Today my friend said final fantasy VII was the best RPG ever and I agreed with him, but my other friend was like "no it isn't," not even naming one that he thought was better. FF7 was incredible. It blew every other game out of the water when it came out and even years after, when graphics capabilities are way better and various breakthroughs have been made, it still has about the same effect it had then. If anyone feels like sharing their thoughts, I think this would make a good discussion.

I'm more than willing to acknowledge that FFVII is a good game, but what about it "blows other games out of the water"? Plenty of newer (and older) games do many things far better than FFVII. Final Fantasy X, for instance, does... damn near everything better as far as I can tell. Final Fantasy VII is quite good in certain aspects, and excellent (especially for its time) for creating a feeling of excitement in telling its story, but the story itself isn't half as good as the presentation.

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I'm more than willing to acknowledge that FFVII is a good game, but what about it "blows other games out of the water"? Plenty of newer (and older) games do many things far better than FFVII. Final Fantasy X, for instance, does... damn near everything better as far as I can tell. Final Fantasy VII is quite good in certain aspects, and excellent (especially for its time) for creating a feeling of excitement in telling its story, but the story itself isn't half as good as the presentation.

Ive heard people say it blows games out of the water, mainly ones from when it came out, but I guess it's more of a personal thing for me. I bought FF7 used for like $5 long after the ps2 came out and it still managed to be an awesome game and surpass my expectations even with the dated graphics. As for its comparison with FF10, FF10 looks way better on the outside, but i think it was missing some of the soul FF7 had. ...And you cant possibly say 8 or 9 were better.

As far as FF-type RPG's go (Japanese style), there are much better choices, IMO...with none of them being FF games.

Chrono Trigger/Cross (Story telling is just as good, but the combat and setting of both are 100 times better than any FF)

Vagrant Story (More of an action RPG, but the depth, graphics for its time, and story are 2nd to none)

Skies Of Arcadia (Amazing graphically. Also has a fun game engine, with ship battles and all. An essential RPG)

I mean, yeah, FF was basically the originator of many of the RPG's known today....but to me, it was never the best. Many franchises have improved upon the FF formula better than any FF game ever could. I also prefer more of the action oriented RPG's today (Kotor, Jade Empire, etc.) as the depth they offer is more to my style, and the Japanese RPG's have become a bit stale.

This has already been discussed extensively in other threads, and...

Well, not by a longshot.

It gets overrated by a lot of people because it was their first RPG and they look back at it nostalgically.

It also has that Neon Genesis Evangelion style overdramatic substance-lacking character development. That sounds deep because it has all sorts of metaphors and religious symbology, which kind of acts as a smokescreen for the shallowness of the actual characters.

The battle system is also just a bunch of button mashing, which gets overrated by players who like being cottled and having strategy handed to them. And, it has really flashy graphics, which gets a game overrated in and of itself.

The actual plot is pretty much just chasing some guy around the world who wants to destroy the world for no real reason. And they throw in a lot of deep-sounding environmentalist stuff they ripped from Nausicaa. The characters are extremely generic.

If you want better RPGs than Final Fantasy, it's not hard to find them. You just have to look beyond the surface. Find, say, Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, Xenogears, or Valkyrie Profile. Or the Tales and Star Ocean series.

Much more innovative, strategic battle system than Final Fantasy, and much more substance beyond just a glossy production.

FF7's a pretty decent game, but I don't get the people who call it the best ever. That's just me tho.

FF7 is a pretty good game, not incredible, just good. What the makers did instead of driving for more unique gameplay (see all other FF games, you'll know what I mean), they aimed for a great story. Successful: yes. Well made: yes. Innovative: NO! Also, several people overacted when...

ALERT: SPOILER AHEAD!!!

Aries died.

(Gasps/ Crying/ Shouts of "We already knew that")

But honestly, Aries is a digital character, not family. Don't go emo on something from a video game. Just play it and enjoy it.

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Successful: yes. Well made: yes. Innovative: NO! Also, several people overacted when...

ALERT: SPOILER AHEAD!!!

Aries died.

(Gasps/ Crying/ Shouts of "We already knew that")

But honestly, Aries is a digital character, not family. Don't go emo on something from a video game. Just play it and enjoy it.

I'd say that's a sign of a well-written story, when people can get so bent out of shape over the death of a fictional character in a video game. I felt kinda sad when it happened, and I'm not anywhere near as serious of a gamer as some of the guys out there.

I've seen quite a few RPG deaths that were far, far more inspiring and touching and awesome than that one. FF7's story is decent, don't get me wrong, but it gets a lot a hype for "depth" which... isn't really there. The plot is pretty convoluted towards the end, but not exactly thought provoking.

Unless, of course, your thoughts are directed towards trying to make excuses for or explain the blatant plot holes... which still doesn't make the game deep.

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Originally posted by LordSmoogsbottomIII:

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Successful: yes. Well made: yes. Innovative: NO! Also, several people overacted when...

ALERT: SPOILER AHEAD!!!

Aries died.

(Gasps/ Crying/ Shouts of "We already knew that")

But honestly, Aries is a digital character, not family. Don't go emo on something from a video game. Just play it and enjoy it.

