An update on recent technical problems and more from the admin: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/250292/on-technical-difficulties-mod-coverage-and-other-things/p1?new=1
Options
Final Fantasy VII: Ten Years Later (NSF56K, Spoilers)
Professor Snugglesworth
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
It's been ten years, and it is still one of the most cherished and discussed RPGs in history. And I feel it's high time we had a discussion about it. A legitimate discussion.
Final Fantasy VII was the most well received and highest grossing in Square's RPG series, but like its predecessors, it had a beginning and an ending, and paved the way for the sequential entries following it. But one day, Square decided to revisit the property again, years from its debut but no less popular as it was in its debut. Thus came the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, beginning with a CG movie and a few prequel and sequel entries in videogame, visual and written media. And despite some backlash from
purists and the lengthy development time of its last-revealed game, the Compilation is still going strong, as evidenced by the illustrious anniversary party thrown a couple of weeks back, the rising sales of Crisis Core's opening weekend, and the personal promise from Square Enix that the Compilation will continue, and that "the best is yet to come."
I won't hide it, I'm an FF nut, and I revere the seventh entry as the holy grail of the series, with the best setting, supporting cast, and overall mythology out of all the entries preceding and succeeding it. And even with all the extra attempts by Square to milk the cash Chocobo dry, I'm still looking forward to what they have in store for the series, including the promise of an epic, final entry that will wrap the series up forever and ever.
So let's take a look at what's happened so far in the Compilation, and what we may expect in the future.
I implore you, however, to keep things civil here. FFVII is a popular series, but it also brings out the worst kinds of fanatics and purists who love to rain on everyone's parade. This isn't a thread where you can vent how Square is whoring the series to new levels of mediocrity, or how you've grown tired of Tetsuya "Belts and Zippers" Nomura's artwork, or how you absolutely abhor X character or X celebrity playing a new character. You're entitled to show your apprehension towards certain aspects of the Compilation, but again, please keep it civil. This isn't /v/.
The Compilation So Far:
WARNING: NSF56K, SPOILERS FOR ADVENT CHILDREN, DIRGE OF CERBERUS, KINGDOM HEARTS, AND THE ORIGINAL GAME.
Advent Children:
The Story: It all started here. What was originally a compilation (heh) of famous scenes from the original game, re-rendered with current CG, was taken over by Nomura to turn into an original film, giving the new artists from Square Enix that wished to revisit FFVII's world along with the fans. It was Square's second attempt into filmmaking after Spirits Within, but a smaller budget and a more recognizable storyline brought home the big bucks for the company. In the end, what was meant to be a new but final look into the original game ended up being the beginning of a whole new continuity.
The Good: It finally shows us what became of Cloud, Tifa, and company after the abrupt and abysmal ending of the original game (don't let fanboys convince you it was actually good), shutting up everyone who was insistent that "they all died". It also features some fantastic redesigns of all the main characters, as well as some incredible action scenes that Square promises we'll one day be able to replicate with the PS3.
The Bad: It suffered far too many delays, including an 8 month delay that separated the Japanese and American releases from launching simultaneously as previously promised; You knew more than half of the movie from the countless trailers. It's also not very newbie friendly for anyone unfamiliar with the original game, and even those who did play it might end up lost if they didn't read the short story novels that bridged the game and movie together.
Also, despite being an incredible visual feast that references the original in many ways, it only minimally expanded on the affairs of the characters post game. Cloud pretty much takes center stage, while Tifa earns a respectable second lead, but all the other characters are put aside until the final act.
Can the movie be enjoyed by non-fans? I couldn't answer that for you, but it's a fantastic ride for those who finished the game, but it is not a proper ending, but merely the beginning of the new stories to come.
A Blu Ray edition is in the works, featuring brand new scenes and touched up visuals, but it's taking as long as the original movie did to get finished. It was also mentioned to be dubbed only, so it's unknown if there will actually be new dialog scenes (I'd be very surprised if there were).
Before Crisis:
The Story:An online mobile game where you play as the Turks, years before the events of the original game. Create an original character employed by Shinra, and run into nearly every notable character from the series.
