As we continue down the road of dissecting Final Fantasy 7 like some bizarre Hojo experiment, we arrive at story and themes. From the opening tales of corporate greed and environmental espionage to the eventual themes of literal life versus death, there's a good deal to unpack in this PS1 classic. Listen, won't you?

STARRING (all handles from Twitter)

Eddie Varnell (@thatretrocode) of the Boss Rush Network (@BossRushNetwork)
James and JJ of RetroFits on YouTube (@FitsRetro)
John Trenbeath (@crazyjohnt) 
Julian Titus (@julian_titus) of The Stage Select Podcast (@StageSelectPod)
Matt (@dj_stormageddon) and Geoff (@geoffmakesnoise) of the "Fun" & Games Podcast (@funandgamespod)
Mekel Kasanova (@MekelKasanova)
The Lets Play Princess (@TheLPPrincess) 
Ryan aka @GameswCoffee

SONG COVERS

Those Who Fight (Final Fantasy VII) | Classical Guitar Cover by John Oeth Guitar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PXLw0u5nWo

Red XIII's Theme (Final Fantasy VII) | Classical Guitar Cover by John Oeth Guitar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FArKFnpHUw

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
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My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: [email protected]
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

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When lost in the dueling seas of Cloud and Sephiroth, it's easy to forget there's an entire cast backing them up. From the drama of Aerith to the strong-willed Barret, there's plently of gold to be mined in Final Fantasy 7's supporting players. On this episode, we share insights, personal stories, and multiple moments when our jaws hit the floor as we explore the diverse and amazing cast of Final Fantasy 7.

STARRING (all handles from Twitter) 

Diana McQueen (@stormvexed on TikTok)
Eddie Varnell (@thatretrocode) of the Boss Rush Network (@BossRushNetwork)
Greg Sewart of the Player One Podcast and Generation 16 (@sewart)
Ian (@teacherbloke87)
James and JJ of RetroFits on YouTube (@FitsRetro) 
Julian Titus (@julian_titus) of The Stage Select Podcast (@StageSelectPod)
Matt (@dj_stormageddon) and Geoff (@geoffmakesnoise) of the "Fun" & Games Podcast (@funandgamespod)
Mekel Kasanova (@MekelKasanova)
Michael K Hughes (@KaidanXain) of the Capes and Junk Podcast (@GamesAndJunk)
Mike of the Distorted Illuminations YouTube channel (@MadMonarch_DI) 
The Lets Play Princess (@TheLPPrincess) 
Ryan aka @GameswCoffee

SONG COVERS

Red XIII's Theme (Final Fantasy VII) | Classical Guitar Cover by John Oeth Guitar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FArKFnpHUw

Cid's Theme (Final Fantasy VII) | Classical Guitar Cover by John Oeth Guitar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm6ARq6Ep_k

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
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My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: [email protected]
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

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The two headed monster of Final Fantasy 7, Cloud and Sephiroth may be the ultimate one/two punch in the entire franchise. Two towering examples of style, power and intrigue, this dynamic duo takes control - and often overpowers - the balance of the cast. Is this for good, bad, or indifferent? Give this episode a listen to find out!

STARRING (all handles from Twitter) 

Carson Clark (@DesireeKorrupt)
Diana McQueen (@stormvexed on TikTok)
Eddie Varnell (@thatretrocode) of the Boss Rush Network (@BossRushNetwork)
Ian (@teacherbloke
James and JJ of RetroFits on YouTube (@FitsRetro) 
Julian Titus (@julian_titus) of The Stage Select Podcast (@StageSelectPod)
Matt (@dj_stormageddon) and Geoff (@geoffmakesnoise) of the "Fun" & Games Podcast (@funandgamespod)
Michael K Hughes (@KaidanXain) of the Capes and Junk Podcast (@GamesAndJunk)
Mike of the Distorted Illuminations YouTube channel (@MadMonarch_DI) 
The Lets Play Princess (@TheLPPrincess) 
Ryan aka @GameswCoffee

SONG COVERS

On the Other Side of the Mountain (Final Fantasy VII) | Classical Guitar Cover by John Oeth Guitar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scwEdLHq-mc

Cid's Theme (Final Fantasy VII) | Classical Guitar Cover by John Oeth Guitar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm6ARq6Ep_k

One-Winged Angel (Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children) - METAL COVER [RichaadEB] by RichaadEB - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyq99F9iYYw

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: [email protected]
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

Support the show

Welcome back to our multi-month exploration of Final Fantasy 7! This week, we continue to share our first impressions and initial thoughts about this incredible, enduring title. Many thanks to all my guests who helped make this possible!

STARRING (all handles from Twitter) 

Diana McQueen (@stormvexed on TikTok)
Greg Sewart of the Player One Podcast and Generation 16 (@sewart)
Ian (@teacherbloke
James and JJ of RetroFits on YouTube (@FitsRetro) 
John Trenbeath (@crazyjohnt)
Julian Titus (@julian_titus) of The Stage Select Podcast (@StageSelectPod)
The Lets Play Princess (@TheLPPrincess) 
Ryan aka @GameswCoffee

SONG COVERS

Final Fantasy VII - Let the Battles Begin / Those who fight (Gingertail Cover) by Alina Gingertail - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmzzIsBK47I

Dear to the Heart (Final Fantasy VII) | Classical Guitar Cover by John Oeth Guitar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9b6QxH9Fao

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Before FF7, our first impressions of a game were generally in a home. Huddled around a CRT TV in a friends basement or stuffed on the family couch, experiencing games for the first time was an intimate experience. 

