Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children

Almost a decade after the release of the original, Square Enix introduced a collection of games based off the Final Fantasy VII universe, accurately dubbed the "Compilation of Final Fantasy VII". The first in this long line of titles was not a game, but a direct to DVD (and UMD) movie. Directed by series character creator Tetsuya Nomura, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, would return to the world of Final Fantasy VII two years after the end of the original.

After the destruction caused by the eventful Meteor, the denizens of the world are slowly recovering. The people of Midgar had already begun rebuilding a new town on its outskirts (effectively titled Edge). Cloud has opened up a delivery service with his hinted love, Tifa Lockhart, and also is entrusted to care for two children, Barret's Marlene, as well as an orphan, Denzel.

Despite all of this, discontent is still prominent. A mysterious disease known as Geostigma has overrun the planet. Even worse, Cloud receives notice from Rufus Shinra (President of the now demolished Shinra Company) that three mysterious young men, bearing a striking resemblance to Sephiroth, Kadaj, Yazoo, and Loz, have appeared to try and reclaim the remaining head of their Mother, akin to the menace Sephiroth himself. Cloud and all his friends must band together to stop this trio of clones from reinitiating Sephiroth's reunion and solve the curse of Geostigma.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, surprisingly was very slim on plot or character development. Rather, it focused heavily on fan service, featuring numerous fight sequences (including a motorcycle chase!) and rightly so. Sporting a fantastic two hours worth of CG graphics, it was a treat for fans to see all their favorite characters once again rendered in such a high definition.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children was dubbed a grand success, selling well over a million copies worldwide, and paving the way for the rest of the Compilation of Final Fatnasy VII. (including a yet to be released remake on BlueRay!)