You’ve just downloaded it. Maybe you’re chasing that platinum trophy, or maybe you finally want to see why your older cousins won’t stop talking about a guy with a giant sword and mommy issues.
The Final Fantasy 7 PS4 guide landscape is a mess. Half the people are talking about the shiny 2020 Remake, and the other half are yelling about "the original experience." Let's get one thing straight: the PS4 version we're talking about here is the high-definition port of the 1997 classic. It’s got some weird quirks. It’s got built-in "cheats." And honestly, if you play it like a modern game, you’re going to miss half the best stuff.
The 3 Buttons That Change Everything
Forget the manual. Nobody reads those. The PS4 port added three "boosters" that weren't in the original PlayStation 1 release. If you don't know they exist, you're going to spend forty hours grinding for no reason.
- L3 (Pushing the left stick): This toggles 3x Speed. Use it. Love it. Use it during the long-winded summon animations for Knights of the Round or when you're running across the world map.
- R3 (Pushing the right stick): This is "Battle Enhancement" mode. Basically, it’s God Mode. It refills your HP/MP instantly and keeps your Limit Break bar full. It won't save you from a one-hit kill, but it makes you nearly invincible.
- L3 + R3 Together: This turns off random encounters. This is a godsend when you’re lost in the Temple of the Ancients and just want to find the exit without fighting ten thousand bats.
Purists might say this ruins the game. I say it respects your time. You've got a life.
Final Fantasy 7 PS4 Guide: The "Missable" Nightmare
This game is petty. It will let you walk past legendary items and never let you go back for them. If you’re a completionist, the PS4 version is both easier (because of the boosters) and harder (because you can accidentally save over a mistake in high-speed).
The biggest trap? Aerith’s Great Gospel. You need to get this early-ish by talking to a guy in a cave near Junon, and if you wait too long—well, let’s just say she won't be around to use it. Same goes for the Ifrit Materia on the cargo ship. If you don't pick it up after the boss fight, it's gone forever.
Then there’s the Huge Materia. If you mess up the rocket launch code (it's Circle, Square, X, X, by the way), you lose out on some of the most powerful magic in the game. The PS4 version doesn't give you a "retry" button. You just live with your failure.
Secret Characters: Don’t Skip Yuffie and Vincent
Most people think these two are part of the main story. They aren't. You can literally finish the whole game without ever meeting the ninja or the vampire.
To get Yuffie, you have to find her in a random forest encounter. After you beat her, don't use the save point. If you open the menu or pick the wrong dialogue, she steals your money and runs away. It’s annoying. It’s classic FF7. For Vincent, you need the safe combination in the Shinra Mansion (Right 36, Left 10, Right 59, Right 97).
Materia Combos That Break the Game
The Materia system is where the real depth is. It’s not just about "Fire" or "Ice." It’s about how you link them.
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- Added Effect + Hades: Put this in your weapon. Every time you hit someone, you have a chance to inflict every status ailment at once. Poison, Sleep, Confuse—the works.
- All + Restore: This is the bread and butter. You heal the whole party at once.
- Final Attack + Phoenix: This is the ultimate safety net. If your character dies, they automatically cast Phoenix, which damages enemies and brings your whole party back to life. You’re basically unkillable.
The Bromance Trophy and Other Oddities
If you’re going for the Platinum, you need the "Best Bromance" trophy. This requires you to go on a date with Barret at the Gold Saucer.
It is incredibly hard to do by accident. You have to be mean to Aerith and Tifa at every possible opportunity. Don't buy the flower. Don't give them gifts. Tell Tifa "Barret's snoring kept me up." It feels wrong, but for that shiny trophy, you have to be the worst friend in Midgar.
What Most Guides Get Wrong About the End-Game
Everyone tells you to grind in the Northern Crater. They’re right, but they don't tell you how.
Look for Magic Pots. They’ll ask for an Elixir. Give it to them. Don't attack them until you've fed them. They give the highest AP in the game, allowing you to master Materia in hours instead of weeks. If you use the 3x speed boost here, you’ll be at Level 99 before you even realize it.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your settings: Make sure your battle speed is turned up and your "ATB" is set to Active if you want a challenge, or Wait if you want to think.
- Save frequently: Use multiple slots. The PS4 version allows for a lot of saves; don't get caught in a "soft lock" because you saved with 1 HP in a dungeon.
- Hunt the Enemy Skill Materia: It’s blue. Get it early in the Shinra building. Skills like "Big Guard" and "White Wind" are actually better than most high-level magic because they don't cost much MP.
- Don't ignore the minigames: The Chocobo racing at the Gold Saucer is tedious, but it's the only way to get some of the best items in the game. Hold R1 + R2 while racing to recover your stamina. It's a "secret" that's worked since 1997.