The History of Final Fantasy VII (A Retrospective Review)

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Final Fantasy 7 was, and still is, a game like no other. Such was its impact, that when it released in 1997 it announced Final Fantasy on the world scale, introducing many gamers around the world to not just the franchise, but also the genre.
It had a development cycle fraught with change, turmoil and strife... but under the leadership of Yoshinori Kitase and Hironobu Sakaguchi, the staff were able to craft a game that stands as one of the most highly regard of all time.
That we're still talking about the game now and are anticipating the Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a testament to the amazing game they produced and we hope this trip down memory lane helps everyone to gain a newfound respect for everything these creators went through.
►KEY POINTS WITHIN THIS VIDEO
1. Final Fantasy 7 Characters
2. Final Fantasy 7 Cloud Strife Creation
3. Final Fantasy 7 Cutscenes
4. Final Fantasy 7 Lifestream
5. Final Fantasy 7 PS1, PC, PS4
6. Final Fantasy 7 Soundtrack
***
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Thanks for watching!

[@FinalFantasyUnion]

Final Fantasy VII had such a huge influence on both of us when we were growing up, just as we're sure it did for many of you who watch our content. It makes this particular video was pretty special and we hope you guys enjoy it as much as we enjoyed pulling it together. ~Darryl/Lauren

[@koosh88215]

Still waiting for the Aerith vid 👀

[@GigaChad-sz3fu]

Thank you so much for this video. I very much enjoyed it, as I first played the game about 20 years ago, it has held special place in my heart. I never knew how much history and trials square encountered during its development. It’s crazy , Nintendo said “never come back” , but their decision to use PlayStation over them blossomed the most beautiful collaboration of team members to create an unforgettable game and story.

[@baseman6106]

Thank you for this video, I think this might sound hyperbolic but I think this is the best video I’ve seen on the production of a video game and I felt both yours and the creators passion behind it. This has made my day and I can’t wait to share this with my friends who enjoyed the game and are excited for the remake.

[@BellowDGaming]

back in the day they don't have an ethics committee

[@sosickofitall4588]

Saying that 6 is bloated is a little harsh

[@rogueprince1341]

In 1997 i remember telling mom and step dad that all i wanted for christmas that year was a ps1 and FF7. Man i was so heartbroken when I didn't get one but when I took my stuff back to my room there it was on my bed wrapped up with some games from my dad to go along with FF7. Best Christmas EVER.

[@tmcttf8087]

How heartfelt.....

[@ThuJ4]

Fucking tears....

[@arturofernandez725]

Similarly I wanted a Nintendo and Super Mario Bros when I was about 6 or 7 years old. My parents came back from the store and said they didn't get it. I felt so much disappointment, and they told me they actually did get it for me! Then I felt so ashamed because I had THE BEST parents who gave me anything I wanted. I was so spoiled ,that only looking back now do I realize how amazing they really are.

[@dannyestrada8747]

Fucking tears!!

[@skepticalbutopen4620]

Wow I love this story 🙏

[@brandonhiggs88]

I remember having a save at the iconic fire scene just to show my nintendo friends back on the day.

[@MarkMcDaniel]

I was a Nintendo fanboy, but got to play FF7 on PC.

[@tommyjames9248]

I’m trying to think what scene you’re referring to. Do you mean the Neibelheim fire scene?

[@ryugo7713]

Divided States of America of course.

[@ryugo7713]

Not My Name completely unnecessary.

[@tommyjames9248]

Not My Name you’re a moron

[@wellitsureisntdale1860]

Might be because I'm drunk, might be my FF fan heart, but hearing about how well VII did made me cry. I love this game and I was only 3 when it came out, still my favorite FF along with VIII.

[@fuzzydunlop1988]

My sister is around your age and we didn't play it until she was 9 and I was 14. Huge sentimental value in this game for me.

[@Amura31]

Aerith`s death was actually the first time ever i shed a tear over a videogame. The feeling comes back everytime i reach that point.

