Originally posted by ESB - 1138
Here's a question, why do everyone here think so much of Final Fantasy 7? If anything it's not even the top 3 best video games. While the graphics aren't the worst in the history of PlayStation, it is much worse than a Final Fantasy should be. A lot of time and money was invested into this game, which makes the low quality graphics even more confusing. It's predecessor beats it hands down and it was on a much weaker 16-bit system.While the FMVs obviously looked better than the in-game graphics, it still doesn't save them. They looked very unprofessional and choppy, plus Final Fantasy VII International has a few new FMVs which do not match the quality and style of the regular release.
It was expected that since Square was making this game for an advanced system, that the battle system would improve. Instead they kept it pretty much the same as the other active time battle system games. Plus the amount of characters per battle went from four to three. With that said, the battle system was somewhat disappointing because there was nothing special about it.
The characters are what makes this game one of the least entertaining Final Fantasy games. Cloud acts like a spoiled child, Aeris is simply useless, Cait Sith is a joke and Barret is the stereotypical angry black man, which can make Square seem almost racist. Even some of the Shinra enemies also took away from the enjoyment of the game.
Cait Sith is a robotic cat on top of a giant stuffed moogle, that is controlled by a Shinra employee named Reeve, who has kidnapped Marlene so he could join your party to spy on you. Complicated yet not interesting at all.
Most Final Fantasy fans in the USA have started with this game, so they have a love for this game that blinds most of them from the truth. Those fans believe that this game has the best story, characters and replay value of all the other games in the series. Unfortunately, this has made Final Fantasy VII the most overrated Final Fantasy game.
1. FFVII is the most popular, and successful game in the series. This can be proven on an Etch-a-Sketch. Back in 1997, the graphics were phenomenal.
2. Again, the FMVs were top line back then.
3. I admit, the battle system could have been more tweaked, but thats the whole point of the Materia System: to mix-and-match and to make endless combiations.
4. The character development alone is what made FFVII so in-depth to begin with. Cloud's moodiness made him a poster child for Wellbutrin, Aeris was meant to be an off screen presence, hence her early demise. Cait Sith is meant to be the comic relief. I would think that this is painfully obvious Just look at his weapons and his limit break: Megaphones and dice. Wow. Real heroic, huh? And if you're going to link Barrett's words and actions to monikers of hate, then thats just close minded idiocy, IMO. Take a look at GTA: San Andreas if you want one-sided stereotypes.
5. Again, Cait Sith is meant to be a joke. And personally, I liked the whole "spy" scenario. Adds a little depth to his silly character.
6. I've been playing these games since I was 11 years old (1991) and have since beaten FFIII, literally, over a dozen times. FFVII is still popular enough to spawn a movie-sequel, a brand new spin-off game (Dirge of Cerberus) and, yes, a remake on the PS3. EGM's latest issue has comfirmed it. Overhyped, you say? If you don't like this game, FINE. Opinions are like a$$holes: everybody has one. Myself, and many, many, many other gamers love this game. Why do I think so much of FFVII? Because it's a phenomenal game. To deny so is insane.