Honest Review - Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis

Graphics and Art Style

Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis stands out with its impressive visuals, especially during battle scenes and cutscenes. While these high-quality graphics can be demanding on both performance and battery life, they add a lot to the overall experience. The chibi-style character models used in dungeons strike a nice balance between nostalgia and modern design, offering a charming update to the original FFVII’s blocky figures.

Story and Accessibility

The game’s approach to story progression is one of its stronger points. The stamina system only applies to optional missions, not the main storyline, making it more accessible for players who prefer not to spend money. This allows everyone to enjoy the full narrative without feeling pressured. Unlockable cutscenes that explore the characters’ backstories also add meaningful depth to the plot.

Music and Audio

The soundtrack does a great job capturing the mood of the FFVII universe. However, the tracks from The First Soldier feel out of place and don’t blend well with the rest of the music. Sound effects are average at best and don’t do much to boost immersion.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Unfortunately, the gameplay has some clear flaws. The storytelling feels rushed and lacks the emotional weight of the original game. Dungeon exploration quickly becomes repetitive, and the touch controls don’t improve the experience. The auto-battle system removes much of the strategy from the ATB (Active Time Battle) mechanics, while manual battles often feel like a chore because of how frequently they occur.

Gacha Elements and Longevity

As with many gacha games, upgrading gear and materia requires heavy grinding and luck through ticket draws, which can get tiring. Story episodes are often very short, typically made up of a few lines of dialogue, a battle, and a cutscene. After the initial content is completed, the game quickly starts to feel empty. Events lack variety and don't give enough incentive to stick around, making long-term engagement difficult.

Verdict

Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis starts off strong with its great visuals, nostalgic style, and easy-to-follow story. But weak storytelling, repetitive gameplay, and heavy reliance on gacha mechanics take away from the fun. It ends up feeling like yet another idle mobile game that’s easy to forget. While it may appeal to longtime fans looking for a quick FFVII fix, it doesn't do enough to keep players coming back for more.

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