Why is Final Fantasy 7 so popular? (FF7 Retrospective)

[@Altercate]

🛑 I’VE MOVED! Check out my new channel for retrospectives, reviews, and critiques here: kzbin.info/door/6D4FlECbW_1KT_Z472LukQfeatured

[@gavinlucas9761]

Final Fantasy 7 was the 2nd game of the FF series that I’ve played, and despite it’s dated graphics I really enjoyed a lot of this game from it’s music, to it’s characters, story, and it’s adventure. And while I’ve played much more RPGs and the game isn’t even my favorite in the series as it used to be, I still enjoy playing this game even now. And I genuinely much prefer the PS1 original over the remake that it’s completely irreplaceable to the actual game, At least for me. keep up the great work!

[@Altercate]

Thank you so much for your support! 😀 What was the first FF you ever played? I'm guessing Final Fantasy 6? That was my first game!

[@gavinlucas9761]

@@Altercate No, FF6 was actully one of the last games I've ever completed. With my first actully being FF10 and it's still among my favorites, 2nd only to Final Fantasy 9. And i'm curently about to replay these games which was how I stumple apon your videos. there great!

[@Altercate]

​@@gavinlucas9761 Cool! I'm really looking forward to going through FF9 and FF10 again once I get that far on my list! Once again, thank you for your kind words, it means a lot to me to hear that someone's enjoying my videos 😀

[@newerstillimproved]

Great quality for such a small channel. I hope the algorithm will promote you.

[@Altercate]

Thank you so much! :) Not getting much attention yet but I'll keep at it!

[@RealEvilLordExdeath]

His channel would get bigger if he openly admits that the Remake is pure memory rape to piss of fans

[@newerstillimproved]

@Brot FF7 is great, which is why many want a remake. Even if FF7R may be mainly a memory rape, and I greatly enjoy it. Why should it piss me off. It's much better than any Star Wars prequel, sequel or spin-off, MCU, GoT later seasons or whatever. And good value, too. Go, SqE, go!

[@RealEvilLordExdeath]

@@newerstillimproved well if ur a Fan of the ff7 original and dont mind all the changes and the openly "fuck u" namura senda to All Fans with this ghost bs, then u deserve nothing better. All others wanted a real ff7 remake and we never got one and probably will never get one He already changed the Story so much, there is no turning back, where past the point of no return. U will see, instead of All what made ff7 great u get kingdomhearts bullshit. Prepare for time travel and "his mind is in someone elses body" bullshit

[@newerstillimproved]

@@RealEvilLordExdeath relax, boomer, you seem to be awfully set in your ways. you do not have to buy products you do not like. others do not have to do your bidding. perhaps focus your efforts on writing fan fiction.

[@DarthJF]

I still remember when I first played FFVII. That opening scene was awesome and then the game started... and I thought it looked ugly as heck! It sure wasn't love at first sight, lol! But somehow I persisted with the game and by the time Midgar section ended I was hooked by the story and the mysterious Sephiroth who had left his sword on the corpse of the Shinra president. The part with Cloud's mental breakdown on CD2 was what blew my mind back then even more than the shock of Aeris' death. Seeing the main protagonist's cool hero facade and his whole identity shatter like that with Tifa later helping Cloud pull his mind back together was something I had never seen before. I still think FFVII had the best presentation of a mental breakdown I've seen, and not just in gaming but in any form of narrative storytelling.

[@Altercate]

Thanks for sharing! This game definitely redefined what was possible within video game storytelling. It had been a long time since I last played the game when I did this video and I was amazed at how well the story held up and how engaged I was even today. Especially the Nibelheim flashback and the scene with Tifa and Cloud in the Lifestream!

[@justinschmelzel8806]

I always found the blocky overworld characters to be kind of charming. They are very much like the 3D version of the sprites that I was used to from the 16 bit era and even emoted very similarly to them.