[@XeroNiNE7]

This game truly is a masterpiece. No matter how many times I play through this, the stories, their depth, and in combination with the music has always gotten to me. I think even if the music were to be off in any way, this game wouldn't have had the same impact as it did. Like, even if I so much as hear Aerith's theme, no matter the format, be it the PS soundchip, or full orchestra, I feel like I could break. And in her death scene, it's utter emotional destruction, as I'm then empathetic to Cloud's feelings. They wrote this so well, and I can't even find anything yet that holds a candle to this.

[@AkaBigWurm77]

The ads for FF7 were crazy, it really hyped up the game and gave the game a wider appeal.

[@tmcttf8087]

Wish I was back there to see it.....

[@mr.sinjin-smyth]

It's just amazing to see a game that pays tribute to one's mother (Sakaguchi's mother passed away while he was making FF3), become one of the greatest and most influential games of all time.

[@ESPspiderXIII]

Among Chaos and Doubt, a Gem was Born.

[@ShadowLibrarian]

Final fantasy 7 is the game that got me into playing games.

[@Ranikai]

Same here

[@Cloud.Strife]

When spring comes, I'm going to Midgar

[@StigmaFirestorm]

Me too. The world is going to The Reunion!

[@Operation_Bagel]

Kirsty Thompson technically that’s not happening yet in this game lol

[@christophersmack6763]

It might still be on lockdown due to corona

[@Cloud.Strife]

@@LordMalice6d9 go watch *"Abzu Battle Gameplay, TGS 2019"* and then come back here to apologize

[@LordMalice6d9]

I have a bad feeling I will not leave being very impressed. How can the developers justify stretching a 4-5 hour segment of an original game into a 40-50 hour experience? Will it be justified by making all of Midgar an open world? And I am not impressed by some of the voice over work.

[@rd-um4sp]

and for the last 20y or so whenever I hear square I think of a red triangle ... (thank you for the video)

[@Fireman24TO]

I love that FFVII is coming back, it will dominate the end of the Era of PS4. PS4 going out with a bang.

[@finalcam1740]

@5555Thecrow ps5 is going to have an ssd drive indtead of an hdd. And have about 3x more horsepower. That doesnt mean 50x better graphics, but not a single new gen system offered such a leap compared to its predecessor. The biggest effects will be larger worlds due to much, much faster loading times thanks to the ssd, and much better lighting. It may take a year before we truly feel the impact, but it will absolutely feel "next gen". Ps4 has been out for quite some time now, its not like they are milking you, developers just need more resources from the hardware to go beyond whats possible now.

[@holamoco]

@5555Thecrow PS5 will make games 4k 60 fps. Imagine playing FF7R and all the other parts on higher resolution and 60fps. PS6 may come in another 7-8 years.

[@scratchingballs9940]

@5555Thecrow ps5 is massive leap..better than previous gen leap

[@freddooo4798]

5555Thecrow uhh well for the rest of us if we can afford it than we will buy it just because it’s the new thing 😂 not flexing, but actually flexing lmao.

[@holamoco]

@5555Thecrow Thanks, I will.

[@SonnyPlaystation]

Proud of you guys, I used to listen to your podcasts 10 years ago when I used to work the nightshift at a gas station. You guys helped the shift go by way faster. This is great content your making here. Keep up the amazing work!

[@FinalFantasyUnion]

That is so awesome Sonny! We're glad our content has kept you company for so long :) ~Darryl/Lauren

[@paulsmith9192]

@Final Fantasy Union can u plz tell me the song playing in background?

[@BingBangPoe]

Final Fantasy VII was the reason I bought a PSX. Final Fantasy VII Remake is the reason I bought a PS4. This just shows how powerful this series is and how it resonated with me and many other players around the world.

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Who else has to self-quarantine when this comes out?

[@derekbender]

I’m not even a big fan of VII and yet here I am tearing up over how they created Aerith’s story.

[@safaa9654]

I honestly didnt know that FFVII was such a big deal and such a game changer back in the day. That's so cool

[@worawatsr9803]

Safaa Lag FF7 was the trump card for Sony to defeat Nintendo back in the day.

[@TheLoveMuscle4000]

I first saw this game at the end of my freshmen year of high school when one of my classmates recorded the final fight and brought it to school. I was blown away by how amazing it looked. I got my first job that summer so I could by a ps1 and this game and have loved it ever since

[@gorimbaud]

I've heard about rejected concepts for FF7 turning into Parasite Eve and Xenogears, but didn't know that FF8 was the concept they were working with before switching to Playstation. It goes a long way to explain why so many characters designed for 7 ended up in 8 instead, like Edea, Fujin, and Raijin.

