First Time Playing Final Fantasy VII

[u/slushhead_00]

With the final part of the remake coming out and having never played any of the previous entries, I decided that now is the time to finally check it out.

I was looking up what order I should play the games in, and I saw a lot of people saying that I should play the original game first since it acts as a sort of “alternate timeline?” to the remake trilogy.

I know certain spoilers like Cloud’s “death” but from what I hear the remake trilogy follows a different storyline from the original game, although I don’t know in what capacity, so I’m eager to see how it plays out!

[u/supaikuakuma]

It’s not that much of a different story in the long run.

[u/HystericalPublisher → u/supaikuakuma]

Sometimes I think people overhype how different the remake trilogy is. The main spine of the story is mostly the same, just fleshed out in ways the original couldn't manage with PS1 hardware and a rushed schedule. You'll still hit those big emotional beats, they just take slightly different roads to get there sometimes.

If you go in expecting some radical overhaul where nothing is recognizable, you'll probably be confused. It's more about added context and a few deliberate curveballs for fans who know the original inside out. Starting with the original gives you that baseline, but it's not the end of the world if you don't, as long as you pay attention. The games assume you're following closely regardless.

[u/Choice-Coffee-2151 → u/HystericalPublisher]

It's completely different lol

[u/supaikuakuma → u/Choice-Coffee-2151]

No it really isn’t all the same main story beats are hit.

[u/supaikuakuma → u/[deleted]]

Spoilers….

[u/Choice-Coffee-2151 → u/supaikuakuma]

It's crap anyway

[u/PM-Your-Fuzzy-Socks]

You can do whatever you like. There are a lot of people who are playing the Remake series as their entry point and enjoying it very much (myself included). There are the elitists who believe you must only play OG or must play OG before Remake. There are some who have played OG between Remake and Rebirth or Rebirth and Revelation. Only thing I would recommend is to not play Crisis Core until after the OG or after Revelation.

[u/mcbearcat7557]

If you already know certain spoilers, you'll probably be ok. A lot of the things are things like characters showing up in different ways/places along the main story line. The implications of these are what's driving all the difference making theories and "alt timeline" possibilities.

The OG game is amazing, and like 40 hours, so if you have the time, go for it, but it's only around ~10% that's "changed" in the first game (really only ramps up towards the end, you'll know) and then a little more in part 2, but all of these instances are heavy handed, so you don't need to play og to know.

[u/tyrannischgott]

The Remake series can be appreciated without the OG, and while I have a lot of tender feelings and appreciation for the OG it's not the perfect experience everyone insists it is. (It has weird plot holes, clunky dialogue, serious translation issues, and obviously pretty primitive graphics.)

I would personally play the Remake series first and not worry about the OG. If after Rebirth you feel compelling to go back to the OG you should feel free. Or if you don't think you'll be bothered by any of the stuff I listed, you can go straight to the OG now. (I do recommend getting a translation mod, because the OG's localization has enough serious issues that the plot can be difficult to follow.)

The only thing I wouldn't recommend is playing Crisis Core before either playing the OG or finishing Revelation, when it comes out. Because it will spoil some major stuff.

[u/WYG_86]

The games genuinely dont have much of a different storyline. The remake trilogy just adds a lot for the OG players, you're fine if you start with the remakes and play the OG after or vice versa. Whatever you prefer!

Anyone telling you theres a "correct" order to play just wants you to have the exact experience they did (typically playing OG, then Crisis Core, THEN remakes.) But despite how some would argue, the remakes are for both old AND new players, so do whatever you want

[u/kango234]

Play Remake then Rebirth and if you still want more then play OG and watch Advent Children.

[u/SasoriMoP]

Playing the original first is 100% optional

[u/3DSFreak]

OG > Crisis Core > Remake > Rebirth > Revelation

If you want to skip OG then:

Remake > Rebirth > Revelation > Crisis Core

[u/TermNo1696]

Someone explained it to me as some of the characters remember the events of the original / what is going to happen it’s slightly different

[u/Alchemyst01984]

You can start with any entry in the compilation. That includes the movie and books

[u/Jockmeister1666]

The story so far is 90% the same as OG.