Though I have been a gamer for nearly my entire life, I’ve never used a mod. Mods seem interesting (and I love seeing reels or memes using them), but I prefer playing the intentional designs of the original developers. Plus, if I’m honest, my humanities-centric brain cannot take the complexities of installing mods. That all changed in late 2022, however, when I discovered that a team called Tsunamods was developing a fully voice-acted mod for Final Fantasy VII called “Echo-S.” Curious, I began to research the group. Tsunamods is a team of fans who lend their artistic, musical, and programming talents, with the go-ahead from Square-Enix, to breathe new life into their favorite game, Final Fantasy VII (though they are also working on FFVIII and FFIX). In their own words, they explain their vision.
“We wish to bring our own remasters of these old games into the present by making them beautiful, sound amazing, give them new features, and just improve the overall experience! We wanna try to make these games have the same feeling they did 20+ years ago when you enjoyed them for the first time.”
Most of the mods on their site offer graphical improvements and audio enhancements, but Echo-S seems to be the most extensive and impactful upgrade they have created. Not only would the mod enhance graphics and audio, but it would also offer a voice to every line of dialogue in the game. That’s right. Every. Single. Line.
On the Tsunamods website, they explain how they approached this gargantuan task. They “gathered actors from all over the world to voice-act the entirety of Final Fantasy VII.” That included every major and minor character, every NPC, and even the tutorials. While major characters are played by well-trained actors, NPCs are voiced by members of the FFVII community. This colossal undertaking took roughly seven years to complete.
Because I had already planned to stream Final Fantasy VII in 2023 anyway, I knew I had to try it out when it was released (January 2023). While this isn’t a review of the mod, the following account is my overall experience playing the mod.
A Mod-el Community to Save the Day
When it comes to computer programming, I’m an idiot. A complete buffoon. So, when I downloaded the mod, I meticulously watched the tutorial video Tsunamods had provided. Then, when my pea brain continued to fail me, I actually DMed the Tsunamods account all of my inane questions. To their credit, they never made me feel stupid, and helped me launch the game successfully, with not only the Echo-S mod, but mods based on my interests and preferences. (For reference, I wanted a graphically/musically enhanced version of FFVII that was as true to the spirit of the original as possible. Here is a shot of my mod setup, as suggested by the team).
The mods I installed– also note the order you place them matters!
Additionally, I joined the Tsunamods Discord server. While I haven’t had too many issues, anytime I encountered a problem, the members of this server jumped in and helped me. I could tell they genuinely wanted me to have the best experience. Within minutes, whatever problems I encountered were solved (including one person who sent me a whole new save file when mine corrupted!). Not only do they make great mods—turns out Tsunamods is a gold standard in customer service!
The point of all this is, if an idiot like me can make these mods work, anyone can (especially with the help of this fantastic mod community).
A Reunion with a Former Love
I’ve played through Final Fantasy VII in its entirety at least once a year since 1997. I love the game, and I know the plot and characters like the back of my hand. So, I cannot overstate the importance of what I am about to say.
The Echo-S mod made me fall in love with Final Fantasy VII all over again.
The graphical enhancements, particularly to the environments, are improved but never overpowering, exuding the same charm they did on the PS1 with subtle flourishes and cleaner textures. Sound effects sound smoother and the soundtrack is upgraded with new instrumentation while keeping the same basic melodies (except in a few specific moments when a motif might be added in for effect).
But the greatest enhancement, of course, is the inclusion of voice acting. Something about hearing the original script read aloud kindled in me a nostalgia and wonder that I never imagined I would feel again from this now-retro game. Major characters shine in every moment, bringing a characterization that is necessarily similar to their FFVII Remake counterparts while also distinct. Every story beat feels fresh and full of life as a result.
Impressively, as advertised, every line of dialogue is voiced. I found myself talking to every NPC, even the ones I never found compelling in the original, just to hear how their new voices added to the world. While these are untrained actors and the objective quality varies, these are legit fans of FFVII from all over the world, boasting diverse and unique accents. It adds a lot to the script and does wonders for world-building. One touch I particularly appreciated was the use of toddler’s voices for some of the younger citizens of Midgar and Nibelheim. It was a cute (and kind of haunting due to the darker plot elements) addition.
This voiced scene had me absolutely rolling in laughter
What surprised me most, however, was the addition of sound effects and voices during FMV cinematics. These formerly music-heavy movie scenes now brim with emotion as characters offer new, but true-to-the-character phrases or exclamations. Subtle changes like this made me as excited for the FMVs as I was in 1997.
These kinds of enhancements make Echo-S a whole new experience of a classic game.
FMV sequences like this have been exquisitely enhanced with voice and new sound effects
Regarding the Inerrancy of Script
About halfway through the game, I began to notice deviations from the original FFVII’s script. Not necessarily contrary to the script, but clearly a retranslation of phrases. I asked Tsuna, the creator of the mod community about this. He explained that the team worked (with permission) off of the original English translation of the PS1’s Japanese release, not the one released to the American public. Not familiar with this translation, I found it to be really insightful and often clearer than the one I am familiar with. This was especially true in the Temple of the Ancients section, where the script sometimes feels quite obtuse (in my opinion) in the original American release.
Tsuna also pointed out some creative decisions that the team made to enhance, but not alter, the plot. For instance, once Red XIII’s real name is revealed as Nanaki, he goes by that for the rest of the game. However, whenever someone is controlled by Jenova (like Cloud or Tifa in the crater), they call him by his former moniker. Additionally, when Cloud is controlled by Sephiroth, you can hear the faint, muffled screams of Cloud’s voice actor behind his dialogue.
I might have considered such changes to the original to be anathema if I had known before playing. They added so much to the overall experience of the game, however, that I’m grateful I didn’t know! Personally, I appreciated these choices a great deal.
Post-Mod-ernism
It was obvious from the start that Tsunamods was a community that loved Final Fantasy VII. But what they have been able to accomplish with their mods, Echo-S in particular, is something extraordinary. They brought a worldwide community together to create a love letter to the story that united it in the first place. Fandoms are often known for their extremism, and the FFVII community is as guilty as any, with its fierce shipping wars and lore-crafters. Tsunamods, however, shows the best of what a fandom can be. Fresh, creative, and celebratory.
While I love what Square-Enix is doing for FFVII lately, from Remake to Crisis Core: Reunion and even First Soldier, the OG FFVII will always hold a special place in my heart. And as of now, Tsunamods’ Echo-S is the new definitive way to play that classic.
To see Echo-S in action, check out my playthroughs of the mod on Twitch or Youtube. To learn more about the Tsunamods or to download the Echo-S mod, please visit their website here.
Editor-in-Chief of The Pixels, Wade (aka ProfNoctis) teaches and plays video games at the University of Alabama. His dissertation combined Judeo-Christian kingship and Final Fantasy XV. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitch.
