Why I’ve Never Played Final Fantasy VII (and Probably Never Will)

With the recent release of Final Fantasy VII on Steam and the confirmation of a Cloud costume pre-order bonus for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, now is a joyous time for FF7 fans — but unfortunately, I don’t share your joy as I’ve never played the game and here’s why I probably never will.

[Snookies12]

Okay, I guess? I dunno... I still go back and play it through once in a while. Probably beaten the game around 9 times now.

[Toadsanime]

I still go back and play old games that I enjoyed regularly too. I unfortunately just can't ever see myself picking this up I guess.

[I_am_Batman]

I'm kinda confused. So you haven't played FFVII and aren't planning to do so. So what? That's really nothing to write home about. I guess every gamer has missed some essential milestone games here and there.

If you didn't feel the need to get another FF game til now (you said you liked FFVIII) I guess you just didn't get the same expirience out of it as many others. I remember being a huge FF fanboy after playing FFVIII. After finishing the game all I cared about is that there are 2 other games like that (FFVII and FFIX) and I had to get my hands on them as soon as possible.

On the other hand when I first played Oblivion I thought it was a good game but extremely overrated so I didn't bother with Skyrim.

From time to time there is always a game where one cannot understand what all the buzz is about.

[jc48573]

I think I can relate to your story as I actually finished FF8 before 7. I bought FF7 for PC, but I didn't finish it because it kept crashing on me. I bought 8 later and that ran surprisingly well on the same PC. I liked FF8 mainly because it was the first FF game I have ever beaten and one of the few games I ever owned on the PC. From my back of my head, I kept reminding myself that I needed to finish FFVII. Let me tell you that I learned of FFVII through magazines and friends, so you can say I was pretty hyped for it. I started playing the game and honestly, I wasn't at all impressed with the Chibi style, then I found out that characters were in human size when they were in battle. It was a weird mix at first, but I soon forgot about it after a few hours. I finally beat the game on my PS2 and replayed it time after time. I finally figured out what the deal was and people were right, the game was amazing from beginning to end. If you have never played the game, you will never understand why this is the greatest game of all time.

[Reibooi]

I liked VII alot but I have only went back to it I think 3 times and the 3rd I didn't bother beating it only got about half way.

The FF I do go back and play alot is VIII it was my personal fav for the PS1 era and I think if you liked it the first time around it holds up better then VII does now(in terms of how it looks and plays but that could just be me) I used to go back and play Tactics on a almost year basis and I still play the PSP version a ton.

But the game I have gone back to more then any is easily Breath of Fire III. It's easily one of my favorite games of all time and I think I have gone back and beaten it at least 20 times. Just love the hell out of that one.

[NihonjinChick]

The Final Fantasy game that I always go back to play is VI. It was always my favorite. This game is greatly overlooked by FF fans, even though it's one of the best.

[Software_Lover]

8 is my favorite also.

[TheOneWhoIsTornApart]

This just goes to show you that there truly isn't a best FF game and that everyone has there favorite one. Mine is a toss up between 7 and 9 but thats just my opinion. VIII was absolutely amazing too. I find something unique and brilliant in each installment while at the same time they retain that special Final Fantasy feel.

[MooseWI]

So you like to complain, you're jealous of Cloud, and you hate blocky hands. Okay. Game would surely disappoint you.

[Toadsanime]

The Cloud jealousy thing was a silly childhood thing and obviously no longer an issue but it prevented me from trying out the game in its prime.

I objectively recognise that the game is brilliant, I just doubt I'd be able to have an enjoyable experience with it.

[MooseWI]

How could you not enjoy a brilliant game though? I understand the hype behind it but it's up to you to buy into that.. oh well.

[SegaSaturn669]

I'll admit the gameplay and visuals didn't peak with this iteration of the series, but in every other category: music, storyline, characters, it absolutely soared.

Creepier than Resident Evil and with more satisfying boss fights than metal gear solid

[chestnut1122]

@Toadsanime You are an FF8 Fan, It makes sense.I am an FF7 Fan and I think FF 8 didn't gave me the experience I have enjoyed from FF7.Reality also shows more Fans enjoyed FF7 more than FF8 which is all about Love story thing. Sales shows it. If You didn't bother, Why would You Post something Like These? Attention Seeker from FF 7 Fans eh?