[@Altercate]

That's true I suppose! :) I think at the time, my expectations were a bit unrealistic. But I definitely remember looking at the blocky overworld characters when the game was coming out and thinking "wtf?" In hindsight, I agree they're very charming!

[@raphaelcalado4335]

Finally people are coming to their senses, all the bashing over early 3d graphics is a product of our desire to see realistic graphics, now that we have this homogeneous standardized realism, we are finally appreciating the charm of early 3d games. (I’ve always appreciated FFVII graphics tbh). I know that 9 come up with much better graphics in this style, but to me FFVII’s graphics were never a weakness, I loved the hd ps4/pc version, it showcased the charisma that low poly graphics had and never took alway from my experience. In truth, I hate mods that put the fighting models in the overworld and outside battle, and admit I wanted it when I was a child and didn’t know it would become possible, but as the time passed, I’ve come to love the block characters and the decision to have the fight models as they are, it gave and edge to the battles and cgi models. While offering the cozy jrpg super deformed models in the exploration.

[@amronfaro9728]

Even after all these years, many fans of the franchise still ranks FF7 as the most popular game. Although there are many reasons why this game was so unforgettable. The reason why FF7 is so popular because the story, characters, music, gamplay mechanics and the 3d graphics stands tall and above all other games. In the end, FF7 is nothing more than the beloved game that brought JRPG mainstream into an international scale.

[@christopherallan4298]

Great video! I feel like your narration really did a great job capturing the excitement and anticipation that people felt when this game came out. I actually didn't play it then: it wouldn't be until years later during the PS2 era, so my personal first experience with it wasn't as breathtaking as what folks who played it when it came out was, but I knew people were talking about it and I had a vague idea of what the cultural impact was even then. You talking about the ability to use cinematography to tell the story made me remember that during the PS1 era, FF7, FF8, and FF9 were the first exposure that teen gamers had to the idea that video games could be a media experience as rich as film, and although that seems obvious and expected today, we were _really_ excited about it back then because it hadn't ever been done before!

[@Altercate]

Thank you for your kind words, and thanks for sharing your own experience! I love hearing about people's relationship with these games. I feel we've still only scratched the surface of what is possible in storytelling in video games, and it's so rewarding to look back at the way the medium has developed over the last 30+ years. Things that seem so simple now were so powerful back then! :)

[@OBearry]

The editor smiled to himself as he made the narrator say "breakthrough moments" just as we see Cloud break through a window at 10:01

[@Altercate]

Dear lord, I *wish* that had been intentional... 🤯

[@OBearry]

@@Altercate it happens! Great work 👏

[@arkealunas4043]

Thanks for this! This has inspired me to play it next! I got into FF with XIV, and have been slowly going back and playing them all over the years.

[@Altercate]

Thanks for sharing! I always love to hear how people get into FF through XIV (which is such an amazing game). I hope you have fun with FF7. 😀

[@arkealunas4043]

@@Altercate thanks! I’ve made it through X, VI, and I so far. Excited to experience this.

[@GabrielShakkori]

@@arkealunas4043 have you tried 8? It's My favorite such an emotional ride

[@arkealunas4043]

@@GabrielShakkori not yet, but it’s soon! Almost through VII remastered!

[@TheKrensada]

For me, the music and the materia system is what keeps me coming back. Especially the music. The reward you get for beating this game is that music.

[@Altercate]

Very true! :)

[@masculineshiver]

Great review of why this game is amazing. The game itself is a year older than me and I only played through it for the first time this past June. I grew up almost exclusively playing Nintendo games, but I am willing to try a game if I've heard good reception and the gameplay is something I'd enjoy. This was one of those games, and man, am I glad I got to play this. So much of it inspires me as a writer and artist. It's incredible. Definitely among my top 5 favorite games of all time.

