Few video games have left an impact as massive asFinal Fantasy VII. With its gripping story, memorable characters, and expansive world, it set the standard for RPG storytelling. Given its influence, one would think that Square Enix would have fully capitalized on bringing its universe to the anime medium. However, after a single attempt withLast Order: Final Fantasy VII, the franchise completely abandoned the idea. Instead of expandingFinal Fantasy VII’slore in animated form, Square Enix let the project die, depriving fans of what could have been an incredible anime adaptation.
Last Orderwas a 25-minute OVA released in 2005, produced by Madhouse. It provided analternate take on key flashback scenes fromFinal Fantasy VII, particularly the events in Nibelheim involving Sephiroth, Zack, and Cloud. Despite its ambitious attempt to enrich the story, the OVA faced backlash due to inconsistencies with the original game. Unfortunately, rather than refining and improving future anime adaptations, Square Enix scrapped the idea entirely. This decision remains one of the biggest missed opportunities in gaming-related anime history.
Square Enix’s First Attempt Was Flawed, But Promising
Last Orderwas by no means a perfect adaptation. It reimagined key moments from the game, with some significant deviations that angered longtime fans. One of the most controversial changes was how it portrayed Cloud’s famous confrontation with Sephiroth. The game depicted Cloud overpowering the villain in an awe-inspiring moment, butLast Orderaltered the scene in a way that made Cloud’s triumph feel less impactful. Fans took issue with these inconsistencies, and Square Enix seemingly took this criticism as a reason to avoid anime adaptations altogether.
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Despite the backlash,Last Ordershowed the huge potential for a fullFinal Fantasy VIIanime. The animation was fluid, the action sequences were dynamic, and it offered a fresh perspective on some of the game’s most iconic moments. If Square Enix had taken the time to refine the storytelling and remain more faithful to the source material, a proper anime series could have been a massive success. Instead, they abandoned the project, leaving fans with only a brief glimpse of what could have been.
Square Enix Should Have Built On Last Order, Not Abandoned It
A Second Chance Could Have Created The Ultimate Final Fantasy VII Anime
Square Enix had every opportunity to learn from the mistakes ofLast Orderand create a definitiveFinal Fantasy VIIanime. The game’s large story, rich character arcs, and cinematic action sequences make it a perfect candidate for an episodic adaptation. IfMadhouse or another top-tier studiohad been given the chance to expand upon the lore more faithfully, it could have become one of the best video game adaptations of all time.
In a time whenanime adaptations of video games are more popularthan ever, it is frustrating to think about whatFinal Fantasy VIIcould have achieved in this space.Last Ordermay not have been perfect, but it was a first step that should have led to something greater. Instead, Square Enix gave up, and for that, it is impossible to forgive them.
