Letting Go of Final Fantasy VII

     Do you remember the first time you had strong feelings for someone? That yearning for them when you realized you were attracted to them, the way that they seemed perfect? And do you remember the first time you kissed them? That rush you felt, the feeling that something inside of you was about to burst? Yeah, you remember. Final Fantasy VII was like that.
     Months before its release we saw the commercials on television. We were stunned to silence as the world was teased before us with beautiful (at the time) images. Things we had never seen before. Our eyes dilated, our hearts sped up a little and desire filled us. (Unless you don't like these kind of games in which you probably went back to looking for info on Resident Evil 2). Nonetheless, the rest of us saw that and we knew we were attracted. We wanted to know this game.
     Advertisements showing Midgar in all it's glory popped up in magazines and comic books. Game magazines showed glimpses and it was never enough. We wanted to bring the game home. Then the day came. September 7, 1997 (my birthday as fate would have it) and we were able to finally kiss for the first time. It was magical, it was overwhelming and it was everything we dreamed it would be and more. We were in love. And there's nothing quite like that. Your first love.
      Alas, as is often the case, it was not meant to last.  Some of us stayed in there longer than others.  Some of learned everything there was to learn while others were content with the surface experience.  It's the same game but we all have different experiences.  In the end, though, the fantasy ended.
     Except that some of us weren't able to let go.  We liked those feelings, we didn't want them to go away (and I am going somewhere with this, really I am).  So we held on.
     Final Fantasy VIII came and while it looked promising, it wasn't the same.  Some of us enjoyed that (some more than VII).  But it wasn't our beloved VII.  The same happened with every new release.  High hopes that somehow we might find that magic again but it never happened.  Disappointment grew.  Realization set in.  Final Fantasy VII was gone, and it wasn't coming back.  We have our memories and we can replay it but it somehow isn't enough.
     The point of all this is that we need to realize that there is never another first kiss.  There is never another love quite like your first love.  No matter how hard you look, no matter how similar they may seem, nothing will ever be able to match that, let alone top it. 
     Someone at Square-Enix once said that if they did make a remake of Final Fantasy VII it would be the end of the series.  And he's right.  Why?  Because everyone has a different idea of what the remake should consist of and everyone is convinced that their way is the only right way to do it.  I have learned that people don't really want a remake.  The just want the same game with improved graphics (not all people, but most of them). So the only thing Square-Enix could do with a remake is disappoint the people that buy it and anger them.  Because there really is time like the first time. 
     I'm also going to go on record as saying that Square-Enix cannot ever hope to make a game that surpasses Final Fantasy VII as far as popular opinion goes.  Why?  It's not because they can't come up with better characters or a better story.  It's because the stands are impossibly high to the point of ridiculous. 
     If Final Fantasy VII is your favorite in the series and you hate everything after, that's fine.  It's there for you to enjoy.  Personally, it's not mine (that would be a tie between IX and XII which automatically negates my taste and opinion in games in a majority of gamer's opinions).
     Personally, I think its time to let go.  Comparing a new love to that first love is unfair to both of you and keeps you from enjoying something that could be magical otherwise.