Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis costs nothing to pick up and play, but whether it’s possible to enjoy the whole game without spending any money is less immediately obvious. As a free-to-play mobile game, Ever Crisis eschews the upfront price model of traditional Final Fantasy games in favor of a system of microtransactions designed to earn major profits through minor purchases. Although this system will be an immediate turn-off for some Final Fantasy veterans, the game’s connection to one of the most beloved titles in the franchise has an undeniable allure.
The core of monetization in Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis lies in gacha pulls, a system that allows players to purchase chances at getting desirable unlocks. Like loot boxes, capsule machines, or trading cards, spending on gacha will always result in some kind of reward, but the balance is typically skewed towards less unique or powerful ones. In the case of Ever Crisis, gacha pulls act as a way to get weapons and gear, so investing in the system helps ensure an increase in overall combat potential. The game also features a stamina system limiting daily play without paying for refills.
You Can Complete Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis For Free
Playing through the main story of Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis doesn’t require investing in microtransactions on a basic level, as its possible to earn weapons and gear just by playing the game. The lack of any characters locked behind the gacha system separates it from games that best characters into gacha like Honkai: Star Rail. This also helps to make a free-to-play experience complete in some form, as the items that can be rolled for won’t have narrative impact in the same way. Future story updates are planned to be free upon arrival as well, so none of the core content will exist behind hard locks unless the system changes in the future.
Playing FF7: Ever Crisis For Free Can Be Frustrating
On the flipside, the ability to play Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis for free doesn’t necessarily make it fun. The monetization, while not required, isn’t placed on a back-burner, as Ever Crisis is more than happy to frequently highlight purchasing power. It’s also undeniably easier with a bit of premium gear, and extra story and character content heavily incentivizes the use of weapons that exceed anything that can be earned for free. Anyone playing without paying will have to put up with stamina limits, frequent reminders of the gacha elements, and an ultimately more intense grind.
The hassle of playing Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis for free may well be worth it for those intrigued by its concept, as the world of Final Fantasy 7 and its connected games is rich enough to support yet another alternate take. However, it’s far from an improvement on Final Fantasy 7 Remake, with many of the mobile gacha elements that carry negative implications and a somewhat disjointed approach to the gameplay and story. Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis can thankfully be completed for free, but whether it’s an enjoyable time without any investments will ultimately depend on individual tolerances.
