Final Fantasy VII Coming Back To PC With Better Visuals And Achievements

July 4, 2012

Two weeks ago a new domain for Final Fantasy VII was uncovered, and it didn't take long for the internet to go bananas with ideas and rumors. However, now the project has been officially announced, and the full details have been unearthed.

Square Enix is planning to release a new edition of Final Fantasy VII for the PC platform. It's digital only, and includes the following in addition to the original award-winning experience:

Achievements: 36 brand new achievements, only available as digital download on PC!
Cloud Saves: Continue and save your progress wherever you are. (Requires internet connection)
Character Booster: Stuck? Boost your stats for that extra advantage.
Optimized for PC: Play FINAL FANTASY VII on the latest hardware.

The achievements are ingame only and are not related to Steam, so that's not a huge perk. Trainers have been available for the original version of Final Fantasy VII since its release, so the only advantage is not having to download shady third-party software.

What makes this version of Final Fantasy VII so substantial is its optimization for the modern PC. Sure, the long list of bugs and glitches from the original PC version should be ironed out, but the big thing is the visuals. Just take a look at the system requirements for this upcoming digital edition:

Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7(32/64-bit)

2GHz processor or faster

1GB RAM

DirectX 9-compatible graphic card

A minimum of 1GB of memory? That's how much World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, and Dragon Age: Origins require. For comparison, the original PC version required 32MB of RAM and a 133MHz processor. That's a huge… no, a colossal difference.

These requirements, which could easily be mistaken for a low-to-high-end modern game, lead me to believe that the real-time graphics are going to receive a much-needed overhaul with high-resolution textures and higher density effects.

The truth is I'm excited for this and can't wait to see what it really entails, even if it just means cleaner visuals and a couple perks for one of the best games in history. But I couldn't just leave you off on that note. Square Enix also released a trailer, and while it is mostly comprised of FMV footage, it's worth a gander. See below:

Stay tuned for a release date and additional details.

Although Jonathan Leack began covering the gaming industry in 2009, his earliest roots date back to 2004 when he wrote his first of many reviews to come. Equipped with a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and several information technology certifications, he provides a unique perspective that is technological and business conscious. Having acquired the role of Executive Editor in 2016, his mission is to make GameRevolution a gaming site that thoughtfully considers the consumer perspective, and has a knowledgeable presence of PC gaming, console, hardware, and eSports coverage.