The Final Fantasy VII Remake is an absolutely jaw-dropping reimagining of a classic PlayStation RPG. The following list is for anybody who already played the new title and is on the fence about whether or not they should dive into the original Final Fantasy VII. Twenty-three years is a long time by any measure, but in gaming it is literally several generations.
Does the remake render the original completely irrelevant? Unbearable by modern gaming conventions? Read on to find out arguments both in favor and against diving into the 1997 epic that set the gaming world on fire and popularized the JRPG in the west.
10 Irrelevant: Graphics
Everybody knows graphics are not everything, but they are still something. The old 3D models barely register as people when compared to the astoundingly detailed characters from the new game. At least the two-dimensional backgrounds still hold up, but modern gamers may have a hard time finding the emotion and direction in characters who are unable to change facial expressions. In 1997, however, it was the best they could do when making such a large game.
9 Worth Playing: Still Accessible
As far as old RPGs go, Final Fantasy VII is still accessible and easy to understand. One of its draws for western audiences was how easy it was to wrap one's mind around when compared to games of a similar ilk. The western release even had the difficulty toned down to better suit an audience less experienced with the genre.
8 Irrelevant: Voice Acting
The remake features full voice acting for 100% of its dialogue. The original had no such feature, due to the lack of space on CDs.
Fully voiced cutscenes had yet to become the norm, so gamers weren't bothered by this. Given the amount of exposition and plot in Final Fantasy VII, some may be put off by the lack of cinematic flair when watching the story unfold.
7 Worth Playing: Understanding The Remake Better
Final Fantasy VII Remake drops some major plot bombs. To better understand just how it will effect the future, it helps to know the original game's plot. After beating it, one will retroactively appreciate the remake's ending even more. It will also help one better enjoy future entries in the remake since they can see how certain events changed from the original.
6 Irrelevant: Battle System
The new game's battle system puts the action into real time while still maintaining elements of the old ATB system. Because of this, going back to the retro style may prove difficult. Many gamers will not want to wait around as bars fill up when they have just spent the last 30 hours banging out combos at a steady pace.
5 Worth Playing: Remake Only Covers A Small Portion Of The Original
With so many gamers on their toes anxiously awaiting a continuation of the story, what better way to pass the time than playing the original? Plenty of content is missing from the remake, so it is worth the investment.
For perspective, the original Final Fantasy VII takes anywhere between 40 and 60 hours to beat, and the Midgar section only covers about a six or seven hour portion. If the remake interests players in the world, experiencing the source material offers an opportunity to learn more about it before the next entry in the remake comes out.
4 Irrelevant: Random Encounters
Another relic of JRPGs' past are random encounters. Instead of finding enemies out on the field, battles occur at random when in certain areas. Players do not see threats out on the map, and are instead are signaled to fight by a musical cue and the screen washing away while the camera enters the battle mode. For modern gamers, this practice might grow frustrating. All they want to do is get somewhere, but instead they have to contend with random enemies attacking.
3 Worth Playing: Quality Of Life Changes
The recent re-releases on the PS4 and Nintendo Switch fix many of the issues listed in this article. Is the gameplay too slow? Speed it up three times as fast with the push of a button! Maybe the party is sufficiently trained for the next area of the game, so turn off random encounters without even going into a menu.
2 Irrelevant: The Writing
Final Fantasy VII always had a great plot and story. However, some of the writing does not live up to the scope of its ambition. By 1997 gaming standards, it rivals Thomas Pynchon, but the medium has evolved so much in 23 years that some of the dialogue feels inorganic and outdated.
1 Worth Playing: Historically Relevant
It is difficult to overstate Final Fantasy VII's impact on gaming. Not only did it help assert the PlayStation's dominance over its competitors, but it also kickstarted a console RPG renaissance. It might not be the best Final Fantasy, and personal favorites are always subjective, but it is arguably the most important release in the series. This historical relevance alone makes it worth any gamer's time.