[@RedfurredPikachu]

I did'nt even know about this, but from the history I do know that does explain their rapid releases of the games back then. They had concepts for at least 2 be born from 7 and Sakaguchi's own idea eventually became 9. I hope they get hit this kind of motherload again soon.

[@shaokhan4421]

RedfurredPikachu 7, 8, 9 were great

[@Xpwnxage]

@@shaokhan4421 I just started playing 9 a couple days ago. The juvenile elements were kind of a deterent at first but a few hours in and I'm into the story. The ability and battle system is good too. I was really into 8, I loved being in an advanced special forces detachment and I was into the characters and battle system. Then I got to the part where you randomly become 3 other people and I was immediately turned off. Haven't tried it since. I still believe the materia system from 7 is one of the best build customizers around, rivaling the job system from FFTactics. I was really glad they maintained it in the 7Remake.

[@maxmorgan3370]

As someone who grew up with Final Fantasy 7, the PlayStation 1 having been my first console, I never thought it would be possible that I would still be able to learn new information about this game's history. Thanks for the very in-depth history of one of the greatest games ever.

[@FinalFantasyUnion]

You're most welcome Max! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the video :) ~Darryl

[@AquaTwist_]

I’m currently playing this on the Switch and I can definitely see why it’s so beloved. The difficulty is just right, the story is engaging, and the characters are some of the most memorable I have ever seen in a game. I’m grateful that this game exists, especially in these times.

[@daviddalrymple2284]

Yeah, the game's pitch-perfect difficulty curve is a real unsung hero in the story of how it ended up creating millions of RPG players in America. Even if you're not very good at optimizing your materia loadout, Cloud's limit breaks will generally bail you out during tough battles.

[@TruckDrivinGamer]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the original planned storyline. EDIT: I meant that I've never heard anyone ever mention it, lol They still haven't made that game yet, where decisions made by the father affect things in the son's storyline. That would be brilliant! Maybe they can revisit that for FF XVI.... 2ND EDIT: I FORGOT ABOUT LAGUNA/SQUALL DYNAMIC IN FF VIII, SO JUST IGNORE ME, LOL

[@surge123456789]

David Quintanilla while not exactly the same that idea was sort of used in FF8.

[@gorimbaud]

FF8 already used that story concept, even if all the mechanics they wanted to implement didn't make it in.

[@TruckDrivinGamer]

@ThePookaPrince of course, I forgot all about poor Laguna, lol. Thanks for correcting me! 🤪

[@--_--IMP--_--]

"One of the best games you will ever play" - Quite possibly the understatement of the century.

[@redacted8846]

This was an excellent video yall put together, good job!

[@FatalAvarice]

FF7 was one of those games that I was too young to appreciate when it came out (we bought when I was in 1st grade). Years later I went back to play it just because I was bored of Halo at the time or something. This game single-handedly turned me from a predominantly FPS player into an RPG player. I'm 30 years old and I still tear up just by hearing Aerith's theme.

[@cigh7445]

I'm the same age as you and I appreciated the hell out of FF7 when it came out

[@apoclypse]

Square at the time were so innovative and always pushing forward. Final Fanatsy The Spirits Within changed everything. You should do a video about that if you haven't already. After that movie flopped Square became a different company altogether. They became less willing to risk. They were a company that looked forward. Now they keep looking back trying to re-capture what they once were. My hope is that FFVIIR (which looks amazing) will help them recapture that again. It will help them remember what they once were and why FFVII existed in the first place. Maybe they will finally be brave enough to tackle the Chrono series again. Now that they are doing FFVIIR the skies the limit.

[@taylord5381]

Hey give that film some credit, it actually influence the art direction of Mass Effect :P

[@Aka_____]

Thank you for all of your great Final Fantasy content.

