Final Fantasy VII's popularity

[NotAProdigy]

I still don't understand why that game made the PS so popular. What's so great about FFVII? The story was convoluted and even to this day fans still linger about what the "meaning" or "interpretation" is, and to me that doesn't make a good story. A good story is suppose to be easy to follow and interested in, while making you feel. The only time I felt something other than boredom from that game was when Aerith died, but even then the constant grinding only eventually made me forget that I'm suppose to know that Sephiroth is 'suppose' to be ruthless.

I guess that's the heart of the problem with a lot of JRPGs. Constant grinding, constant long almost histronic text, uncompelling cookie-cut out characters, really detracts you from why you should give a damn. The only game I know that does the minutiae of grinding right was Persona 4 (as hard that is to believe). FFVII just does so many things wrong, bad story telling, the boredom issue, generic characters, that I just don't understand why it's so popular! Oh and don't get me started on the angst.

To me FFVI and FFX had better dialog (excuse the embarrassingly bad laughing scene) and I finished both games without pausing to grind constantly in order to advance the story. Kefka is a much more compelling villian etctectetc. I guess what I'm trying to get at is this:

FFVII's popularity: WHY!?

What really compels you to like this game? Why do you think others like it? Blahblah.

 

[daz_O_O]

A lot of the FFVII love comes from people who were introduced to epic (adventures/narrative driven) games by it. I'm included in that, I was 7 when it came out and so grew up playing it, in hindsight I can see all those problems you cite but it will always hold that special place in all our hearts.
And just think how cool Barrett is to a 7 year old.

 

[NotAProdigy]

A lot of the FFVII love comes from people who were introduced to epic (adventures/narrative driven) games by it. I'm included in that, I was 7 when it came out and so grew up playing it, in hindsight I can see all those problems you cite but it will always hold that special place in all our hearts.
And just think how cool Barrett is to a 7 year old.

I played it around that age as well, and I feel like I'm a pretty easily moved person; however, I felt nothing but contempt for FFVII, so I don't really understand how people can readily excuse its flaws. This is where I want to hear the apologists really speak to me and elaborate their love.

 

[Clyde]

FF7 was the beginning of cinematic gaming. There is a difference between reading text and seeing pixels killing each other versus seeing it in a movie. But I don't like RPGs.

 

[Hazy]

When compared to Final Fantasy VI, I see FFVII was nothing spectacular.

But let's not forget that the game essentially brought RPG's to the West.
Do I think it's a bad game? No. Do I think it's a tad overrated? Yeah, a bit.

But there's still no denying that it brought millions of gamers worldwide together. And when a game has that much of an influence, it deserves the credit it receives.

 

[quack35]

Ok, you don't think the game is good, and no one is going to convince you otherwise.

Pointless thread is pointless.

 

[NotAProdigy]

Ok, you don't think the game is good, and no one is going to convince you otherwise.

Pointless thread is pointless.

I'm not looking for someone else to try and convince me to think the game is good, I already formulated my opinion. I want to know why THEY think is good or why others like it.

 

[Aardvark]

It was on the PC.

That's about it.

 

[TheSunshineHobo]

FFIV is better.

 

[daz_O_O]

A lot of the FFVII love comes from people who were introduced to epic (adventures/narrative driven) games by it. I'm included in that, I was 7 when it came out and so grew up playing it, in hindsight I can see all those problems you cite but it will always hold that special place in all our hearts.
And just think how cool Barrett is to a 7 year old.

I played it around that age as well, and I feel like I'm a pretty easily moved person; however, I felt nothing but contempt for FFVII, so I don't really understand how people can readily excuse its flaws. This is where I want to hear the apologists really speak to me and elaborate their love.

Then I'll pull the other card at my disposal, everyone has different tastes and everyone had different experiences growing up.

FFVII opened my eyes that gaming can be more than just running sideways and jumping, or putting falling blocks in the right place. I'm aware now that there were many games that did that before FFVII but I wasn't back then. The Playstation was the first console I owned all by myself, FFVII was the first game I played on it. It was the game that made me a gamer. Final Fantasy was the series that made me want to join the game industry (FFIX specifically, I beat that game and just thought "....wow".

I recently played through and mostly enjoyed the experience, I feel attached to the characters and care what happens to them, I feel Cloud's pain and share his detirmination to stop Sephiroth, even more so than many books and films because - I AM Cloud and crew.

