By 1997 SquareSoft had honed its turn-based JRPG engine and operatic story to a fine point. Although Final Fantasy VII followed on its exquisite predecessor, no one could have predicted what a groundbreaking phenomenon the series' first 3D entry would be. The fusion of cyberpunk and medieval motifs, its melancholy but striving world, emotional soundtrack, and unforgettable characters have stood the test of time. Guest podcaster Gen Moonen joins our party to celebrate nearly 30 years of Final Fantasy VII casting a planet-changing spell.

Find Gen's podcast "Fun" and Games, and more at www.funandgamespod.com, www.certainpov.com, and/or www.genmoonen.com.

Just last week, we joined Gen on Dave Jackson's podcast "Tales From The Backlog" to discuss the role of comedy in videogames. Go give that a listen!

Be sure to also check out our monthy musical podcast, "Playing By Ear" (https://playingbyear.fireside.fm) and our limited-run Jim Henson Series, "Still Muppeting" (patreon.com/stillloadingpod).

And for some bonus Final Fantasy VII content, go check out our episode on Sephiroth from our old show, "A Podcast, But Evil".

If you have feedback, find us on the socials here:

You can also use YouTube, if that's your thing: https://www.youtube.com/@NostalgiumArcanum/podcasts

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits: