FINAL FANTASY VII Review Summary

Battle speed fixes implemented: The game developers have addressed and fixed issues related to battle speed and framerate. Multiple patches and updates have been released to ensure battles run at normal speed.

No Square Enix account required: Players no longer need a Square Enix account to log in and play the game. This change has been appreciated by many users who prefer not to have additional account requirements.

Engaging story and characters: The game is praised for its great storyline and character development. The narrative and characters are compelling, adding depth to the overall gaming experience.

Improved controls and compatibility: The game now features improved controls and better compatibility with newer computers and operating systems. This includes enhanced keyboard controls and better controller support.

Stable and crash-free: The game is reported to be stable with no crashes or freezes. Bugs have been fixed, leading to a smoother gaming experience.

Blurry visuals and backgrounds: Many players have reported issues with the visual quality of the game, particularly noting that backgrounds and various visual elements appear excessively blurry. This is often attributed to the use of filters like bilinear filtering and issues with resolution.

Resolution and framerate issues: Players have encountered problems with screen resolution, including issues with changing resolution settings and experiencing low or inconsistent framerates during gameplay and battles.

Fast battle speeds: Battles in the game are reported to run too fast, with many players noting that the battle speed is significantly increased, sometimes even at triple speed, with no option to disable this feature.

Audio and sound problems: There are numerous reports of audio issues, including broken or missing sound effects, audio synchronization problems, and general audio glitches that detract from the gameplay experience.

Lack of widescreen support: The game lacks support for widescreen resolutions, which is a significant drawback for players with modern monitors. The aspect ratio is locked, and there are no options to change it.

Battle speed issues: Some players find the default battle speed too fast, though others appreciate the ability to adjust or fix the battle speed.

Random battles can be skipped: Players appreciate the option to turn off or skip random battle encounters, enhancing the gaming experience by reducing unnecessary combat.

Version comparisons and discussions: There are discussions and comparisons between different versions of the game, including console versions and the 2013 version.

Turn-based combat mechanics: The game features turn-based combat with additional mechanics like speed adjustments and limit breaks, adding depth to the battle system.

Cheats and boosters: Mentions of cheats and boosters, including features like game acceleration and infinite limits, which can enhance gameplay.

Blurry graphics and filtering issues: The game has been criticized for its blurry graphics, particularly in backgrounds and textures, due to issues with bilinear filtering and other smoothing filters.

Frame rate and stutter issues: Multiple reports indicate that the game suffers from frame rate issues, stuttering, and micro stutters, particularly noticeable in cutscenes and cinematics.

Resolution and aspect ratio problems: There are several reports of resolution issues, including the game being zoomed in at higher resolutions, lack of widescreen support, and problems with changing resolution settings.

FPS cap in battles: Battles are reportedly locked to 15 FPS, which has been a significant issue for many players.

Audio sync and sound problems: Players have experienced various audio issues, including sound synchronization problems, audio bugs, and distorted audio during FMVs.

Highly recommended game: Many players highly recommend the game to everyone, appreciating its overall quality and value.

Mod support needed: There is a desire for mod support, with players suggesting to wait for it or appreciating the improvements mods can bring.

Consider other versions: Some players recommend trying other versions of the game, such as the 2013 version or the original on PlayStation.

Specific improvements needed: Players have requested specific improvements such as a toggle for background filtering, bug fixes, and a French retranslation.

Free upgrade for 2013 owners: Players appreciate the customer-friendly approach of providing the new version for free to owners of the 2013 version.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $12.00.

Game completion: 75.0h.

Story completion: 45.0h.

Session length: 2.0h.

Endgame: 30.0h.

The game is initially fun due to its engaging combat and plot, but the fun drops off in the late game due to grinding and pacing issues.

Reported time to anchor: 30m.

Purist Critic: Prefers the original version with minimal changes, often using mods to enhance the experience. Motivation: Preservation of the original gaming experience. Stance: no buy.

Newcomer Story-Seeker: Uses quality-of-life features to reduce grinding and enhance the storytelling experience. Motivation: Enjoying the story and gameplay with modern conveniences. Stance: sale.

Efficiency-Focused Veteran: Uses speed-up features and cheats to streamline the gaming experience. Motivation: Maximizing enjoyment while minimizing time spent on grinding. Stance: buy.

Performance varies significantly across different hardware cohorts, with lower VRAM systems generally reporting better experiences. Higher VRAM configurations, particularly those with 12-15GB, face notable issues such as stuttering and low frame rates.

Windows <8GB VRAM: positive. The game runs smoothly even on basic hardware, though some users dislike the resolution upscaling.

Windows 8-11GB VRAM: positive. Despite some crashes and visual bugs, the game is generally playable and well-received.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: negative. Users report significant performance issues including stuttering, low frame rates, and graphical glitches.

Steam Deck: The Steam Deck experience for this game has significant issues that impact the overall user experience. Major concerns include visual quality problems due to upscaling filters, performance issues with frame rates in battles, and stability problems such as crashes and freezes. Audio issues and controller support have also been noted, although the removal of the launcher and sign-in requirement has been positively received. These issues collectively detract from the game's enjoyment and usability on the Steam Deck.

Linux and Proton: The game exhibits strong compatibility with Linux systems, particularly when using Proton. Users across different Linux distributions report that the game runs well without significant issues, indicating a positive experience for Linux users.

Original version delisted: The original PC version of the game has been delisted from Steam.

Achievement completion: Some players have completed the game and unlocked all of the achievements.

Corporate structure criticism: There are criticisms regarding the corporate structure related to the game.

Personal discovery stories: Players share personal stories about how they discovered the game.