Final Fantasy VII Review (PS4)
Story
Cloud is an Ex-SOLDIER, an elite fighting group under Shinra, a famous company. He has recently resigned from the force, and decided to become a mercenary and work together with the vigilante group AVALANCHE. As he continues to complete his missions with them, he starts to discover that his long-time rival, Sephiroth is still alive after a previous confrontation.
The story is solid, with a highly entertaining main characters and supporting characters. Cloud is a loner, but fights for the right things most of the time despite his personal issues. Aeris is a great character where she is both spunky and smart. Tifa is slightly insecure, yet tough girl. Barret is a rough man, yet has a soft spot towards his daughter Marlene. Other characters such as Sephiroth, the Turks, the Shinra officials as well as others have great moments as well as good characterisations. The major issue with the game is the game's translation, where it is not as good as Final Fantasy VIII or Final Fantasy IX's translations. This new version has rectified some translation errors, but others remained intact.
Gameplay
1) Introduction
This is a remastered version of Final Fantasy VII that is originally available for PS1. Most likely to be a port of the Steam version, this version sports a Trophy List as well as booster cheats. Although this game has sharper and cleaner graphics than the PS1 version, keep it mind that this game is originally from PS1. This game was originally spitted into three discs, but in this version the game itself has three Parts, where each part represents each disc back on PS1. Controls are also updated where you can use Left Analog Stick to move your characters during exploration or selecting your commands in battles.
2) Progression and Exploration Section
This game is a classic JRPG, with tons of sidequests, text-based dialogues, and turn-based battle system. Mostly story-driven with good emphasis on combat and exploration, you must progress in the game by talking to people, fighting enemies, and explore dungeons filled with monsters yourself.
During the first few hours in the game, you will be in a big city with a number of areas that you need to explore and progress. Story is advanced once you have fulfilled certain conditions, such as talking to important NPCs or complete certain objectives. In many hostile areas such as dungeons, there are random encounters where you may fight random enemies with different formations. You may also inspect items or open chests to obtain items.
Later in Part 1, you are able to explore the World Map, where you can fight enemies randomly at different regions as well as explore to towns and dungeons. There are both mandatory and optional areas where you can explore yourself. You may also choose to buy items such as healing items, weapons, and materias for battles in many locations in the game.
3) Leveling and Customisation Section
This game uses Materia system. Materia are crystallised energy orbs that allow you to use a variety of abilities, such as magic. There are five major categories of Materia, which are Magic Materia, Summon Materia, Command Materia, Independent Materia and Support Materia. Each category of Materia will bestow different abilities and effects. For example, equipping Fire Materia on Cloud will allow him to use Fire magic. However, you can only equip Materias on characters who have weapons or armour that have Materia slots.
Materia can also be upgraded by gaining enough Ability Points (AP) after winning battles. Once a Materia levelled up, it may contain new abilities or effects that you can use. For example, a Level 2 Fire Materia allows Cloud to use Fire and Fire 2 spells. However, blindly equipping Materia on your party members will not be good in the long run, as there may be drawbacks when equipping certain Materia to your party members. Always check their effects before equipping them.
Your party members will also level up when gain enough experience points (EXP). Gaining new levels will also increase your party members' stats. You may also equip accessories on your party members, as well as learn powerful new LIMIT moves by fulfilling certain conditions while fighting in battles.
4) Combat Section
Enemies are encountered randomly while exploring hostile areas or in World Map. Different locations host different types of enemies. There are also mandatory fights that you must complete in order to progress in the story.
The battle system uses Active Time Battle system, where each character in a battle (includes enemies) have their own ATB gauge, and they can only execute an action once the ATB gauge is full. You may choose to attack your enemies using your weapon, use magic, and do other actions on your party member's turns. Each enemy in the game has different strengths, weaknesses as well as item drops. Winning a battle will reward you EXP, AP, money, as well as occasional item drops.
Many of the special commands like Magic consumes Magic Points (MP), which can be restored while resting at inns or using items. You may also choose to execute LIMIT moves when a party member's LIMIT gauge is filled up.
