
Related: Final Fantasy IX Should Be Remade Next In fact, fans of the original have already picked apart the short demo recently released to determine any significant changes. Seeing how the games handle these elements is incredibly interesting for fans new and old. Environmental issues were already a major topic in 1997, and in 2020 they're more relevant than ever.

The story follows Cloud Strife, a mercenary who joins the eco-terrorist group AVALANCHE to stop a massive corporation from draining the planet's essence. In terms of story, FFVII had much darker themes, with twists unlike any other Final Fantasy (although the world ending halfway through Final Fantasy VI comes close). The critical difference is that FFVII's elements were sprinkled throughout the narrative structure, offering a greater balance of tone and a memorable cast of characters. Beyond that, though, it was a game that marked an evolution of sort. Coming in at three discs, the game was shockingly large for the PS1. Still, FFVII came out at the beginning of the PS1 era, just as console gaming was beginning to explode in popularity. The idea of the epic JRPG wasn't necessarily new for the time.

While it already stood out among other titles, FFVII had the good fortune to release in an era where RPGs were few and far between.

It was something different from the typical RPG, eschewing traditional fantasy tropes to tell a story set in a dark, steampunk world. Final Fantasy VII was the game that defined a generation of gamers that would later turn into creators.
