AbstractIt seems that an evil power company called Shinra has found a way to mine the planet's life energy, draining it from the planet and using it to control the universe. Fortunately, a resistance organization known as AVALANCHE has vowed to put an end to Shinra's destructive practices. You as Cloud, an ex-Shinra soldier must help them achieve their goals. This is the objective of FINAL FANTASY-7.
ESRB rating
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Realistic Violence |
Full descriptionSquare's Final Fantasy series makes its 32-bit debut with Final Fantasy VII, a role-playing game blending 3D polygonal characters, pre-rendered backgrounds, and animated cut-scenes across three discs. Lead protagonist Cloud Strife's memory is as murky as the quality of life in the city of Midgar, where a resistance movement named Avalanche targets the apparent source of the problem: the Shin-Ra Electric Power Company. Cloud will join Avalanche as he seeks to piece together his past, kicking off an adventure spanning three continents. Cloud will intersect with an assortment of characters along the way, including a mysterious, silver-haired adversary named Sephiroth.
Gameplay is divided into three distinct phases: travel across a world map; exploration from a close-up view of an area; and a 3D battle screen that pits your party against the enemy. Enemy encounters employ a turn-based, active time-battle system, where players decide to attack, use items, or cast magic within a short window of time. A crystal-like energy source called materia can be found in your travels and attached to equipment, granting characters access to new skills or the ability to summon powerful creatures. Your party consists of three heroes selected from a potential pool of nine. In addition to the main quest, you can participate in mini-games ranging from snowboarding and boxing to creature breeding and arm wrestling.
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Editorial reviewSource:
AmazonThe enormous Playstation console smash hit
Final Fantasy VII makes a successful debut on the personal computer, converted beautifully by designers Squaresoft and Eidos Interactive. Gamers familiar with Squaresoft's popular
Final Fantasy series should have little trouble grasping the seventh title's action-packed, role-playing game play. However,
Final Fantasy VII's excellent documentation and intuitive controls ensure that beginners won't feel overwhelmed.
Players assume the role of Cloud Strife, a defector of Shinra, the evil corporation maintaining control over the planet. As the game opens, Cloud joins "Avalanche," a resistance group determined to foil the corporation's diabolical plans. Final Fantasy VII features an extremely complex story line, offering many hours of game play (over 60 minutes of impressive cinematic sequences are also included).
Final Fantasy VII's game play involves exploration, puzzle solving, and real-time combat. Players control Cloud during exploration and take on additional party members for battle sequences, which include both fantastic weaponry and dazzling spells. While the graphics are top-notch--and support 3-D hardware accelerators to sharpen the character models--the sound effects won't impress many; Squaresoft made little effort to utilize a personal computer's sophisticated sound card to its potential.
Although deeply rooted in the limitations of the Playstation console (limited menu system, weak music, no voice-overs), Final Fantasy VII's highly addictive, easy-to-learn game play should provide adventure and role-playing fans many hours of enjoyment. --Doug Radcliffe
Pros:
- Epic story line
- Well-developed characters
- Beautiful graphics and spell effects
- Complex magic system
Cons: - Dialogue can get cheesy
- Weak sound
- Frustrating interface
Explore massive worlds in this seventh installment of the popular role-playing series
Engage in seven mini-games and sub-quests
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