Killzone Mercenary BETA Review

BETA REVIEW 

Introduction:

Killzone has finally managed to fire its way into the hands of gamers the beta which launced to PS+ subscribers in the EU this morning which allows the player to try the Multiplayer mode of the game is this finally the shooter that we have been waiting for on the PSVita or is this just another shooter that should rot in the trenches with so many others 

Presentation:

Considering this is only in the beta phase of the gameplay the presentation in Killzone Mercenary is nothing short of beautiful while making allowances for the BETA as it is not the finished product the game still has a great look and are very close to the PS3 counter parts of the Killzone Series the scenery is well lit with plenty of action running at a smooth yet comfortable pace while not blurring during turns or large explosions the characters are well presented and is easily seen in nicely presented detail the look of the characters is strong and refreshing to see such high quality detail on a BETA or a handheld device for that matter the map available on the BETA is well presented and feels like the Perfect size for the player slots in game it dosent feel overwhelming and dosent feel like the game is struggling to keep the textures in the game running and smooth 

Gameplay:

The Gameplay In the BETA of Killzone Mecenary is solid as a rock it feels so much like the home console counterparts in the series that players familier with the series can jump in and get right into the action without having to feel like they are learning a whole new game the game feels like it is being played on a home system probably due to the power of the PSVita and the lay out of the controls some the acuracy is superb and the objectives during the war zone game type available in the BETA are refreshing and fun to play whether it is a simple body count or hacking a terminal while watching your team mates backs leads the player into a game that promotes team work and makes you realize very quickly that attempting to not play as a team is going to end very very badly as you will be acted apon very quickly by the enemy team the game also makes a great point of ensuring the player that there console skills are not going to waste as the controls on the vita minus the extra two shoulder buttons the game plays the exact same with the R Button being used to fire your weapon and the L Button being used to aim down your sights there is a dynamic in the game that is called the Valor card system which you can collect by killing and enemy and running through the cards in the BETA from what i gathered they will help you get challenges that will help you rank up in game aswell as let people know just how good you are at the game the gameplay is certainly solid and gives a good feeling about the single player campaign in the full game when it launches 

Verdict:

Due to this being a BETA and giving it the allowances due for this game feels like it is the FPS the Vita has been waiting for the game runs at a smooth pace and dosent make the player work for there fun the game definitly feels like it is going to be a game that shooter fans will play over the internet aswell as on the go and the blood shed never has to stop during the multiplayer with the PSVita's 3G option making it one of the solid games i have played on the Vita in a long time i am more than certain  that i will be picking this game up in the near future to review the full game as well i also think this will bring alot of new fans to the Vita and will encourage there current fans to play more of it 

Rating out of 10:

10/10 

fun exciting gameplay keeps the player on there toes and it is a refreshing change of pace to be able to play a multiplayer shooter on the Vita 

Thank you for reading my BETA Review i will certainly do more when i can if it is not against the Terms and Conditions set forward by the publishers 

This BETA is only Available to Playstation Plus Subscribers 

Dark Souls Review

Dark Souls Review:

Introduction:

Dark Souls the name that brings Fear and Despair to gamers at the thought of playing this game the spiritual successor to Demon's Souls exclusively for the PS3 this spiritual successor decided to bring the pain and frustration to players across the PS3 and the Xbox 360 and later to the PC known for its punishing difficulty level to put the player through there paces like never seen on a console for many years but is this game worth the punishment and loud screams of profanity or is this one journey that is just not worth the punishment 

Story:

Dark Souls has a fairly vague story and not one that is instantly apparent to all the players the only thing that is set in stone is that the game tells you of the bonfires and the Lords that rule over the land leading to Lord Gwyn of Cinder the game is set on the premise that you are to link the bonfires bringing light to the world forever it is a vague story but one that keeps the player running through many times making the story come together the game dose drop subtle hints to the player of the story going much much deeper to places that i wont spoil but it is unusual and a refreshing change of pace that the story is left for the player to explore and find out through exploration and playing through multiple times to find the deepest depths of the story and making your Undead the one that has saved the world and understood the entirety of the story 

Gameplay:

The gameplay in Dark Souls is deep and punishing with a great emphasis on defense and customization with hundreds and hundreds of customization options upgrade able weapons armor and rings with enough to keep the player searching for the best of the best the combat is tactical and fluid making the player think on there feet when taking down even the simplest looking of enemies with the punishing difficulty making even the tiniest of enemies a pain for the player to hit and deal with with a stunning array of enemies to fight off from undead soldiers to skeletons to giant dragons with hoards of teeth the game keeps the players on there toes with a parry system that can be used on certain enemies but not all ranged combat with ether a bow and arrow or magic given the right upgrades to your characters stats only adding to the difficulty level is the currency in the game known as souls but i hear you ask how can this add to the difficulty level well here is your answer the game makes you choose you can buy that armor you want or you can level up since the currency is used on both your items or your stats making the player really think about there options before they make them giving the player a breath of fresh air of full 100% control of how there character is going to turn out by the end of the game the movement and camera are a little sluggish and during a fight with a large enemy or with a hoard of enemies it can cost you a life bar you may also need to take note that bathroom breaks or food breaks must be done while resting at a bonfire as in Dark Souls same as in Demon's Souls there is no pause button and no way to keep enemies at bay other than being at a bonfire which resets and brings all enemies back to life while punishing the gameplay is nothing short of rewarding experience 

Design:

The design in Dark Souls from the Undead Asylum to the Bright City of Anor Londo is stunning with great visuals that look and feel like you have stepped into a world where its inhabitants have  lived in fear and squallar the environments while stunning do suffer from some chalky textures and some very subtle frame rate lags and some fuzzy outer edges the game dose suffer to close inspection but other wise the game still looks stunning with environments that make you feel fear and feel the darkness creeping in on them while it suffers its not enough to make any player look for the flaws it still has enough pros to keep the player looking at the stunning skyline large castles or horrific enemies that are about to try and take your life 

Multi-player:

Good News there is a Multi-player mode in Dark Souls while you may not notice right away because there are no lobbies or anything the multiplayer works on a new premise in Dark Souls you will be Invaded by other players who choose to invade your world or you can invade there world it can be set up mutually between players to have a dual but this must be done between friends to challenge the battles will take place Mid game and there is no way to avoid it other than not having your xbox or ps3 connected to the internet while frustrating there are rules to this factor there are ways to stop it by getting certain items mid game that will keep the player under raps and as well as needing a specific item to invade worlds in the first place making the multiplayer exciting and dynamic as well as extremely unique as multiplayers go it is a great experience and is unlimited to the amount of players that can participate in a battle making for some great times to be had in the middle of this unforgiving world 

Verdict:

Dark Souls is a punishing game that keeps the player thinking and on there toes while unforgiving and can lead to extreme profanity its worth the trouble if your sick of games you can blast through in a single sitting with a deep realm to explore with tons of items and upgrades to be done the game is a refreshing change of pace that is worth a look at least once and if your looking for that next great challenge then this is the game you have been yearning for with a story that will keep you playing through all the new game + levels it is worth taking a look through Dark Souls and feeling like you have played a game that has tested your metal 

Rating Out Of 10:

9.5 

Stunning Hardcore game that will test the meaning of gamer although it dose suffer from some mild issues that are easy to ignore  

PS3 Repair Guide

Welcome:


Hello welcome to this little guide on how to repair your Fat PS3 40gb, 60gb,80gb a common problem with these versions of the ps3 is that the console's disk tray would often stop reading disks or would take disks and not spit them back out when you push eject well today i will tell you how to repair your console unfortunitly i cannot provide images to show you how to do this nor can i provide a video but i will explain how to do it as thorough as i can if you have any questions please comment

WARNING: DOING THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRENTY
I CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR ANY FAULTS WITH THE CONSOLE PRIOR TO YOUR OPENING THE SYSTEM 

Tool Index:

1x T8 screw driver
1x Phillips Head Screw Driver (preferably magnetic)
1x Small tipped Phillips Head Screw Driver
1x Knife non serrated
1x new Disk tray for FAT PS3

Step 1: Removing the outer case

to remove the case you will need a T8 screw driver and a knife first use your Knife and remove the top sticker on the left side of the system (based on the console lying flat) remove this sticker and you will see a rubber stopper remove the rubber stopper then take your T8 screw driver and put it in the hole you will feel a screw remove this screw and place to one side after removing this screw slide the top of the console to the left (based on the disk tray and power button /eject button facing you ) once this is removed you will see some screws take your philips head screw driver and remove them make sure not to miss any of them once you have removed the screws comes the tricky part turn the console to have the back of the system facing you to the left side you will see a small opening push your finger into this opening and you will release a clip lift the case from there and run your finger along the back of the console pushing up you will hear a loud click do not fear you have not broken anything push up and lift off.


