Final Fantasy 7 Remake- What Went Wrong

 Never in my life did I look forward to a game as much as I did the Final Fantasy 7 Remake. When I FINALLY got it, I was overjoyed. Then, a scant few weeks later, I was putting it down and never picking it back up again. What happened?

Final Fantasy 8- Five Points of Brilliance

When it came out, Final Fantasy 8 was quickly (and unfairly) unfavorably compared to its predecessor, Final Fantasy 7. Of course following what many hailed as the greatest game of all time is no easy task, and wether FF8 is as good as FF7 is up for debate. There is no question that FF8 is fundamentally flawed, and many of these flaws bring the game down considerably. But I have compiled a short list of five elements that underscore the BRILLIANCE of FF8, and why it deserves to be hailed as one of the finest RPG's of AT LEAST the PS1 era.

Top 11 Flaws in Final Fantasy 7

The remake of Final Fantasy 7 is coming up soon, and I'm still excited for it. The original game remains one of the greatest I have ever played, and one of a small handful of games that I have replayed more than ten times. In fact, I think it no exaggeration to say I have replayed the game hundreds of times! That said, I do not believe the game to be perfect; in fact, FF7 has quite a few flaws. I have amassed a list of 11 of the game's biggest flaws, which I will share with you today.

The 5 Worst Generic Classes and Characters in Final Fantasy

I love Final Fantasy. I've played each of the main installments from 1 to 10, 10-2, 12, 13, 13-2, Mystic Quest, Tactics, Tactics Advance, and Record Keeper. That said, it's definitely a series where there's a scale between heroes and classes; some are objectively better than others. This is a list of the five worst Classes and Characters in the entire series.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 1

And so, we cap off this list with the BEST moment in Final Fantasy 7. This is a moment that needs no introduction: The final boss fight against Sephiroth.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 2

When a villain does a deed so horrible that the only acceptable fate for him/her is a cruel, painful death, there is an element of catharsis in seeing such a thing come to pass. Of course, in a video game, the player might feel cheated that he/she wasn't the one to deal that finishing blow. After all, the point of a video game is to be an interactive experience! But of course, in an RPG, though the story is second to gameplay, the story is STILL one of the most important parts of the game. So, if you're going to take something away from the player for the sake of story, it damn well better be good. Well, that's today's moment: Sephiroth kills President Shinra.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 3

TV Tropes calls it the "Moral Event Horizon", a line that, once crossed, there is no coming back. In this case, we're talking about an action so vile, so horrifying, so evil, that it leaves no doubt in anyone's mind that the perpetrator is beyond any redemption. Final Fantasy 7 has no shortages of these types of actions; most of them done by Sephiroth himself. But it was Shinra, not Sephiroth, who committed the most heinous act in the game. That act is the third best moment of the game: the destruction of Sector 7.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 4

The year was 1997. The computer was JUST starting to become the most important part of animation; Toy Story had been released a year prior to critical acclaim, ReBoot and Beast Wars were two of the most popular shows for children, and Toonami was just starting to come out. Likewise, video games were graphically improving, impressing gamers with the use of CGI cutscenes. Final Fantasy 7 owes a good part of its success to the use of CGI, and today's moment may be the BEST example of its use throughout the whole game: WEAPON's attack on Junon.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 5

There are two scenes in Final Fantasy 7 that are truly iconic. The first, Aeris' death, was already discussed on this countdown. The second scene is the one we'll be discussing today. This is a scene that has been redone and retold no less than three times; once on an OVA, once on a PSP game, and of course, once in the upcoming remake. The fifth best moment in Final Fantasy 7 is "Sephiroth destroys Nibelheim."

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 6

The world map, a staple of classic RPG's dating back to the original Dragon Quest. Often with peppy, adventurous music, always inspiring in the notion that "the world is just huge." Well, Final Fantasy 7 is no exception to this rule; the world map does a well enough job to paint the world as being appropriately large (though surprisingly empty, all things considered). But unlike most games, who give you access to the world map at the first hour, FF7 waits five to six hours before it lets you out of Midgar and into the world. And that first step out of Midgar makes its way to the sixth spot of the best moments in Final Fantasy 7.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 7

Final Fantasy 7 is undoubtedly Cloud's story. However, many other characters also get the spotlight now and then; from Cid's dream of going to space, to Red XIII coming to terms with what happened to his father. But I have reasons to believe that Barret's story arc is one that deserves an observation, considering how relatively muted it is. And though his story arc has a few key moments that demonstrate his depth as a character, there is one moment that truly encompasses Barret's character. The seventh entry on this list, and one that may be surprising to you readers, is "Barret versus Dyne."