That kind of experience was powerful to my 7 year old self, especially as the best books I read still only consisted of kids books. THAT is why I love FFVII. As for the die-hard never- shut-up-about-it fans, I don't fully understand that myself. I actually accept that FFVII isn't the best game ever (top 10 though ;-)) even with that emotional attachment.

Sorry if I meandered a little, but I hope I got my points across.

 

[Mcface]

I really find it hard to take any post with "FF" then a following number.

I never got into the genre, tried once, got so bored I never looked back.

Its the perfect example of getting the most fans, with the least amount of effort and work.
and the general defense is "Well number ___ was great!" as if it makes up for the 20 other ones.

 

[Hazy]

I really find it hard to take any post with "FF" then a following number.

I don't quite understand what you mean.

Edit: Nevermind, read your edit. Sorry

Since every Final Fantasy is completely different from the prior one (With the exception of X-2, which is to this day, the only direct sequel to a Final Fantasy title. Edit: Except for Dirge.) that comparisons are bound to be thrown about every now and then.
I'm not saying that one excellent game makes up for numerous bad ones, but people love to compare and denounce anything that doesen't meet their expectations.

I mean, look at inFAMOUS and Prototype: People didn't hesitate to compare the shit out of those two, despite the fact that they have about 2-3 things in common.

 

[Rednog]

1st of all, why the Gantz picture?
Curious as to when you played FF7, at least to me it is often the case that many games don't do well when players play them years after release, what causes this varies from game to game, it could be outdated mechanics, crappy graphics, or redundant story compared to newer titles. But at the time of release the games were excellent, but now they seem subpar because games in general take what the great games before them did well and use it to make the newer games better. Ie bullet time being used over and over since Max Payne.
Also I don't know if FFX is a good example it has one of the most hated Final Fantasy characters, Tidus.

 

[Miscellany]

But let's not forget that the game essentially brought RPG's to the West.

Wild Arms? QQ

It was ABOUT the West. lol

 

[cloudywolf13]

As a fanboy, I cannot come up with any argument that wouldn't be easily torn to shreds by a rational person. It probably seems like I'm mocking fanboys, but I'm just trying to be realistic.

 

[Hazy]

But let's not forget that the game essentially brought RPG's to the West.

Wild Arms? QQ

It was ABOUT the West. lol

FF7 was released about 3 full months before Wild Arms, if I'm not mistaken.

Edit: And Welcome to the Escapist!

 

[Miscellany]

But let's not forget that the game essentially brought RPG's to the West.

Wild Arms? QQ

It was ABOUT the West. lol

FF7 was released about 3 full months before Wild Arms, if I'm not mistaken.

Edit: And Welcome to the Escapist!

I signed up JUST for this thread, haha.

Thanks.

 

[GyroCaptain]

When compared to Final Fantasy VI, I see FFVII as nothing spectacular.

But let's not forget that the game essentially brought RPG's to the West.
Do I think it's a bad game? No. Do I think it's a tad overrated? Yeah, a bit.

But there's still no denying that it brought millions of gamers worldwide together. And when a game has that much of an influence, it deserves the credit it receives.

[agree][/agree]
Celes is a more compelling character than Aeris(th), full stop, see also Setzer. At the same time, Cloud's level of brainfsck is a milestone for videogames on some level.

 

[drakenabarion]

I have two responses to this.

1) The Fanboy response:

BURN HIM, HE IS A WITCH!

2) The rational response:

Okay I understand that you may not ever come to like FFVII, and that's fine. Each to their own. But for me it was the second RPG for me to play ever. (The first being "Azel: The Panzer Dragoon RPG", which I hold in a special place, even though almost nobody played it).

FFVII for me was the first introduction to a more complex way of story telling in a game, and also my first introduction to emulation. I got the game cheaply a few years before I got the PS1. On my 166mhz Pentium PC with 16MB or RAM, I played the game from start to finish in about 50% the original frame-rate. To me it was the best thing ever at the time. Due to my method of playing, I can never forget the joy I felt when I actually completed it.

Also it gave rise to this type of thing: www.rpgworldcomic.com

So FFVII is regarded as such a great game as people have such deep connections to it. If you missed out then that's fine too. I am sure there are many games that you love that I never really got into. Diversity it a good thing.