Step 2: Removing Disk Tray Number one

To remove the disk tray you do not need any tools just your hands First turn the console so you are facing the side with the USB ports and lift the drive on the Right do not lift to quickly first take out the wire connected at the front to the board simply pull at the base till it releases Secondly  you will see another wire that looks paper thin attached to the drive and the mother board remove this from the base of the system on the bottom you will see a little black clip run your thumb nail carefully underneath it and lift to unclip once uncliped you can safely pull the drive away from the system and place to one side

Step 3: Removing the Green Board

Ok this part is a little tricky on your removed disk tray you will see a green board on the bottom of it with your Small Tipped Philips Head Screw Driver remove the 5 small screws once you have done this unclip al the wires that you see very carefully pull down and tip to the left side you will see a small wire connected to the board with a yellow tip very very carefully pull this connection out this takes patience and care not to snap ether the wires or the connection to the board once you have removed this place to one side if your new Disk Tray has a green board aswell remove it as it will not allow you to play games with it if you dont same steps to do this

Step 4: Attaching your new board to the Disk Tray

To Attach your new board first attach the yellow chord this takes some patience as it is a little fiddly to get it to line up push very carefully to get it to click in after you connect this cable slide the board into place and make sure its flush to the board by making sure the black grips on the bottom left and right are both through the holes and begin to put your screws back in make sure that they are all tight as this will become a problem in the future after you have done this reattach all the cables aswell as the long cable that connects the drive to the console make sure all are clipped in and are connected properly then set to one side for the moment

Step 5: Attaching your new Disk Tray to your PS3 

Once you have Reconnected your wires to the drive now comes the task of installing the new drive to the system itself once to do this you simply take the long strip like cable and reattach it to the system by slipping it in and reclipping it down to the system once you have done this take the white tipped cable and clip it back into the system into the connector you took it out of if your white tipped wire is long remember and reclip it under the little black clip attached to the front of the system near the power and eject board once you have done this make sure everything is aligned to the holes underneath it and move onto step 6


Step 6: Replacing your case to the system 

Now you need to reattach your case this is simple yet a pain first turn the console so you are facing the back take your case and you will see that under the Power button and under there you will see some thin clips place these down so that when you lay it down they will clip under so it dosent fly up randomly once you have done this lay it flat to the system it may not clip down flush first clip it down as flush as possible and begin to put your screws back in remember where the smaller screws came from once you have put these back in a small clip may have come out this needs to be placed back in as this holds the screw that keeps the top case on once you have screwed everything down slide the top case back into place place on and push to the right (based on the disk tray facing you) once you have done this and place the tork screw back into the hole and push the rubber stopper back into the hole


Step 7 : TEST

once you have placed everything back and put your case back on now comes the test for the system now you use plug your ps3 into the TV and plug it in turn the system on and take any disk and place it into the disk tray now if all has been done correctly your game should play without a problem now test for an eject if the game comes out no problem then CONGRATULATIONS!! you have successfully repaired your PS3 without shelling out for a repair center



Thank you for reading my Repair guide for your Playstation 3 with a read error or non responsive disk tray i hope that it helped you get back to your favorite PS3 game's i will say again this will void your warrenty but then again if you are looking at an 40gb,60g or an 80gb ps3 then you may have bought it second hand or off the internet in which case the warrenty is long out anyway but still i am required to say that repairing your own systems is a void of the warrenty placed by sony on all there systems

thank you for reading and happy gaming

please tell me in the comments section if this guide was helpful as it was my first i would be interested in knowing how successful it is thanks again

Battle Of The FPS Games Halo 3 Vs Killzone 2

BATTLE OF THE FPS GAMES

HALO 3 VS KILLZONE2 

Introduction:

