The
Reverse Design
series looks at all of the design decisions that went into classic video games. This is the fifth installment in the Reverse Design series, looking at
Final Fantasy VII
. Written in a readable format, it is broken down into eight sections examining some of the most important topics to the game:
How latter-day critics have misunderstood the artistic goals of
How RPG history began to diverge significantly after 1981, allowing for the creation of specialized RPGs like
Rogue
,
Pokemon
, and especially
Final
Fantasy
VII
How
does not abandon complexity in its systems, but simply moves that complexity to the endgame to aid the narrative elements of the game
Key Features
Comprehensive definitions of key concepts and terms, introducing the reader to the basic knowledge about the study of RPG design
Summary of historical context of
going all the way back to
Dungeons & Dragons
Extensive collections of data and data visualizations explaining how
Final Fantasy VII’s
systems work, how they are organized to prioritize exploration, and how they interlock in a positive feedback loop that peaks at the end of the game