How did Final Fantasy VII get so unreasonably popular?

Question

You don't have to look very far even now, many years later, to come across hoardes of Cloud / Sephiroth fan-brats who invariably idolise the two to the level of a personality cult. Similar can be said of Vincent, though in that case the fans are mostly female. Its not as if FFVII was even a particularly good game. How the heck did it become so popular?

Additional note: A few of you folks go on about cutscenes, but they're not all that different in concept (just in appearance) to the intermediary dialogues and picture shots featured in Phantasy Star IV on the Megadrive (or Genesis to americans)... which in my opinion was far more emotive and had a better plot overall (especially when connected to the previous Phantasy Star games).

Answer 1

It is credited with allowing RPGs to find a place in markets outside Japan, and remains arguably the most popular title in the Final Fantasy series. In January 2005, it was selected by Electronic Gaming Monthly as 6th on their list of "the 10 most important games ... that helped redefine the industry since ... 1989". Citing its "beautiful cut-scenes and a deep, introspective narrative", they claimed that "Square’s game was ... the first RPG to surpass, instead of copy, movielike storytelling", and that, without it, "Aeris wouldn’t have died, and gamers wouldn’t have learned how to cry". The game's popularity and open-ended nature also led the director and writer to establish a plot-related connection between Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy X, another popular Final Fantasy title.

The game's legacy includes the acceptance and standard inclusion of FMV sequences in RPGs, as well as significant advancement in computer graphics. These developments would allow series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi to begin production of the first Final Fantasy film, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. The game also introduced settings dominantly suffused with modern-to-advanced technology into the Final Fantasy series, a theme continued by Final Fantasy VIII and The Spirits Within. Rereleases of Square games in Japan with bonus features would occur frequently after Final Fantasy VII International's release.

Answer 2

I dunno. I loved FFVII because it was a great game. It balanced storyline with quests really well. I spent much of my time breeding Chocobos and playing the submarine arcade game. FFVII had alot of quirks and fun stuff. Like the date you take when you get to the Gold Saucer. The first time I went on a date with Barrett!! *lol* The games that followed were all unbalanced and a bit too linear. Though FFVIII was alot of fun. Its sorta creepy how close Squall and Rinoa came to being brother and sister. The card game was too hard for me!! The card game in FFIX, Tetra Master, was alot easier and more fun. Anyway...I can see the Cloud and Sephiroth fan service but I don't get the obsession with Vincent. He's just another freak among much cooler freaks(i.e. Aeris and Sephiroth).

Answer 3

Well, I really don't know much about the Final Fantasy game series or why it is so popular. I never understood RPG games until I played Dragon Quest 8: The Journey of the Cursed King and loved RPG games since.

I recently brought the Final Fantasy X game for twenty dollars since it been in stores for a few years. The only thing I could tell you is that the Final Fantasy X game has a good storyline, easy for beginners to understand how to play the game and I like to fight in battles against monsters.

I would just said if you not too sure if you would like to play any of the Final Fantasy game, then just rent any of them and try it out. You might change your mind and like it.

Answer 4

I suppose it was so popular because it was the first FF game to have such depth of graphics and CGI intertwined in the game. I didn't play the FF series in order. I played 8 first, then X, then 7 then 9.
To date, I think 8 is my fav. But everyone likes their first of anything, it is nostalgic. My husband thinks III (VI) is the best.
I will always have a soft spot for 8 because it was the game that opened me up to the world of RPGs (even though the junctioning tool totally blows) Probably alot of the reason 7 isn't my fav is because I knew Aeris dies before I started playing - that puts a sting in the character development, which I feel is central to the enjoyment of playing RPGs.
Next to that I like X, I know everyone thought Tidus was a wuss, but I really connected to the characters and literally cried at the end. In fact, I beat it like 3 times and cried every single time. (I'm such a girl!!)
I play FF because the stories are going to be intricate & character driven with plot twists, fabulous CGI along with great game play usually.
Can't wait for XXII!!!!!

Answer 5

Well. It may have become more popular lately due to the anime, movies, ect. But before that when it was just the game. I guess a lot of people just liked. Says something about the game doesn't it? Yes everyone has their own opinions but its not rare for one game to harvest a lot of attention. Look at Halo. Was it "really" the "best FPS shooter ever"? Maybe if you have been living under a rock for the past 12 years but besides that, no. I myself liked it the best of the ones I played. The story seemed right in the middle. To me FF8 was was too abstract, while FFX just seemed kinda plain... Just my opinion though.

Answer 6

The movies. I have a (female) friend who won't STFU about Vincent. I myself thought Seph was cool, but I didn't worship him. It's mostly the anime freaks that worship the junk, because the movies were like a computer generated more realistic style anime, so they went nuts for it.

And yes, the game wasn't very great. It's not the game that does it, people that watch the movies just go buy the games for the experience of being able to play as their own favorite character ;D

Answer 7

Well the game was made so that you can choose the girl you want to like in the game. There's no real answer to this question considering you can also like Yuffie if you tried hard enough. I've play the game 2 times and both times, I ended up with Tifa. So in my game, its Tifa. Most fans prefer Tifa cause she kicks more ***, has more time in the game and movie, and has bigger boobs (not being a perv). I prefer Tifa too for the fact that I don't like little p*ssy women. Tifa may be the girl that was from his childhood, but that doesn't mean he has to love her. They are just buddies and can remain that way if another women (Aeris) came along. Of course, I felt the game leaned more towards Aeris, but the fans preferred Tifa, especially after the movie Advent Children came out.

Answer 8

Final Fantasy VII is just one of th greatest stories ever told through an RPG. It was really deep, it's as if the characters were almost real...on top of that, the PS1 graphics were pushed to the point were (during that time) the characters seemed real. You can debate that it was or wasn't a good game. The storyline, however, is one of the greatest in gaming history.

Answer 9

Because you have to think of it this way: When it was released (at its time not OUR TIME now), it had the hottest graphics. It had a large, expansive world. It had in-depth characters. Plus, it was the first game to utilize cut-scenes. Think of all that new-cutting edge technology. Many gamers expressed awe on it, word has spread, and I think that is a good thing. More people should like the game in my opinion. But, to each his or her own. And, I am a gaming girl and like the game. I know just as many guys and girls who like the game. I don't think it has a gender specification. oh, and I do also like Vincent b/c of his background-kinda b/c of his unrequited love and b/c he's mysterious and I love his weapons! I like Cait Sith just as much though!

Answer 10

When it first came out, it was very innovative, from the storyline to the graphics and the characters' personalities. I agree it is rather unreasonable in how it became a cult game, but I have to say that, because of the storyline, it's one of my favorite FFs, other than 1-4.