But with Final Fantasy 7, we had options. Store kiosks, demo discs, and even the occasional TV commercial. And as a result, our expectations were set accordingly. On this episode, we discuss the myriad of ways we first experienced the world of Cloud, Barret and Tifa and how those first impressions lived up to our lofty expectations.

STARRING (all handles from Twitter) 

Eddie Varnell (@thatretrocode) of the Boss Rush Network (@BossRushNetwork)
Kyle VonKubick (@obeykube) 
Josh of the Still Loading Podcast (@StillLoadingPod)
Matt (@dj_stormageddon) and Geoff (@geoffmakesnoise) of the "Fun" & Games Podcast (@funandgamespod)
Mekel Kasanova (@MekelKasanova)
Michael K Hughes (@KaidanXain) of the Capes and Junk Podcast (@GamesAndJunk)
Mike Albertin of Games My Mom Found Podcast (@mom_found)
Nate McLellan

SONG COVERS

Final Fantasy VII: Aeris's Theme (Violin & Piano Cover Duet) Taylor Davis & Lara de Wit by Taylor Davis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI7Wcl5y5Qs&t=29s

Hollow (Final Fantasy VII Remake) | Classical Guitar Cover by John Oeth Guitar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ny8vJcv3CQ

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
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My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: [email protected]
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

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Final Fantasy 7 wasn't just a game release. It was the changing of an era. The moment when the franchise grew from fun games to media events. As a result, the marketing for FF7 reached unheard of levels for videogames at the time. And with the marketing came, unprecedented hype. 

On this episode of A Gamer Looks at 40, we share stories of what it was like to be knee deep in the late 90's media barrage and how this full court press shaped our perceptions of the game before we even hit the first loading screen. 


Eddie Varnell (@thatretrocode) of the Boss Rush Network (@BossRushNetwork)
Greg Sewart of the Player One Podcast and Generation 16 (@sewart)
Ian (@teacherbloke
James and JJ of RetroFits on YouTube (@FitsRetro) 
John Trenbeath (@crazyjohnt)
Julian Titus (@julian_titus) of The Stage Select Podcast (@StageSelectPod)
The Lets Play Princess (@TheLPPrincess) 
Mekel Kasanova (@MekelKasanova)
Michael K Hughes (@KaidanXain) of the Capes and Junk Podcast (@GamesAndJunk)
Mike Albertin of Games My Mom Found Podcast (@mom_found)
@Mustin
Ryan aka @GameswCoffee

SONG COVERS

Flowers Blooming in the Church (Final Fantasy VII) | Classical Guitar Cover by John Oeth Guitar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBnoqDVg_To

Tifa's Theme (Final Fantasy VII) | Classical Guitar Cover by John Oeth Guitar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulsS27OC5KQ

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
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My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: [email protected]
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

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BOOO! A few years back, I did a Halloween retrospective with my brother. Two years later, why not revisit this nostalgia well with my best friend Joey of Perfect Storm Gaming and Chase Brogan's YouTube channel. On this episode, we discuss terrible 80's costumes, the Trunk or Treat phenomenon, TV specials, UNICEF boxes, Halloween rituals, and traversing the New York City subway system. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

STARRING (all handles on Twitter):

Joe Coiro of @PStormGaming and @RealChaseBrogan 

HANDY LINKS:

Me talking about Creepshow on Games My Mom Found:  https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-f9c34-1572ca5

Halloween Episode with my Brother: https://agamerlooksat40.com/episode/ep-54-halloween-2022-a-brotherly-retrospective

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: [email protected]
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

Support the show

As I conduct hours upon hours in interviews for this show, occasionally a few clips get left by the wayside. Either they don't fit into a main episode or they're so random, there's simply no place for them to live. Enter Side Quests, an ongoing series where I take all those discarded comments and clumsily mush them together into a weird, wild episode. Enjoy!

STARRING (all handles from Twitter)

Carson Clark (@DesireeKorrupt)
James and JJ of RetroFits on YouTube (@FitsRetro)
Josh of Still Loading Podcast (@StillLoadingPod)
Julian Titus (@julian_titus) of The Stage Select Podcast (@StageSelectPod)
Kyle of the The RPG Podcast (@TheRPGPodcast)
Matt and Geoff of the "Fun" & Games Podcast (@funandgamespod)
Mike Albertin of Games My Mom Found Podcast (@mom_found)
Moses aka @thewellredmage of the-pixels.com and Gamelogica on YouTube
Nate McLellan (@natedoescomedy79 on TikTok)
Trevor and Jeff of New Dad Gaming Podcast (@NewDadGaming) 
Wade aka (@ProfNoctis)

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: [email protected]
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

Support the show

As we continue our extended breather from the monster Final Fantasy series, let meet Chase aka Retro Gaming Guy on YouTube. On this week's episode, Chase and I discuss the joy of arcades, his work in becoming a content creator and the power of community. 

Check out Chase's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialChaseBrogan

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: [email protected]
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D

Support the show

A veteran of both the videogame journalism and podcasting space, Ben Magnet's seen it all. Join us as we chat about the early days of PC gaming, Pokemon, Sonic the Hedgehog and anything other than Final Fantasy. Enjoy!

STARRING:

Ben Magnet (@BenMagnet27) of @FakeNerdPodcast, @BAPAuseMenu, @FusionGameMag and @GoNintendoTweet.

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: [email protected]
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

Support the show