Final Fantasy VII series

The Final Fantasy VII series refers to a sub-franchise within the Final Fantasy series, and a series continuing the storyline of Final Fantasy VII. Among its entries are the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, a group of titles including prequels and sequels to Final Fantasy VII, and the Final Fantasy VII remake project, a trilogy beginning with Final Fantasy VII Remake that builds on the original game.

The sub-franchise has a science fiction tone in comparison to other Final Fantasy settings. Its world is largely based on modern 21st century technology and society, but with futuristic elements such as advanced robotics. Fantasy elements, in the form of magic cast by materia, are given a pseudoscientific explanation. The world is largely shaped by the grip of the Shinra Electric Power Company, a corporation that describes how to harness the lifestream of the planet as mako energy, providing electricity to power peoples' lives, but deteriorating the planet as a result.

The primary creative team for this series has consisted of Tetsuya Nomura as artist and director, Kazushige Nojima as scenario writer, and Yoshinori Kitase as producer. This team developed the original Final Fantasy VII, the Compilation, and remake project.

Titles[]

• Final Fantasy VII
  • Final Fantasy VII International: Re-release of original game including content added to the North American versions. It also comes with Final Fantasy VII: Perfect Guide disc.

Compilation of Final Fantasy VII[]

• Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-: The mobile game prequel, taking place six years before Final Fantasy VII and continuing through time until just before the start of the original game. It tells the tale of the Turks and their battle against the anti-Shinra insurgency group, AVALANCHE, the far more sinister precursor to the small organization the playable characters join in Final Fantasy VII. The game was never released outside of Japan. Defunct.
  • Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII- EZ web and Yahoo! Keitai versions: Port of Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-. The logo is different on each carrier. Defunct.
• Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children: The CGI-animated movie sequel, taking place two years after Final Fantasy VII. It follows Cloud Strife in his search for forgiveness for his past failures to recover his health and happiness with his friends and family. Cloud and his party members reunite to fight three mysterious young men somehow connected to Sephiroth, whose mission is to locate Jenova (referred to as "Mother").
  • Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete: An extended and edited edition of the original film.
• Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-: The PlayStation 2 sequel taking place one year after Advent Children and three years after Final Fantasy VII. The story focuses upon Vincent Valentine and his battle against Shinra's last dark secret, the Deepground organization that has connections to Vincent's past. Through a series of flashbacks, it shows the events of thirty years before Final Fantasy VII, elaborating on Vincent's relationship with Lucrecia Crescent and Professor Hojo.
  • Dirge of Cerberus Lost Episode -Final Fantasy VII-: The mobile game midquel to Dirge of Cerberus, retelling Vincent's journey to Nibelheim and his battle against Deepground forces along the way. This title was associated with the Compilation logo but was not counted in the canon established by the Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania. Defunct.
• Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-: The PlayStation Portable prequel taking place seven years before Final Fantasy VII. It's the story of Zack Fair, a SOLDIER 2nd Class under the tutelage of Angeal Hewley. The game chronicles Zack's life events right up until shortly before the beginning of Final Fantasy VII.
• Final Fantasy VII: On the Way to a Smile: A collection of novellas that tell the tales of various Final Fantasy VII characters during the time between the game and Advent Children (re-released in English as a full novel). The first "episode" was published on the Advent Children website ahead of the film, while the whole set was first published shortly after the release of Advent Children Complete. The collection was marketed as the fifth Compilation entry,^[1] although the Final Fantasy VII series Special Book does not acknowledge this.

Final Fantasy VII remake project and related[]

During the development of the Compilation, a remake of Final Fantasy VII was planned to be the fifth entry but the project was put on-hold.^[2] In 2015, Final Fantasy VII Remake was announced and alongside it a revival of works in the Final Fantasy VII universe.

• Final Fantasy VII Remake: Picturing the Past: A novella prequel to Final Fantasy VII Remake focusing on Aerith growing up under the watch of Shinra. Published in Final Fantasy VII Remake World Preview.
• Final Fantasy VII Remake: A remake of the original game's opening events in Midgar, initially released for the PlayStation 4 and the first part of the Final Fantasy VII remake project.
• Final Fantasy VII The First Soldier: A battle royale game set 18 years before the events of the original and remake. Defunct.
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Trace of Two Pasts: A novel following the perspectives of Aerith and Tifa during the events of the remake project.
• Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis: A mobile game that serves as a retelling of the various titles of the Compilation, as well as The First Soldier. The game is set to include new stories, such as one featuring a young Sephiroth.
• Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion: A remaster of Compilation title Crisis Core for modern consoles, bringing its visuals more inline with the remake project.
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: The second part of the remake project, released for the PlayStation 5.

Other titles[]

• Final Fantasy VII: Snowboarding: A mobile minigame released in North America and Japan. It is a re-release of the snowboarding minigame from Final Fantasy VII. Defunct.
• Final Fantasy VII Technical Demo for PS3: Recreation of the opening scene of Final Fantasy VII as a technical demonstration of the capabilities of the PlayStation 3.
• Hoshi o Meguru Otome: A novella midquel that takes place during the events of Final Fantasy VII. It shows Aerith Gainsborough's journey through the Lifestream. Published in Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega.
• Last Order -Final Fantasy VII-: An anime OVA created for Square Enix by MadHouse Studios. This is another retelling of the Nibelheim Incident and Cloud and Zack's escape, ending just outside of Midgar. It is included with Advent Children.
• Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII- International: Re-release of the original title with alterations made in the overseas versions, an English language track, and cutscenes from the defunct Japanese-only Multiplayer mode.
• On the Way to a Smile -Episode: Denzel- Final Fantasy VII: An OVA adaptation of "Episode: Denzel", included with Advent Children Complete.
• Final Fantasy VII The Kids Are Alright: A Turks Side Story is a novel taking place shortly before the events of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, written by Kazushige Nojima and illustrated by Sho-u Tajima. It released in Japan on December 15, 2011. The novel primarily follows Evan Townshend, a private detective living in Edge.
• Final Fantasy VII G-Bike: A smartphone game based on the G Bike minigame in the original Final Fantasy VII. Defunct.

Series-wide media[]

Many individual titles have specific books relating to them. Below are listed books focusing on the series as a whole:

• Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania: Limited edition book documenting ten years of Final Fantasy VII titles, including brief mentions of Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- (released the same day), and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete (released two years later). A bonus item with Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Potions.
• Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania Revised Edition: Public release of Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania, expanded with additional content for Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete.
• Final Fantasy VII series Special Book: Pamphlet that came with a Compilation tote bag looking back at the series. It was released leading up to the Final Fantasy VII Remake.
• Final Fantasy VII Poster Collection: Collection of posters from various Final Fantasy VII series titles.

See also[]

• Final Fantasy VII series allusions

Citations[]