I'd say that's a sign of a well-written story, when people can get so bent out of shape over the death of a fictional character in a video game. I felt kinda sad when it happened, and I'm not anywhere near as serious of a gamer as some of the guys out there.

Yes, that is often the sign of a good story, but it's not original and, in some ways, quite predictable. To be a REALLY good story, it has to be different and very innovative and original, something never done before but still entertains and keeps the attention of the audience. That's what FF7 failed to do. Their story wasn't new or innovative in any way. As I said, it's a decent story, but nothing great. That is why I'm surprised people get so worked up over something so insignificant and something we have all seen sometime before multiple times.

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it still has about the same effect it had then.

This is where I believe you're wrong.

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it still has about the same effect it had then.


This is where I believe you're wrong.

umm...you want to go into a bit more detail? I'm glad people are voicing their opinions, but your statements are a lot stronger when you explain why you feel that way. When I typed that, I meant it more for me personally (hell, I can't speak for everybody), but I guess it's my fault for not being more specific.

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Originally posted by Media_geek2.0:

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Originally posted by LordSmoogsbottomIII:

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Successful: yes. Well made: yes. Innovative: NO! Also, several people overacted when...

ALERT: SPOILER AHEAD!!!

Aries died.

(Gasps/ Crying/ Shouts of "We already knew that")

But honestly, Aries is a digital character, not family. Don't go emo on something from a video game. Just play it and enjoy it.

I'd say that's a sign of a well-written story, when people can get so bent out of shape over the death of a fictional character in a video game. I felt kinda sad when it happened, and I'm not anywhere near as serious of a gamer as some of the guys out there.

Yes, that is often the sign of a good story, but it's not original and, in some ways, quite predictable. To be a REALLY good story, it has to be different and very innovative and original, something never done before but still entertains and keeps the attention of the audience. That's what FF7 failed to do. Their story wasn't new or innovative in any way. As I said, it's a decent story, but nothing great. That is why I'm surprised people get so worked up over something so insignificant and something we have all seen sometime before multiple times.

Also, FF7 may have a decent story, but gameplay is REALLY lacking. The turn-based system is boring, confusing and broken, fights always pop up (which gets annoying quickly), and overall fails to entertain when it comes to actually playing the game.

There are a lot of people who would disagree that FF7 is the best RPG ever. However, I'd wager that on the whole more people would say that FF7 is the best ever then any other RPG (although Chrono Trigger and FF6 might give it a run for its money.)

Not saying that necessarily makes it the best ever - that's always a personal opinion - but there's something that almost everyone loves about the game. Of course the game won't appeal to everyone's taste, but if we're looking at it in an aggregate sense, it probably gets more praise then other out there. That's an accomplishment that can't be disputed. Lot's of people really, really love FF7.

I'd just like to add the only element of FF7 that I don't think has been surpassed, and one that I'm surprised no one is mentioning - the music score. Great music, no matter where you're at in the game.

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But honestly, Aries is a digital character, not family. Don't go emo on something from a video game. Just play it and enjoy it.

It has nothing to do with going "emo." There is nothing silly about connecting with a fictional character. This is what great books and movies do. Haven't you ever seen someone in tears during a movie?

Argue all you wish, but FFVII is still my all time favorite game, RPG or not. It's one of few games that really immerses you in the world to the point that you forget what's going on around you. It does it all without a hypnotic element like FPS or an addictive element like an MMORPG.
Great story, great characters, great gameplay, and a solid soundtrack. Doesn't get much better than that.

Other games have had better stories (Grim Fandango) and better characters (Planescape: Torment), but none have put it all together and presented it so well. Kinda like why Peter Jackson's LOTR trilogy was such a perfect example of great cinema. It's obviously not an original plot (I am of course referring to the screenplay, not Tolkien's work), but it was just a beautiful piece of art.

That's why I like it, not why it should be immortalized as the greatest game ever made. Snicker and disagree all you like, I still get chills and nostalgia shots listening to the FFVII theme.

I think FF6 is better as a game, although the plot may be a bit better in FF7.

FF7 was good but I think 3 was better, story and for some reason gameplay too. The ending Kefka's castle was freakin hard though!

Technically FF7 and just about all games with graphic are NOT RPGs. an RPG is a game that you take the role as one character acting as only that one character. the only game I can think up that fits this discription that i have either played or seen played is the Elder scrolls series. Most game today that are call RPGs like the Final Fantasy series you are in control of more then one person and you are looking into the game in the third person. The only true RPG that can be made today is pen and paper RPGs like Dungeons and dragons and other games like that. RPGs with graphic require actual AI so that the computer can think and respond to everything instead of set actions and Behaviors it is that limit that make all now-a-days RPG not actual RPGs.

With that noted i would say that the best RPG I have played would be either FF3/6 or FF2/4 i really have never played FF7 so i can't really say if it is as good as people say.

The Best RPG EVER is Seiken Densetsu 3. It by far blows all other RPGs out of the water

Heavens no. At the time FF7 came out it was stellar and probably was the best RPG ever. But the bar has been raised and the requirements for that title are higher than they were in 1997 when blocky graphics and the classic three person turn battle system was impressive.

Final Fantasy VII has become the single most overrated game of all time.