A 1997 Japanese role-playing game by Squaresoft for the PlayStation centered on ex-soldier Cloud Strife's fight against the megacorporation Shinra.
Origin
Directed by Yoshinori Kitase, Final Fantasy VII was Square’s first 3D entry in the series and the publisher’s leap from Nintendo platforms to Sony’s PlayStation. The game uses pre-rendered backgrounds with polygonal characters and CG cutscenes.
Gameplay
The active-time battle system pairs with the modular “Materia” system, which lets players slot magical abilities into weapons and armor. The world map opens up after the initial Midgar segment.
Legacy
Final Fantasy VII was a watershed moment for JRPGs in Western markets and remains widely cited as one of the most influential games of the PlayStation era. A multi-part remake began in 2020.