LittleBigPlanetfosters a ton of player creativity. The franchise standard of setting players free to create whatever they want is one of many reasonsa newLittleBigPlanetgame is desperately needed, but perhaps the most ambitious project undertaken inLittleBigPlanet 2is for a fan to rebuild the entire originalFinal Fantasy 7in its system as a platformer.
Spoilers for Final Fantasy 7 Ahead
The fan behind this project is Jamie Colliver, also known as the YouTuber LittleBigWorld. Colliver spoke to Game Rant after the longFinal Fantasy 7project, which spanned 141 videos across 3+ years, came to a close to share a look inside its development and what his hopes are for the project going forward.
LittleBigWorld’s ‘Other’ Final Fantasy 7 Remake
A primary challenge faced with this project was thatLittleBigPlanet 2’s servers have shut down, meaning at present Colliver has no way to distribute his creation to others. But, overall, he thinks the platform is suited to replicating the magic of the original.
“Its platforming mechanics introduce new gameplay elements not present in the originalFinal Fantasy 7—sometimes you need a grappling hook to reach the next location or scuba gear to fight underwater enemies…The original game also focuses on written dialogue to tell its story, which mirrors the wayLittleBigPlanetcommunicates its story beats using expressions and the world around to advance the narrative.”
That doesn’t mean it isn’t a surprisingly faithful recreation. It also recreates the game on a massive scale; Colliver promised this version ofFinal Fantasy 7includes “every single detail from start to finish.” That’s every cutscene, every side story (which is great news for Yuffie fans), andevery piece of Materiaadapted to function inLittleBigPlanet.
Colliver’sFinal Fantasy 7 (FF7)Remake inLittleBigPlanetWalkthroughplaylist contains 141 videos across nearly 40 hours of content.
LittleBigWorld’s Deep Love for the PlayStation Classic FF7
Colliver found the characters’ growth and depth something lacking in other games, and in particular bonded withprotagonist Cloud Strife, whose mental health issues are a core part of the game’s narrative and are addressed largely through a sympathetic lens. The way Cloud’s narrative embodies struggles with trauma and mental resilience, all while trying to keep a cool demeanor, spoke powerfully to Colliver.
“There’s just so much to talk about, like its perfect blend of strategy and action gameplay mechanics, the fact the story keeps you hooked with all its twists and emotions, and that each character has a unique and unforgettable arc. It’s such an immersive and unforgettable experience. For me,Final Fantasy 7is not just a perfect game, but a timeless narrative that continues to resonate on a personal level the older I get.”
Colliver’s passion for the game clearly runs deep and has fueled a project of immense scale through iterations over 12 long years. There is serious pride in his words when Colliver talks about his work recreating iconic moments from the game:
“In the burning of Nibelheim, I really wanted to capture the intensity of the situation as Sephiroth finally snaps. I spent hours just getting that infamous scene in the flames as accurate as possible. A few more moments include recreating Aerith’s famous death, reimagining Cosmo Canyon, and the final designs of my main characters.”
Colliver’s project has apetition on Change.orgto be included inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3as a mini-game.
Final Fantasy 7
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Mako—the discovery of this natural resource drawn directly from the planet’s life force marked the dawn of a new era, and now the energy sustains the lives of people across the world. However, the Shinra Company has monopolized mako production, and in doing so established a powerful hegemony–its influence reaching the far corners of the globe.Cloud, a former member of Shinra’s military organization, SOLDIER, joins the anti-Shinra resistance group AVALANCHE, despite caring little for their motives. During one of the group’s attempts to stop the company, they learn of the return of Sephiroth, Cloud’s nemesis, and that with his reemergence, the planet is in greater danger than anyone had expected.With the fate of the world riding on their success, Cloud and his allies set out to quell this deadly threat.