Welcome to my first Battle Of The FPS Games starting with 2 power house games in Microsoft's corner Halo 3 bringing Master Chief back for another round in there fight against the covenant. In Sony's corner we have Killzone 2 with the ISA taking the fight to the Helgast once again. both have a history of battle both have a history of battling each other in sales originally Killzone was Sony's hail mary trying take Microsoft's Thunder with the Advent of Halo 2 on the Original Xbox a battle that Microsoft inevitably won with sale's and fandom ever growing as well as a far superior Multiplayer mode in there game. but with the advent of the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 Battle shall commence once again but which is better which has the better look and feel while it has been a few years since they where released it seems appropriate that the two biggest FPS titles from the begging of the HD generation should do battle once again at the end 

ROUND 1 STORY:

Halo 3 Story:

The story in Halo 3 jumps right back in from the ending of Halo 2 with the big man himself Master Chief crashing to earth after his death deifying jump from a convenant ship far above earths atmosphere after crashing to earth Halo 3 takes you on a journey to finish the fight and restore order to the galaxy once and for all after many twists and turns the game comes to find you with familiar faces and those ever evil monsters the Flood the game never fails to deliver on the action play through after play through. 

Killzone 2 Story:

Set several years after the end of the original Killzone the battle wages on in Killzone 2 between the ISA and the evil Helgast the story follows Sev and Rico taking the fight to the helgast home planet Helgan through there journey to kill the leader of the helgast army Emperor Scolar Visari through heavy action and a heavy military flow the story will keep your interest throughout 

Round 1 Winner:

The Winner of Round 1 is ............Halo 3.

Halo 3 wins on story structure while the story in Killzone 2 preform's admirably and keeps the interest the flow struggles sometimes and leaves the player feeling like they are struggling to get past some of the more trying parts of it where as Halo 3 has a familiar flow to it and familiar characters that keep the player feeling like they have more and more time to spend on the game and doesn't get old for playing the other difficulty levels in the game the story is fun and interesting and will have you coming back for more and more even with the age of the title now 

ROUND 2 GAMEPLAY:

Halo 3 Gameplay:

The game play in Halo 3 is a tried and true system of kick ass first ask questions later with some new systems that keep the game feeling fresh and fun throughout its run time with customization options for both single player and multi-player games the guns feel natural and streamlined as well as momentum and speed of game play keeps the player on there toes with some awesome fire power at your disposal keeping the game play from being repetitive while the game has some great elements there are some definitive improvements that could have been made but were not such as certain improvements that could have been made to some to the long range game play for example 

Killzone 2 Gameplay:

The game play in Killzone 2 is fun imaginative and fast paced with some excellent additions to the game play such as the tilt system as well as the stabilizing your sniper rifle using the sixaxis controller keeps the gameplay feeling innovative and stable with exiting elements and action it keeps the game stays fluid and fun but it is also not without its flaws the game suffers from sevear lag during gameplay sometimes stalling for around 30 seconds taking the tone of the action down by a solid half as well as a very low count of types of weapons and selection with no customization options to allow the player to feel like they are in control of how there character is playing 

Round 2 Winner

The Winner of Round 2 is ......... A Tie 

Yes its a tie both games present there game play with confidence despite there flaws keeping gamers in control and fun while both could both have done with some serious improvements to the combat and the platforming elements of the game both make a great case for themselfs but at the same time they both suffer ruffly the same amount because of there flaws but with or without there flaws they both make for an excellent game play experience

ROUND 3 DESIGN:

Halo 3 Design:

Halo 3 is a great looking game with stunning visuals with amazing environments keep the game feeling like you have stepped into a fully fledged alien world with stunning lush forest's to large monolithic structures that are detailed and flow into the natural environments with ease  with sharp solid details that even for coming out so early in the Xbox 360's life cycle stand up surprisingly well to close inspection even by today's standards the game looks fantastic with a solid look with very few graphical glitches while few and far between they are still present and very noticeable when they appear but this doesn't change the fact that the game is still very very good looking and is nothing short of beautiful to look at

Killzone 2 Design:

Killzone 2 is a beautiful game and a power house in terms of presentation the game looks incredible with highly detailed environments with some stunning set pieces that keep the player involved in a world that is both stunningly beautiful and realistically war torn making for a great visually impressive set for people to become totally immersed in even to the toughest inspection its hard to find a pixel out of place among those millions of stunning perfect placed pixels its hard to find a single flaw with Killzone 2's design as they really upped the game with the clear hard work put into the development of the game beautiful game to look at and become lost in

