Many gamers experienced Final Fantasy VII for the first time in 1997 on the original PlayStation. However, as new generations discover the timeless classic, the platform they play it on changes, whether it be the PC, iPhone, PS4, PSP, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch. Like any re-release, some subtle and obvious changes slightly tweak the game. Some of these are intentional, while others are the result of bringing the game to a new platform.
The following list will detail ten ways the adventure has changed since its original PS1 incarnation. The re-releases are all based on the 1998 PC port, which already adjusted a lot of factors from the PS1 game. Purists looking for the closest to the original experience are advised to either dust off their old PlayStation, play the PS1 version available on the PSN store for the PS3 and PSP, or buy a PlayStation Classic.
10 Disc Swapping
The original PS1 version came on three discs, while the PC version came with four, but every release within the last fifteen years has completely removed the need for swapping discs. For the most part, the game does not even come out on physical media these days. What used to be a massive epic that could in no way fit on a single CD can now download onto a console or phone in a matter of minutes.
9 Sped Up Gameplay
One major complaint of old JRPGs is how slow the gameplay is. Animations take forever and the characters move like snails across the world. Thankfully, more recent releases add the ability to speed up gameplay at the push of a button. With liberal usage, a normally fifty-hour game is cut down to between thirty and thirty-five hours, which is still a hefty chunk of time.
8 Better Backgrounds
The game has retained similar visuals in the more than two decades since release. However, subtle improvements make it more pleasant to the eye.
Backgrounds in particular are heavily improved to make it look acceptable on bigger screens with HD capabilities. It is all the original assets, so the art design stays the same, but it prevents it from appearing blurry, as it would if someone hooked up their PS1 to a modern television.
7 Turn Off Random Encounters
Random Encounters are a relic of the past. Fortunately, the feature can be switched off without even going into a menu. Be mindful of overusing it, however. Enemies do not scale to the player’s level, so ignoring fights for too long leads to an under-leveled party.
6 Accept And Cancel Buttons Are Reversed
Many Japanese RPGs for the PlayStation One used the circle button in the United States for accepting and the X button for canceling, even though western gamers are accustomed to the inverse. The PS4 version reversed this to fit the standard in the United States. Acclimating to the Japanese button configuration is not too big a hurdle, but never having to in the first place is a nice comfort.
5 Graphical Changes
The 1998 PC release had some subtle changes to the graphics one can only notice if they compare the two versions side by side. They are not always for the better, either. Particularly, shadows in combat take a downward turn. They appear less natural, like black circles underneath the avatars, lacking the softness of the PS1 original.
4 Instantly Restoring Health And Filling Limit Break
Giving players choice is always a plus. Some are only interested in the story and are not interested in understanding the RPG mechanics in order to defeat difficult bosses and enemies.
Modern versions allow the player to refill the party’s health and limit gauges at the push of a button, letting less experienced players go through the game without the challenge. While some may take umbrage with this, it is purely optional and fans can still play the game with the difficulty intact.
3 Translation Errors Are Fixed
The PS1 version has a slew of endearing translation errors, from “this guy are sick” to “off course.” The developer fixed these when they ported the game to the PC. Since all subsequent releases are based on this port, they also come with the fixes to the text. While some may want to keep these for the sake of preservation, there’s nothing wrong with smoothing a little roughness around the edges.
2 Running
The original game came out while the DualShock was in its infancy and does not feature support for the controller’s rumble and analog sticks. The PS4 port adds support for analog stick, and even lets the player walk or run depending on how far the stick is moved to the corresponding direction. On phones, players run automatically.
1 Trophies And Achievements
Anything released on the PS4 and Xbox One is guaranteed to have trophies and achievements. Some players ignore these completely, but for others these are a great incentive to best some of the game’s more intense challenges. Seeing the party grow stronger and the personal contentment of defeating hidden bosses should be enough, but there’s something satisfying about hearing the sound and icon pop up after meeting the trophy or achievement requirement.