[NihonjinChick]

How can you hate a character in a game you never played?

[AznGaara]

How can people hate a system/game/movie that's not even out yet? Lol questions like these will never be answered in a way that'll satisfy the people who ask them.

[Toadsanime]

I explained why - I was about 11-years-old and foolish. Obviously, I no longer think like that and can recognise that whilst Final Fantasy VII is a great game, I'm likely never going to get into it.

[blackmanone]

You DO see the irony in that statement don't you, Toadsanime?

[Hicken]

It's not that difficult. It isn't as if he doesn't know anything about Cloud. That's pretty impossible if you're over 12 and any sort of gamer at all.

As for his desire to not play the game, it's not very different from my aversion to horror games: I can KNOW they're quality titles, yet I have no wish to play any of them.

Perhaps he wrote the article because, despite knowing it's a good game, and knowing the things that prevented him in the past were petty, he still can't bring himself to play VII, and he finds that curious?

Strange things like that do happen, you know.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

So Cloud was really Zack after all.

[ifritAlkhemyst]

Why I've Never Played FF VII

Because it is a JRPG and they are 99% trite and retarded.

The only exceptions I guess would be Vagrant Story, Parasite Eve I & II, and Legend of Dragoon. And some strange desire to play Final Fantasy XII.

[NihonjinChick]

Most games are trite. FF 7 may have taken some things from other JRPGs but it was far more original than any games at the time. It's even more original than some of the games out today.

[ifritAlkhemyst]

True, most games are trite. But the JRPG's have a tendency to go into a triteness overload. Any other genre of games that comes out of Japan seem to escape this.

Anyway, I'm just voicing my opinion. Don't take it as an insult or anything meaningful.

[calis]

heh kinda funny you don't like FF but have Ifrit as part of your username.

[Qrphe]

What's up with the bait articles as of late? "WTF" and "No" ratings to this website.

[NihonjinChick]

Go play this game.

[mydyingparadiselost]

And then play FF VI. And Chrono Trigger. And Secret of Mana. Just because a games old doesn't mean the experience is ruined :)

[Toadsanime]

Honestly, I may very well have made myself curious enough to do so at some point soon after having written this.

[tiffac008]

I find it fascinating on the need to write an article about your reasons for not having an open mind to play a game.

[hadouken182]

Hoeing urself. Lol have a nice life with that

[SpideySpeakz]

Awesome game back when I was 10 years old. I still remember the 3 disc for the Playstation. It may seem dated now, but it was a great experience.

[Shad0wRunner]

I dont understand why SE wont consider a Final Fantasy 7-2 sequel, with todays tech...or even for next gen platforms.

Why not? They love making sequels to FFX and now FFXIII. Are we supposed to just assume Cloud lived happily ever after? Even after the events of Advent Children, it doesnt really go too much into detail on "what happened next...?"

You would think for a game that got SO MUCH hype and popularity, they would at least make a sequel to it. Weird.

[I_am_Batman]

You kind of answered your question yourself. The hype level would be huge. The expectations would go through the roof. There is just no way they could release a game that would meet those expectations.

[limewax]

I've not played it but Dirge of Cerberus is supposed to be the final chapter (so far) in the FFVII timeline. Advent Children details the time between the original story and Dirge of Cerberus.

It's a pretty old game now and didn't look anything special even at the time so it may be best just to look up the story on youtube.

[Baka-akaB]

Last thing i want is a sequel personally . I found Advent children quite crappy beyond the neat action , and with characters being mockery of their former selves .

I think that enough was told , especially when we were lucky to at least get a good prequel (crisis core) , , and i could live without every classic being milked to death .

[JasonBloodbourne]

I've never completed any ff games I've played, not sure why

[Williamson]

Never played a traditional FF game since I suck at most RPGs, I've always wanted to play ff8 though. Might buy it and play on my vita.

[squad]

That was a great game, you will enjoy it :D

[Heisenburger]

I played VII in 2012 for the first time in my life. I was twenty-three at the time and had been gaming for many moons. VII dropped my jaw several times throughout my playthrough.

It made me laugh, shocked me, and gave me the opportunity to battle the legendary(in my mind) Sephiroth.

