Final Fantasy 7 is not only one of the most legendary RPGs of all time, it is one of the most celebrated game releases in any genre. Even after the first part of Final Fantasy 7 Remake has come out, the original 1997 classic is still worth revisiting or venturing through for the first time, and there is still plenty of time to do so before more titles in the series come out.
Thankfully, plentiful re-releases means it is easy to access. The seventh mainline Final Fantasy is an incredibly unique title in both terms of gameplay and aesthetic, so it only stands to reason that the stories about bringing this game to life are equally original.
10 Why Square Switched From Nintendo To Sony
Prior to Final Fantasy 7, all games in the franchise were released exclusively on Nintendo consoles. This all changed with the advent of the PlayStation and CD technology. They saw how much extra space could fit on a CD when compared to cartridges. It also allowed for the gorgeous CG cutscenes. For Sony, being the place to play Final Fantasy was a huge win.
9 Development Started In 1994
Initial development on Final Fantasy 7 started all the way back in 1994. A three-year development is fairly normal these days - perhaps even short for a triple-A production - but it was fairly long back in the mid-90s.
Development would have progressed at a quicker pace, but many of the key developers helped finish up Chrono Trigger, which came out in March of 1995. The extended time cooking helped the developers take advantage of burgeoning technologies.
8 The Music Quality Was Planned To Be Much Higher
Returning to the composer's role was Nobuo Uematsu, who at this point is a legend among RPG fans and lovers of music in general. The original plan had Final Fantasy 7 using CD-quality music from the disc. However, this led to problems with extended load times, which was already an issue for the format. To remedy this, the soundtrack utilizes the PlayStation's internal sound capabilities. The unique tones and qualities, while even quaint for 1997, lends the music a unique charm.
7 It Was Originally A 2D Game
Even though the original PlayStation came out in 1994 in Japan, Square was still planning for Final Fantasy 7 to be a 2D game on the SNES. The N64 was still two years out, after all, so they could squeeze in another JRPG adventure in the meantime. It was also during this time when the original plot was set in New York and had a noir aesthetic. While this changed, Midgar is still obviously inspired by the northeastern American city.
6 The Original Soundtrack Adds Up To Four Hours And Forty Minutes Of Music
Even when compared to all the other iconic soundtracks of the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy 7 has a particularly praised score. From the characters' themes to the boss music and, of course, the iconic "One Winged Angel", just about every moment of the music is memorable. It is quite a feat for one composer, too, because it all adds up to four hours and forty minutes of music. At least that is how long the original soundtrack album is.
5 Tetsuya Nomura Designed The Limit Break System
Tetsuya Nomura is a fondly recognized name among JRPG fans, but he was just getting his career off the ground in the '90s. As a character designer, he designed all the iconic personalities populating Final Fantasy 7. He was also responsible for designing the Limit Break system, a major part of the combat. These moves are not only powerful, but they also help show off each character's unique traits. Upgrading these moves is a highlight of the character progression.
4 It Was One Of Most Expensive Games Produced At The Time
To really drive home just how ambitious this project was for Square, consider how it was one of the most expensive games produced during the time. Costing approximately $40 million to make, it was quite a financial risk.
The medium was not quite as ubiquitous as it is today, and the series did not have the popularity in the west that it currently does. Fortunately, the game sold 11 million copies, so it is safe to say it was a success.
3 More Than 100 People Worked On It
These days it is not uncommon for video games to have a team of over one hundred people working on them. In the mid-90s, however, it was virtually unheard of. Final Fantasy 7 had between 100 and 150 developers in both Japan and the United States working on the game. This was during a time when around twenty people would be working on a title at once. It shows in the finished product; Final Fantasy 7 feels like a herculean effort.
2 One Winged Angel Is Inspired By Stravinsky And Rock Music
"One Winged Angel," which only plays during the last boss, is one of the most memorable pieces of music in the whole series. When talking about it, Nobuo Uematsu recalls being inspired by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky and 60s rock music, particularly Jimi Hendrix. Listening to it, the inspirations make sense. It has the intensity, dissonance, and cacophony of Stravinsky, but the more conventional time signatures and accessibility of pop music.
1 The Hidden Characters Were Almost Cut
Despite being optional characters, Vincent and Yuffie are just as iconic as the rest of the party. It is a good thing they made it into the game at all, then, because both of them were almost cut. Development time was running short, and much of the team felt the two characters should have been given the ax. In the end they both made it in the game. We wonder what the game would have been like if more cut content was in the finished product.