14 DAY TRIAL // Sony has just released Final Fantasy VII, from developer Square Enix, on its PlayStation Network service. The game can be downloaded for both the PlayStation 3 console or for the PlayStation Portable handheld and is priced at 1,500 Yen, which is about 15 dollars. At the moment, it cannot be downloaded in North America and in Europe and it’s not clear whether Sony and Square Enix plan to bring the videogame to these markets, even if the demand is pretty big.
The variant that has been put up on the PlayStation Network is the Japanese language version of the international edition, which basically means that the game is streamlined to offer a good playing experience, with the many menus less cluttered, the materia system re-designed and some more video content set to clarify the rather nebulous past of the main character Cloud.
Final Fantasy VII was initially released for the PlayStation console in 1997 and remains the biggest hit to come out of the long running series. The story told is that of a mercenary that lacks memories and of his unlikely allies, who band together in order to save the world and deal with more personal issues. The game features an impressive battle system, some memorable characters and a sprawling story line that has been attracting players for more than 12 years. For those who don't want to play on a gaming console, a PC version of the game arrived in 1998.
The release of the PSN version of Final Fantasy VII is timed to be in the same period as that of the Advent Children animated movie, which is being launched on Blu-ray in Japan and in the United States. The Japanese version of the release is also set to contain a demo for the next big title from Square Enix, Final Fantasy XIII, which should arrive in Japan towards the end of the current year.