The Good: It helps add some extra details and facts about FFVII's supporting cast that could help enhance your enjoyment of the original series.
The Bad: It's probably never coming here at this rate, even though it's been partially translated by SE. Our phones suck compared to Japan's.
Dirge of Cerberus:
The Story: This game did a lot of firsts for the series; It was the first FF game starring someone other than the main lead (FFX-2's Yuna would count as the "main female lead"), it was the first FFVII PS2 game (just not the one everyone wanted), and it was the first FF game to feature a completely non-RPG style of play to it.
The Good:Like BC, the game is interesting if you're looking to flesh out the FFVII world and characters a bit more; Vincent is fleshed out quite well here, showing that he isn't just a carbon Cloud copy (he's depressed about his life, but he doesn't whine about it like Cloud), but it also gives some extra screentime to Reeve, who had about two scenes total in the original game. Yuffie is also experiencing some increasingly sexy growth spurts as the years roll by.
The Bad: As a shooting game, it's mediocre in execution. It also incurred the rage of many fans for its new story details, mainly the inclusion of Gackt as a legitimate character in the series who might be even more powerful than Sephiroth. If you're an FFVII fan, it's worth getting in the bargain bin, but this project would've served much better as a 2nd CG movie.
Crisis Core:
The Story: I could never understand why people loved Zack so much, when his screentime in the original game was extremely brief. His appearance in the recent Compilation titles, however, have converted me. He's everything Cloud wished he was (and for a time, even thought he was), but he's also his dearest friend. This is his story.
The Good: It's confirmed not to suck, and adds even more details to the beginnings of the story than any other project. Zack and Aerith also make a cute couple, thus putting an end to the age old Love Triangle debate for good.
The Bad: We know how it's going to end. Also, people are afraid that the new story details might hamper the original continuity. We're going to get an explanation for Sephiroth's "One Winged Angel" shtick, as well as the origin for Genesis, who turns out was Sephiroth's one and only friend. Also, the fact that Zack was actually acquainted with characters like Yuffie might end up reaching a Chewie/Yoda level of forced continuity.
Last Order
The Story:A short anime OVA included with the limited edition of Advent Children (and now available in the NA version) that recounts the Nibelheim Incident.
The Good:I've wanted FFVII in anime form for years, but skeptics said it couldn't be done; this movie proves otherwise with fantastic animation and an incredible recreation of Nomura's character designs. Sephiroth is menacing, young Cloud is full of hate and rage, and young Tifa is just damn cute.
The Bad:They've teased us with this OVA, but there's been no mention or plans for an actual anime series. Also, it hasn't been available dubbed as of yet (I'm hoping the Blu Ray version of AC will change that, but I'm not holding my breath). Finally, fanboys whine over some of the story changes in this short OVA ("he jumps on his own? Lame!").
Kingdom Hearts
The Story: Yes, this counts too. An entirely original story from the continuity, Aerith is alive and acquainted with Squall, Cloud is a lone soldier who managed to survive his heart being taken by the Heartless due to his strong will, and Sephiroth is another soldier who willingly surrendered to darkness.
The Good: It offers a fresh new take on the FFVII characters, offering all sorts of theories. Why is Cloud so intent on hunting down Sephiroth? What did Sephiroth mean when he told Cloud "I am you.". Why is Cloud avoiding Tifa, and what is this "light" that she carries?
The last scene in Cloud's story also featured a brief but very fan-tastic scene where Tifa actually takes on Sephiroth, one on one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CDC9NlDN00
The Bad: Cloud's story is purposely left ambiguous as Nomura milks it for another KH game, so it's unknown how long, if ever, it'll be until we get a proper resolution. Also, there is ridiculous speculation that Tifa is actually a ghost in this game, since she doesn't converse with any of the other FF characters (even though she does interact with Sora, and Squall does look right at her when she enters a room).
On The Way to a Smile
The Story:A series of short story novels that bridge the gap from FFVII to AC. Previously in japanese with online english translations, the stories are now available in english with the NA limited edition of AC. I have provided links to the fan translations, and highly recommend you give them a read, especially Case of Tifa.
