Final Fantasy VII (really isn't that great)

When it comes to games, gameplay is understandably an important element. Unfortunately however, there is no generic way to define what makes good gameplay, much less a means of determining if a game’s gameplay is actually enjoyable.

A widely acclaimed title, Square’s undeniably innovative Final Fantasy VII is hailed by many of its fans as being one of the best examples of gameplay in existence. The game’s enthusiasts promote both a key supporting mechanic, namely the ‘Materia System,’ as well as the game’s thoroughly interlaced narrative. Here arises a key problem: the Materia System has since been transformed and adopted into many Japanese Role-playing Games, yet none of these receive Final Fantasy VII’s ‘amazing gameplay’ merit – leaving solely narrative to defend its acclaim. While the narrative itself is commendably developed, Final Fantasy VII would be far from praiseworthy if its narrative were presented on its own.

The premise that a ‘developed narrative’ and a standard set of gameplay mechanics can combine to create unparalleled gameplay is absurd, yet some 12 years on, a massive community still swears by the game’s quality. When it comes to gameplay, you’ve got to fall back on archaic techniques, such as simply playing the game and making a first hand conclusion.