Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis tells an epic tale where the fate of the stars is at stake, even as the global conglomerate Shinra harnesses energy from these faraway sources.

Through its evolution from classic role-playing game to mobile gaming hit, the Final Fantasy series has remained one of the most recognisable IPs around. Here are a few game features that speak directly to the franchise’s lasting appeal.

Final Fantasy VII has long been touted as one of the greatest video games of all time, and you can play through its storyline, along with that of prequel Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, in Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis.

If this sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. But the game has reorganised the lengthy tale into chapters to help you break up the gameplay. And with this adaptation, you can experience the ATB (Active Time Battle) of the original Final Fantasy VII with the tactile controls of iPhone and iPad.

On the field, characters walk around in familiar polygonal patterns. Yet new visuals and battle elements are added to keep the game current.

A big draw of Final Fantasy VII lies in tracing the steps to its characters’ inevitable fates. The paths taken by mercenary-turned-resistance-fighter Cloud, flower merchant Aerith and vengeful villain Sephiroth all ultimately collide to tumultuous and dramatic results.

In the chapter titled “The First Soldier”, you’ll learn the previously untold childhood history of Sephiroth, a former hero and soldier of Shinra. There are also mini episodes on each character, adding more dimension to the game’s cast.

Another fun new aspect here is the option to change the characters’ appearance during battle by putting them in different gear. Experiment with various weapons and try out new combinations before deciding on your preferred look.

Combat in this game is carried out in the command-input ATB system. Activate magic and abilities with your gauge, which fills up over time. Alternating between attacking and recovering at a fast pace will help secure your victory.

Each party can include up to three people, and all characters except the one that you’re controlling will fight automatically. The actual battles can also be set to auto, or fast-forwarded in high-speed mode.

One feature that’s unique to Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is Free Party, which lets you put characters from different points of the storyline in the field. Facing off a particularly tough boss is far easier when you can call up a character that you’ve already trained and developed in another chapter of the game.

Going it alone is not the only way to play either. Groups of up to three can enjoy multiplayer battles where you’ll take on enemies using characters trained by other players.

From going on quests, to upgrading your characters and weapons, to tag-teaming your way out of dungeons, there are as many ways to play Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis as there are games in the series. Settle in and get ready to revisit this remarkable world with these new ways to play.

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Character design: Tetsuya Nomura / Character illustration: Lisa Fujise