worth thinking about! But I also love playing the game.
For anyone not familiar with the game, you set out on a quest and pick up characters to help you fight as you go, with 8-9 characters total when you get all the available ones in your team. You choose 2 from these characters to join the main character, usually Cloud, to fight random and major battles against all kinds of fantastic creatures and bad guys. You control the main character and lead him around the various quests and plot points, and there are several side quests, mini games, and short videos to watch. During battle sequences you control the types of actions the three characters take. You can spend quite a bit of time organizing materia, setting weapons and armor and accessories, and powering up characters.
Here are my favorite positives about the game.
(1) Story: It is sort of like a movie in which you are free to move around in, make choices, and build strong characters. For example, in some of the other Final Fantasy games you have to wait longer to get control over the characters and you must follow the story too closely. But, most of all, I love the story for the SF-fantasy reasons discussed above.
(2) Characters: I love the back-story to Vincent and he is probably my favorite character; he's modeled on a vampire, Turk, assassin type personality. I wish I could add him to the team earlier and I always end up rushing to get to him and then going back to build up the characters. I also love the story behind Red XIII (the warrior-dog character), who reminds me of Battle Cat from the He-Man cartoon (not sure why).
(3) Design: I'm a fan of the giant Godzilla-like monsters and the videos that go along with them. I also like the whole snowy section of the game (especially where Aeris dies). I love the crater creatures such as the Master Tonberry and the ease of leveling up there if you have enough elixirs for the Magic Pots.
(4) Quests: Some of the mini games are very addictive for me. I'm a frequent visitor to Fort Condor, at which you can choose different types of army units to defend against an advancing force. The whole quest at Yuffie's home city, Wutai, is excellent because of the cool pagoda fights. And there is much to do at the Gold Saucer.
Here are the primary negatives to the game for me.
(1) Design: The character designs look a bit cartoonish at times. And the world map could be much better to help show you exactly where everything is.
(2) Story: The beginning takes awhile to get going and I think it spends too much time in Midgar at the start. For example, some of the floors in the Shinra Head Quarters seem rather silly. And by the time you build up your characters and get really powerful, the game moves along so swiftly in the later parts of it that you are suddenly near the end. It could really use a fourth disc.
(3) Story/Quest at Kalm: I especially used to dislike the long story line when you arrive at the first town outside Midgar, named Kalm Town. There is even a save point in the middle of the story. But recently it didn't bother me too much the latest time I played the game (and I've played it several times all the way through).
(4) Game play: The materia is a bit too egalitarian such that any character can instantly get any type of magic or summons or other materia you find.
I'm not completely sure why I love this game so much and why I can play it over and over, just like I'm not sure why I can watch Star Wars over and over. The story is the strongest part of it for me since it has so many SF and fantasy elements, but its philosophy (if we can call it that) is a bit exotic at times. Though there are many other parts of its major themes that are an excellent illustration of misguided science vs. crazy environmentalism vs. disciplined progress. I highly recommend this game if you can find someone who has it. If you like it, there is a chance you will get infinitely addicted to it. Though I would probably rate 'Civilization' as my favorite type of games ever made, I tend to play Final Fantasy VII much more often!
Description of Final Fantasy VII
like newLong recognized as role-playing games par excellence, the Final Fantasy series gets a technological makeover in this installment (and series debut on the PlayStation). Shedding the two-dimensional graphics and limited sound capabilities of its predecessors, Final Fantasy VII features lush 3-D graphics, beautifully animated "movie" sequences, and soundtrack-quality music. Coupled with the game's intricate storyline, endearing characters, and immense yet highly imaginative world, these new advancements make for a quite an engrossing experience.
The story of Final Fantasy VII centers around a solider named Cloud Strife, who joins forces with Avalanche, a group of resistance fighters, to take down an evil mega-corporation known as Shinra. (The fate of the world hangs in the balance, of course.) Truly epic in scope, this four-disc game requires a considerable amount of time to complete---this reviewer gladly gave up over 80 hours of his life to finish it. But it's definitely a rewarding adventure that every PlayStation owner should consider undertaking, especially since it's now one of the low-priced "Greatest Hits" titles. --Joe Hon
Pros:
- Intricate and absorbing storyline with endearing characters
- Immense and highly imaginative game world
- Special battle system
- Beautifully animated movie sequences
Cons:
- Your friends and family may feel neglected
All Games
Computer and Video Games
Bestsellers in All Games
Toy Story 2by Unknown
Disney; Disney; Release date: 1999-11-16; Published: 1999; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $40.95
Army Men Air Attack3DO; Other; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $14.97
WWF AttitudeTHQ; THQ; Release date: 1999-06-30; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $39.95
Monaco Grand PrixPS1; UBI Soft; Release date: 1999-07-15; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $14.49
Price in other shops:
Bugs Bunny: Lost in TimeInfrogames; PlayStation; Video Games
Ape EscapeSony; SPIG; Release date: 1999-06-23; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $48.99
Jet MotoSony; Other; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $31.54
Resident Evil 2Capcom; Capcom; Release date: 1999-07-01; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $249.99
Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croftby Unknown
Eidos; Square Enix; Release date: 1998-11-23; Published: 1998; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $22.56
Ninja Shadow Of DarknessEidos Interactive; Other; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $59.92
Similar Video and PC Games
Playstation System - Video Game ConsoleSony; Sony; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $320.00
Komodo Playstation 1 Memory Card 1MBKomodo; Komodo; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $0.10
Price in other shops:
Chrono CrossSquare Enix; Square Enix; Release date: 2000-08-16; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops:
Final Fantasy Anthology (Final Fantasy V & VI)Square Enix; Square Enix; Release date: 2003-06-30; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops:
Final Fantasy Chronicles (Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IV)Square Enix; Square Enix; Release date: 2003-06-30; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $12.89
Price in other shops:
Official Final Fantasy VII Strategy Guide, Playstation Version (v. 1)by David Cassady
BRADY GAMES; Published: 1997-08-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $24.93
Sony Playstation Memory CardSony; Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $14.98
Final Fantasy Xby Unknown
Square Enix; Square Enix; Release date: 2006-09-08; Published: 2001-12-19; PlayStation2; Video Games
Best price: $10.58
Price in other shops:
Final Fantasy IXby Unknown
Square Enix; Square Enix; Release date: 2003-06-30; Published: 2003; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $14.94
Price in other shops:
Final Fantasy VIIISquare Enix; Square Enix; Release date: 2003-06-30; PlayStation; Video Games
Best price: $13.03
Price in other shops: