Poll: Final Fantasy VII - Why is it so popular?

[Novan Leon]

I feel like one of the few people in existence who did NOT think Final Fantasy VII was up to the FF standard. I played FFVII the week it came out and played it all the way through several times within the next few years. I feel like I played through the game this many times mainly because I WANTED to like it, and was trying to find a reason to like it, but couldn't quite get myself to do so.

My gripes about the game include the following:

- Only three characters in your party, a step down from previous games
- Lack of character weapon/armor and skills customization
- Abstract psudo-philosophical anime-style plot with numerous logical gaps and lack of explanation for several very important key events (Why was Aeris killed again? Who is Zack and why exactly was he important?)
- Poor English translation which probably didn't help the explanation of the plot
- Generally uninteresting and underdeveloped characters, aside from Aeris which didn't really have enough screen time, Cloud, Red XIII and Vincent.

On the other hand, some of the games pro's include:

- The graphics were gorgeous for it's time
- The music was as masterful as ever
- The Materia system was intuitive and interesting

Now, I've done a lot of soul searching to figure out why FFVII seems to such a huge hit with the general populous while I've gone and completely missed the boat. After much deliberation, I've come up with to two possible theories:

1. My first Final Fantasy game was FFVI, and is by far my favorite Final Fantasy out of all the games, if not my favorite RPG period. It's slowly dawned on me that people tend to fall in love, and stay in love with their first Final Fantasy. Nine times out of ten, if you ask people what their favorite Final Fantasy game is, they'll tell you the name of their first. Final Fantasy VII was the first Final Fantasy to usher in a new generation of hardware and graphical capabilities into the mainstream (following Square's transition from SNES to the PS1), and many of the current generation's first video game console was the PS1. I think it's possible that the majority of the current generation's first Final Fantasy was also FFVII, and hence the popularity.

2. Slightly more pessimistic. FFVII was also the first Final Fantasy to deliver a beautiful, almost movie-like experience, and cater to a lot of people who would otherwise pass over RPG's as slow and boring. I believe it's possible that FFVII was the ground-breaker in bringing about the current generation of graphics-first, games-should-be-more-like-movies mindset in the video game community. Maybe FFVII just appeals more to the average, dumb, non-RPGer other Final Fantasy games.

Oh, and the third option: maybe I'm just crazy?

What do you think? What is it about FFVII that appeals to you? Why do you love FFVII? (Or do you?)

 

[Melty Blood]

Final fantasy 7 was all... right... I fell in love with the materia system, as it allowed me to tinker with my characters so much, the story was good, and the music was excellent. I don't have any "Favorite" Final fantasy, but I think 7 and 9 are tied, because 9 had so much god damn charm in the story.

 

[Mr. Bubbles]

I didn't even finih the first boss fight, so I guess I agree with you. And I also agree with that "first Final Fantasy is your favorite" too. It is for me, anyway.

 

[Dody16]

Well, it wasn't my first Final Fantasy, and it isn't my favorite. Although it was the first final fantasy that I cleared. Since IV V VI are comparativly hard(quite a bit so, I think) I was too young to play them to the end. I've talked with my two brothers who are also gamers about this, and all three of us agree that VII was the biginning of the downfall of the Final Fantasy series(XII was better though).

I know this might be a little off topic, but I'm on my way to clear Final Fantasy IV(on the DS), and I'm enjoying every moment of it.

I guess the point I want to make is, I think Final Fantasy VII is OK, but the peak of the series has past, and I don't quite understand why it was (or is it still?) popular either. I think it's a good game for people who aren't hard core gamers, and maby that's why.

 

[Count_de_Monet]

I loved it when I played it and even though I picked "Liked/first FF game" I just realized it wasn't my first and that's the only reason I ever played it. I almost never play console games, however, I had played Final Fantasy on my gameboy and then later on SNES/Emulators so just about all of my RPG experience had been in Final Fantasy games. I admit that FF7 does not have the best story overall, however, I think that the beginning is fantastic because that is about the only time in the game when there is a coherent story and actual character development.

I loved the materia system because it gave me a level of customization I hadn't encountered and one which wasn't a one way street once you became invested (see the job system). The graphics were ok, however, the backdrops were great and more than anything they gave the game it's distinct character. Also, the soundtrack was fantastic and I still have some of the tracks among my collection. If that wasn't enough the limit break system gave each character a little individuality that materia had taken away and some of the limit break were amazing.