[@Altercate]

Thanks for sharing! Since I grew up with this game, it's always super interesting to me to hear about the experiences younger people have had with it! Glad to hear it's still going strong even without the benefit of nostalgia! 😍

[@masculineshiver]

@@Altercate What made my experience even more special and intimate was that I streamed nearly all of it on twitch, and I was fortunate enough to attract the attention of a handful of people, from varying ages such as those a few years younger than me to those whom have played the games multiple times since its original release, and it just felt great to have them along for the ride during my playthrough; we got to experience everything together. It was magical.

[@dylus7434]

11:25 Are you saying that the logo is actually Cloud's spiky head!? Lol. Great video, Altercate. Final Fantasy VII was a game I played fairly recently. After finishing FFVI not too long before, I wondered how the heck FFVII would top it. And I was surprised throughout playing the game that, in my opinion, it did top FFVI. The presentation was better than ever, the story was complex but engaging, and, most importantly to me, the world was as close to home as Final Fantasy could possibly be. With such topics discussed as eco-terrorism and corporate greed, I would dare say that this is still, after 20 years, a contemporary game, maybe even timeless. I really hope the remake does things justice.

[@Altercate]

Finally someone gets my joke! 🤣 Thanks for the support, Dylus! Yep, despite some of its dated graphics and gameplay mechanics, I do see FF7 as a timeless game. The Remake is a very different experience, but I think it's great that it both allows a different crowd (people who would never sit down and play a "retro" JRPG) to experience the story, *and* gives diehard fans of the original a chance to see the characters and scenes we love in modern HD graphics!

[@EricVMag]

FFVII's pacing and varied gameplay was the reason why I always considered it to be a much better game than VIII and IX. No matter how much you like the story, characters and gameplay of these last two, they are filled with boring parts you just had to grind through in order to get to the end of the game. FFVII doesn't have that. There's no dull dialogue, no excessive fighting, no repetitive walking back and forth. Through the gripping story, the minigames, the various locations and various plot twists, it manages to get you hurting for more, to the very end. It's one of the few JRPGs that managed to do that.

[@Altercate]

Very true! FF7 is pretty much unmatched when it comes to keeping things fresh and constantly moving forward!

[@trk9604]

Good video. Well thought out and great narration. Don't agree with it all, but you made a good case.

[@Altercate]

Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for chiming in! Out of curiosity, anything in particular you disagreed with?

[@trk9604]

@@Altercate I guess some disagreement would come from my not particularily liking the changes made in the remake, partiicularily to the introduction and characterization of Sephiroph. In the original he's more nuanced and mysterious, particularily during midgar/disk 1, whereas in the remake he becomes a typical aniime villain who's greatest unspoken gripe is that he can't grow a mustache to twirl. You also mention that the original doesn't hold up particularily well after playing the remake, but I find it holds up fine and enjoy the original story and mechanics when compared to the remake. It's just different views on the game and how the remake impacts it. I don't agree on some of it, but I can respect your take, particularily as it was so well put forward.

[@Altercate]

I do agree about Sephiroth. Not sure if you saw my FF7R vid, but yeah I went into some detail about it there. I didn't really like how they handled him in the Remake, along with some of the new plotlines.

Very nice review. I like the warmth in the tone of your voice. Very soothing word choices as well. I am considering on buying this game on Switch and there is a new feature to turn off random encounters. Thank you for helping me decide :)

[@Altercate]

Wow, I never thought this video would be useful to someone who was thinking about getting the game! I hope I didn't spoil too much of the story 😂 Also, thank you for your kind words, that means a lot to me!

[@matthewsays]

I played this for the first time last year; I still have yet to play the remake. Both Midgar and the Lifestream sequence held up well for me. I also had the impression before playing that Cloud was just some generic stoic badass, but his whole character arc is about learning to move past his trauma and defense mechanisms to connect with and depend on others, which endeared him to me. Unfortunately the late-game character death didn't move me as much as it might have, since it's been spoiled for over 25 years now... but I definitely cranked up that final battle song! I had somehow never heard it before, but now it's one of my favorites.

