Cover artwork I generate from the game data. I do not use publisher artwork.
Game profile
Final Fantasy VII
The classic tale of mercenary Cloud Strife battling the megalomaniac Shinra Corporation is considered one of the most influential role playing games ever made. Turn based combat, an iconic story about environmental destruction and identity, and unforgettable characters like Sephiroth still shape the genre today.
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What kind of game this is
At its core this is JRPG, set in a fantasy world. Visually it is leaning into a retro look, and the overall tone stays dark throughout. The structure is guided rather than open, so you are moved along instead of dropped into a map. It rewards long uninterrupted stretches more than quick check-ins.
The difficulty is moderate and fair, demanding attention without punishing you for it. The narrative carries the whole thing, and the mechanics serve it. It is a single player experience from start to finish. It runs on 3 platforms. It sits in the budget bracket.
What stands out
- Genre defining classic
- Turn based combat
- Iconic story
This fits you if
- you want to live through a story, not just play a system
- exploring for its own sake is the point for you
- you can sit down for a proper long stretch without interruptions
- the writing matters more to you than the mechanics
- you play alone and want a complete experience without other people
- you are watching your budget
Look elsewhere if
- you skip cutscenes and want to get to the gameplay
- you only ever get short bursts of play time
- you want something light and easy going
- you specifically want an open world to roam
What it costs you in time
About 40 hours in total. At three evenings a week and two hours each, you will be busy for roughly 7 weeks, or 20 sessions.
How the rating ranks
Critics settled on 92 out of 100, which puts it above 93 percent of the 1206 games here and at rank 66 overall. That is a strong score, comfortably above what most releases manage.
For comparison, JRPG averages 86 points across the database, so this one sits 6 points above its own genre. The figure rests on a comparatively small number of ratings, so treat it as an indication rather than a verdict.
Released in 1997, which makes it 29 years old. A genuine classic, and worth checking how the version you buy holds up today.
The facts
- Release year
- 1997
- Genres
- JRPG
- Playtime
- approx. 40 hrs.
- Difficulty
- Moderate, fair
- Story weight
- Carries the whole game
- Play with
- Solo
- Setting
- Fantasy, Sci-fi
- Visual style
- Retro
- Price bracket
- Budget
- Platforms
- PC, PlayStation, Switch
- Critic rating
- 92 / 100
Direct comparison
| Genres | Release year | Playtime | Critic rating | Price bracket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy VII | 1997 | approx. 40 hrs. | 92 | Budget |
| Final Fantasy VIII Remastered | 2019 | approx. 43 hrs. | 79 | Budget |
| Star Ocean: The Second Story R | 2023 | approx. 40 hrs. | 83 | Mid price |
| NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... | 2021 | approx. 30 hrs. | 82 | Mid price |
If you liked this, try these
- Final Fantasy VIII Remastered Shared: JRPG, Fantasy
- Star Ocean: The Second Story R Shared: JRPG, Fantasy
- NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... Shared: JRPG, Fantasy
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Shared: JRPG, Fantasy, longer
- Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Shared: JRPG, Fantasy, longer
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Shared: JRPG, Fantasy, longer