 

[Whoracle]

- Abstract psudo-philosophical anime-style plot with numerous logical gaps and lack of explanation for several very important key events (Why was Aeris killed again? Who is Zack and why exactly was he important?)

To help you understand those:
Aeris was killed because of the Holy-Materia, the only one that could stop Sephiboys Doomspellofdeath

Zack was
a) Aeris' Boyfriend
b) Helped cloud survive Nibelheim
c) Was the "Template" for Cloud's self-delusional thinking

That's that as far as I remember.

 

[DarkElfa]

I have no bloody idea why it's so popular, not because I haven't played it, but because I didn't enjoy it. I just feel it lacks the kind of substance that made the earlier FF games what they were.

 

[Novan Leon]

Well, it wasn't my first Final Fantasy, and it isn't my favorite. Although it was the first final fantasy that I cleared. Since IV V VI are comparativly hard(quite a bit so, I think) I was too young to play them to the end. I've talked with my two brothers who are also gamers about this, and all three of us agree that VII was the biginning of the downfall of the Final Fantasy series(XII was better though).

I know this might be a little off topic, but I'm on my way to clear Final Fantasy IV(on the DS), and I'm enjoying every moment of it.

I guess the point I want to make is, I think Final Fantasy VII is OK, but the peak of the series has past, and I don't quite understand why it was (or is it still?) popular either. I think it's a good game for people who aren't hard core gamers, and maby that's why.

I'm kinda in the same boat as you. IV, V and VI were my favorites with IX and XII being the other two generally OK ones. I think XII shines because of gameplay more than anything, surprisingly coming from Final Fantasy which is usually know for it's story. VI was my favorite of all time. I could go on and on about it... but I won't.

FFVII does seem like it was the beginning of the end for the Final Fantasy that I knew. Mabye XII will begin the next upswing in the series.

 

[Novan Leon]

To help you understand those:
Aeris was killed because of the Holy-Materia, the only one that could stop Sephiboys Doomspellofdeath

But I thought the Holy was still summoned and ended up saving the world in the end? I guess this means Sephiroth killed her too late. They didn't really explain this though, all you know is *boom* she's dead and it seemed to have absolutely no effect on the course of the game.

Zack was
a) Aeris' Boyfriend
b) Helped cloud survive Nibelheim
c) Was the "Template" for Cloud's self-delusional thinking

That's that as far as I remember.

Was this explained in the game? All I could figure out was that Zack was Cloud's friend or that maybe Cloud was a clone of Zack or something.

 

[halbarad]

I would say that it's the story and whole feel of the game that has it still being the favorite Final Fantasy for most people.
FFVII offered such an in depth story and most people grew attached to the characters.

FFVII wasn't my first FF game. It is my favorite though.
My favorite 5 FF games in order are
1) FFVII
2) FFX
3) FFVIII
4) FFIV
5) FFVI

i've played every FF game ever made though, and i can honestly say aside from XI and Crystal Chronicles, i am fond of them all.

Novan : Most of the story for Zack comes from optional things. If you go to gongaga, you learn a little about zack, how he was Aeris'/Aerith's boyfriend. Later on, if you return to the basement of Shin-Ra mansion, you see a cut-scene showing how Cloud got to Midgar and how he came to becoming the 'ex-Soldier, mercenary' that we were introduced to.


On the note of somebody saying it's for casual gaming/not hardcore gaming. I honestly disagree. My first run through of Final Fantasy VII took me over 120 hours. 99% of casual gamers couldn't last the distance of trying to 100% complete FFVII and getting all the hidden scenes, items, materia and so on.
Completing any final fantasy 100% without a guide is a challenge for anybody, and i've only ever found one other person out of thousands who's done the same as me with them all.

 

[stinkypitz]

it wasnt my first. Its my favorite though, because the story was just so excellent. I felt enthralled and captivated, and i really felt for the characters.

 

[Whoracle]

But I thought the Holy was still summoned and ended up saving the world in the end? I guess this means Sephiroth killed her too late. They didn't really explain this though, all you know is *boom* she's dead and it seemed to have absolutely no effect on the course of the game.