[@2781dricht]

I had one of my best Christmases the year I got my Playstation. All gifts had been given and my cousins were gearing up to leave (25 of us crammed into a little living room). Someone saw one last gift 'hiding' in the hall closet. Playstation with Crash Bandicoot and the beloved FF7. My best bud and I would just sit and watch each other play for hours. Amazing that a single-player game could captivate two people so completely, for hours. Such a great memory. In the last couple decades I've downloaded the game on various platforms and grinded it all, including all the optional content. No other game has ever stayed with me so meaningfully.

[@marsrocks247]

This made me cry from sheer joy at the success of these incredible creative geniuses where so many have failed and so many more stand in the way of anyone that puts the consumer and the product before the bottom line.

[@skywriter9532]

Wow I didn't realize just how important Nomura was in making the story.

[@Chrispypullen]

Hes awesome

[@hathaway.1166]

Despite people shiting on him as a director, this guy is still a better writer thaan Druckmann.

[@cigh7445]

@@hathaway.1166 Druckmann did a phenomenal job with TLOU2 story

[@jenkinsuu]

@@hathaway.1166 hes a good writer when he’s being kept in check by others

[@BOAiak]

@@hathaway.1166 Nomura's ideas would be laughed off at any film or book publisher. He is a great character designer, though it's all really one note. But his writing is teenage angst nonsense more akin to cringe juvenile fanfiction than to a product of an even mildly competent writer. The Last of Us, Part I and especially Part II, are better written in all aspects than anything Nomura has written, or will ever write.

[@gerardryan3648]

I don't often comment on KZbin, but this was absolutely brilliant. Thanks for this - sincerely.

[@KPX01]

After hearing the story nintendo being mad for FF7 going to ps is kind of their own doing, after saying they are going to use cd and not delivering. While i have heard some of the dev. story still thank you, FF7 is really my first jrpg and really appreciate hearing this story

[@korndogz69]

Nintendo screwed over Square not once, but twice! Square spent a lot of time and money developing for Nintendo's platforms that failed to come to fruition, so it should have been expected they would go elsewhere. Ever since Nintendo overtook Atari as the most popular console, Nintendo has been an authoritarian bully in the game industry, and it's a wonder how they're still in business with their reputation, and superior platforms competing against them.

[@GracelessTarnished]

Nintendo are as arrogant of a development as can be. They believe their creations are God's gifts to the world and they owe nothing to no one. Square dumping them because of their arrogance and refusing to adapt to CDs is exactly what they deserved. It was Squaresoft that helped Sony destroy Nintendo during that era. A sort of poetic justice.

[@gregwilliams4926]

Yeah fuck Nintendo, I don't even know why they're still making consoles if they're full of shit.

[@RedfurredPikachu]

That decision was one of the biggest blunders Nintendo ever made and they damn well knew it too. Square proved to be right and Nintendo should've listened to them about using discs at the time. Nowadys their relationship is on much better terms and thank god for that.

[@MutantAireo]

@@GracelessTarnished I remember the confrontation between Sony and Nintendo back in the day. Nintendo got theie assed kicked for being arrogant.

[@angelsdoexist]

This was very interesting. Thank you

[@akiinmoonlight79]

the king of the jrpg genre ♥️

[@TheGunmanChannel]

What a brilliant video.

[@RDY2PWNU]

Cheers from one of the million europeans that bought the game back in 1998 (not sure whem it was available in europe, late 1997 maybe?) I remembering me spending the whole summer holidays with the game. And how devastating it was to witness Aeriths death. I really felt it within my heart. Feelings that nobody can understand but fellow gamers. I still want to marry Tifa btw ^^ Great Video, great Channel, thank you for your work. Subbed

[@Killer_Kris7]

I love ff7

[@Oblic008]

I don't know if the music was the reason, but this video almost brought a tear to my eye. Like many others, this game was a defining moment in my childhood. Although FF VI was the first Final Fantasy I played, and honestly one of the first big games I've played, FF VII really lasted with me. I loved the characters and their development, the story, the challenges, and just about every little aspect. Wonderful job on putting this story together!

[@paulsmith9192]

@Oblic008 u know the track playing?

[@jamesaitchison9478]

Great video 👍 Final Fantasy VII is still my favourite video game of all time, the story, characters, events and tragedies have stayed with me for nearly 25 years, that's testament to how brilliant and influential the game was.

