First-Time Fantasy: "Twiggy" Plays Final Fantasy VII For The First-Time.

Join him as he catalogues his progress but beware, if you're still planning on playing through Final Fantasy VII for yourself, there are spoilers ahead.</em>

Apparently Square want me to know two key things about the cast of Final Fantasy VII: they like nothing more than riding trains and blowing up generators. As the introduction to this piece probably indicated, I am playing Final Fantasy VII for the first time. In fact, this is not just my first time with one of the PSone's most revered titles - it's also my first time with a Final Fantasy game. Aside from dipping my toes in last year's Dissidia title, I've never actually played a Final Fantasy game. So how's it panning out?

What's surprised me most in my first hour or so with Final Fantasy VII is just how different it is to what I expected. For some reason, the words "Final Fantasy" and elfish-like artwork led me to expect green pastures and giant dinosaurs. But no, I'm seeing steam-punk. I never thought I'd use the term steam-punk in writing this piece but here I am.

From the moment the game started, my preconceptions were destroyed. Sweeping views of an industrial setting - large metallic buildings, cars, trains. My protagonist emerges, a spiky-haired polygonal mess on a pre-rendered backdrop. I'm playing Final Fantasy VII.

Apparently my hero is called Cloud, and he's in a hurry. Fresh off the train I'm informed that we're to make a mess: an explosive mess at that. And so we travel through the futuristic setting, in search of some kind of generator to blow up. Along the way, conversation ensues. Apparently Cloud hasn't always been the rebel the current gameplay is leading me to believe. He once worked for faction SOLDIER. Now he's part of AVALANCHE. I'm yet to decipher how the change occurred because I'm already setting charges and being approached by a gigantic metallic scorpion. Talk about an introduction.

The battle system in Final Fantasy VII is actually pretty great. It's quick and snappy, with attack separation based on  a timer rather than turns. It means (particularly when there are other members in your party) you can get through random battles quite quickly. Great.

With the charges set and the huge metallic scorpion killed, I must escape. The timer's flashing. The music's blaring. Run Cloud, you're going to miss the train.

Like James Bond though, I'm out in the nick of time, explosions blaring behind me. I'm back on the train riding my way back to the "Hideout".

It's here I meet the lovely Tifa. Apparently there's some history between us because she wants to remind me of past promises. Interestingly, I find I've also bought her some flowers. That inconsequential meeting with the flower-girl 10 minutes earlier? Totally not inconsequential. She seems pleased with them and demands I stay for the next mission. I agree at a fee and get some kip. On waking up, the caring Tifa asks if I slept well, to which I respond, "Who wouldn't next to you?" Despite her apparent intelligence, the flirting seems lost on her.

Maybe I'll have to try a bit harder.

Game Clock: 01:39:33.