Final Fantasy VII's Grandeur

by Michael Harnest

**Author's Note: I suppose this serves as an indirect quasi-Epilogue to another editorial contribution I have made: "An Analogy: The Progression of Gaming According to Michael."

Final Fantasy VII is by far the single most influential video game of the role-playing genre, and arguably, of all video games in general. It is very true this massive event was instigated by the media blitz preceding it, just as the hype surrounding The Lost World: Jurassic Park produced the second highest grossing opening weekend of a motion picture in the existence of film. The two differ, however, in that The Lost World fizzled after its monstrous opening to very disappointing ticket sales. In contrast, Final Fantasy VII's popularity grew through the time following its release, spawning Halloween costumes in October, sweeping the gaming market's sales during the Christmas season, and having its protagonist, Cloud, temporarily replace Crash Bandicoot as Sony's mascot for their PlatStation. Perhaps there is a definitive resolution to the Final Fantasy VI versus Final Fantasy VII debate; a less subjective one. The sheer magnitude of Final Fantasy VII, its colossal sales and enormous impact on the gaming industry, testifies that it is the greater.

Simply put, the success that Final Fantasy VII came upon could not have happened by accident; or by luck; or by good marketing. Marketing cannot produce a good product, only good hype surrounding it. The analogy has been offered that The Lost World's sales dimmed after the hype had grown over. If Final Fantasy VII's total sales were based on its hype, its extensive marketing, and its graphics (to further the analogy, The Lost World boasted the same sort of visual splendour, or "eye candy"), they would not have reached their astronomical height. One thing is for certain: Hype dies fast. The instant that something proves to be consistently unworthy of its hype, it collapses: Marketing can start a fire, but not successfully keep it going. The hoopla surrounding a hockey prospect's talent only lasts through the first series of games. If he proves an unskilled player, all of the hype in the world surrounding his talent will not keep him on the team. In Japan, the ratio of PlayStations sold to copies of Final Fantasy VII sold is nearly one to one: Nearly every single person who owns a PlayStation has a copy of Final Fantasy VII. This does not happen by accident, or by luck, and cannot be credited merely to the result of good marketing. Final Fantasy VII made a large, positive impact due its content, not by superficial means.

The argument is further founded in the lack of rebuttal from Final Fantasy VI. Not to say Final Fantasy VI was an awful game, but in comparison, Final Fantasy VII is exceedingly grander in its motivations, its vision, and its scope: Final Fantasy VII's intentions, its technological advancements, its proclamations, its impact, its influence, and its importance far outweigh the comparative mild success of Final Fantasy VI. If Final Fantasy VI had not been created, the role-playing genre would be altered greatly, but the video gaming industry, as a whole, would remain virtually unchanged. Final Fantasy VII, in contrast, had an enormous impact on the entire industry, changing its face forever, while making an enormous societal breakthrough as well: Final Fantasy VII essentially melded a geek's passion into the mainstream, an incident largely uncommon in a world very much in tune with the process of saving face, the production of ego, and ostensibly diseased with an obsessive pursuit of popularity. The importance of this event, and the offering of it as a possibility in other genres and forms of entertainment, will be echoed throughout the gaming world for years to come. Final Fantasy VII had an enormous impact due to its grandeur, and stands unchallenged by Final Fantasy VI in this regard.

There is a certain validity in arguing the greatness of both games, chronologically Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy VII: Each have their merits, both are of quality. But, in reality, there is no comparison when referring to the greater of the two with respect to each other. Graphics do not justify playing a video game for forty-five hours, an exercise practised by many (millions), and hype does not support sales for months on end. Final Fantasy VII's numbers and its impact were not limited to these ingredients; It was, overall, that profound and that good. To then compare the two games; the multi-million units sold of Final Fantasy VII, and the onslaught of role-playing games proceeding its success, in contrast to Final Fantasy VI's capturing of a base audience (admittedly significant, but not nearly as grand), and relatively less than mediocre sales; there really is only one standing. And it does so unchallenged, sword in hand, facing the towering Shinra building, with the promise of an unprecedented, epic adventure matched by no other.