[@Jeremus717]

When I was at college in early 1997, the Japanese kid across the hall showed me this game. It absolutely blew my mind, and all I wanted for Christmas that year was to get a PlayStation of my own to play this game in English. That Christmas, not only did I get my beloved PlayStation and a copy of this game, but my divorced parents worked together for once to scrape together the money to buy me a top of the line Sony Trinitron 24-in TV, which was the cutting edge of technology back in those days. To this day, probably the greatest gift that I ever received in my life and my love of gaming has never changed. Here I am at 46 years old, thinking with fondness and gratitude about this game and the team that made it happen.

[@loganbigmo]

You still got Christmas presents in college? And on top of that, they got you a brand new TV? Damn. That truly might've been the greatest gift one could get.

[@malakai_adam]

I've been blasting the remake soundtrack (as well as crisis core) and several people including my mom have asked me what that beautiful shit is. Positively inspirational

[@KingKjellboy]

Wait, it is already available for purchase? :D I need me some more OST to increase my tiny collection.

[@malakai_adam]

@@KingKjellboy I don't know I listen to all my music via youtube

[@KingKjellboy]

@@malakai_adam Nooooo!!! *cries in Lifestream* Joke aside, too bad. Least we'll be able to get it later this year. :)Hopefully at least. Too many songs from this franchise that are so darn good.

[@malakai_adam]

@@KingKjellboy you said it 👊

[@calvinthurston1441]

Me freakin too! Cant wait for the game!

[@attaxiaffxi7033]

My first encounter with FFVII was when my uncle left it at my house, I had played all my other games to death so it was the only fresh game. At first I was unimpressed, just having a limited amount of attacks to choose from which were essentially a choice between damage or less damage. Despite this, i found the dark and dysphoric setting strangely intriguing so I continued to play, eventually when it started to introduce the customisation systems, world, characters and story I began to understand the direction it was headed and I quickly became hooked verging on obsessed. Unbeknownst to at the time FFVII would be my gateway into what would be many years of infatuation with a franchise.

[@tmcttf8087]

Interesting.....

[@ff7_fan298]

do you do the editing too? Real smart use of visual, which complements the audio nicely.

[@FinalFantasyUnion]

Yep, we do everything between the pair of us! :) ~Darryl

[@ff7_fan298]

@@FinalFantasyUnion good going. I love a well edited video. Especially if it's cut to music/beat etc. Could sit for hours just making sure each clip fits perfectly.

[@paulsmith9192]

@FF7_FAN do u know the music in a this video

[@DarkFoolJin]

just made me dinner and saw you upload this video :) Best moment of the day

[@TheGamersState]

Considering the history between Square and Nintendo, seeing them work so well together now is kind of amazing. Not only do we have 2 Square-Enix characters in Smash Bros, we also have Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 all on the Nintendo Switch.

[@adammalik5397]

well.. the availability across multiple platform benefits both nintendo and SE they were not in good terms for quite a while after square’s pivot to playstation

[@carloseduardoaguiar8712]

Also, FF is present at both NES and SNES Classic

[@smharyanto4660]

But expexct next mainline ff titles (and ff vii remake) will not available on nintendo console anytime soon, because nintendo usual underpowered console

[@worawatsr9803]

S M Haryanto Nintendo is already out of the high end powerful console business. Now all they have left is handheld console and weak home console.

[@tmcttf8087]

@@worawatsr9803 Which sell like hotcakes.

[@josepartida1711]

It’s crazy to realize the impact that a video game can have on the medium of storytelling and art. Playing ff7 back then you don’t think about that for sure, but now as an adult you understand just how significant it really was. Great video guys 👍

[@Jzcmnbk]

Mate what an excellent summary of one of my favourite games of all time. That was thoroughly informative and well presented. Covered everything in intricate detail. Well done.

[@Caterfree10]

Hearing how some original concepts for FFVII were reworked into future games as economical kind of reminds me of the Verum Rex related stuff in KH3 that pretty blatantly has its origins in Nomura’s vision of Versus XIII. While the fandom talks abt Nomura being salty for doing that, in light of just how forward thinking some of the original concepts were for games, it just makes me think it’s Square saving old concept for later use again. :3

[@thewealthofnations4827]

Rich in symbolism and meaning. Think of Cloud falling in a flower bed in a peaceful church surrounded by the filth of Midgar. Here in that place of solace we're reminded that despite the gloom around us, there are always places if beautu, carefully tended to by those who know it and value it, like Aeris. The story is full of examples like that.

