Final Fantasy VII on PS4 Includes Built-in Cheats That Don't Disable Trophies

The PlayStation 4 release of Final Fantasy VII is a port of the enhanced PC version, and it includes several built-in assistance features, or “cheats,” that fundamentally change how the game can be played. These options allow players to triple the game’s speed, eliminate random encounters, and gain significant advantages in battle. Most notably for achievement hunters, activating these boosters does not disable the ability to earn PlayStation Trophies, making the path to the Platinum Trophy significantly more accessible than in a traditional playthrough.

This version of the classic role-playing game arrived on the PlayStation Store on December 5, 2015, during the PlayStation Experience keynote. While many fans were anticipating news on the full-scale Final Fantasy VII Remake announced at E3 2015, this release offers a way to experience the original story with modern conveniences. It is not an emulation of the original PlayStation release, but rather a direct port of the version previously updated for PC, which first appeared on Steam in 2013. This distinction is key to understanding the new features, which were designed for that PC re-release and have now been mapped to the DualShock 4 controller. For those who purchased the game at launch, a special Final Fantasy VII menu theme for the PS4 system was included as a bonus.

A Closer Look at the Built-in Boosters

The PS4 port of Final Fantasy VII integrates three powerful gameplay modifiers, each activated with a simple button press. These are not traditional cheat codes that need to be entered, but toggles available to the player at almost any time.

The first booster is a 3x speed mode, activated by pressing the L3 button. This function accelerates all gameplay, from walking across the world map and navigating towns to the flow of combat and dialogue sequences. For players returning to Midgar, this feature drastically reduces the time spent on traversal and grinding. Cutscenes and lengthy animations that were unskippable in the original release can now be sped through, making repeat playthroughs much faster. The increased speed is particularly useful during the more tedious sections of the game, such as breeding Chocobos or searching for specific items in large environments. It streamlines the experience by cutting down on the mandatory waiting periods inherent in the 1997 original’s design.

The second feature is a battle boost, toggled with the R3 button. When active, this cheat instantly fills the player’s party’s HP and MP to their maximum values. It also perpetually keeps the Limit Break gauge full. This effectively grants invincibility and infinite resources during combat. Any damage taken is immediately healed, and powerful magic and summons can be used without concern for MP consumption. With constant access to their most powerful Limit Break attacks, characters can dispatch regular enemies and even the most formidable bosses with ease. This modifier removes nearly all challenge from the game’s combat system, turning difficult encounters into trivial affairs.

The final cheat is the ability to disable random encounters, which is activated by pressing L3 and R3 simultaneously. This toggle completely prevents surprise battles from occurring while exploring dungeons, the world map, and other hostile areas. Players can freely explore every corner of the game’s world without interruption. This is invaluable for solving environmental puzzles, navigating complex mazes like the Temple of the Ancients, or simply traveling from one location to another without being delayed by constant fighting. While it prevents level grinding, it can be turned on and off at will, allowing players to control the pacing of their adventure completely. They can explore uninterrupted and then re-enable encounters when they are ready to gain experience.

The Impact on Trophy Hunting

The decision by Square Enix to allow these cheats to be used without disabling Trophies has significant implications for players focused on 100% completion. The Trophy list for Final Fantasy VII on PS4 includes challenges that were notoriously time-consuming and difficult in the original game. The boosters directly address and trivialize many of these hurdles.

For example, the Trophy “A Feat of Meteoric Proportions” requires reaching level 99 with one character. On the PlayStation, this could take dozens of hours of dedicated grinding. Using the 3x speed and battle boost functions, this process can be completed in a fraction of the time. Players can find a high-experience area, turn on the boosts, and let battles resolve almost instantly while gaining levels at an accelerated rate.

Similarly, Trophies tied to defeating the game’s two optional superbosses, Emerald WEAPON and Ruby WEAPON, are now easily attainable. These bosses were designed as the ultimate post-game challenges, requiring specific strategies, extensive preparation, and high-level characters. With the battle boost enabled, their powerful attacks are rendered ineffective, and the player can defeat them without any real danger. The “Emerald Eviscerator” and “Ruby Render” Trophies, once badges of honor for dedicated players, can be earned with little effort.

Other grind-heavy Trophies, such as “Master of All” for mastering every type of Materia, also become far simpler. The time it takes to earn the necessary AP (Ability Points) after battles is cut dramatically by the 3x speed mode. Even the lengthy side quest to breed a Gold Chocobo, required for the “Gold Chocobo” Trophy and to access certain Materia, is made less daunting. The 3x speed makes traveling between locations and participating in Chocobo races much quicker, while the no-encounters cheat removes the hassle of fighting monsters along the way.

This approach lowers the barrier to entry for earning the game’s Platinum Trophy. It allows players who may not have the time or inclination for extensive grinding to see all the content and be rewarded for it. However, it also changes the nature of the achievement, shifting the focus from skill and persistence to simply knowing the boosters are available.

Port-Specific Changes and Controller Layout

Beyond the gameplay modifiers, this PS4 version has other characteristics that set it apart from the 1997 original. As a port of the PC version, it features lightly upscaled 3D character models that appear sharper than their blocky PlayStation counterparts. The pre-rendered backgrounds, however, remain largely the same, which can create a noticeable visual contrast between the characters and the environment.

A small but significant change noted by veteran players is the controller mapping. In the original Western release on the PS1, the Cross button was used to confirm selections and interact with the world, while the Circle button was used to cancel. The PS4 port swaps this functionality, assigning Circle to confirm and Cross to cancel, which aligns with the traditional Japanese control scheme. While this may feel more intuitive to players familiar with Japanese imports, it can be disorienting for those with muscle memory from the original North American and European versions.

This release should not be confused with the PS1 Classic version of Final Fantasy VII, which is also available for purchase on the PlayStation Store for PS3 and PS Vita. That version is a direct emulation of the original game, with no graphical enhancements, no boosters, and no Trophy support. The PS4 port is a distinct product, offering a modernized—if simplified—way to play. The inclusion of Trophies and quality-of-life boosters makes it the definitive version for achievement hunters and newcomers, while purists seeking the authentic 1997 experience may prefer the un-altered PS1 Classic.