Bosses are the real challenges in the game, where they have higher Health Points (HP) as well as unique attacks that can devastate your party. Good preparations such as having equip proper accessories or Materia can help you win many of the boss fights in the game.
5) Gameplay Conclusion
The overall gameplay is simple, but excellently designed. Immersive Materia system, a variety of monsters to be fought, as well as great pacing of story progression makes the gameplay incredibly solid. Not only that, there are many side-content to be done such as side quests and minigames. There are no real weaknesses this game possess, except possibly the difficulty when fighting regular monsters and certain bosses. The other possible disadvantage of this game is that the playable characters do not have unique abilities or Job Class that allows them to use more diverse abilities. Instead, you can customise each party member to an all-rounder fighter instead of a specialised fighter. Plus, the only differentiates each party member in gameplay are only designs, stats, and LIMIT moves. I actually prefer the unique party members with unique abilities and stats system used in Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy XIII. Overall, the gameplay of this game is great.
Graphics
While this game has dated graphics, it was one of the first PS1 games with amazing 3D graphics. For the PS4 version, this game has more sharper character models, and this game has 1080p support as well as perform in solid 60fps. The game still uses the English translation back on the PS1 version, although there are few changes, such as certain correct names on certain terms.
Sound
The sound effects in this game are still catchy, although may be possibly feel dated to newer generation of gamers. The soundtrack is excellent, with many great themes like boss theme, a certain alien's boss theme, Aeris's theme, Cid's theme, and the final boss theme. I am looking forward to how well the possible newly arranged soundtrack will be for the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Replay Value
This game has lots of replay value. You may opt to do side quests on this game, which may include raising chocobos or explore optional dungeons, play a variety of mini-games, and challenge optional bosses in the game.
Conclusion
Despite on several issues, this game is a classic JRPG, enhanced with more cleaner details on graphics and solid performance. Not to mention, some of the new perks such as boosters are incredibly useful for players who have played the game before. I truly await the day Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy IX will be given the remaster treatment on PS4 in the future, This is a good entry for any new RPG players.
Score
Story: 9/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Final Score: 9.0/10 or 36/40
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Interesting storyline.
- Many memorable characters.
- Simple to learn combat system.
- Addicting Materia system.
- Tons of side-content.
- Variety of story progression objectives.
- High replay value.
- Great and memorable music.
- Inclusion of Trophies and boosters.
Cons
- Some questionable translation quality on a number of dialogues.
- Possibly dated graphics.
- Playable characters lack specialisation.
**Images are taken from PlayStation's page of the game and PushSquare's site.
Find the mysterious Sephiroth and stop his plans.
The story is solid, with a highly entertaining main characters and supporting characters. Cloud is a loner, but fights for the right things most of the time despite his personal issues. Aeris is a great character where she is both spunky and smart. Tifa is slightly insecure, yet tough girl. Barret is a rough man, yet has a soft spot towards his daughter Marlene. Other characters such as Sephiroth, the Turks, the Shinra officials as well as others have great moments as well as good characterisations. The major issue with the game is the game's translation, where it is not as good as Final Fantasy VIII or Final Fantasy IX's translations. This new version has rectified some translation errors, but others remained intact.
Gameplay
1) Introduction
This is a remastered version of Final Fantasy VII that is originally available for PS1. Most likely to be a port of the Steam version, this version sports a Trophy List as well as booster cheats. Although this game has sharper and cleaner graphics than the PS1 version, keep it mind that this game is originally from PS1. This game was originally spitted into three discs, but in this version the game itself has three Parts, where each part represents each disc back on PS1. Controls are also updated where you can use Left Analog Stick to move your characters during exploration or selecting your commands in battles.
2) Progression and Exploration Section
Explore dungeons, fighting monsters, the works.
This game is a classic JRPG, with tons of sidequests, text-based dialogues, and turn-based battle system. Mostly story-driven with good emphasis on combat and exploration, you must progress in the game by talking to people, fighting enemies, and explore dungeons filled with monsters yourself.
