Recently I've finally had a chance to basically complete FFVII and the Compilation of FFVII(I've played Crisis Core, FFVII, and watched Advent Children Complete) I don't really think I have to play Dirge of Cerberus and Before Crisis to understand the full scope of the story.
So, do you like the Compilation as a whole? or do you think it's unnecessary and you think FFVII would've been better alone?
I honestly liked going through the two games and watching ACC to finish it off. It felt very satisfying to me to sort of run through the whole story from Zack to Cloud and all that. The story of FFVII seems more epic that way, with Crisis Core and Advent Children Complete sort of backing it up.

I honestly think that the core game should have been it. The spinoffs just seem to be unnecessary.

I really liked the Spin off's, Advent children was a great movie and gave us a better understanding off the relationships between the characters, Vincent and Cloud for example seemed a lot closer in the movie, You learn more about Zack by playing Crisis Core as well, There was not much really said about him in 7 so it paved the way for a Zack centered game and it worked very well. Not sure so about DOC though, didn't like the story that much

The spin-offs are unnecessary but they were alright. The movie was pretty good but I didn't really care too much for Crisis Core or Dirge of Cerberus. Final Fantasy VII was good just by itself.

I think it goes both ways. FFVII was a great game by itself. Though if you like the game enough the spinoffs and add-ons are also great to have with it. I wish their was more to it than what they have. More options were there to play. I haven't gotten to play all the add-ons but I want to. I liked the movie though I wish they would have done more with the movie. These are just my opinons though. I have friends that hate the additions to the original game. So it just depends on how much of a fan you are and how you like it.

jc2p2 : Yeah it is a great game on its own but I do like the spinoffs too. And Advent Children Complete is a nice movie too. But it's just fan service lol. If movie critics saw it, they'd only like the effects since they probably have no clue how the plot goes.
Honestly, I don't think FFVII is the best of the FF games anyway. I think FFVI is better and I have yet to play all the FF games after FFVII.

The spin-offs are unnecessary, it's all just fan service for an over rated game.
The movie is graphically ok but apart from that it is horrible.
I played Dirge of Cerberus a littlle and it seemed ok (hardly surprising considering it features one of the only characters that seemed to have character) but Final Fantasy VII was so bad it really deserves to be forgotten or at least ignored rather then placed on a pedestal like it has.
It doesnt deserve all this love when alot of the other FF games both before and after it are far superior.
And that's just sticking to FF, there are alot of other RPGs that in general are alot better as well but that have been forgotten

DarkHyren : In my opinion, it's one of the most overrated games of all time. But that doesn't make it a bad game necessarily. I had fun playing that game too. Actually, I played a spinoff, Crisis Core, before playing the original.

mdynasty926 : Yeah, like I'm not saying it is the absolute worst RPG there is, but I think the plot isn't really as good as people think and that's one of the more important elements in an RPG so I find it's lack irritating.
It could also be harder, considering it is supposed to be a FF game it just seems easier then most.
Those are some reasons I say it is "bad", not the worst mind you, but sorta mediocre.
The obsessive fanbase didnt help matters any either as I still prefer to play a game without knowing what's going to happen

DarkHyren : Yeah, I did notice that it was pretty easy, and I didn't even get most of the stronger weapons and summons until my second playthrough.

The spin-offs just introduced blatant boring characters like Genesis and Weiss. The movie just returned Cloud to a sad angst filled douche. He got over all his depression at the end of the game. And for that says that the story of the original game wasn't finished must not have played the game I did. The only extra character I like is Zack but I didn't like that crappy repetitive game he was in. The spin-offs were just a chance for Squenix to rip people off. Just like the KH spin-offs. Just like that game that wasn't Final Fantasy. That game that said it was Final Fantasy 13.

Having beaten Crisis Core, FF7 and watched Advent Children, I would have to say it should have been left at the original. Some mystery is nice in a story, and in this case would have been amazing. The spin offs took the mystery away and replaced it with a mediocre story and filler. Crisis Core, while interesting(especially seeing Sephiroth before he turned), simply wasn't as cool, interesting, or jaw dropping as I would have hoped. And as DarkHyren said, the movie is pretty, but stops being worth watching from there.

Final Fantasy 7 was one of the most amazing games I've ever played. I don't see how anyone could say differently. The story line surpasses any other that I've seen to date. From start to finish you are always curious about the game, and want to play to find out more. It really is the standard for what RPGs should be. It's just sad that they took away from the original with the lower quality games and movie that came after it.