[@gaetan4164]

FFVII is the game I have probably played the most. Its is also the very first RPG I played : not only is it the first FF released in France, we got very few RPGs before FFVII (and they remained pretty niche). I remember the TV ads for FFVII, I had never expected such an epic story from a video game before. I suspect my experience mirrors the one a lot of people had in PAL regions. The gameplay might be simple and easy for someone used to RPGs, but it is fun, and I think it really appealed to beginners and contributed to its success.

[@Altercate]

Thanks for sharing! I'm from Sweden so your experience is similar to mine, although I had played Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger before by importing the games. 😀

[@gaetan4164]

@@Altercate Ha, I didn't guess from your accent. I actually live in Denmark now.

[@Altercate]

@@gaetan4164 Cool! Welcome to Scandinavia :)

[@j.m.3600]

Great video. I just began playing FF7 original on the PS4 today. I know the legend but never played it. I was looking for a video exactly like this

[@Altercate]

Thanks! Glad it was useful :)

[@powerhousemachines]

Good video, I’d like to see more of your content. 👍🏾

[@Altercate]

Thanks bro! Just finished recording the voice over for the next one :)

[@Kihambo]

Beautifully said, my friend.

[@Altercate]

Thank you so much! That means a lot to me 😀

[@kevincrist9753]

Liked, commented, subscribed because this video deserves to grow your channel.

[@Altercate]

Thank you so much for your kind words :)

[@diegoarmando5489]

This was my 4th Square RPG. I played it after FF4, FF1, and Super Mario RPG but before FF6 and Chrono Trigger.

[@ChiRusNkFUSA]

It’s not just a great FF game it’s a good game period.

[@oneaboveall1895]

i couldnt get into the NES version so i had a bias towards it but when my friend let my borrow a few games for my ps1 this was one of them. first time i played it i was hooked story line graphics music was fantastic. i like the part you can play a game inside the game at the arcade

[@thelvadam5834]

This is very good

[@Altercate]

Thank you so much! :)

[@emerald0052]

7:13 can you give me the spelling of the writing term your talking about? I tried to use subtitles but they never work. You don’t have to respond if you don’t want to

[@Altercate]

Sure! The term is "in medias res". You can find a good summary about the term on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_medias_res

[@thaddeuswaldner2814]

good vids bud ...keep it up

[@Altercate]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@Mattonores]

Grieved to play it due to the old minigames and grinds

[@victorha8565]

6:10 wow I had no idea that was the truth of the matter

[@slicky3397]

I only beat FF7 last year but it’s still my fav game as of now. Dunno what will top it but I’m playing FF9 and 10, persona 3 reload and I plan to play persona 5 royal. I dunno what could top it but those are what I can think of right now

[@vagabundorkchaosmagick-use2898]

When FF7 was announced for the Nintendo Ultra 64, it was only natural that I decided to purchase the new Nintendo console once it was released, but seeing how bad the games looked when the console, now re-named N64, was released, I had my doubts, so I waited until more games were announced, and then it happened: FF7 for N64 was cancelled, and exclusivity for Playstation announced, it was it. Just like you, this game decided which my next console would be: Sony Playstation.

[@Altercate]

Thanks for sharing! Those were the days... Hard to beat the anticipation we had for FF7 back then :)

[@ericbarlow6772]

It’s a good one but I still prefer 6, 4, and 1 over 7. 1 was the first one I played when I was 13. That one is my nostalgia game.

[@ai_hime1707]

I do like the character's design in the field, but I'm a sucker for super deformed characters.

