What can I say about Final Fantasy VII (FFVII) that hasn't been said before? Why write a review about a game that has been reviewed to death, and already played and loved by a majority of the gaming population? Why? Because this game is just THAT good! THAT'S why.
The best aspect of FFVII is by far its story. The story is so amazingly detailed and well thought-out, that people still, SIX YEARS LATER, talk about and discuss the intricacies of the plot. How many games have a story detailed enough to deserve consideration even an HOUR after completion, much less six years? This, and the fact that the storyline contains the single most memorable moment in (dare I say it) gaming history, proves its depth and long-lasting appeal.
The materia system is so well designed, that it has to be the best aspect of FFVII. You can mix and match abilities to your hearts desire, and literally create hundreds of thousands of different set-ups for your characters. Want a magic-wielding character who absorbs elemental damage and can cast multiple spells in one turn, absorbing MP with each spell? You got it. Want to create a warrior who can attack a group of enemies at once, while dealing status effects like confuse, poison, and stone, as well as stealing an item from each enemy? You got it. Want to create a nimble character that will attack before anyone else, including enemies, and target a single enemy multiple times with each hit having the possibility of morphing that enemy into an item? You got it. The possibilities are virtually endless, and provide for one of the best battle systems ever designed.
Within the first 10 minutes of the game it becomes apparent that the best element of FFVII is its music. Every piece is wonderful to listen to and fits into its own atmosphere perfectly. The range of compositions is also amazing: from the gentle tones of a flower garden, to the steal and steam of an industrial factory, it's all there and beautifully done.
The multitude of side-quest games to play in FFVII are by far the best part of FFVII. These games range from driving a motorcycle, riding a snowboard, driving a submarine, racing Chocobos, fighting battles in the Battle Square, etc. They are ALL fun to play, but also reward the player with items for playing them, items ranging from simple potions to powerful materia.
Adding all this together creates, in my opinion, the best Final Fantasy game of the series. Now, many people, upon hearing that a gamer thinks Final Fantasy VII is the best of the series, will assume that FFVII was the FIRST of the series that gamer played. While I believe this is true for many gamers, due to the marketing and public exposure this game received compared to the others, I think the fact that FFVII IS the best game of the series also has something to do with it. :)
I have been a Final Fantasy fan since the very first game on the original Nintendo system back in '88, and I still have my very first copy of the original Final Fantasy, and still play it occasionally. I also own and have extensively played each and every other Final Fantasy game that has been released. However, I can honestly say that I feel Final Fantasy VII is the best Final Fantasy game of the series. Although Final Fantasy X has come EXTREMELY close to toping FFVII on my personal list, I still feel that FFVII contains many elements that make it one of the best games ever created.
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