Putting the "J" in the RPG, Part 3: Playing Final Fantasy VII

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Fans reflecting on Final Fantasy VII and its recent remake weigh how well the game’s story, combat, and presentation have aged since its 1997 release. Many argue that the original’s text-only dialogue, turn-based battles, and Materia system encouraged imagination and patience in ways that modern, heavily voice-acted and more action-oriented entries — including FFVII Remake and later Final Fantasy titles — often do not. Others highlight broader shifts in game design, from grinding and random encounters to quest waypoints and automaps, debating whether today’s quality-of-life features and cinematic focus have made RPGs more accessible or stripped away much of their challenge and sense of discovery.

Nostalgia and First Encounters with FFVII

  • Many recall FFVII as their first JRPG and a transformative experience, especially coming from limited gaming backgrounds.
  • The lack of voice acting and awareness of its “Japanese-ness” let players imagine voices and smooth over translation quirks themselves.
  • The Midgar opening and overall cinematic scope, music, and 3‑CD presentation left a strong first impression.

Voice Acting, Translation, and Storytelling Style

  • Several prefer text-only JRPGs; voice acting is seen as over-expressive and sometimes cheesy, especially from FFX onward.
  • Others argue most players enjoy voice acting and that FFX was a major, successful leap.
  • Quirky translations (“You spoony bard”, “Son of a submariner”) are defended as memorable and emotionally effective rather than “bad”.

Gameplay, Grinding, and Quality of Life

  • FFVII’s encounter rates and grinding are divisive: some find them tedious, others enjoy over-leveling to steamroll content.
  • There’s broader criticism of modern conveniences (auto-maps, quest waypoints) for reducing tension and engagement, but also acknowledgment that going without them can feel “like work.”
  • Cheats, boosters, and fast-forward in re-releases are valued by older players with less time.

FFVII Remake and Later Final Fantasy Titles

  • Opinions on FFVII Remake are sharply split: some say it perfectly recaptures the feeling of the original; others call it a bad, padded, combat-heavy game that misuses the “remake” label.
  • Its altered timeline, early Sephiroth presence, and meta-story are praised by some as clever and criticized by others as amateurish or insulting to longtime fans.
  • Later FF entries (XII–XVI, XIII especially) are often seen as weaker in story, character, or pacing, though some defend XII and XVI with the right modes/updates.

JRPG Emotional Tone and Broader JRPG Landscape

  • JRPGs are characterized as more openly emotional and melodramatic than many “gruff” Western RPGs.
  • Some are turned off by anime-style exaggeration and lack of subtlety; others see it as a cultural and genre hallmark.
  • Many recommend other JRPGs and “classic-style” modern games (e.g., Trails series, Lufia 2, Xenogears, Star Ocean remakes, Chained Echoes, Sea of Stars) as heirs to what people loved in older FF titles.