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When I first got my tacky teenage mitts on Final Fantasy 7, I wanted nothing more than that to belong what these characters sounded like, I could see their words on screen, but my ears felt locked out. Thanks to an incredible new release from fan developers Tsunamods, which adds voice acting to the entire game, my ears can finally enjoy the party.
While Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake offered a high-budget retelling of the RPG classic’s first act, the Echo-S 7 mod offers voice acting for the entire game. Echo-S 7 is free to download at Tsnuamod’s website (opens in new tab). The voice acting is provided by the talented folks at Studio Still (opens in new tab)whose YouTube channel is filled with impressive fan dubs and voice acting showcases.
Even the dialogue snippets in the Echo-S 7 trailer are an absolute treat. I like to hear grumpy rocket pilot Cid say, “Stop mumbling! Get your ass in the chair and drink your goddamn tea”. It’s one thing to read a text box where Cloud, the bumbling hero of Final Fantasy 7 , tells me to “sniff”, but it’s another thing to hear it aloud.
But be warned: the mod has already proved so popular that the Tsunamods servers have reached their weekly download quota. In a Twitter message (opens in new tab)one of the creators of Echo-S 7 celebrated the mod’s popularity, but urged fans to “wait a few days” for when the “weekly [download] cap reset”.
Limit break
Final Fantasy 7 remains iconic in part for its excellent dialogue. The game is full of delicate emotional journeys and nuanced character development, with memorable set pieces such as Aerith’s death and Cloud’s gruesome revelations in the Temple of the Ancients.
However, the real power of Final Fantasy 7. is in the way it offers quieter moments, to give context to those grand scenes. I can’t wait to hear one scene in particular: Barret’s encouraging speech to Cloud after Aerith’s death. It’s a turning point for Cloud, and so far I’ve only read, not heard, the words that change him. For all the spectacle that the original incarnation of Final Fantasy 7 offers, for me it’s the subtle emotional moments that really make the game special.
As excited as I am for the next installment in Square Enix’s remakes, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, I’m strongly considering doing a full playthrough of the original game with this mod installed in the meantime. The trailer has me excited to get to know the cast of characters in a whole new way, while reliving the frantic ups and downs of the original story and pacing.
I’m exactly the kind of fan this mod is aimed at, and I couldn’t be happier with what Tsunamods has achieved. Final Fantasy 7’s original polygonal cast has earned its own voices since 1997, and I’m pleased to report that, thanks to the efforts of these intrepid modders, these old favorites have been brought to life in a whole new way.