[@jimmykrabklaw1216]

The father/son dynamic sounds like it got carried over into 8 between Squall and Laguna.

[@kevinstreetgaming]

Very informative video. I have been going on a Final Fantasy VII binge since completing the Remake and falling in love with the game all over again. Thank you!

[@FinalFantasyUnion]

You're most welcome Kevin! ~Darryl

[@TheKingOfN0thing]

The Reunion is at hand!!!!

[@holamoco]

FF7 gave me so much feelings, I got very emotional. Thank you for this video, I teared up. ❤

[@rhythmandacoustics]

Update: Final Fantasy Dance Dance Revolution = Honey Bee Inn Cabaret = Cloud's Dance Off

[@koreanelvis]

Thank you for the background which went behind the creation of this timeless game!!

[@legendblazer7298]

Keep up the great work FFU!

[@cliffturbo2146]

Sounds like they've bet almost everything for this game, and I must say that it was quite, courageous, and I'm glad they succeeded.

[@1stclasstutu512]

Hell yeah I was waiting for this one. Love videos that touch on the history of stuff I love.

[@ty_sylicus]

A wonderful little doc. I really enjoyed this.

[@antoniokastrocarlisledemel6617]

Greatest game of all time without a doubt from 97 til this day it remains

[@Jazon2901]

Tuesday mornings are my favourite part of the week because of you guys

[@Zohan369]

How could anyone dislike this video? So good 👌

[@Beryllahawk]

This game means SO much to me. It was the first PlayStation title I ever tried. It was the first game I played "with" my husband - in that he sat with me and helped me figure out what to do, because he'd already played it and I was a total newbie. I remember being intimidated by the controller, even. This was the first game I screamed at, cried at, obsessed over. And I still love it. Thank you for this video

[@anonony9081]

Hearing you discuss Aeriths death gave me chills same with hearing the words greatest entertainment piece of all time

[@TheLemonsims]

Thank you for putting this amazing video together. I have a newfound respect for this game.

[@grantr6317]

What a great video! Thank you so much for posting! This brought back so many memories from when I was a young kid :) I am really excited to play the remake next month! Final Fantasy VII is still my favorite game of all time. Nothing has even come close in story telling, suspense, character depth, and just pure enjoyment. I look forward to seeing more of your videos in the future.

[@faidou9954]

I still believe that Final Fantasy can be made great again, tbh.

[@ExistentHope]

It just needs the right vision. And FF7 Remake doesn't count.

[@aarons.2323]

@@ExistentHope Sure it does. Sometimes you have to look back to understand how to go forward. To me, maybe Square Enix needed to take a look back at one of their greats to understand what makes the series great. While they could've just actually looked back at their old games to do that, I'm hoping actually working on the Remake and seeing why that story resonated with so many people back in the day informs their decisions of Final Fantasy storytelling in the future. Maybe then we won't be getting any more of the "L'cie/Falcie/Focus" nonsense of FFXIII or the "There's actually a really decent story here, but the development time and the way we had to really butcher this game up to get it out in time... after ten years" of FFXV will hopefully be a thing of the past.

[@holamoco]

@@ExistentHope Of course it counts. It will lay a new foundation how future FF game will be created. Just like FF7 the original did.

[@Killer_Kris7]

@@ExistentHope yes it does

[@rokmare]

It's just not the same without Sakaguchi TBH after all he was the one that believe in pushing boundaries and getting out of the comfort zone but people just can't stop faulting him for making spirit within and flopped.

[@nicko2183]

Your an amazing story teller ! I love learning things like this, and you draw such a beautiful and intriguing picture with your words! Thank you ❤

[@FinalFantasyUnion]

Thank you so much Sora X, that's such a nice thing to say ~Darryl

[@forresthunter1483]

This was SUCH A GREAT VIDEO! Thanks so much for your hard-work!

