Topic: "FFVII defined the (RPG) genre" - Agree or Disagree?
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Miss Razz...CruisiN'  since: Sep 2003
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"FFVII defined the (RPG) genre" - Agree or Disagree?
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quoteSo we know that Lionhead Studios' Peter Molyneux doesn't think the PS3 will hit the big time until it has a game to back it up, but this new statement from Molyneux is bound to divide gamers. Is Final Fantasy VII the game that defined the RPG genre, or isn't it ? quoteSpeaking to VideoGamer.com earlier this week, Lionhead founder Peter Molyneux has revealed that he considers Square's Final Fantasy VII to be the game that defined the RPG genre.
"I always remember back to Final Fantasy VII, when I first played FFVII, that to me defined the genre," he said when talking about the PS3 and if it has had any defining titles. "Those were the 'oh my god' moments, I don't believe they exist. I haven't seen many of those on the PS3." gamegrep article Just bringing a bit more discussion to the forum. So what do you think? ... Did FFVII define the RPG genre, or not?
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Raijin1999Pew! Pew! Pew!True Addiction  total posts: 17629 neopoints: 788 GameGrep pts: 398 since: Dec 2001
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re: "FFVII defined the (RPG) genre" - Agree or Disagree?
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I doubt very much that most people even understand the entirety of the "RPG" genre. Not a single game has redefined it, but rather, an amalgamation of games have contributed to the efforts dropped into VII.
It all comes down to one very simple, very basic factor, which VII did not redefine for the genre, but elaborated via a console platform. It wasn't the graphics, CG, music, gameplay, or world design that really did the trick, the deciding factor was storytelling.
With the PSX, shiny new graphics aside, it offered script writers the chance to elaborate on storytelling with hours and hours of gameplay never before seen on a console. Taken seriously of course, a developer realized that something like a novel could in fact be turned into a very detailed game, complete with all the basic storytelling elements.
This was being done in limited extend even back in the NES era; games like (and forgive my spelling) "The Magic of Scherezhade" exceeded what Square was doing with Final Fantasy at the time).
With a superior platform came more options for these designers. Many other RPG's existed on the PSX before VII was released, but none had fully stepped up to the plate. VII may not have redefined the genre, but it spelled out the possibility clearly. It raised the bar, showed us where our expectations really should lie, and afterward the competition scrambled to meet those expectations.
It's also in my opinion, that the standards VII set for the kind of RPG on the same console, at least for storytelling and script detail, was completely blown out of the sky by 1998's "Xenogears". It is by no means as popular as VII, but if you played it, enough to understand it all and absorb what occured, then you'd likely agree. I still consider it the greatest console-based RPG to date. So much work went into it, but it's easily overlooked, thanks in no small part by Square themselves, who under-shot the project in fear that its controversial subject material would garner poor sales. I don't feel that 'bar' has been tapped since its release a decade ago by anything Square has released, or the failed attempt at re-creation of the original Xenogears design, Xenosaga on the PS2. Namco deserves the blame for that trainwreck. They insisted on stepping in and rewriting scenarios of a plot that was way out of their league and experience. People were 'fired' and the project crumbled.
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Celes Leonhart
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re: "FFVII defined the (RPG) genre" - Agree or Disagree?
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I'm partially just repeating what Raijin touched on, but rather than define the genre, I believe Final Fantasy VII created a standard. Looking to the gameplay of the previous titles, there's not much differentiation between the entire series. Some of the previous titles even offered much more depth through the use of classes, where Final Fantasy VII might be limited in comparison. I think that Final Fantasy VII brought with it the most significant development of a genre we've seen, and that's why it's held in such high regard. While there might be games that have long since passed the standard of Final Fantasy VII, I believe that there has never been a title contributing such drastic improvement on a whole. Like Raijin said, Final Fantasy VII boasted the art of good storytelling, which is where Eastern RPGs typically hold their fame. Previously, aside from specifically VI, the majority of Final Fantasy’s were honestly forgettable; some of the games didn't even have characters! All I can really remember from them was a theme of crystals. The only 2D Final Fantasy that was worthy of tale-recognition was Final Fantasy VI through its brilliant cast of characters (albeit accompanied by a few easily forgotten) and genius antagonist. Previously, the purpose was just to overcome a powerful enemy; who it was didn't really matter to anyone; but Final Fantasy VI boasted an iconic Kefka who had a somewhat symbolic design. Final Fantasy VII greatly improved on this: every member of the cast displayed an individual sense of personality and character through script and design. The story, to any other game, might have been easily overlooked; combining it with such a loved selection of characters brought actual emotion to the game. As well as this, I believe the drastically improved graphics played a major part in creating this real idea of emotion. Not only could atmosphere be created through such beautiful, detailed environments, but FMV gave us an opportunity to see somewhat realistically the mannerisms and personality traits of each character; it allowed them to convey real emotions both through bodily actions and facial expressions. Could Aerith's death have been portrayed accurately and have been so symbolic through 16 bit graphics? Not a chance. Overlaying this with a beautifully composed soundtrack which was previously impossible made it even better.
So maybe it's not the greatest game of all time, or the greatest RPG or even the greatest RPG of its generation, but it set the bar for all RPG’s following it and made a significant contribution into the art of story telling. No longer was the genre just lore and numbers, it was character and story.
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RIP Sniggit, Zhou Tai Rocks & Vergil Ties
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ShadowGuardTo Err is human; to forgive, infrequentNeolithic  total posts: 6517 GameGrep pts: 1003 since: Apr 2006
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re: "FFVII defined the (RPG) genre" - Agree or Disagree?
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I am split kind of. I dont believe FFVII started RPG as it is now, just a continuation of what RPGs have done in the past (EI: I - VI). However, has a FFVII fan, I cannot deny what it HAS done for the genre.
FFVII does not define RPG, but it has made it into the genre it is now. What I mean by that before you think I am contradicting myself is simple. Without FFVII or a game like FFVII (because if FFVII didnt come around, another game would have eventually), the RPG genre wouldnt be as BIG as it is now. It would almost be too small to be a genre on its own. FFVII brought many fans outside of Japan into the genre and I believe many who played FFVII, are now considered RPG fans who rant and rave about every little thing in every RPG released. Most end up comparing it to...none other than FFVII.
The genre was already there, FFVII just brought many more fans into the genre and kept them to make the genre has big as it is now...
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PSN ID: PoliceLEO LIVE: babybird5 (not in use right now)
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