How much did Final Fantasy VII revolutionise the series?

[jammi567]

In the 'I REVIVED AERIS' thread, me and another member called grim07 were 'discussing' how much this game revolutionised the series as a whole, compared to some of the other games (amongst others: X, VI and I). Well, obviously, that thread got locked for going off topic, but now, the discussion can continue here!

Personally, i don't think the game revolutionised the series as much as everyone is making out it did. Sure, it had it's moments (the graphics of the time), but it also had it's downers (a main villian that you don't even meet until disk 2, and even then, you don't fight it until disk 3). I'm in the camp that believes that if it wasn't for I, then we wouldn't all be here today, and Square would be a nobody.

[ZeZipster]

Final Fantasy VII didn't revolutionize the series. Final Fantasy VII revolutionized the GENRE, and maybe even games as a whole. I still haven't played a game to this day that has had an impact on me as much as FFVIII did.

[The Ceej]

You're right that if it weren't for the original Final Fantasy, there would be none. But most of the Final Fantasies revolutionized the series in their own ways. Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy IX didn't, but that doesn't make them bad games. They're actually quite enjoyable. The rest of them did in some way or another.

[Hyperion4444]

If FFVII would have failed, there would have been many new sequel.

[cloud21zidane16]

i agree with The Ceej, each final fantasy has its own good and bad parts, 7 just happens to apparently be "the one that changed the series:rolleyes2 " because it was most peoples first

[grim07]

Final Fantasy VII revolutionized the Final Fantasy series in a number of ways.

1. First 3D FF game
2. First FF game on CD
3. First RPG to kill off one of the beloved main characters

Those are just three factors. The rest is a matter of opinion. Music, characters, storyline, even the main character (instead of being the heroic uppety main character in most RPG's, we get a cold, uncaring individual, who has to find himself throughout the game)

It also went away from the "fantasy" setting into a more sci-fi direction, which was ANOTHER first for the series.

And it still continues to sell more copies then any other FF TO THIS DAY. 10 years after its release. Name any other RPG in a series that can do that.

Final Fantasy I-VI revolutionized the way RPG's were played. VII revolutionized the way they were played AND the way the series as a whole is played. Which is why their making XIII to be set in a more sci-fi setting like VII and VIII AND why they made "compilation of FFVII".

And its damn sure not because the game sucks.

You can love it or you can hate it, but you cannot deny that it revolutionized Final Fantasy, RPG's and many games as a whole.

[silentenigma]

Final Fantasy VII revolutionized the Final Fantasy series in a number of ways.

1. First 3D FF game
2. First FF game on CD
3. First RPG to kill off one of the beloved main characters

sorry to be a smartass, but...

1. The series' graphics were always improving, so advancing to 3D like every other game of the time was in no way revolutionary.

2. Changing the method for storing game data is not revolutionary.

3. False.

Final Fantasy VII was NOT the first in the series to distance itself from the medieval fantasy setting.

most things that are considered "revolutionary" in FF7 appeared in earlier installments.

The only revolutionary aspect of FF7 was the excellent, complex storyline. That's it. I'm not saying that it's music, gameplay, characters, or graphics weren't great, but they just weren't revolutionary when compared to, lets say, FF6.

[XxSephirothxX]

VII certainly set the bar for Playstation games. It was pretty much unparalled in terms of scope and grand storytelling at the time, what with the new storage medium and lots of FMVs.

Revolutionized is a pretty strong word. I think VII really had a pretty big impact for its time, and there likely wouldn't have been nearly as many RPGs on the Playstation if it hadn't been so successful. I think it took the series in a new direction as well, but that's not really revolutionary. If it revolutionized anything, it was probably the depiction of protagonists. Cloud really started a longlasting trend of heroes with megaspiky hair.

[jammi567]

Yeah, i agree, it did revolutionize the series a little, but then, every game did that.

[Timerk]

FFVII was significant because it popularized the genre, and although there were parts of the game which were revolutionary for its time, I think that is going to be its legacy.

.02

[daggertrepe]

The graphics were bomb, it had the best plot, and everyone liked it.

(Not to mention it racked up the big bucks)

[grim07]

Final Fantasy VII revolutionized the Final Fantasy series in a number of ways.

1. First 3D FF game
2. First FF game on CD
3. First RPG to kill off one of the beloved main characters

sorry to be a smartass, but...

1. The series' graphics were always improving, so advancing to 3D like every other game of the time was in no way revolutionary.

2. Changing the method for storing game data is not revolutionary.

3. False.

Final Fantasy VII was NOT the first in the series to distance itself from the medieval fantasy setting.

most things that are considered "revolutionary" in FF7 appeared in earlier installments.

The only revolutionary aspect of FF7 was the excellent, complex storyline. That's it. I'm not saying that it's music, gameplay, characters, or graphics weren't great, but they just weren't revolutionary when compared to, lets say, FF6.

1. Maybe so, but Final Fantasy VII was the FIRST 3D FINAL FANTASY. Which is revolutionary, whether you wanna admit it or not. I dont care if thats where games where heading, or whatever, it still revolutionized the series by being the first.

2. Its not? I seem to remember nintendo saying they would never switch to CD and Playstation being the one who did. I think putting video games on a CD, (as with Movies being on DVD) is pretty revolutionary. Do you even know what revolutionary means?

3. Name an RPG before FFVII that killed off one of the important main characters that was in the story for almost half of the game. Name a Final Fantasy that went away from the fantasy setting to Sci-Fi. And no VI didnt do that. It still had the "magic war" and what not. Castles and knights. Kings and Queens. So did V IV III II AND I.

