FF7 steam version modded

[Stoney Mason]

There may be a thread around that already discusses this but I didn't find one searching.

All the recent hoopla around final fantasy 7 remake has gotten me to replay the original which I'm currently doing. I don't like FF7 as much as the diehards do but I also don't dislike it, like some of its detractors. It's a good game (that I honestly barely remember) so its a fun experience going through it again since it almost feels like a new experience since I forgot nearly everything.

I'm sure most people heard about the AI enhanced backgrounds for the game that came out a few years back. Remako.



I always thought this was cool but figured it would be annoyingly hard to setup but it isn't that bad. You can do it manually with a few tools which I did

https://steamcommunity.com/app/39140/discussions/0/2653116677226375280/

or use a modding manager tool called 7th Heaven 2.0

https://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=19533.0

There is also an alternative AI background set that is popular. It's strictly a matter of personal preference in that regard to which you use.

https://www.reddit.com/r/FinalFantasyVII/comments/fnl9o9/satsukis_neural_network_upscaled_backdrops/
http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=19204.0

7th heaven can get you plenty of mods but I personally only ended up using two myself. The Satsuki backgrounds along with a mod that is really a set of mods in one called The Reunion.

https://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=14914.0

The Reunion mod has among its features: optional replacement models for the characters, an improved script, lots of menu enhancements, 60 fps battle menus, etc.

There is another really well regarded mod called New Threat that adds new boss battles, rebalanced combat, etc. It seems to be really well regarded but I personally just wanted to replay the original mostly as it was with just better graphics so I passed on it.

https://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=14938.0


While this isn't my video, it ends up looking roughly looking something like this.




which is a huge leap over how the game looks standard on the steam version. It really feels like I'm seeing the game for the first time which is a pretty cool experience. Just thought I'd put this out there for anybody who might be interested in such a thing.

[Stoney Mason]

Not saying that won't be the case for anybody or that aesthetically a person can't prefer the original graphics but for me I don't have that issue. In fact I have the opposite issue in that half the time I couldn't even tell what I was supposed to be looking at in the original game as a lot of the textures end up turning into a blurred mesh of nothingness. I don't remember much from the original psx game but I definitely remember that issue and the steam version has the same issue. It's not their fault. It's the nature of the technology and limitations used back in the day. But for the first time playing with these mods, I can actually see what the graphics were supposed to be when the artists were putting this stuff in the game.

But as in the case with all of modding, its going to be subjective.

[demi]

Looks cool but nothing beats an original

[Himu]

FFIX AI upscaler programs and mods are fantastic.

[Stoney Mason]

Yeah, for sure.

Funny enough, I think FFIX’s AI upscaling looks great,
(Image removed from quote.)

I think 9 just always had a glorious art style in the first place. FF7 looks good to me when it is placed it the proper context of where it stood in the history of that series and the history of the jrps, and the history of graphics evolution.

FF9 just always looked good to me irrespective of that stuff. It's how the series would have looked if it had stayed true to evolution of the series and the earlier games instead of going for a more realistic look. Not that going for a more realistic look is the worst thing in the world.