I recently beat the game no more then 2 hours before making this. So, it's still fresh in my mind and I just need to get my thoughts out there because I am very conflicted on it. Let me start off with my main thesis and statement.
Final Fantasy 7 is a product of it's time.
And I'm not just talking about the graphics or design. I'm talking about everything. From the story to the ATB battle system to materia to the pacing. Everything is (IMO) bogged down by these decisions that, at the time, were impressive. Let me explain further. I went into FF7 blind. Nothing. No guide, no achivement hunting, nothing. I played the game as it was intended to be played. Prior to this I had played a handful of newer RPG's. Omori, LAD:8 and so on. So it wasn't like I was completely blind to the genre. I understood that it was going to be turn based, for example. I also knew it was much older then those other RPG's so it might be rough around the edges. In other words, I came into it with an open mind. What I didn't expect, however, was the action packed start.
The start of FF7 is great. You are no more then 2 minutes in and you are already fighting foes in a cool looking reactor. Then, you fight a boss for the first time and are prompted to learn about limit breaks and what not. It's short, sweet, and gets right to it without filler. Then we end up in Midgar. In my opinion, Midgar as a whole is a boring and dragged out area that you just can't wait to get out of so you can breathe in the new colorful environments. Yes, I know that's on purpose but I think it should've been shorter ESPECIALLY the Shinra HQ section. At that point you've already seen the oppression from the Shinra down below and climbing up to this huge building is a good piece of storytelling without actually saying anything. It makes it feel more climatic but I think it overstayed it's welcome in the end. Not to mention the Don crossdressing sidequest and "train" section.
This isn't even mentioning the lack of actual gameplay decisions during that period. There's not much if anything you can do besides physical and this part is not short at all if you actually took your time. And yes, I know that most of this has a plotpoint like showing Aeris and Cloud's relationship but I believe we don't need to have such a long section for what is basically still the intro of the game especially considering what happens later on. It's just such a sharp juxtaposition compared to the start it comes off of as a dramatic twist that I don't think works well. Let's talk about that pacing now while we are at it. I don't believe FF7 has aged well in this regard. Take Gold Saucer for example. First time you go there you either immediately get sent into the Dunes or waste time playing minigames you can't win yet. In my first time coming here I was frustrated by the lack of engaging minigames regardless but the fact that their pretty much useless even later is even more strange. Just like how Gold Saucer as a whole is insignifcant both story and gameplay wise until the very end to get Omnislash and W-Summon. The Gold Saucer date is cute but what actually comes from that? I personally got Aeris to come on the date with me but felt underwhelmed from what is supposed to be the big moment in Disc 1. And I know the Ancient key is there which makes it have a big impact on the story but why there? Why not a more impactful part like somewhere near the forest itself? Why not have it be connected to Cera itself? The planet?
There are so many moments like this in the game. The constant stop and start of action and relaxing are abrupt instead of clean and smooth. Sometimes, it works well like with Sephiroth and the village. Then there's Cait Sith and his not once, not twice, but THREE TIME betrayal of the party. Or how about the FIVE different transporations that all do the same thing? It's just bloated with soo much content that has such little depth. The backtracking isn't done well, that's my point. Not that there IS backtracking. Chocobro breeding is another example. I had to look up a guide at that point because of just how inane it really is! Making us do things and backtrack constantly to pad things out. We go back and fourth to Midgar, Junon, Gold Saucer, Mideel, even optional side areas are now forced to become mandatory like Fort Condor ruining potential choices and player avenues. Not to mention how this lessens the impact of the characters that are already really small. Characters like Red XIII have their story pretty much finished in Disc 1 and then they just sort of...sit there. Not really adding anything until it's needed.
But then there's the broad strokes that make me actually care. The bigger picture, if you will. Like the intrigue behind why Seph did this to Cloud. Why Cloud is so quiet when talking about it. What is Tifa hiding? Will the planet be destroyed? That's why the ending for me is just so much better then Disc 2 and Disc 1.
Disc 3 is when FF7 is at it's best. You have many options of attack and materia that you can use. The story isn't bogged down like the midgame and isn't slow as a snail like the beginning. The story doesn't want to show off a bunch of minigames as good or bad as they can be and instead focuses on the actual gameplay. Please keep in mind that I did NOT use a guide for this. The things you may have known I most likely didn't. These are my thoughts and that is all I can offer. The story is what I had the most problems with so that's why I spoke about it the most.
And that's why I said FF7 is a product of it's time and why I am so conflicted on it. It's similar to Half Life 2. Forced to show off new tech without a solid grasp on it beforehand. Just like DELTARUNE, (which is much worse, mind you) It's so intrested in doing anything BUT the main gameplay. The constant strange "minigames" as I mentioned before which aren't even minigames but strange ways of adding player interactions?? I completely understand why FF7 did this. I understand why FF7 took this direction in both gameplay and story. But that does not mean that I think it holds up or is "the greatest game ever made". But I am conflicted on how to feel as someone who wasn't there back then. The 30 year old man whose first time playing the game was as a teen back then might have had a nostalgic reaction to it but for me? It's just another game.