Round 3 Winner 

The Winner is...........Killzone 2 

No matter how hard you try it is impossible to fault the fact that graphically and presentation wise Killzone 2 is the top grade of the two with a stunning almost inexpressible world that Halo 3 just cannot compare with it while still a beautiful game the power brought to Killzone 2 by the PS3's vastly superior processor is clear from the get go this round goes to Killzone 2 

ROUND 4 MULTI-PLAYER

Halo 3 Multi-player:

Halo 3 has a multi-player that is still used to this very day even after the release of the 4th installment to the series fans still make a point of visiting the manic multi-player that you can only find with Halo 3 fast fun customization with the ability to use the forge more to make your own maps to have your friends over to play ether in 4 player or jumping  online to make it a maximum of 16 players to a map for some fast paced with some fantastic maps some massive in scale that keeps the player interested and coming back for more as well as the ability to system link or have people over to play Halo 3 brought the whole multi-player package to the table and constantly brought fun for the player with excellent server quality making Halo 3 a pleasure to play online or with friends 

Killzone 2 Multi-player

Killzone 2's multi-player is fast fun and manic with a massive 32 player online mode exactly double that of Halo 3's online server capacity making for some insane large games on some big beautiful maps this is not to say that this is perfect the maps while large are inconsistent the lighting is occasionally off and serious server lag on some of the larger maps makes for an unfair advantage to players with a faster internet connection never the less on a good day when everything is playing well with all the access to the multiple weapons available and skill types making the game feel fresh and crazy but with the lack of same system multi-player for a quick team death match makes for some dissapointment but while it would have been nice its not essential as well as being able to play through the game as a co-op story but we cant help but feel a little cheated at the fact that 4 players cant meet up and play without everyone having to bring there own PS3 and a copy of the game 

Round 4 Winner 

The Winner is........Halo 3 while the online mode of Killzone 2 without regular maintenance Killzone's multi-player suffers and without same system multiplayer the game inevitably runs into the problem of not being able to ask your friends to join in where as Halo 3 is the whole package same system multi-player and online as well as the addition to system link with up to 8 friends making it the better of the two in the multi-player modes this round goes to Halo 3 

WINNER!!

HALO 3

With its vastly superior Story and Multi-player Halo 3 takes the win over Killzone 2 while the two put up and admirable fight Halo 3 is superior in the sense that the Story adds replay value as well as the customization options and the creative element to multi-player this battle goes to Halo 3

New Battle Of The FPS Games ever week 

Retro Review Castlevania (NES)

RETRO REVIEW

Introduction:

Castlevania a game series that strikes an off mix of joy and fear into the hearts and minds of so many gamers known for its unyielding difficulty level as well as a soundtrack that will last in your memories for weeks on end known as Akumojo Dracula in japan the game originally dropped for the Famicon Disk system in 1986 then in 1988 for Europe on the Nintendo Entertainment System a whole 6 years before it would make its cartridge appearance in japan on February 5th 1993 it has made many many reappearances over the years including the Gameboy Advance in 2005 the Wii Virtual Console in 2007 and then as of late the 3DS Virtual console later in 2013 but is this game worth reviving the decade old fight for this generation or is this a game that has long deserved its eternal slumber 

Story:

The year is 1691 you play as Simon Belmont a member of the infamous vampire slayers who has come to send the Dark Lord Dracula back to his slumber once and for all the Belmont's have spent many many years fighting off the threat of Dracula back to his castle keeping his evil at bay for hundreds of years. 

Gameplay:

The gameplay in Castlevania is plain and simple platforming with an element of simple combat a tried and true method of greatness no complicated combo's and no insane button combo's in order to make something cool happen instead back in the golden era of the Nintendo Entertainment System you where given a whip and a select set of sub weapons and set on your way through a set of levels that will try more than just your patience but your skill the test with challenging levels and a platforming element that is still almost impossible to master but for a game of its time its nothing short of top of the range platforming action with a set of sub-weapons ranging from Daggers to Holy Water to a Boomerang cross all of which would go on to stand the test of time and make appearances in every Castlevania game including the recent Castlevania Lords Of Shadows 

Verdict:

25 years on Castlevania still feels and plays exactly the same as when it first dropped and began to give gamers head aches and nightmares on how to end the scurge of Dracula's Reign the game while old and compaired to anything of this day and age begging to show its age but still as impressive as the day we first laid eyes on the 8 bit castle as well as that little 8 bit hero Simon Belmont and felt that rush of the first level when the infamous Vampire Killer begins to rock your world with an 8 bit momentum that makes you want to rip those Zombie's Bats Cougars and Vampires to shreads with your trusty whip this game is still as exiting and thrilling as always if you have never taken a trip to the land of the original Castlevania its 100% necessary that you make some time and get your Vampire Slayer on and take good old Simon Belmont for an adventure 

Rating out of 10:

10/10 

a true legend of a title still as good no matter which version of the game you choose to pick up 

NEW RETRO REVIEW EVERY THURSDAY

Next Week 

Spawn (Super Nintendo) 

Heavenly Sword Review

REVIEW

Introduction:

One of the launch titles for the PS3 back in 2007 Heavenly Sword is a hack and slash adventure game with an all star cast to rival even the best hollywood block buster including the Talents of Anna Trov from the Saturn Award Winning show Fringe as the lead role of Nariko as well as Andy Serkis known for his appearance in The Lord Of The Rings as the lovable Golem playing the main villain of the game King Bohan the game takes a wild ride of adventure and emotions but is this Hack and Slash a game still worth picking up or is this a Sword that is a little less than Heavenly 

Story:

The game starts with the main character Nariko at the end of the story the game is largely played through flash backs of Nariko speaking directly to the player with the sub text of her talking to the spirit of the Heavenly Sword a blade that will inevitably take the life of who ever decides to wield its immense power as you play through the game the story takes twists and turns finding out more and more from the protagonist in a haunting narrative that feels somewhat like you are being read a novel the story plays out well and with solid story telling by the all star cast with some fantastic performances makes this to be a game that give the games cinematic's the feel that you are watching a hollywood movie that you will find very hard to stop watching before you see the climax the only thing that can be said is that it would be nice if the game was just slightly longer it dose feel that the game ends a little prematurely 

Design:

For a Launch title this game still has very striking graphics are beautiful stunning environments on a massive scale the game never fails to strike you with a look of sheer beauty as well as incredible facial motion captures that make the faces strikingly realistic for its time with a strong sense of asian insperation to the game and stunning beauty the game is more than worth a look if for nothing else to take in the solid beauty of the game 

Gameplay:

The gameplay in Heavenly Sword is nothing short of compelling the combat is strong and confident with a hint of influence from many other titles of the same genre this dose come at a cost considering the game has no jump button at all the only time you will jump is when you are mid combo or in one of the special attack's the games attack system is based around the swords ability rather than Nariko's the sword has 3 sets of abilities Speed , Heavy and Swift each have there own specific combos some with branching combos that come with pressing the assigned button to activate ether Heavy or Swift  where as Speed which is the default setting for the sword the combat is fluid and exiting with a raiting system that will allow you to unlock artwork and new level's for the sword to gain new combo's as well as some behind the scenes videos the gameplay keeps fresh mixing it up between the combo ground gameplay to the shooting game play of Nariko's sister Kai with her trusty bow the game gives you a nice mini game when throwing arrows or firing rockets or arrows with a press of the R1 button and a tilt of your controller you are able to control the direction of the arrow for some chilling shots while the gameplay is solid its far from flawless the game has some issues and some that should have been adressed such as the blocking system and the ability to jump would have been nice while it is strong the gameplay and confident but at the same time it has room for improvement 

Verdict:

Heavenly Sword is a great confident outing and an exelent way to introduce anyone to the PS3 it was a solid launch title the game has its flaws but Ninja Theory has done a fantastic job while they could have made a ton of improvements to make the game perfect but with its all star cast and stunning visuals the game makes a great case for itself and brings action to the table with force the game may not be the perfect game and it may not stand the test of time and be one that is remembered fondly for generations but it will definitely be remembered for a long time  and is certainly worth a visit 

Rating out of 10:

7.5/10 

Solid Confident certainly worth a vist and with solid replay value the game will keep you entertained for long enough to take in the story 

Final Fantasy VII Review 16 Years On

REVIEW

Introduction:

Final Fantasy VII a game thats legacy proceeds it it has been circling the gaming world for 16 years spreading across multiple generations with a fan base as loyal as you can get the game has spawned multiple sequels and a movie as well as being one of if not the best of what is widely considered the best games of all time the game has been seen played and enjoyed by many different generations of gamer over several formats and styles and the words still live with some gamers to this day many mysteries still surround the game and even some of the best myths still surround it but is this game acutally as good as you have heard or is it just another hyped up fantasy that will disappoint 16 years on i will review this game in its entirety


Story:

The story in Final Fantasy VII is one of legend a story of love and loss and adventure you play as the Ex Soldier Cloud Strife a war hardened veteran turned mercenary who will do anything as long as the price is right from the get go you are thrust head first into the story meeting another central character Barret Wallace a foul mouthed man on a mission to save the planet from the evil Shinra Electric Power company who are sucking the planet dry of the life energy known as Mako at the very beginning you help Barret's activist group Avalanche destroy one of Shinra's Mako Reactors and from there on its all action along your journey you will meet several characters Tifa Lockheart another member of Avalanche and also Cloud's chilhood friend Aeris Gainsbourgh the beautiful kind flower girl who only wants to live in peace and make sure everyone is ok Barrets Daughter Marlene Wallace  Red XIII or Nanaki a proud wolf who looks to regain the honer to his family and make his grandfather proud Cid Highwind the Mechanical genius whos only dream is to reach for the stars and one day to get into space he holds a personal grudge against the Shinra for discontinuing there space programme before he had the chance to go to space Cait Sith the cuddly toy Cat who you will find out his back story as you progress through the game Vincent Valentine a former member of Shinra's Special task force The Turks after taking a nap for about 20 years in the basement of the Shinra mansion he joins your group in order to wash away his sins Yuffie Kusinagi the plucky thiefe who is just looking for the prized magic jewels Materia the story spirals to the point where you meet Sephiroth a war hardened psychopath who is hell bent on making the planet his ship to find the promis land with his mother Jenova the story takes many twists and turns love and loss that keeps the player going back for more and more without the story ever becoming repetative

Game Play:

The game play in Final Fantasy VII is one of a tried and true system with a turn based RPG element that allows for players to select and carefully plan out there battles along with a deep customization option with multiple weapons Armour accessories and of course the ability to equipped and level up your magic items Materia there is literally hundreds of materia in the game all of different effects they are seperated into colors Red - Summons , these allow you to summon magical creatures for epic effect such as old fan favorite characters Bahamut , Ifrit and Shiva
Purple - Support, these come in different effects not all battle based some allow you to breath underwater others increase your health some allow you to catch the fan favorite bird the Chocobo and other effects
Yellow - Ability , these are used to add to your move selection with the likes of Sense that let you track your enemies health and weaknesses or Enemy Weapon which allows you to copy an enemy attack once learned
Green - Magic these are the standard Magic callings Fire , Ice , Thunder etc which can all be leveled up to deal more damage more quickly
Blue- Mutli-Effect , while there are not as many of these in the game there are the ones that people know such as Quick Attack , Quadra Magic and All which comes in handy in the battle
the gameplay is diverse fun and challenging from the exploration of moutains to swamps to giant cities the RPG element is strong here and the combat is no different adding a strong element of strategy to the mix in order to set your characters up right to make it through to the next area or disk

Design:

The Design for Final Fantasy VII is nothing short of astounding even for 1997 the graphics where of the highest grade running on Square Enix or at the time Squaresoft's newest graphics engine Soft Cell 3D which gave them grater control over there First Attempt at a fully 3D RPG title as well as the PlayStation's Hardware being the strongest avaliable to run it on stunning cut scenes that still hold there charm to this very day as well as a world filled with some very nice pre rendered back grounds like that of Capcom's Resident Evil makes for this world a world you will want to revisit and take it all in more and more

Verdict:

Final Fantasy VII is one of those games whos legacy will out last console after console the game will keep players coming back for more decade after decade with its story that keeps players interested and will keep players discussing it for many years to come the game is one of the greatest and even 16 years on the game is still as good as the day it landed first time round the game is legendary and will be around for a long long time its certainly not going anywhere any time soon

Rating out of 10:

10/10
Legendary Adventure that will keep you coming back if you have never visited Gaia before it is your duty as a gamer to pay a visit to the world of Final Fantasy VII