FFVII has been the first of the franchise I got aware of, back in the days; the first one to make me aware of JRPG and thus, the one to seek out games like this before I had money to buy this. And yet, after distractions from other backlog games and attempted playthroughs, it is just after 27 years that I finally sat down and saw this game through to the end. And for that, it can now be crossed off as #1 on my gaming bucket list.

What can I say what hasn't already been said for this classic; a flagship product for Playstation back in '97 when 3D games were picking up and technology reached a new milestone?
Suffice to say, the Final Fantasy games were successful for their uniquely engaging story, with a world building that provided more experience for each playthrough I've done (unless I am off the attention for details); this seventh entry is a standout with at that point, with themes of ecology, science and psychology. It also helps that they have a colorful cast, most with the background stories holding some kind of charm, unfolding with the progression. My favorites would be those of Cid, Barret and the mutual bond of Cloud and Tifa.

Over time, turn-based combat mechanics can be a trying feature for players with less patience, especially for grind sessions, unless there is some feature that breathes life into the experience anew. Here, collecting and using materia for growing your options of magic and abilities add to the strategic element in battles, making them more dynamic in the long run of gaming.

Some imperfections are to be expected, even in the classics. Final Fantasy VII flows well in the initial part with Midgar and keeps the engagement for progress close to follow. But soon after you get to travel the world, somewhere along the way, the pacing gets bogged down. I noticed I had to decide to come back to pick up the journey between gaming sessions. It doesn't even help that some objectives lack hints on where I should go next, turning into a hide and seek game on progress. So clues leave more to be desired, but that game's from the time when strategy guide books were quite a thing for the less explorative audience.

To this point, I have seen fragments of scenes throughout the game and finally I've pieced them together by clearing Final Fantasy VII myself. That leaves me to pick up on Crisis Core and then start with the remake series, to get the best of the old and the modern presentation.

I can warmly recommend the original game so that you can get up to speed with what made this a masterpiece of its time, as much as there are a few stumblings in the overarching progression. Should you decide try the original game in before-hand, then you are in for the experience. I would mention getting a handful of mods to buff the graphics, the soundtrack and the quality-of-life aspects. Echo-S puts together well-done voiced lines for practically everything, adding more to the cinematic factor of the story itself.

The magic is still in here. Jevnation out!