This WAS explained actually, but you got it better when you played it in 4 versions: PC AND PS1 English as well as PC AND PS1 german.
Those translators sure were lazy...

Was this explained in the game? All I could figure out was that Zack was Cloud's friend or that maybe Cloud was a clone of Zack or something.

This was definately explained, though.
Part of it was when Cloud got dunked into the life stream, and the other part of this you get to see as a bonus-sequence when returning to nibelheim after doing this or that... I'll look it up for you later, if you like.

 

[halbarad]

But I thought the Holy was still summoned and ended up saving the world in the end? I guess this means Sephiroth killed her too late. They didn't really explain this though, all you know is *boom* she's dead and it seemed to have absolutely no effect on the course of the game.

This WAS explained actually, but you got it better when you played it in 4 versions: PC AND PS1 English as well as PC AND PS1 german.
Those translators sure were lazy...

Was this explained in the game? All I could figure out was that Zack was Cloud's friend or that maybe Cloud was a clone of Zack or something.

This was definately explained, though.
Part of it was when Cloud got dunked into the life stream, and the other part of this you get to see as a bonus-sequence when returning to nibelheim after doing this or that... I'll look it up for you later, if you like.

I'll explain as i agree, playing it a number of versions does help (PC & PS1 English, Japanese and French).
Holy was summoned due to Aeris' sacrifice of her own body for the safety of the land. There was no other offering that could show, and bring the emotional power, to awaken Holy.
Aeris' knew she was going to die when she went to the City of the Ancients. The dream sequence between Cloud and Aeris made that quite clear.


On the matter of Zack. As i said in my previous post - Zack and Aeris' relationship is explained in the optional visit to Gongaga (between the Gold Saucer and Cosmo Canyon). More is later explained in a FMV in the Nibelheim Shin-ra mansion basement after the lifestream event. The FMV shows how Cloud got to Midgar and how he got the identity of ex-soldier and mercenary.
The whole Lifestream sequence does explain about his past though. Just not it all.

 

[deftune]

I think its a mix of the things Novan Leon mentioned and more. For me somehow the story was extremley great and it didnt have an overly J-Rpg feel which i cant stand. Also it was cool and when you fight through Shinra HQ in the beginning is one of the coolest moments to PSX ever. I prefer those FF games that are a mix of future and fantasy. FFIX didnt do it for me.

So heres my list
1. FFVII
2. FFVI
3. FFX
4. FFVII
5. FFXI

Still havent played XII. I dislike IV and IX but have played through both. Reason for not liking IV must be that i played it after some of the newer ones. It felt oooold. Like UO

 

[Novan Leon]

I did the 100% trip, with the assistance of a GameFaqs and I did the Zack side quest and it still didn't seem clear to me what role he played.

My main problem may be my familiarity with Japanese culture. I'm very sensitive to the "let's just put it in the story cuz it's cool, not cuz it makes sense" cliche that the Japanese love. I did the 100% trip with all side quests in the original PSX USA release and neither Zack's relationship to Cloud nor the reason behind Aeris' death were clearly explained.

Sephiroth is just another long silver-haired emo-bad guy which, by the way, is very popular in Japan as well. In Japanese anime there are a ton of silver haired emo-bad-guys.

 

[McMindflayer]

My Favorite FF game would have to be tactics. Not an often chosen one, since it is very unlike all the others.

Now, about FF7, If I remember correctly, Aeris died becuase Sephiroth killed her. And either due to her sacrifice, or just becuase nobody noticed it before, the jewel in her hair was the Holy Materia.

It was forever ago, so I can't remember the stuff about Zach and Cloud. All I remember is that Zach was the cool guy that had the buster sword and hung out with Sephy. Zach and Cloud were freinds, and after the whole burning of nephilhem or whatever, They tried to make it back to Midgar on their own. Zach was gunned down by "evil bad guys" And Cloud was like "I don't have a personality for myself... So I'll just take over his life." And he pretty much convinced himself that he was Zach. carrying around the buster sword and thinking he was buddy buddy with Seph. In the game you find out almost his entire past is a lie.

I enjoyed the game myself. But it's been a while since I've played.

 

[Novan Leon]

I don't consider Final Fantasy Tactics a TRUE Final Fantasy or else I would have included it. FFT IS one of the best games of all time, IMHO.