Holy. Freaking. Crap. That music... I felt my heart in my throat.

I had gone through the entire crater sequence without saving. I had also not fallen even one time in battle.

Suffice it to say I was terrified when those strings kicked it.

I won.

[DarkBlood]

i made it to the last boss i think but it was years ago, ended up getting my ass kicked somehow. so i decided to start over again and train on the first disc *or whatever i was on since it was a psn download* im near level 40 with tifa, cloud and barrett, pretty easy getting there with the way im going about it

hopfully being full lv100 will actually help me win this time lol

[franwex]

It won't actually. Reason being is because Sephiroth gets STRONGER on level 100.

[DarkBlood]

fml so im screwed either way lol this is ff8 all over again

[jjb1981]

It's because you won't and probably never will beat ruby weapon! Sucka!!!!!

[CLOUD1983]

It's better that way FFVII doesn't deserve to be played by ppl with half-assed emotion/mindset about it, before u start playing FFVII u must first show gratitude, respect & honor the GAMING GODS with a prayer from the heart, because sometime back in 1997 they bless us with that absolute gem of a game & we must show our gratitude every day & never forget about this miracle as miracles don't happen everyday u know just once in a blue moon.

[Toadsanime]

What on Earth are you talking about?

[CrossingEden]

comments like this are why i stopped playing jrpgs and got out of anime -_-

[Marceles]

If you haven't ever played FF7, you might as well not play it. Most newcomers go into it hyped and with high expectations and come out of it not understanding how incredible it was at the time. It's the same effect as Shenmue. If you weren't there, you pretty much won't understand. The FMVs, the story, battle system, and characters were great and unforgettable. To think that we were playing games that looked like Suikoden and Wild Arms before FF7 came out? The technical quality jump was huge...AND it ended up being a good game.

I don't like to not recommend games, but when articles like this are made and it's clear that the person won't really change their minds, you might as well skip it unless you want to play it just to say you have. It just left a huge impact on people, and it made people that never played RPGs to start playing them. It also set the bar high on how great a game could truly be when given the power and giving the effort to get it done.

[TheOneEyedHound]

It's my greatest game of all time.

I played almost every game and I can't find anything close.

[Rynocirator]

I'm with this guy, I do not like 7. I love 4, 6, 8, and 10 those are my favorites. 7 was boring to me and it's not that I didn't beat it or didn't understand it, I beat it twice and understand it perfectly. It bored the shit out of me. I don't understand the love for it. The world is boring, the story is boring, characters are boring. The combat is the only thing good about it, and honestly 6 had a more advanced combat system. Sabin's combos anyone? I think crisis core should have been 7 and 7 should never had existed if you ask me. If I want any part of 7's world, I will play crisis core.

[assdan]

you have also accomplished your goal of getting a bunch of hits by writing a stupid article in an attempt to piss off FF fans.

[TiberusX87]

Ryan, I appreciate what you’re trying to do here. However, if you want people to respect your writing, beginning with non-sensical bias is not a good way to progress. A good journalist would want to play and write about the game for the very same reasons you don’t want to. It’s about exploring those ideas, and the fact that this article in addition with another detailing your actual impressions would have actually made for an excellent feature article. At this point in time, this article doesn’t serve any purpose right other than to attract attention. I strongly encourage you to try the game, and then produce a follow-up.

[cerpintaxt44]

ugh i cant believe i read that so you wasted all our time writing how you hate this game cause your gf loved it back in the day? why the hell would we care i was expecting some real reasons like the poor outdated graphics, its overexposure something like that something i could respect as a fellow gamer who dislikes some beloved games. seriously dude... your girlfriend..... from what like 10 years ago based on that dumbass video

[Garrison]

I am not even gonna read the article. I'm just plain writing this out of curiosity as to who could possible give one fuck about someone else's opinion about a game they didn't play.

[BlaqMagiq24]

Well this was a stupid and pointless article

[Godlovesgamers]

"Why I’ve Never Played Final Fantasy VII (and Probably Never Will)"

*hint* my website really needs the views!

[Chrono]

Very stupid article.

[hano]

Good idea. It was a shitty game anyways. Especially after the awesomeness that was FF6.