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 8

When it comes to RPG's, I have a set of rules to how they should be made. One of these rules says: "If I'm not wowed in the first thirty minutes of the game, then the game will not be good." The first 30 minutes or hour should be used to give the player a feel for how the game will be, and should include at least the first dungeon,a couple of battles, and one boss fight. There should also be some inkling to what kind of story the game will tell. Does Final Fantasy 7 follow this rule? Oh, does it ever. Today's moment is precisely that: the first mission of the game. "AVALANCHE destroys the Sector 1 reactor."

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 9

How do you introduce a villain? Some people choose to do so by having them perform a heinous act; like in Suikoden 2, where Luca Blight is introduced laughing about slaughtering a platoon of child soldiers from his country. Sometimes, a bit of deception helps set the mood, like in Final Fantasy 10, where Seymour is introduced saving Luca Stadium from a fiend attack. But sometimes, an understated entrance is the most effective. This is what Final Fantasy 7 went for in introducing one of its villains, President Shinra, and our ninth entry on this list.

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 10

Today's moment is one that needs to be explained in more than one level. From a narrative stand point, it's a rescue mission that lasts for a few minutes and then leads on to the of the most shocking moments in the game. From a gameplay level, it's a scavenger hunt. Yet on a meta level, it's an unforgettable scene. The tenth best moment in the game is "Cloud cross dresses to save Tifa from Don Corneo."

The Top 11 Best Moments in Final Fantasy 7- Number 11

We kick this countdown off with the biggest spoiler in gaming since "Samus is a girl": Aeris dies. Yes, every gamer worth their salt knows this plot twist, how at the end of the first disc of the game, Aeris bites the bullet. This scene has been parodied, mocked, dissected, analyzed to hell and back, to the point that it seems almost pointless to even bother discussing it. And yet, it's still one of the most brilliant moments in the game.

Love in Gaming: Tidus and Yuna

Not all romances are permanent. Some romances last us a few years, when the couple finally gets sick of one another. Some loves end because of boredom, or because of infidelity, or because of growing apart. Some loves end in tragedy. But it's not the beginning and the end that matter, it's the middle part, all the time spent together, all the joy shared. Some romances are like a firework, a bright flash in the night, gone just as soon as it lights up. Today's couple is like that: Tidus and Yuna from Final Fantasy X.

Tidus on the left, Yuna on the right. Tidus is a guy, in case any of you didn't know.

Revisiting Sephiroth

On September 15, 2013, I had finished a blog entry analyzing Sephiroth, the main villain of Final Fantasy 7, where I made the argument that he was overrated because his motivations were unclear. However, it had been pointed out to me that I missed some key details regarding Sephiroth's history, which explains his motivations better. Mistakes were made on my part, and upon reexamining the game, as well as the data available to me, I am certain that I can revisit Sephiroth, to see if I truly was wrong to call him overrated. This is a second analysis of Sephiroth.

Sephiroth's portrait during his short tenure in the party.

My Reaction to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake

I didn't believe it at first. I thought it was a joke, or some sort of technical demo. I even thought it was just a movie! When I saw the trailer, I didn't allow myself to believe it. But then I did my research, and everywhere I went, it just confirmed what I was denying myself was true: The remake was happening.

Since 1997, people have been clamoring for a sequel to Final Fantasy 7. Since the launch of the Playstation 2, people have been clamoring for a remake. I myself, in my younger years, was also one of those who wished for a remake. I was one of those who wanted better graphics and voicework to be added to FF7. Hell, the reason I bought Kingdom Hearts 1 was SPECIFICALLY for the Final Fantasy 7 characters! So, I should be hyped, right?

Well, I feel cautious right now. A lot of notions are on my mind right now, a lot of questions. But I think the most important question is: why? Why now? Why are you doing a remake of an 18 year old game? Is Square-Enix that hungry for  more money?

I don't really know how to feel about this remake. I know I ought to be excited, but there's a lot of doubt. I know for a fact that the sense of wonder and amazement I felt when I was a kid, playing the original game for the first time, won't be there. If they remake the iconic scene of the camera panning across space until it reaches Aeris' face (YES I STILL SPELL IT LIKE THAT, I ALWAYS WILL) I won't be as amazed as I was in 1997. But maybe it isn't about reviving memories, maybe it's about making new ones from a classic story.

