It was a relatively secluded, independent second hand store somewhere in Derry city, Northern Ireland. Twas no ordinary shop though, oh no, no, no: this is where the original story began. The humble little second hand store sold many interesting things, but none so interesting as a particular PlayStation game - it was just one game, yet it came on three. What wizard devised such a specimen? Whoever he was, he had left his mark - a spectacular-looking blue comet and a mysterious symbol: "VII" (I was seven years old! OMG!) There was also a little dirt and a crack on the back of the case. Mysterious and magical as it was, it was still second hand.

Many years of enjoyment followed this most glorious day and when Sony finally came to their senses and made it available for download via the PlayStation Network, I was on it like white on rice. I waited anxiously for the 1.3 gigabytes of goodness to grace my HDD, and soon I was playing this classic on my little PSP with a grin from ear to ear. It was still great. However, twelve years is a long time, and even for such a legendary title, the cracks of age are bound to show… aren't they?

Just like the other games in the first ten instalments of the franchise, Final Fantasy VII is a traditional RPG gameplay treat broken into three main segments; story sequences, battle and exploration. The story begins when you take the role of Cloud Strife, a tough, spiky haired mercenary with (of course) a heart of gold, as he embarks on his first mission with AVALANCHE, a fugitive organisation battling for the future of the planet. The opposition of the group are the heartless Shin-Ra, an energy resource company hell bent on sucking the planet dry of Mako (the planet's mojo, let's call it) for their own financial gain. From here, a most epic story unfolds where you enjoy the twists and turns in one of the most imaginative fantasy worlds ever created.

Undoubtedly the storyline is the strongest feature of Final Fantasy VII. Words simply cannot describe how effective and accurate this elaborate story really is. The scale is unbelievable and the narrative is absolutely spot-on. Sure, it's huge, but you shouldn't ever find yourself as lost as you would in games with a similar scale in storyline, such as Metal Gear Solid. Just be sure to pay attention and you should be fine. What really stands out in FF VII though is its ability to effortlessly evoke emotion. Some scenes in the game have achieved legendary status in the gaming world for making us shout, laugh and even weep - teary eyes at least, this I can guarantee.

A large portion of the gameplay is spent exploring the world map, which is littered with towns, villages, cities and secret passages. As large as the world is, progression is kept effortless through your eventual ability to get your hands on buggies, boats, airships and even the famous Chocobo (ostrich-like creatures that recur in the franchise.) You need to visit particular locations on the map to progress the story, as well as to stock up on items or just chill out in the various inns located throughout.

A party system is incorporated that enables you to travel through the whole game in a team of three. At the beginning, your party consists of Cloud (the main character), Barrett (the huge, Mr.T-alike and hilariously stereotypical African American leader of AVALANCHE) and Tifa (Cloud's childhood friend). There are also many more characters to discover through progression of the story such as the mysterious Aeris, the super cool airship pilot Cid, the beastly Red XIII and the suspicious yet hilarious looking Cait Sith. Two secret characters can also be unlocked through side quests, which are also worth doing if you want to get your hands on secret items, weapons and spells. The party system also has a sting in its tail though; when you find yourself comfortable with three characters, it can be hard to change them. However, keeping all your characters well equipped and levelled-up is essential for one particular boss battle towards the end of the game, so don't get lazy!

Battles make up another portion of the gameplay, which are triggered constantly on the main map and also encountered in every hostile environment. By default, the battle system is set to ATB (Active Time Battle), where you may be under the illusion that this is a bog standard turn-based system. However, the priority of turns is in fact given to the character or enemy whose TIME meter fills first. Then again, if this doesn't take your fancy, you can always switch it off. Personally though, I believe this system is worth getting used to, as it breathes excitement and urgency into the otherwise stagnant and outdated turn based battles. Plus, if you choose not to play with ATB, you're, like, totally not hardcore… dude. The boss fights, on the other hand, are a different breed altogether; bosses come in all shapes and sizes and are an absolute joy to fight yet filled with heartache - from the hard-as-nails Gi Nattak to the seemingly invincible Sephiroth, you have your work cut out for you whenever you encounter such behemoths. However, study your foes carefully and you'll pick up on tips for beating them; for example, don't attack the first boss - Guard Scorpion - when its tail is raised, or it counters with a devastating laser (just a little tip for the beginners!)