[@FinalFantasyUnion]

Glad you enjoyed it Forrest :)

[@frankmarano1118]

Fantastic video, really hit me in the feels since I was blown away by this as a little kid & felt it was so big with 3 disks

[@Scapegoat0442]

Through you guys I have come to know the greatness of Square as a company and has made me motivated to pursue my goals in game development! Thank you Final Fantasy Union!

[@Dr.Kyriazidis]

Amazing video. Fantastic narration and text. Thank you

[@TheMrGiannisgr]

As someone who played the Remake and then went back and played the OG 7 I think this video is perfect. Thank you! I have huge respect for Square Enix.

[@flowrebaz6189]

I remember I got a PlayStation for Christmas and went to the game store Boxingday morning with my Christmas money, saw Final Fantasy VII on the shelf, it looked amazing on the cover so I bought it. Because of this I got imports of the previous games and I’ve been in love with the Final Fantasy Series

[@blue_belt_blues9554]

Orcania of time on N64 and ff7 on ps will stay with me forever,the effect they had on me back then was huge and even to this day they are never far from my thoughts

[@Kybroma]

A job well done, sir! Great video. Full of good information, that even some avid fans probably didn't know. Also, you have a great speaking voice and good pacing.

[@FinalFantasyUnion]

Thank you very much AJ, so glad to hear you enjoyed the video :) ~Darryl

[@Kybroma]

@@FinalFantasyUnion It's my pleasure Darryl, I have no idea how long you spent making this video, but I think it's only fair for me to Like, Comment, and Subscribe and show you my support and appreciation.

[@alidallal]

Amazing work, really moved me with a great nostalgic feeling 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@ShuOra]

I love ff7, it's the one that introduced me to this amazing series. I still have my copy as well as the 4 action figures XD.

[@tmcttf8087]

Wow.....

[@taker610]

I already finished the remake and realized just how much they added to the game. It truly is a remake and the game will likely be much larger than anticipated. Now how long do we wait for the second installment?

[@GracelessTarnished]

'Quite possibly the greatest game ever made.' Why yes, yes it is.

[@kueapel911]

well no, contrary to popular belief, FF IX is superior with VII coming at a close 2nd

[@berserkguts6212]

@@kueapel911 Fot the hardcore fans yes but for fans that know ff in name think including me the 7 is best , thats also why its getting a remake because it is that popular.

[@akiinmoonlight79]

FF 6,7,8,9,10 and 12 (+ now 14) are all giant masterpieces

[@kueapel911]

@@akiinmoonlight79 12?? LMAO It's a gigantic pile of shit story telling and trash characters

[@sampascoe4387]

アップルパイ I disagree, I think FFIX is the objectively better experience but it lacks the complexity and heart that FFVII has by a long shot. So much of VII was made with what felt like passion and it really shows. FFIX is pitifully shallow by comparison imo

[@akiinmoonlight79]

no matter which year - FF7 will always be a relevant masterpiece ♥️

[@JMsolidsnake]

FFVII was my first Final Fantasy game. I've been hooked ever since. My first JRPG was Dragon Warrior for NES (Dragon Quest)

[@LiminalMan777]

As with everything you guys do, this was incredibly fun to watch

[@plue03]

I appreciate how you put it in a way that square utilized all the talents they have. The creativity of the staff were put to good use and not just one voice was heard in every decision making they do. When I heard you talk about a father leaving behind books for his son to read, I remembered Jecht leaving video orbs for his son to collect. When you talked about the father hailed as a coward, I remembered Seto. I began to have a deeper appreciation to all the FF series. Thank you for your hard work!

[@tigmil8116]

The whole father and son as main characters is pretty much final fantasy 8... or at least very blatantly hinted at in 8.

[@skeptischism1324]

This game and 11 changed my life. They say life imitates art. No truer statement was true for me when I played 7 when I was 14 yrs old. I’ll never forget it.

[@Unpopular_Duality.]

I still remember the ff7 commercial and I was instantly hyped for it at that moment. Yep!!! I need to play this game. I got it for Christmas the year it came out and I fell in love with that game. If I fail at saving the world "I can always hit the reset button!!" This iconic game made me fall in love with JRPGs. Nothing will ever top the original ff7 in my opinion. No gaming publisher wants to take risks in their creativity and video games anymore just go with what is safe and digestible to the masses for sales numbers and to get by in the worldly public eye. I wish video games could go back to being a niche market where you do have your big names sellers but small time titles can be just as fun as the mainstream selling titles.

