Final Fantasy VII has aged extremely well
- Thread starter jon bones
- Start date
Vita, no doubt. portability is huge, as is the sleep mode.
oled makes the game pop, you can map the controls to the analog stick. it's the best.
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
Raziel's post is kind of cheating seeing as how it's omitted the two main things that people complain about when it comes to FF7's visuals - the character models and the battle screens. FF7 had some good graphics, but it also had some horrible graphics. In contrast, FF6's visual style was very consistent (occasional bad Mode-7 stuff aside).
FF7 is still a fun game today, but the poor translation, smaller party size, and relative lack of character gameplay differences were all a step back from FF6.
FF7 is still a fun game today, but the poor translation, smaller party size, and relative lack of character gameplay differences were all a step back from FF6.
CharminUltra
Member
I would love to play FFVII on a Vita. Not gonna be buying one anytime soon, though.
Nymphae
Banned
I agree, though I think his point is well made. 6 looks more consistent, but I don't know, it's always looked really boring to me. So much brown and just dull colours in general, and I guess I just don't appreciate sprite art as much as most people seem to. It all looks so similar to me.
Say what you will about 7's graphics, but it has a unique look at least. The art design/direction was great, even though it's become a little cliche, the mixture of steampunk and classic FF ideas was really fresh, and still works well.
CharminUltra
Member
On a side note, it's amazing that Final Fantasy VII is #3 on PSN currently. People's love for this game just won't die, DEM LEGS.
It certainly was. On my first playthrough I didn't know where to go in that junkyard bit that seperates Aeris' town with the Don's town.
One thing I would be fascinated to see would be how FF6 would fare remade in the PS1 style. It shares the sophisticated structure and thematic ambition of its 32-bit counterparts and I think could be consider a good example of a game genuinely held back from from its full potential by hardware constraints. FFVI with prerendered backgrounds (not just directly redrawn but using the many and varied camera angles technique of FFVII), CGI for major cutscenes and a proper 3D world map probably sounds like sacrilege to many, but I'd be all for it if only you could trust SE to do it right.
But those character models take up like what, 10% of the screen at any given time? I find this notion that these lavish portraits painted across the screen are diminished so because of those tiny little people off in the corner there, more than a little extreme. If you're in a dungeon, it's a single character across the backdrop! They're no more offensive to me than the stumpy, boxy character sprites in FF6 (in contrast to the properly proportioned and nicely animated ones from say, Chrono Trigger). To narrow your vision and focus exclusively on the models is to ignore a clear progression in presentation, art, and style.
Acquiescence
Member
*vomits uncontrollably*
Wiz
Member
Mostly because the game mechanics are just really good. The Materia, battle system, and entire world still feel fresh to this day.
yes the models aren't the best but underneath it you have a very well designed jrpg
My favorite final fantasy along with VIII. (Those VIII pre-rendered backgrounds are godlike)
yes the models aren't the best but underneath it you have a very well designed jrpg
My favorite final fantasy along with VIII. (Those VIII pre-rendered backgrounds are godlike)
It's the screen transitions for me. The fades to black feel really long in 8 compared to 7.
KoopaTheCasual
Junior Member
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
Depends on how close to the virtual camera the characters are - sometimes the character models take up most of the screen. They're also emphasized in the combat.
In any case, it's the same reason why a lot of indie games look horrible - there's no consistency with the visuals. You can have some great art assets but if you take art assets that look like they're from two different games and put them both on screen at once, the result is really ugly.
Also, I think people are giving too much credit to those pre-rendered backgrounds, some of which look great and some of which look really cheap. I mean, the visuals on the SNES Donkey Kong Country games and Super Mario RPG haven't aged all that well either.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
Why not have sprites for the characters, and pre-rendered backgrounds? Strangely I can't think of an example right now.
Well, there was a time where a game would come out and there wasn't really anything better in its style, but it's been so greatly surpassed that revisiting the "old classic" feels pretty awful. One of the most obvious examples is Golden Axe; at the time it was pretty damn cool, but beat-em-ups have come a long way and the games are really, really weak today, with clunky controls, absurd overuse of palette swapped enemies, uninspired level design, etc. (Still like the music though.
