FINAL FANTASY VII

The legendary RPG returns with classic story and modern tweaks

Few games inspire the kind of reverence reserved for Final Fantasy VII, and this version honors that legacy by preserving the full original tale. You still step into the spiky boots of Cloud Strife, teaming up with AVALANCHE and unraveling the mysteries of Midgar. No scenes or plot beats have been altered, making it a faithful way to relive a landmark RPG or experience it for the first time.

The interface is tailored for touch. A clean on-screen controller aims to stay out of the way, and you can pick between a virtual analog stick or a fixed 4-way digital pad. A handy settings menu lets you tweak the opacity of the buttons, so you can prioritize visibility or responsiveness to taste.

Quality-of-life additions make this outing more flexible than the original. A toggle can disable enemy encounters on world and area maps, ideal for story-focused runs or tight spots where you want to conserve resources. There is also a Max Stats option that instantly powers up the entire party. It feels like a built-in cheat and can trivialize combat, so use it thoughtfully, as you cannot revert once it is active.

There are caveats. Compatibility is not universal, and even supported models are not guaranteed to behave perfectly. A known issue can stop vehicles like the buggy, submarine, or airship from moving after boarding or disembarking, depending on timing and terrain. The workaround is to restart and load a save, so frequent manual saving is wise. In addition, do not rely on autosave to preserve progress. Storage demands are hefty as well, requiring about 4 GB free to start the download and roughly 2 GB after installation, and the initial data pull can take a while.

Despite those warnings, this is a strong, nostalgic package that marries a timeless story with practical modern conveniences and flexible controls.