Final Fantasy VII International (1997) - a hit RPG got a second release day, bringing overseas improvements home

October 2, 1997, on the PlayStation

Hello, this is Toki. Episode 71 of "Today Is Release Day." Today is about an RPG that was already a huge hit, and the day it got a second release date.

Final Fantasy VII International was released by Square for the PlayStation on October 2, 1997. Today it turns exactly 29.From the Final Fantasy VII (PS) trailer. Source: Square Enix / YouTube

What was added

The base was Final Fantasy VII, released on January 31, 1997. The International version was a revised edition that brought improvements made for the overseas release back to Japan.

According to Game Drive, it adds new events, cutscenes and enemies, plus route markers on the world map and a reworked Materia menu. It could also carry over save data from the original.

English Wikipedia says it took in adjustments from the Western release, such as lower enemy health and extra scenes. A fan-edited Final Fantasy wiki also lists tougher rival chocobos, Safer Sephiroth dropping from level 87 to 70, and a bonus fourth disc.

Reception - Famitsu 38/40, 3.27 million by year's end

English Wikipedia says the original Final Fantasy VII sold over two million copies within three days. By Weekly Famitsu's count, it reached 3.27 million in Japan by the end of 1997.

Famitsu's cross review gave it 38 out of 40. This comes from Wikipedia, though, and I could not check the magazine page itself.

I could not confirm sales or review figures for the International version itself. What is certain is that the October reissue was laid on top of a hit that had already spread.

What matters here is the pattern. Wikipedia says this release started Square's habit of making updated Japanese editions based on the enhanced Western versions.

Watching the 1997-era trailer

The video below is the trailer for the PlayStation Final Fantasy VII, from Square Enix's official channel. It is not footage made for the International version.

Still, it shows well what FF looked like then, telling its story with 3D characters and cinematics.

Writing it down: 1997

October 2, 1997. Only after writing the year does today's article feel finished.

One game with two release dates: January 31 and October 2. Having one more day to count feels like a small win.

Have you ever played the same game again in a "revised edition"? What had changed that made you glad?