[@Altercate]

I can respect that! 😀

[@wingusdingus9447]

Is the remake any good? I grew up on RPGs. Now when I play them I get bored and give up. I tried replaying all my old favorites and I end up just turning them off cuz I know what's going to happen and I don't feel challenged. The only jrpg I've been enjoying again is Dragon Quest VIII. It still looks good and it has a great world map. I was so excited to get a gaming PC that could emulate all my old systems and I feel like I've grown out of most of it

[@thefalsekingslayer3717]

It dared to be more

[@NickDyers]

10:12 one best example of how to utilize NEW tech effectively to capture and elevate emotion of particular moment from the game story, something hardly replicable with these newly 4K AAA INTERACTIVE MOVIES.

[@glasscastlex]

okay how are you going to forget his appearance in kingdom hearts 😭

[@TheUnjust117]

character selection was not souly based on looks, the playable characters were all different.... for example Yuffie is so much more powerful with her ultimate weapon than the rest of them are, there are also some characters that are able to achieve the damage overflow where others can-not... each character comes with different stats and underlying abilities that's not always telegraphed by the actual game, so some characters are able to do and achieve stuff where other's simply... can't...

[@dangerass1982]

My favorite game since it came out. I also enjoy 4, 5, 6, 9, and 7R from the series. Twelve was OK. The rest are either cheesy or too undercooked for me. Excluding 14 because I don't play MMOs.

[@retexcrafted]

as a teen myself i think ff7 is better then the remake but i got me friends into the series and i love that and the world is amazing the world building is done the best out of all most all games thought chrono trigger is still better that game is perfect

[@sage-hf6bx]

Playing through it now but I honestly can't seem to enjoy it? I played through the originals 1-6 as in pixel renasters and enjoyed those even if I didn't like some more than others but for VII I don't see the appeal to be honest and I don't get why. Not graphics since I couldn't care less,combat is what you would expect from turn based systems. The characters are ranging from ok to pretty in depth, but even that is kinda pushing it, and the story imo is just weird so far. All that I can hope for is being able to enjoy the rest of the game for what it is but so far I'm not enjoying it.

[@endisbegun27]

loved the vids so far but wow i could not disagree with you more on remake. what awful, shameful games that spit on ff7

[@Ciaurrix]

I liked this video, but a good game is a good game, no matter its age. If you're expecting it to transport you back in time, you can't fault it for being unable to do that. It's not even a matter of looking at its age as some sort "understandable flaw." You just look at the game for what it is, and its presentation for what it is. Does it work? Does it evoke some kind of feeling in you? Is that feeling enjoyable? Then it's done its duty. Otherwise, the only thing to say would be: "Yeah, this game that came out today, its good now, but its going to be a bad game in 10 years when the technology exists to tell the story in a 'better' way" See how that makes no sense?

[@Altercate]

Thanks for commenting! I'm not sure what I said in the video to give you that impression but it was definitely never my intention to fault the game for being old, or imply that it's a bad game! FF7 was and will always be an amazing game. :)

[@TheLegendarySwordMaster]

I want to subscribe to your channel but it is dead you havent made a single video in over 6 months so yeah im not going to support people where the channel is officially dead maybe if you come back and make videos again i might maybe subscribe to you i enjoyed your Final Fantasy 1 2 3 4 5 and 7 retrospective so yeah

[@ralphiecifaretto8961]

It wasn't great.

[@7milesdavis]

Remake is a garbage pile. I’ll never play it. It totally undermines the original story. Everything looks good but the story fails and that is the main draw of ff7. Too bad the creators couldn’t have just stayed true to the original story. Great video though, really well done.

[@budakbaongsiah]

Probably because it's a sequel.

[@4biddeninja511]

The remake was absolute shit, a butchering of the philosophy of FF that Sakaguchi spoke on. The og was perfect in all its imperfections.

[@lostfan5054]

Stupid remake :(

[@gausssto570]

The story is just such trash. The characters are awful. It looks terrible. Frankly it's one of the worst games I've ever played

[@SinHurr]

Thanos.GIF(Everything);

[@dickwallace8567]

I had to watch hours and hours of breakdown videos before the entire story clicked with me. I've always loved this game but since I truly grasped the story I've become obsessed.