ITWire

Critically acclaimed and often put at the top of the list of favourite ‘Final Fantasies’, FF VII is one of the most revered video games of all time.

Originally appearing on the PlayStation in 1997 the game did actually get a Windows version the following year.  Today however Square Enix has announced a refreshed version of the game, downloadable for PC’s via Steam.


Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in Europe and across PAL territories, today announced that a new downloadable PC version of the popular role-playing adventure, FINAL FANTASY® VII will be available this year to celebrate the FINAL FANTASY franchise’s 25th anniversary.

This new downloadable version will include a range of new features such as a Character Booster that enables players to fully power up their characters, cloud saves, and in-game achievements to encourage players to explore various facets of the game. For full details please visit http://finalfantasyVIIpc.com.

Released in 1997, FINAL FANTASY VII was critically acclaimed as the title that redefined the standard for role-playing games. Introducing the now infamous rivalry between Cloud and Sephiroth, it delivered an intricate and emotionally compelling storyline through cutting-edge pre-rendered cinematic cut-scenes, and set in a rich, diverse world.  The game features an acclaimed collection of musical scores and intense 3D battles, and is regarded as one of the most significant entries in the FINAL FANTASY series, and one of the most innovative videogames of all time.

In a way however, good as this announcement is for nostalgia driven gamers, what does this say about the continued work on the franchise?  In the accompanying release video FF VII is described as the ‘quintessential’ Final Fantasy, which must be somewhat disheartening for the team(s) working on pcoming Final Fantasy titles.  Was Final Fantasy VII the best work they could hope to achieve with the series?  

On the positive front, it is not like there has been much in the way of consistency across the Final Fantasy development history.  Whilst each game offers classic RPG elements, usually with a unique twist, different stories, settings, characters, battle modes and controls has pretty much meant that, like people, discussing the finer details, advantages, disadvantages of one release over another is somewhat fruitless.  

When it comes to liking or disliking a venerable or recent Final Fantasy release all that will be decided is that it is each to his or her own.