The title features many gameplay elements of the original counterpart, including a three-member party structure and adaptations of the game's subsystems.

In Final Fantasy VII, the player directs the protagonist throughout the game world with a group of three interchangeable party members, exploring areas and interacting with non-player characters.

[4] Most of it occurs within the city of Midgar for the first act, later expanding to towns, dungeons, caves, and similar areas for the rest of the game.

[5] As in other Final Fantasy–related games, travel across the world map screen and hostile areas is frequently interrupted by random enemy encounters.

[1] Despite the name on the box and cartridge, the title screen simply states "Final Fantasy VII", and the game itself includes no content or plot elements from the film.

The script itself is strewn in chunks across the code; at the beginning of each piece of text for dialog boxes is a three digit number preceded by an @-symbol, signifying which character portrait to display.

[3][5] The cartridge's circuit board layout is unique compared to most Famicom games, using a single two megabyte PRG (program) ROM chips.

Its limited healing options and slow growth rate for abilities and weapons compound this, with one reviewer recommending "play it — but cheat".

[12] Final Fantasy VII has additionally gained mention on several major gaming websites, including Gameworld Network,[2] and Japan-based Gpara.com.

[13] Another project, which aims to overhaul the game and improve upon the gameplay and graphics to better resemble the original PlayStation version, was released in 2013 by members of the Romhacking.net community.

[5] Kotaku editor Luke Plunkett cited the Famicom game as "...an achievement I have no hesitation in labeling Herculean", further calling it "...a triumph of the human spirit".