During the first few hours in the game, you will be in a big city with a number of areas that you need to explore and progress. Story is advanced once you have fulfilled certain conditions, such as talking to important NPCs or complete certain objectives. In many hostile areas such as dungeons, there are random encounters where you may fight random enemies with different formations. You may also inspect items or open chests to obtain items.
Later in Part 1, you are able to explore the World Map, where you can fight enemies randomly at different regions as well as explore to towns and dungeons. There are both mandatory and optional areas where you can explore yourself. You may also choose to buy items such as healing items, weapons, and materias for battles in many locations in the game.
3) Leveling and Customisation Section
Use a variety of abilities by equipping Materia.
This game uses Materia system. Materia are crystallised energy orbs that allow you to use a variety of abilities, such as magic. There are five major categories of Materia, which are Magic Materia, Summon Materia, Command Materia, Independent Materia and Support Materia. Each category of Materia will bestow different abilities and effects. For example, equipping Fire Materia on Cloud will allow him to use Fire magic. However, you can only equip Materias on characters who have weapons or armour that have Materia slots.
Materia can also be upgraded by gaining enough Ability Points (AP) after winning battles. Once a Materia levelled up, it may contain new abilities or effects that you can use. For example, a Level 2 Fire Materia allows Cloud to use Fire and Fire 2 spells. However, blindly equipping Materia on your party members will not be good in the long run, as there may be drawbacks when equipping certain Materia to your party members. Always check their effects before equipping them.
Your party members will also level up when gain enough experience points (EXP). Gaining new levels will also increase your party members' stats. You may also equip accessories on your party members, as well as learn powerful new LIMIT moves by fulfilling certain conditions while fighting in battles.
4) Combat Section
Fighting bosses is the highlight of the combat.
Enemies are encountered randomly while exploring hostile areas or in World Map. Different locations host different types of enemies. There are also mandatory fights that you must complete in order to progress in the story.
The battle system uses Active Time Battle system, where each character in a battle (includes enemies) have their own ATB gauge, and they can only execute an action once the ATB gauge is full. You may choose to attack your enemies using your weapon, use magic, and do other actions on your party member's turns. Each enemy in the game has different strengths, weaknesses as well as item drops. Winning a battle will reward you EXP, AP, money, as well as occasional item drops.
Many of the special commands like Magic consumes Magic Points (MP), which can be restored while resting at inns or using items. You may also choose to execute LIMIT moves when a party member's LIMIT gauge is filled up.
Bosses are the real challenges in the game, where they have higher Health Points (HP) as well as unique attacks that can devastate your party. Good preparations such as having equip proper accessories or Materia can help you win many of the boss fights in the game.
5) Gameplay Conclusion
Simple, yet excellent designed gameplay.
Graphics
Higher resolution yet dated graphics.
While this game has dated graphics, it was one of the first PS1 games with amazing 3D graphics. For the PS4 version, this game has more sharper character models, and this game has 1080p support as well as perform in solid 60fps. The game still uses the English translation back on the PS1 version, although there are few changes, such as certain correct names on certain terms.
Sound
Excellent soundtrack and catchy sound effects.
Replay Value
High replay value.
This game has lots of replay value. You may opt to do side quests on this game, which may include raising chocobos or explore optional dungeons, play a variety of mini-games, and challenge optional bosses in the game.
Conclusion
Still one of the best classic JRPGs ever.
Despite on several issues, this game is a classic JRPG, enhanced with more cleaner details on graphics and solid performance. Not to mention, some of the new perks such as boosters are incredibly useful for players who have played the game before. I truly await the day Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy IX will be given the remaster treatment on PS4 in the future, This is a good entry for any new RPG players.
Score
Story: 9/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Final Score: 9.0/10 or 36/40
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Interesting storyline.
- Many memorable characters.
- Simple to learn combat system.
- Addicting Materia system.
- Tons of side-content.
- Variety of story progression objectives.
- High replay value.
- Great and memorable music.
- Inclusion of Trophies and boosters.
Cons
- Some questionable translation quality on a number of dialogues.
- Possibly dated graphics.
- Playable characters lack specialisation.
**Images are taken from PlayStation's page of the game and PushSquare's site.
Comments
Post a Comment