Of course, Cloud and his posse will have to be prepared for such onslaughts. Luckily though, this is kept relatively simple. Magic spells and abilities come in the form of Materia, which look like little multicoloured spheres and can be easily equipped in various slots found in different weapons and accessories. With these, Cloud and the gang can cast a plethora of spectacular elemental spells and even summon monsters and demons to attack their foes. Some slots found on various weapons may also have a joint, allowing you to mix up Materia to achieve more effective results. For example, it is highly recommended that you equip Cure materia in conjunction with All materia so you can heal your entire party at once rather than individually. Take caution though; the more materia you pile onto one character, the weaker they become - so use it wisely. Find a happy medium, split specific abilities between your party and you'll find the game a lot less frustrating and, more importantly, a lot more fun.

Another great feature is Limit Breaks; each character currently in your party has a limit bar that gradually fills as they take a beating. However, when it is full, it's punishment time! Your eyes are dazzled by flashing technicolour as the game delightfully informs you that a Limit Break is available and you are granted permission to unleash some of the fiercest attacks available in the game. The attacks differ from character to character and vary depending on their weapon type - and a few of them are so vicious that they can vanquish the most difficult bosses in the game with a single swipe. If you want to spoil it for yourself then just type "Omnislash" into YouTube. I'll give you a few minutes... awesome, eh?

If you cast your mind back a few dozen paragraphs then you'll remember me mentioning the "cracks" that a twelve-year-old game should have. Well, they are here by the bucketload in the graphical department; the CGI effects were all revolutionary and whatnot back in 1997, but taking a gander at this game now and all you are likely to notice is the hilariously awful character models. In the battle sequences they're fine, but everywhere else you'll have to get used to carting around a hideous looking sausage man with cinderblocks for hands and feet - oh, and stylishly spiky hair. I'm not going to lie about it; they weren't all that good back then and they're even worse now. The pre-rendered backdrops, though they are almost a form of cheating, have aged a lot better, so the environments still enjoy a well-deserved title as a benchmark of how a convincing fantasy world should be depicted. Cities with huge cannons on the top, a town with a malfunctioning space rocket in the centre and the holiday-goers' ultimate destination - Costa Del Sol - are all images that stay embedded in the mind.

However, if there is indeed a 'benchmark' that Final Fantasy VII has absolutely and utterly nailed, it is in the sound department. The sound effects are completely satisfactory, with swishes of swords and thundering lightening bolts intact, but it's the musical score that really stands out. The famous Nobuo Uematsu composed all of the tracks - and this, my friends, is his finest work. Forget movie songs; if you find yourself completely enveloped in this game then you'll be whistling the theme tune to Cosmo Canyon for the rest of your life. Not only are the tracks delightfully, umm whistleable, but it's also easy to see how Uematsu worked closely with the writers and developers to ensure that the compositions blended perfectly with the storyline and characters. There is absolutely no fault here whatsoever. The fame of some of the tracks from this game proves my point. Still got YouTube up on that tab? Type in "One Winged Angel". If you didn't get goose pimples then you're not human. It's an astounding track. Never has music been employed in such a way as to complement prolific gaming scenes so effectively. These songs will have a lasting effect on you…that's another guarantee.

The third and final guarantee is that you will be playing this game for ages. The main storyline can easily take forty hours to finish. Wanna do all those side quests? Slap on another ten hours. Wanna level your characters up to the max? Put the kettle on, because that can take a while. The bottom line is that this is one of the greatest games of all time, make no mistake, so there is incredible value here at just £7.99. It could just be the best eight quid you've ever spent.

I grew up playing Final Fantasy VII, and when I started reviewing games almost a year ago for this great site, I was saddened by the fact that the one game I would almost pay to review was released twelve years prior. Digital distribution is a wonderful thing, and it has helped me to fulfil the ambition of having my opinions on this game published. So, here is my opinion: you should be downloading Final Fantasy VII right now.

Reviewed by Joe Mulhern for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).