Laying to Rest Rumors
With the emergence of the Final Fantasy VII Compilation series, and yes, even the Final Fantasy VII opening technical demo for the Playstation 3, Square-Enix has certainly been busy with spin-offs of Final Fantasy VII.
In the span of two years, the emergence of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children bolstered the sales of the near legendary role-playing game Final Fantasy VII greatly. Advent Children, a sequel that takes place two years after the first, has breathed new life into the popular video game.
The original Final Fantasy VII was a popular role-playing that Squaresoft (Square-Enix) decided to release the game on the Sony Playstation, which already utilized discs. Final Fantasy VII was the first of the second generation of the Final Fantasy series, which includes Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and Dirge of Cerberus, Final Fantasy VIII – Final Fantasy XI Online (Final Fantasy X-2 is included as well).
It was also the first Final Fantasy to use fully 3-D computer graphics (and rendered characters) and prerendered backgrounds. It was directed by Yoshinori Kitase and featured characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura, with music by Nobuo Uematsu.
The plot of Final Fantasy VII revolves around the story of Cloud Strife, a mercenary currently working for eco-terrorists AVALANCHE, who oppose the powerful Shin-Ra Mako Electricity Company. The Shin-Ra company uses mako, which is naturally made by the planet, however, the more mako is used, the less life is available on the planet. As the story progresses, players come to find out there’s more than just the enviroment and health of the planet at stake.
Slowly, the game becomes less about the mako, though it is still an important plot point, and more about the lengendary Sephiroth, who was the former General of the Shin-Ra forces (SOLDIER) and who supposedly died five years ago.
The only problem is Sephiroth did not die five years ago, he’s still alive and holds a grudge against Shin-Ra and everything else. In succeeding to get his renvenge, ultimately he will end up destroying all life on the planet and its up to AVALANCHE to do so.
The game was a tremendous success in 1997 and has continued to have a huge base since. Since the release of Square-Enix’s (the company has since merged with rival company Enix) Final Fantasy X-2, the first Final Fantasy with a direct sequel, fans have been hoping the Final Fantasy VII (and others in the series) would be remade and updated or have a sequel.
With the formation of the multimedia Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, fans now have their wish. The story has reached new heights with its movie, Advent Children, selling 2.4 million copies world-wide and the moderate success (in Japan only) of Dirge of Cerberus and Before Crisis (for the Playstation 2 and cell phone-based respectively).
As of yet, Square-Enix has yet to fully capitalize on the trend by releasing a remake of the original for the Playstation 3. Although, the company could be trying with the release of the Final Fantasy VII opening technical demo for the Playstation 3. Square-Enix has said continually denied plans for a remake currently.
“We have confirmed that FFXIII is under development, but has NOT confirmed a FFVII remake at any time,” Said Square-Enix about the false confirmations, “The remake has been a popular subject for rumors, but that’s all they are. Obviously, the Best Buy listing was made in error.”
Although Square-Enix keeps denying rumors of a remake for Final Fantasy VII for the Playstation 3, many believe that Square-Enix is simply testing the waters with the technical demo to see if a remake would be viable. However, with original game selling so well, it may not be an issue of money, but rather an issue of time constraints.
Already, Square-Enix is dealing with other projects, including Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XIII Agito, and Final Fantasy Versus XIII (which together make up Fabula Nova Crysallis: Final Fantasy XIII) among other projects. This Fabula Nova Crysallis series mirrors the compilation situation of Final Fantasy VII. Additionally, another three games in Fabula Nova Crysallis may exist, other than the ones known.
Even so, rumors persist that a possible remake is still in the works on many online gaming communities. The company may not be planning a remake for the original Final Fantasy VII for at least another two years, when major projects are released and the schedule cleared somewhat.
Until then fans expecting a remake of the original Final Fantasy VII will have to wait. At conference report in March 2006, Square-Enix President, Youichi Wada, estimated the franchise might continue for another ten years.
If the statement holds true, then fans may just have to wait until the twentieth anniversary rolls around for their remake. However, no one is expecting Square to wait that long to release a remake.
Compilation of Final Fantasy Listing (In Prequel, Midquel, and Sequel Format)
Prequel
- Before Crisis (six years before Final Fantasy VII)
- Crisis Core (five years before the events of Final Fantasy VII)
- Last Order (major event of featured in Final Fantasy VII, also five years ago)
Midquel (Concurrent)
- A Maiden Who Travels the Planet (a novella of Aerith’s journey in the Lifestream during the events of Final Fantasy VII)
- Final Fantasy VII (the original RPG)
- Chocobo Stallion (based on the minigame found in FFVII)
- Final Fantasy VII Snow Boarding (based on minigame found in FFVII)
Sequel
- On the Way to a Smile (novella of Denzel, a boy who Cloud and Tifa have taken in, in Advent Children and of Tifa set slightly before Advent Children).
- Advent Children (set two years post-original game)
- Dirge of Cerberus (set a year post-Advent Children, follows the tragic story of Vincent as a new threat arises and threatens to conquer the world)
- Dirge of Cerberus: Lost Episode (features a lost chapter of the original DoC)
