| The latest in the world-famous RPG video game series by Squaresoft, Final Fantasy VII has been the recipient of more hype and advanced billing than any just about other game in history. Final Fantasy VII is the culmination of a multi-million dollar project years in the development. Commercials for the game compare it to a major motion picture, and even dare to venture that their product may be superior. Final Fantasy VII begins as the story of a small group of freedom fighters rebelling against an evil corporation hell-bent on stealing the planet’s lifeblood in the name of the almighty dollar. The story’s protagonist, an ex-soldier named Cloud Strife, begins as a self-centered mercenary who joins the rebel group for monetary reasons. But as Cloud meets old friends and discovers the pains of losing loved ones, he soon becomes caught in the middle of a struggle for the future of his homeworld—a struggle which, Cloud discovers, quickly escalates into so much more. The first place where Squaresoft’s immense effort emerges is in the game’s graphics. Typically, RPG characters are tiny and cartoonish in nature, but Final Fantasy VII contains well-developed, immensely realistic looking characters—especially in the battle sequences. Every movement of the characters is carefully planned and illustrated, and flow amazingly well. The graphics are texture-mapped to perfection, creating a game which quite often genuinely feels like a movie. The strength of the graphics, however, is the many cinematic screens utilized throughout the game. Early on, Cloud and company flee from a building in which they have just planted a bomb. The ensuing explosion consists of a sudden flash of the bomb’s detonation, followed by the fall of the tower in extremely realistic and colorful flames. Then, later during a flashback sequence, a villain from Cloud’s past is depicted peering with cold eyes through a raging inferno. He looks so menacing, it’s downright frightening. Final Fantasy VII lays claim to the greatest graphics ever in an RPG—perhaps in any video game ever! The only drawback is that the 3-D field view and rotating and zooming camera angles sometimes make your characters hard to see. At times, especially on ladders, the graphics become tiny and dense, with entirely too many objects on the screen at one time. The sound is typical Squaresoft quality—a combination of classic orchestral sound and high-tech electronic synthesis which results in another quality production from a game designer which has already released several soundtracks for past RPGs. As with most of the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy VII’s strong points are its storyline and its character development. The struggles of a rebel group pitted against an oppressive, totalitarian government (or in this case, a corporation) may be a popular concept in literature, but one that we rarely tire of. While the progression of events is not as inspired and gripping as such past Squaresoft works as Final Fantasy III or Chrono-Trigger, it is nonetheless heads and tails above their competition. The characters are every bit as three-dimensional as the graphics. Among them are Barret Wallace, a single parent torn between fighting for his homeland and caring for his young daughter; Aeris Gainsborough, who seems like an innocent flower girl at first, until her friends learn that she hides a dark secret; and Cloud, who experiences a change of heart midway through the game and becomes caught in the middle of not only a battle for the planet, but in the center of a love triangle which seems to deepen with every step. Every character possesses his or her own past experiences, secrets, reasons for continuing on the quest, and personality that molds and shapes each of them into realistic entities. While Final Fantasy VII is rated for teen gamers (ages 13-and-over), much of the content in the game is adult-oriented. It contains suggestive material, occasionally strong sexual innuendo, and graphic language which may be inappropriate for younger audiences. However, the uncensored script and plotline in essence makes for a more inspired, mature, and realistic game. So the question is—does Final Fantasy VII live up to the hype? Well, with the immense propaganda it has spawned, it would be awfully hard to. But without a doubt this is the RPG of the year (on any system). Final Fantasy VII is an amazing adventure that will keep any gamer, from RPG novice to gaming pro, hooked for hours on end. The graphics alone raise it above all other RPGs. While some players have complained that the game lacks challenge, it possesses a rich story and is thoroughly entertaining. This isn’t just a game—it’s an experience...one you’ll likely never forget.
|
||||||||
Game Reviews
We want to hear from you! E-mail the Editor of Game Mag at gamemag@kcnet.com.