I don't think this remake is going to "ruin" the original game anymore than M. Night Shyamalan's abortion version of Avatar: The Last Airbender ruined the original show. Maybe the new version will be superior in terms of gameplay, maybe it won't be. I'm not sure. I won't, however, be one of those "this raped my childhood!" Kotaku types that like to cry and whine whenever what they hold dear from their youth is challenged or changed. I will accept this change, and I will judge this new remake on its own merits, not by the merits of its original PS1 iteration. Who knows? I might get surprised.

Between the Lines- The Al Bhed of Final Fantasy X and X-2

I was going to dedicate this post to analyzing the Al Bhed language of Final Fantasy 10 and 10-2, but then I started looking at the Al Bhed themselves, and I found myself fascinated by this fictional tribe of peoples. What is it they represent in the grand scheme of Final Fantasy 10? What parallels exist between this tribe and anything in Real Life?

Ajanouha uh dra vmuun!

An apology and a quick word about Final Fantasy

Due to reasons of health, I was unable to do three of my promised blog entries: Final Fantasy 11, 12, and 13. I apologize, but my health comes first. I'm still a little weary, but I really wanted SOMETHING to close this month of Final Fantasy, so here's a quick word about the franchise.

What is it about Final Fantasy that has earned it so many fans?  Well, we need to take a step back and look at what Final Fantasy actually is. Well, Final Fantasy is an RPG franchise that has been known, through its numbered iterations (at least from 4 to 9) to push the technological capabilities of whichever console the games were featured. It is a franchise that often features long stories while also having slow, menu based game play. It is one of the best selling RPG, as well as video game franchises in the world, and its name is synonymous with J-RPG. Along with Dragon Quest, this series helped revolutionize the RPG genre, and helped open up the RPG market. It is no exaggeration to say that, many modern RPG franchises owe their very existence to this series.

But what about the series itself? Why is it so famous? Well, this is a franchise that has often, though not always, churned out hit after hit. Starting with Final Fantasy 3, and ending with Final Fantasy 11, nearly every entry would garner near unanimous praise from professional critics and consumers alike. The few exceptions would be Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, released after Final Fantasy 4 in the American market and often viewed as a mistake, and Final Fantasy 10-2, the first (game) sequel to a Final Fantasy, in this case Final Fantasy 10, which, to be honest, was nowhere near as good as the original. After Final Fantasy 11, most entries would be either "love it or hate it", like Final Fantasy 13, "serviceable" like Final Fantasy 12, "pretty darn entertaining" like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, or downright horrid, like Final Fantasy: All the Bravest, the single most abysmally reviewed entry in the entire franchise, and the SOLE entry in this franchise to be described by TV Tropes as So Bad It's Horrible.

So, what we have here is a franchise that has many well reviewed entries, and that has actually even helped shape an entire genre, as well as opening up said genre's market. But this is what makes the franchise "influential". What is it that makes the genre LOVED? After all, this is one of the few franchises that has lived from the 8 Bit era to the HD era! There are over 20 entries in the franchise; you don't get that many entries in a franchise without having a solid fanbase. So, what makes this series so loved?

It's a hodgepodge of reasons, some of which can not be put to the written word, but I'll try my best. You know, every video game offers the player a chance to experience something different. Super Mario allows the player to experience cutesy worlds while hopping about to find a lost princess. Sonic breeze through amazingly detailed stages at high speeds, sometimes making one feel as if they are on a roller coaster. The Sims helps one observe the daily lives of fictional people. Well, Final Fantasy allows one to experience an epic story of good versus evil.

But it's so much more than that. Final Fantasy lets the player experience new worlds, worlds that often the player wishes he or she could explore in real life, that they could be REAL. It offers characters that the player often identifies with, looks up to, and in the case of the villains, often loves to hate.

The series is popular because the player resonates with the series. Many of its games are emotional roller coasters. What gamer didn't stand up in shock when Galuf died fighting Exdeath in Final Fantasy 5? How many gamers dropped their controllers to the ground in horror upon witnessing Kefka destroy the world in Final Fantasy 6 after spending at least six game hours working to prevent such a thing? How many gamers wept when Aeris was killed in Final Fantasy 7? How many fists pumped into the air in triumph when Sephiroth was killed once and for all? How many tears were shed when Tidus ceased to exist in Final Fantasy 10?

Final Fantasy is a series that has created an innumerable amount of memories in gamers across the world. It's this love, for many unconditional, for others waning from the disappointment in a company that has seemingly forgotten what got it ahead in the first place, that keeps this franchise alive and profitable. Why is Final Fantasy so popular? Because it is a franchise that creates unforgettable experiences to the player, makes them feel more alive. Final Fantasy is famous because people love it, and people love it because they experienced many emotions playing.THIS is the sole measurement of a game's quality and of a franchise' staying power.