) That's one game I would say that, without hesitation, it aged very badly. Some games are just timeless in terms of quality though. RPGs tend to age more gracefully, I think, because they don't usually suffer from antiquated controls, and (I think...? not a game developer but it seems intuitive) it's easier to make snappy and ergonomic menus than to have precise controls, hitboxes and collisions in an action game.
Unknown One
Member
For me FF8 character looks out of place in the CGI backgrounds.
GenericUser
Member
I disagree (currently replaying it on the ps3). The Character models (especially outside of combat) might not have aged well, but I prefer prerendered backgrounds over simplistic 3D environments that is usually be found in new final fantasies.
Most definitely. However looking at Killzone Shadow Fall's cityscape background I suppose there is potential for them to create some magical stuff this gen.
Very rarely do they take up most of the screen, so we're still dealing with the problem of over-blowing small percentages.
An inconsistently pretty game that exhibits strong art isn't rendered horrible all over to me, and it's preferred over one that is just drab through and through.
Squall5042
Member
I would die for an RE style re-make of this game with high resolution pre-rendered backdrops and insanely detailed character models
I've never understood the graphics complaint or it "aging poorly." The art direction is nearly flawless and due to the fixed camera angle provided through the pre-rendered backgrounds, the blocky character models are never the full focus and do not distract enough from the general visuals to detract.
ETA: raziel basically covered it perfectly
ETA: raziel basically covered it perfectly
I wouldn't consider a smaller party size to be a step back from FFVI. Also, FFVII characters had about as much if not more character gameplay differences than VI. You could easily make any character in FFVI fit a certain mold if you mess around with the stat bonuses from Espers long enough.
GenericUser
Member
I do agree. I saw footage of that game and the 3D landscape looked marvellous. However. doing that kind of things is expensive and doesn't pay off if you do not use it to enhance the game ( like in killzone, this stuff is only being used to show off the power of the ps4, not to make a better game). Creating a new RPG with 3D environments as detailed as Killzone would probably cost a fortune and would take very long to develop while assumingly adding little to the overall experience. I'd gladly take the prerendered stuff if that would mean I can get my full proper FF experience every 2 years or so.
Current state of the franchise is depressing, but that's another topic.
crimzonflame
Member
Clould liked Tifa more than Aerith, right?
GenericUser
Member
Some of the pleas for a remake come off as a bit weird to me. Part of the appeal of playing a game like FFVII, from 1997, is its "retro" aesthetic (seems odd to refer to the 90's as retro still, though I suppose the description is appropriate). I get the desire for a remake, but at the same time, it wouldn't be the same game.
Unlike some of the full 3D games of its time, I think the pre-rendered backgrounds actually help some level of pleasing aesthetics. Sure, the character models aren't mindblowing on the PS1 Final Fantasies, but does that *really* matter? I've played the game on PC as well as Vita, and it's slightly odd to play FF with PC mods making the models look all more akin to some of the Advent Children stuff.
Meh, different strokes for different folks I guess. For me, i think the game is more than playable and still enjoyable on something like the Vita.
Unlike some of the full 3D games of its time, I think the pre-rendered backgrounds actually help some level of pleasing aesthetics. Sure, the character models aren't mindblowing on the PS1 Final Fantasies, but does that *really* matter? I've played the game on PC as well as Vita, and it's slightly odd to play FF with PC mods making the models look all more akin to some of the Advent Children stuff.
Meh, different strokes for different folks I guess. For me, i think the game is more than playable and still enjoyable on something like the Vita.
I always thought he liked Aeris more, mind you every time I replay the game he ends up dating Aeris at the Gold Saucer so that's probably why.
looool. It's weird. Usually in these kind of stories the sexier/hotter girl is the new one, and the girl from the past is the cute, innocent one. Totally reversed in this case.Yes, still trying to figure out why ...
Do we all agree that he and Tifa had some raunchy ground sex in full view of everyone on the airship looool.
