What you'll find here are the basic controls you'll need to play Final Fantasy VII. The game is divided up into three different screen times: Field, Menu, and Battle.

Start Button
Field - Switch Map displays on the World Map Screen
Menu - N/A
Battle - Pause or Resume battle

Select Button
Field - Brings up a pointer which shows your position and displays upside-down triangle marks, indicating possible doors and exits in the area you're in. Press the SELECT button again to hide indicators. May not work in all areas.
Menu - N/A
Battle - Displays Help Window

L1 Button
Field
1) When the character is moving, this turns the character to the left. If held down, the character will keep turning left.
2) When the character is moving on the World Map, this turns the character to the left.
3) When the character is stopped on the World Map, you may view the surroundings by turning to the left.

Menu
1) Selects characters in the same order as they are lined up in the party.
2) Moves the scroll bar up when selecting items and magic.

Battle - Hold down simultaneously with the R1 button to escape from battles.

L2 Button
Field - Switch views in the World Map
Menu - N/A
Battle - N/A

Direction Buttons
Field
1)Moves the characters in the Field screen or in the World Map screen.
2) Selects messages
3) Selects weapons, armor, items, etc in shops.

Menu - Moves the cursor and selects commands.
Battle - Moves the cursor and selects commands.

R1 Button
Field
1) When the character is moving, this turns the character to the right. If held down, the character will keep turning right
2) When the character is moving on the World Map, this turns the character to the right
3) When the character is stopped on the World Map, you may view the surroundings by turning to the right.

Menu
1) Selects characters in the same order as they are lined up in the party.
2) Moves the scroll bar up when selecting items and magic.

Battle - Hold down simultaneously with the L1 button to escape from battles.

R2 Button
Field - Changes view of the World Map
Menu - N/A
Battle - Toggles the target cursor on and off.

Triangle Button
Field - Displays the Menu Screen
Menu - Removes Materia equipped on a weapon or armor.
Battle - Set Action (enter command) to other characters

O Button
Field
1) Talk to other characters
2) Pick up items, examine treasure chests
3) When pressed in front of a ladder, allows character to climb up in down.
4) Confirms the selection of weapons, armor, items, etc to sell or buy in shops
5) Activates switches on various items (ex. elevators)

Menu - Confirms the selected command.
Battle - Confirms the selected command.

Square Button
Field - N/A
Menu - Switches between the Materia menu and the Equip menu
Battle - While held down, closes the Command Window and displays the Barrier and Magic Barrier (MBarrier) gauges

X Button
Field
1) When the character is moving in the field, the character starts running.
2) Cancels the selection of weapons, armor, items etc to sell or buy in shops.

Menu
1) Closes the menu screen
2) Cancels the selected command

Battle - Cancels the selected command.

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