I dont see 3D graphics apearing in earlier instalments. I dont see angsty protagonists appearing in earlier installments, I dont see main characters dying in earlier installments.

Come on, man. No, "every game" is NOT revolutionary. Revolutionary is a game that brings change to the series, alters it in such a way that people 10 years later STILL play it and games are STILL being based off of that world. THAT is revolutionary.

[Flying Mullet]

Before I even respond to your posts I want to point out:

Having something new, in and of itself, is not revolutionary. Also, many of your points are related to the Playstation in general, not FFVII, such as hardware powerful enough to handle 3D graphics and the data storage meduim (CD). This would mean that the Playstation was revolutionary, not FFVII.

1. Maybe so, but Final Fantasy VII was the FIRST 3D FINAL FANTASY. Which is revolutionary, whether you wanna admit it or not. I dont care if thats where games where heading, or whatever, it still revolutionized the series by being the first.

No, 3D graphics did not make it revolutionary, but rather advanced the grahpics used in the series. FFIV advanced the graphics by having the world map "flatten" when you flew the airship and using multiple scrolling backgrounds in caves, sich as the Land of the Summoned Monsters. FFVI advanced the graphics by using Mode 7 (pseudo 3D) graphics when riding a chocobo or flying an airship. FFVII advanced the graphics by switching to 3D models. FFVII's advanced graphics were no more revolutionary than any other game, but rather a reflection of the graphical power of the new gaming console. And just because it was the first to use 3D graphics doesn't make it revolutionary.

2. Its not? I seem to remember nintendo saying they would never switch to CD and Playstation being the one who did. I think putting video games on a CD, (as with Movies being on DVD) is pretty revolutionary. Do you even know what revolutionary means?

Square released FFVII on the Playstation because it was cheaper to produce CDs than cartidges. Again, this would mean the Playstation was revolutionary, not FFVII.

3. Name an RPG before FFVII that killed off one of the important main characters that was in the story for almost half of the game.

FFII: Josef
FFIV: Tellah
FFV: Galuf

3. Name a Final Fantasy that went away from the fantasy setting to Sci-Fi. And no VI didnt do that. It still had the "magic war" and what not. Castles and knights. Kings and Queens. So did V IV III II AND I.

FFVI was "half-way", considering the whole point of the story is that technology and machinery are replacing magic is one of the the main points of the story. If you're trying to argue that FFVII was revolutionary for being sci-fi, then FFVI would be more revolutionary because it paved the way for FFVII by blending sci-fi elements into a fantasy setting.

Revolutionary is a game that brings change to the series, alters it in such a way that people 10 years later STILL play it and games are STILL being based off of that world. THAT is revolutionary.

People play games 10 years later for a variety of reasons, revolutionary is one of the lesser reasons.

I'm going to take a guess here and say that you think FFVII is revolutionary because you hadn't played many rpg's before FFVII and it was truely revolutionary coming into a new genre with such a powerful game. But when compared with the rest of the series as it matures, it's not revolutionary, just advancing on previous ideas.

[Goldenboko]

Final Fantasy VII revolutionized the Final Fantasy series in a number of ways.

1. First 3D FF game
2. First FF game on CD
3. First RPG to kill off one of the beloved main characters

sorry to be a smartass, but...

1. The series' graphics were always improving, so advancing to 3D like every other game of the time was in no way revolutionary.

2. Changing the method for storing game data is not revolutionary.

3. False.

Final Fantasy VII was NOT the first in the series to distance itself from the medieval fantasy setting.

most things that are considered "revolutionary" in FF7 appeared in earlier installments.

The only revolutionary aspect of FF7 was the excellent, complex storyline. That's it. I'm not saying that it's music, gameplay, characters, or graphics weren't great, but they just weren't revolutionary when compared to, lets say, FF6.

1. Maybe so, but Final Fantasy VII was the FIRST 3D FINAL FANTASY. Which is revolutionary, whether you wanna admit it or not. I dont care if thats where games where heading, or whatever, it still revolutionized the series by being the first.

2. Its not? I seem to remember nintendo saying they would never switch to CD and Playstation being the one who did. I think putting video games on a CD, (as with Movies being on DVD) is pretty revolutionary. Do you even know what revolutionary means?

3. Name an RPG before FFVII that killed off one of the important main characters that was in the story for almost half of the game. Name a Final Fantasy that went away from the fantasy setting to Sci-Fi. And no VI didnt do that. It still had the "magic war" and what not. Castles and knights. Kings and Queens. So did V IV III II AND I.

I dont see 3D graphics apearing in earlier instalments. I dont see angsty protagonists appearing in earlier installments, I dont see main characters dying in earlier installments.

Come on, man. No, "every game" is NOT revolutionary. Revolutionary is a game that brings change to the series, alters it in such a way that people 10 years later STILL play it and games are STILL being based off of that world. THAT is revolutionary.

Your crediting things to FFVII that don't belong to FFVII. If you say 3D graphics and CD's revolutionized FF, then your saying the PS1's capabilities revolutionized FFs NOT FFVII.

As for main characters, that proves your lack of knowledge on the earlier installments FFIV, FFII, FFV, and FFVITellah died in FFIV, Galuf died in FFV, Minwu, Joseph, Cid, and one more that I can't remember died in FFII, and in FFVI shadow can die if you don't save him. All of those characters where in there for half the storyline. Actually Aerith WASN'T in there for half the storyline seeing how she died in disc 1. And as for the final comment on how people still play it and things are still based on it. That proves nothing. There are plenty of old FF remakes, and Dissida is going to be based off many FFs. Also lots and lots of people still play the older games after MORE then 10 years. I myself have just picked up FFII recently.

[demondude]

That argument closed my thread

I think it did.