Call me a fangirl but Final Fantasy VII has me constantly coming back for more. The most amazing game to be made!
Squaresoft's first step to the world of three dimensions, and it was flawless. A genuine blend of stunning graphics, unsurpassed (at the time) full-motion video, immersive storyline and combat system. A true defining moment for many RPGs to come.
I'll be blunt, this is the first Playstation game I ever owned, I bought it second-hand and I cherished it with every part of my soul.
Let's talk graphics. Wow. Stunning backgrounds, compelling scenery, nearly seamless cutscenes. It's nearly breathtaking. Beautifully detailed. Especially the "inner worlds" as I like to call them. Such as the Number seven reactor, and especially Midgar.
The fmvs are what made me tear up with joy. Back then, superb. Watching the cutscene at the end of the Shinra Hq. segment, with the bike. Outstanding. Overall with graphics, they pushed the envelope and captured the full essence of the Playstation.
The storyline, was fantastic. This is the only RPG that I have played and beaten over 10 times. Make that 50 times. The replay value to me is that amazing. No other game had me crying over the most pivotal point in the game (hint just before the second disc). The story was deep, it required thinking. The fourth play through is when I finally grasped everything in the game, all the small segments, all the bits and pieces and they came together to form one of the most lasting storylines to date.
The combat system. I loved it (I will admit I like FFVIII's combat system just a tad bit more too bad it doesn't have Materia). The battles, yet boringly random and sometimes too far between were beautiful in their own rights. The summons; Gorgeous. The difficulty; Perfect.
Sidequests! Oh my god, were there many. The game itself is about 40 hours long, tack on the sidequests and you're easily over 80. You got Chocobo racing, Chocobo breeding and raising, the Gold Saucer, the optional "Weapons". The "hidden materias", the ultimate weapons, the master materias, the Gelinka, the final limits and best of all, the fabled Battle Arena!
The ending. Was my favorite. I saved just before the final fight, and did it over and over again at the least ten times just to watch it over and over again. I loved it. It was everything I wanted, and then some. It leaves you hanging just enough to have you thinking; "Is that really all? Or is there more...?"
Final Fantasy VII folks! Got it? Cherish it forever! Don't? Get it! You're missing out on one of the greatest games ever.