Final Fantasy VII is a role-playing game released in 1997 by Square for the PlayStation. As the seventh main entry in the Final Fantasy series, it marked the franchise’s debut in the PAL region. The game follows Cloud Strife, a mercenary who allies with a rebel group fighting against a powerful corporation that exploits the planet’s life force as energy. As the story unfolds, Cloud and his companions set out to stop Sephiroth, a genetically enhanced being with plans to harm the planet and absorb its healing power to achieve godhood. Along the way, Cloud develops deep connections with his team, including Aerith Gainsborough, who holds a crucial key to the planet’s survival.

Development for the game began in 1994 and was initially planned for the Super Nintendo. After facing delays and experimenting with multiple platforms—especially the Nintendo 64—Square ultimately shifted to the PlayStation, drawn by the capabilities of CD-ROM technology. Many core creators from previous Final Fantasy titles returned, including producer Hironobu Sakaguchi, director Yoshinori Kitase, and composer Nobuo Uematsu. Final Fantasy VII was the first in the series to incorporate full motion video and 3D character models layered over pre-rendered backgrounds. While the core gameplay remained familiar, the game introduced more prominent science fiction themes and a cinematic style. Its production and marketing budget totaled around $80 million, making it one of the most ambitious game projects of its time.