[@TheRealSether]

There was also the affect final fantasy VII had on Hollywood movies. After the success of CGI was noticed, they started using it in movies than later in TV.

[@loganbigmo]

FF7's CGI wasn't what inspired Hollywood to keep using it. We already had a little CG in 1993's Jurassic Park, but it was 1995's Toy Story 1 that showed Hollywood (and the world) that movies could have full CGI and be successful. and that came out 2 years before FF7 did.

[@AYCHMENG]

Just finished the remake and decided to see if FFUnion had any content on ff7 so good to get a great background on the original game , and how it came to be.

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

A classic that changed how we enjoyed RPG. Awesome videos!

[@holamoco]

FF7 - The Greatest game of all time.

[@darlenedevegan8370]

Bring back Zack, Kadaj, Vincent, Genesis and Aerith!!!! 👍💗👍💗👍💗👍👍👍👍💗💗👍💗💗💗💗👍👍💗👍💗👍💗👍👍💗👍

[@charlesreynolds8305]

Yes sir it is the goat hands down I remember playing this game with my oldest brother I really didn't know the concept of it so I would ask him to play while I watched him but he kinda grew out of it so I tried playing it and as I played more and more I got better and better and then that was it I was hooked this is literally my game that will live in my heart forever but I always want to thank my brother for playing it for me all the times that I wanted him to love you bro thanks

[@paulsmith9192]

@Charles Reynolds do u know the track playing in the background?

[@towermoss]

FF7 came out when I first got internet access. I remember finding some Japanese website that had all the currently release information about the game, and being a huge FF fan I visited it everyday. FF7 and Gran Turismo convinced me to give up on my N64 and get a PSX. It was weird to see this niche little game for nerds (I never knew anyone else who played it until I got online) become a rather mainstream success. Seeing FF commercials on TV blew my mind.

[@AeltgenXIV]

I’m happy to be apart of that ff7 when it launched I was in 7th grade and I had a ff7 pepsi with cloud on it! So cool!!!

[@zipzeolocke2]

I understand the significance of Final Fantasy VII but it saddens me that 8 and 9 barely get mentioned in comparison. I feel like 7 gets all the attention because it was the first 3D version of Final Fantasy. But I feel like square took what they learned from 7 and 8 appears to be a huge leap in quality. It still impresses me how different they look despite coming out so soon between each other

[@swayday1209]

Fascinating insight! The emotions playing the remake are going to be through the roof.

[@maurob13]

Damn, they relied a lot on Nintendo but they always let them down.

[@uenoyamakamishiro7646]

Nintendo always gave them up. They always let them down. They always ran and deserted them. They made them cry, and always said goodbye, yet they still said a lie, to hurt them.

[@ltb1345]

Yeah, but inside, we both know what's been going on.

[@AsakuraEX]

I just got Rick rolled.... o k

[@KuraIthys]

Imagine how history would've been different if Nintendo hadn't though. If the SNES CD had happened: -Chrono Trigger wouldn't exist - Secret of Mana would've been bigger. If the n64 had been given a CD drive - Final Fantasy 7 would almost certainly have been an n64 exclusive. If the 64 DD had actually released on time worldwide - Much harder to know the outcome of this, but Square may just have stuck with Nintendo. (plus 64 megabyte games would have been possible in 1997, or perhaps even multi-disk games, depending on how much the disks cost to manufacture. If they're cheap enough, using 3-4 disks is not a huge deal... And if you've ever played the kind of games that fit on a 64 megabyte cartridge, you'd know that would've made a huge difference if even just that much space had been available early in the system's life) Alas, we will never know, what might have been...

[@tmcttf8087]

@@KuraIthys Yep.....

[@evanmckeel5495]

Excellent video!

[@finalfantasyfan0128]

My first and favorite Final Fantasy game I’ve ever played! Thank you!

[@loganbigmo]

16:03 oh shit, a young Tetsuya Nomura

[@Aogami20]

the multiple timelines with father and son sounded like a really cool game. How come they never reused THAT idea TnT