Players assume the role of Cloud Strife, a defector of Shinra, the evil corporation maintaining control over the planet. As the game opens, Cloud joins "Avalanche," a resistance group determined to foil the corporation's diabolical plans. Final Fantasy VII features an extremely complex story line, offering many hours of game play (over 60 minutes of impressive cinematic sequences are also included).

Final Fantasy VII's game play involves exploration, puzzle solving, and real-time combat. Players control Cloud during exploration and take on additional party members for battle sequences, which include both fantastic weaponry and dazzling spells. While the graphics are top-notch--and support 3-D hardware accelerators to sharpen the character models--the sound effects won't impress many; Squaresoft made little effort to utilize a personal computer's sophisticated sound card to its potential.

Although deeply rooted in the limitations of the Playstation console (limited menu system, weak music, no voice-overs), Final Fantasy VII's highly addictive, easy-to-learn game play should provide adventure and role-playing fans many hours of enjoyment. --Doug Radcliffe

Pros:

• Epic story line
• Well-developed characters
• Beautiful graphics and spell effects
• Complex magic system

• Dialogue can get cheesy
• Weak sound
• Frustrating interface