Written by: Xinyi Yuan
My fascination with the world of Final Fantasy VII did not begin with the original game, but with the film Advent Children. I was immediately captivated by the character design, which possessed an exquisite, doll-like beauty that blended realistic proportions with stylized anime aesthetics. Having recently played Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth, I saw how modern technology amplified these visual advantages. However, revisiting the original 1997 version on PC this week offered a different, yet equally profound experience.
Initially, the transition to the blocky, polygonal field models felt stark compared to the modern iterations. However, I recently found a reference book in the library that offered a fascinating perspective on this design choice. It explained that the simplified character models were a necessary compromise due to the technical limitations of the era. This simplification ensured that the transition from gameplay to the high-quality cinematic cutscenes was not “jarring” for the player. Knowing this, I found I could look past the dated graphics and focus on the narrative depth.
The antagonist, Sephiroth, remains the most compelling figure in the story. Unlike typical villains who are purely evil, his trajectory is tragic. He evolves from a celebrated war hero into a man consumed by self-doubt, and finally, into an entity who strips away his humanity to embrace his alien “Jenova” lineage. His plan to use the planet as a vessel is not simple destruction but a twisted sense of destiny. The dynamic between him and Cloud is equally complex. It shifts from Cloud’s initial admiration to deep hatred and rebellion. Conversely, Sephiroth’s attitude toward Cloud evolves from dismissal to a haunting form of recognition.
The narrative also resonates with contemporary issues, particularly regarding environmentalism and war. The Shinra Electric Power Company represents the dangers of corporate greed. As noted in my research, the creator Hironobu Sakaguchi designed this world to shed light on “ecological issues” and the appropriation of natural resources. Furthermore, the backstory of the Wutai War illustrates the human cost of this progress. As highlighted in a retrospective by Retro Gamer, the game critiques how military aggression is often fueled by the demand for resources. The tragedy is that Sephiroth himself is a product of this human arrogance, created by scientists who mistook an alien invader for an “Ancient.”
Final Fantasy VII is a masterpiece not because of its graphics, but because of its thematic weight. It explores identity, memory, and the consequences of exploiting our world. It is a game that defined a genre, and its message is perhaps even more relevant today than it was in 1997.
Reference
- “Final Fantasy VII.” 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die, edited by Tony Mott, Barron’s Educational Series, 2013, p. 138.
- Thorpe, N. (2019). The Making of Final Fantasy VII. Retro Gamer, (197), 22-31.