Release Date: January 31, 1997 (Japan) / September 7, 1997 (NA) | Developer: Square | Platform: PlayStation (32/128-bit CD-ROM, 3 discs) | ROM Size: 3x CD-ROMs (~4.5 GB total across discs) | Playtime: Main story 35–45 hours, Main + extras ~80 hours, Completionist 150+ hours | Sales: 3.4M (Japan PS1), 10.8M+ worldwide (PS1 by 2000), 14M+ lifetime | Critical Reception: 37/40 (Famitsu), 38.5/40 (EGM), 92/100 (Metacritic), 9/10 (Edge UK)
Historical context — Final Fantasy VII represents the culmination of efforts to introduce the Japanese RPG (JRPG) genre to the West. It was the first Final Fantasy released in the US in 1997, and thus the first time many Americans experienced the series. It was also the first game in the series to have both cinematics and 3D environments.
Why 1997 Was The Right Time For A Mainstream JRPG
The first mainline Final Fantasy to reach Europe launched on November 17, 1997.
As noted previously, prior to the release of Final Fantasy VII the West had experienced very few Final Fantasy games. In addition to a handful of original NES ports and the eventual compilation of PlayStation versions of older titles, there hadn’t been a current Final Fantasy game released in the West for some time.
Final Fantasy VII changed that. When Final Fantasy VII was released in 1997 it did so as a major gaming event in the West. The media treated it like mainstream entertainment. The story was simple and accessible enough for non-RPG players to follow. The graphics were impressive and helped prove the value of the PlayStation’s 32-bit 3D capabilities. The music was memorable enough that fans would remember it for years to come.
Square chose to make Final Fantasy VII as accessible as possible to a wide audience. It was a deliberate choice.
What They Actually Did
While the Materia system is functional, it lacks the flexibility of Final Fantasy V’s Job System. Players can assign different types of Materia to their equipment, which will determine the type of ability or spell that they may use during gameplay. While this is an improvement over the earlier systems used in previous Final Fantasy titles, it is certainly not the most flexible system.
However, the system worked, and it worked well enough that the functionality of the system became secondary to the larger picture of the game.
The CD-ROM format allowed Square to create full motion video cutscenes and large pre-rendered background images that simply weren’t possible with the cartridges used by other consoles at the time. The 3x CD-ROM format of Final Fantasy VII provided approximately 4.5 GB of total storage for all of the game’s data (audio, video, 3D models, etc.).
Ultimately, the presentation of the game’s story and setting was what made the story itself feel important. Whether it was Cloud’s confusion regarding his own identity, Sephiroth’s reality-bending threats, or the One-Winged Angel theme, everything felt heavy with importance.
Estimated play time for the main storyline is 35-45 hours, and estimated play time for the main storyline including side quests is 80 hours. If you want to see everything that Final Fantasy VII has to offer, you can expect to spend over 150 hours playing the game (grinding for Materia, raising Chocobos, and collecting Ultimate Weapons, etc.).
The Moment It All Began
When it was initially released, Final Fantasy VII received a score of 37/40 in Famitsu magazine. The average score given by Electronic Gaming Magazine was 38.5/40. The review team at Edge magazine gave the game a rating of 9/10. The Metacritic average for Final Fantasy VII is 92/100, based upon reviews from numerous professional reviewers.
The significance of these scores lies in their indication of the general consensus among reviewers at the time of the game’s release. Reviewers generally praised the game for its story, its graphics, and its music. Many reviewers noted that the game represented a significant departure from the earlier titles in the Final Fantasy series, and that it marked the beginning of the next generation of JRPGs.
The Reviews Didn’t Matter — What Happened After The Reviews
Video game characters began appearing on magazine covers. Cloud Strife became a familiar name to people outside of the gaming community. The Final Fantasy VII soundtrack was performed live at concerts. The gaming community was no longer seen as a niche hobby, but as a form of mainstream entertainment.
A year later, in 1998, a PC version of the game was released. The International version of the game included additional Materia. Later releases of the game included versions for the PlayStation Network (in 2009), mobile devices (in 2015), and modern platforms such as the PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox, and PC.
Why This Game Wasn’t The Best But Was The Most Important
To my knowledge, I’ve never defended a game that wasn’t historically relevant. Here is where we get back to the historian aspect of me. Final Fantasy VI is arguably a better game. The story is tighter. The character development is deeper. The emotional impact is greater.
Final Fantasy IV introduced the ATB system that would define JRPG combat for decades. Final Fantasy V perfected the Job System. Both of these innovations were significant advances that influenced generations of JRPGs.
Final Fantasy VII’s innovation was being mainstream. It demonstrated that JRPGs could be mainstream entertainment that normal people cared about. It wasn’t a mechanical innovation; it was a cultural one.
For years I defended Sega against Super Nintendo’s dominance. I witnessed the Genesis fail to beat the SNES. I saw the Dreamcast die as the PlayStation continued to thrive. I know what it means when a company wins through software superiority as opposed to superior hardware.
Final Fantasy VII was the software superiority that justified buying the PlayStation. The game that validated the need to purchase the PlayStation due to its potential to deliver experiences via CD-ROM that were impossible using cartridges.
Would It Still Be Worth Playing Today Without The Hype?
Yes. While the 3D graphics are dated (the character models are blocky, and the pre-rendered backgrounds do not always transition smoothly), and while the story sometimes becomes convoluted in ways that do not pay off well, and while the dialogue is stiff in parts, and while the difficulty spikes up and down randomly.
But the core is still strong. The character development is better than people give it credit for. The world feels lived-in. The boss battles escalate properly. The Materia system, though not revolutionary, allows players a reasonable degree of flexibility.
And most importantly: the story still holds up today. Cloud’s confusion about his identity is still compelling. Aerith is still a meaningful loss. Sephiroth is still a legitimate threat. The conclusion still holds emotional weight.
As a historian, that is the test I apply: does the game tell us why people cared? Final Fantasy VII meets that test.
Why I Don’t Feel Sorry For Ranking The Importance Of Historical Significance Over Perfection
I am a teacher. I think about how things impacted what followed. Final Fantasy VII changed what everyone thought was possible in gaming. It showed that:
- JRPGs could become mainstream hits.
- Console CD technology could produce experiences equal to arcade quality.
- Video game stories could resonate with people that didn’t play video games.
- A single game could justify someone buying an entire console platform.
Those are not insignificant achievements. Those are changes to the gaming industry.
Was it the best game on the Final Fantasy hub? No. Samuel was correct in saying VI was the best. Timothy was correct in saying V was the best. Marcus’ engineering-based analysis of IV was accurate.
But VII was the most important game in terms of changing the industry, changing the expectations of western audiences of JRPGs, and changing what publishers believed they could accomplish with their products.
Therefore, I will continue to defend it.
Rating: 8/10 — The game that showed JRPGs could be mainstream.
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Joe’s a history teacher who treats the console wars like actual history. A lifelong Sega devotee from Phoenix, he writes with passion, humor, and lingering heartbreak over the Dreamcast. Expect strong opinions, bad puns, and plenty of “blast processing.”
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