My desire for a remake for FFVII primarily stems from all of the subsequent games and media they released related to FFVII. Seeing Midgar in Crisis Core for example, was freaking amazing and breathtaking and watching Advent Children makes you think, man, what if FFVII was redone to look like THIS!?
GenericUser
Member
I wish I could share the same optimistic view....
Look at square(soft) nowadays. Looks at them with their whole "mobile hardcore jrpg's are the future" attitude. FF7 was and thankfully is a magically coincidence. It can never be matched, never be redone.
Megidolaon
Member
I've always liked the graphics. They in no way take away from my enjoyment of the game. It's a classic. To me, they're just stylized like Bravely Default or something. Not bad. The Lego look is charming.
I don't trust today's Square to handle a good remake.
I don't trust today's Square to handle a good remake.
Yes, that's what the scene implies. As far as a I know the original scene that was planned was way more direct, it had Cloud and Tifa both waking up in the Chocobo stable on the Highwind.
Ol No Bones
Banned
Everything except for the bubble characters and animations. I still love the game. Ff8 and 9 have a much more special place in my heart.
It's one of the best games ever for a reason. The graphics get a lot of hate, but I think the blocky characters are endearing and you never really see that design in other games (possibly for good reasons). The backgrounds of this game are absolutely incredible.
these are all amazing, even though i havent played the game in full in probably 15 years each of those images takes me right back
The Silver
Member
I played the game for the first time about 2 years ago, gameplay was pretty damn boring, don't get the love for Materia at all.
Graphics are shit but I somehow managed to get past them eventually.
All in all I couldn't really appreciate it as if I had played it when it came out, SNES FFs hold up beautifully however.
Graphics are shit but I somehow managed to get past them eventually.
All in all I couldn't really appreciate it as if I had played it when it came out, SNES FFs hold up beautifully however.
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
The difference is that in FF6, you have to work to make everyone interchangeable via Esper bonuses (and teaching everybody Ultima) and especially for the first half of the game, they're quite different. In FF7, everyone's pretty interchangeable right from the start. Only really important differences are the occasional limit break & which weapon each character can equip. There are stat differences between characters but they're relatively minor.
If they ever do remake FF7, I hope they give everyone a unique skill ala FF6, in addition to all the Materia stuff.
Yeah, I actually enjoy this kind of narrative shorthand for certain games, too -- though I think the original writing was likely just as functional (good word for it) as the translation, which obviously could've used some more editing.
I think the constraints of having to tell the story without long passages of written or spoken text served FFVII particularly well. It forced us to piece together the story with incomplete or abbreviated information, just as the characters were trying to do so.
CharminUltra
Member
I hope not. I love the character customization in FFVII, thank you very much.
My opinion is that the FF7 soundtrack is still perhaps the greatest of the series, but almost nothing else about it has remained compelling unless you have nostalgia. It was so impressive at the time just because it had SO MUCH CONTENT, but the art direction, gameplay, and script are ALL over the place. A few of the backgrounds are still nice but so often they don't feel like they are from the same game as the other backgrounds, let alone the story or character designs. And the battle system is among Final Fantasy's worst (though still better than FF10's mindlessness). But somehow the music almost ties it all together.
But FF8 and FF9 have aged much better. As have FF1, FF4, and FF5. And I think FF13 and FF13-2 are great games too, even if their scripts are the worst the series has ever seen.
FF6 is right in the middle for me, good at everything, but only absolutely exceptional from start to finish in terms of graphical quality.
But FF8 and FF9 have aged much better. As have FF1, FF4, and FF5. And I think FF13 and FF13-2 are great games too, even if their scripts are the worst the series has ever seen.
FF6 is right in the middle for me, good at everything, but only absolutely exceptional from start to finish in terms of graphical quality.
Neff
Member
It seems to me that people always forget or overlook just how damn much there is in FFVII. It is staggering. A true once in a lifetime piece of software. Square knew they were on the verge of something epochal with the franchise and Sony's groundbreaking hardware, and they went all-out. The result is a game that is overwhelming in terms of things to see and do and discover, and sadly is not something that can ever be remade, topped, or even approached in this day and age, at least not without a budget that would cost the earth.
On topic:
A classic's a classic.