GasJocket214's Full Review: Final Fantasy VIII for PlayStation 1
If you have read any of my previous reviews on Final Fantasy 8 and FF9 (and if not, you know now) you know that I have recently been turned towards RPG’s (Role-Playing games). The first RPG that I ever played was Final Fantasy 9. The second RPG that I played was Final Fantasy 8. The third RPG that I played was Final Fantasy 7. I have no idea why I played these games backwards, but since the games have almost nothing to do with each other it doesn’t really matter. Anyway, my reason for getting FF7 is pure and simple. I played FF9 and loved it. I played FF8 and loved it. So it only makes sense to try FF7, sense the entire Final Fantasy series is made by the illustrious company Squaresoft I figured I had nothing to lose. Besides I had heard that FF7 was the best Final Fantasy above all the rest, and with only a $20 price tag on the game, I bought it, and started playing.
How are those Clouds looking tonight?
Before I go any further with this review you have to realize something. Squaresoft published final Fantasy 7 in the wonderful year of 1997. If you aren’t very good at math that was 4 years ago. Technology has come a very long way since 4 long years ago. So what I am trying to say is, I will be reviewing the graphics (if you couldn’t tell by my title this section is graphics) as if it were 4 years ago.
So here we go…
The graphics are actually very well done in Final Fantasy 7. Some of the promotions (TV ads) can be a tad misleading though. Of course what you are seeing are the infamous computer generated cut scenes. Though these CG images are in the game, your attention should be focused on the main screen of the game. After all this is the screen that you are going to be spending 50+ hours on. The main screen is dark and mysterious for most of the game. In the very beginning of the game you are running back and forth-through dungeons and blast furnaces, and the only bright spectacle to be seen is the flaming yellow hair of Cloud Strife (your main character). I guess that there was some purpose in making Cloud’s hair such a different color. That reason is you are running under and through and around very dark places, and I guess this way you will always know where your character is. (Pretty smart on Square’s part.)
The game is filled with masterly done dark images. From the brown grated stairwells, to the dark blues and blacks of the tattered walls, FF7 has it all. The only thing that I wish Square would have done is make better views. In the beginning of the game sometimes it is very hard to see where your character is going. You will sometimes miss doorways, because a big dangling pipe is in the way of your view of the doorway. I don’t know if it was Squares intention to make these obstacles, but it does get very annoying after a while.
This isn’t the Transsiberian Orchestra, but it is very close
The background music in Final Fantasy 7 is something to marvel at. I have been to some extremely boring musical performances in my life, believe me they were horrible. Anyway, I bet if you just listened to the background music and didn’t play the game at all it would be better then some of the musical performances that I have been to. The soundtrack to this game is incredible. If you don’t believe me, there is solid proof, because the soundtrack itself has gone on to sell a ton of copies (deservingly so) and is actually a rare item to acquire.
Your emotions will be flying in this game: Sadness, Happiness, Sorrow, Horror, and Joy. Every emotion will be pulled from your body and put into this game. There are certain points in the game where you will be feeling each of these emotions, and all of these moods are set first and foremost by the sound.
Overall the sound in FF7 is the best that I have heard out of any RPG. (Which would only include FF7, 8, and9) The sound sets the mood for the entire game and it does a tremendous job at doing so. You will be amazed at how the sound in a game can be such a powerful thing. No other game has the quality background music that FF7 has. You will be thoroughly impressed.
What is an RPG without a good story?
I don’t want to drag this review any longer then it has to be so here is the story as concise as I can write it: Your name is Cloud Strife. (I know it’s a weird name, but your stuck with it) You seem to be a somewhat mysterious character with a history of doing certain “jobs.” You basically want to be done with living life on the edge, and are sick and tired of working. You temporarily join another team of people to take down a mysterious company. Basically what happens is the war against this company unwinds into a war to save the world. (Come on, you knew that you couldn’t just be taking down a single company)
In FF9 the main villain was Kuja. I thought he was pretty cool. (With the exception of his feminine ways) Boy was I wrong about Kuja being the coolest villain. Sephiroth is definitely the best villain in any of the FF games. You will battle through enemy after enemy until you finally get your chance to save all of mankind, with your final onslaught against Sephiroth.
The ever-changing battle system that Square never fails to provide us with.
The battle system is great in FF7. Everything is constantly moving (the meters that determine when you attack) so you will be able to attack a lot more often. The only problem with that is the enemy will attack more often also. So the only thing that is really happening is the fact that you have to be on your toes all the time during the battles. I like this system a lot better though, because I feel that it involves a lot more strategy and skill. In some other RPG’s your time meter fills up all the way and allows you to attack, but when your meter gets all the way to the top, everything else stops. This gives you all the time in the world to decide what move you want to perform. With the way that FF7’s battle system is set up you need to always be planning ahead.
The character development is great in this game too. The main elements that I look for in an RPG are: a great story, excellent character development, and an easy to use/ understand battle system. Guess what, Final Fantasy 7 comes through with all of these things and so much more.
Not only does Final Fantasy 7 have all of the elements that it needs to have, but also it is also just plain fun to play. You will always be wanting more from the game. You will probably be up until the very late hours of the night playing FF7 until the day finally comes when you beat it, and you will probably want to play it again! Really, the fun factor and replay value in FF7 are superb.
I don’t know what else I can say, go buy the game now, it is only $20.
How does that flaming yellow character move?
The controls are also a great feature to FF7. Your character moves very easily along using the D-pad. Instead of using the “X” button (which is, in most games, the main button) you will be using the “O” button. Which is really the only difference in controls. Like I said before your character moves by using the D-pad, and you can scroll through your list of options very easily by also using the D-pad. Just like in any RPG, the controls usually aren’t looked upon as a huge part of the game, since you really only use about 2 different buttons the whole game. If you had any doubt about those buttons not working to there full potential hopefully this will clear that up. Now on a serious note: the controls really are done well, and they shouldn’t give you any trouble.
So how does FF7 stack up to the rest?
Overall FF7 is an incredible game. I would rank the 3 FF games that I have played in the following order:
1. FF9
2. FF7
3. FF8
There is just something about Final Fantasy 9 that makes it my favorite Final Fantasy game. Though all of the FF games are great, I feel that FF9 had the best qualities, but FF7 was in a very close second place. Most of Squaresoft’s games are incredible and FF7 is not one of those few exceptions. The bottom line is FF7 has all of the major components that a great RPG needs, so go out and buy it now. You will not be disappointed.
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