Case of Denzel
http://one.xthost.info/ffwebnovel/chdenzel.htm
The Story:Ever wondered where the hell this kid came from? His parents were squashed under the plate when the Turks blew up Sector 7. This story says what he was doing after that time, and how he ended up under Cloud and Tifa's care.
The Good:It fleshes out the kid, as well as offer the most up to date look into FFVII's story (one year after Dirge of Cerberus, Denzel is looking to joining WRO to help fight against some unknown force).
The Bad: Not much, but his backstory would've been better saved for the movie.
Case of Tifa
http://one.xthost.info/ffwebnovel/chtifa.htm
The Story:The closest there is to an official post-game epilogue, this story literally takes place a second after the first game's "ending", and pretty much details everything that's happened from now to AC.
The Good: Of all the Compilation stories, this is easily the best written and most endearing; Tifa has always been a fantastic character, and this story really helps flesh her out even more, but it also fleshes out Cloud, who is shown here at his most affectionate with Tifa. The two were destined for a happy life together, but the past comes to pull them apart in a very emotional way. You definitely need to give this a read.
The Bad: This story was wasted in its obscurity, and should have been included as an extra part of the movie. Also, despite the bittersweet ending, Cloud and Tifa's relationship is still restrained in order to keep AC rolling along, and likely will remain that way until the finale. Perhaps Square doesn't want to alienate the Cloud/Aerith lovers, but you can't help but feel that way when Aerith herself claims only Tifa can heal Cloud's heart (see below).
Case of Barret:
http://www.ff7citadel.com/compilation/ac_smile_barret.shtml
The Story:A brand new short story was included with the NA limited edition of AC, centering on Barret post-game. After some extensive searching, I have found an online transcript of the story, which you can read in the above link.
The Good: It's every bit as wonderful and heart wrenching as Tifa's story, with an extra dose of maturity and angst thrown in (there's even a couple of F bombs, although censored). Barret became somewhat forgotten during the game's second half, but here we are given a good hard look into the character, who not only struggles with inner rage and hatred for himself, but has to deal with being an outcast from the world around him (possible racial parable?). There's a few feel-good moments though, especially the conversation between Barret and Cid, the two biggest loudmouths in the cast, along with a quick insight into what the other characters have been up to post-game.
The Bad: It's a downer, that's for sure. Barret has a lot of inner turmoil inside, and there's also the suffering of the people due to Geostigma and the lack of mako across the world. But it ends on a positive note, and it just further fuels the anticipation for more personal stories like this. I really hope these short stories eventually get animated. It would make for a heck of an addition for the Blu Ray version of AC.
The Maiden Who Travels The Planet
http://one.xthost.info/ffwebnovel/maiden.htm
The Story:Aerith's events following the end of Disc 1. Despite all the mumbo jumbo about how everyone who passes on has their spirit energy recycled and reincarnated into a newly born being, Aerith takes the DBZ route and chills out in the afterlife, watching Cloud and the others from above while trying to halt Sephiroth's plans to use the planet's energy to further his goals.
The Good:It's pretty amusing to see Aerith interact with nearly all the dead characters from the game, including Shinra Sr, Hojo, and even Zack, who continues to flirt around with Aerith even in the afterlife, while watching Cloud grow into a competent fighter. It was also kind of neat to learn that Aerith had a hand in guiding Tifa to Cloud's subconscious when they fell into the Lifestream.
The Bad:Of all the debatable plot twists that the Compilation have churned out, such as Gackt and the origin of those wings, this story is where I have to draw the line. Aerith supporting her friends from the afterlife is perfectly fine if done with some subtlety (see AC), but there's nothing subtle about this story. Also, having Aerith admit some jealousy over Tifa being the only girl for Cloud seems a bit out of character.
The Remake:
The Story:Square just wanted to show off the power of PS3 with a little rendering of FFVII's opening scene. That's what they swear by, but the insane and undying amount of hype and pleading from fans has gotten them to seriously consider a full remake of the original game.
The Good:This project is going to happen, without a doubt. Everyone wants it to happen, including several of Square's own people, along with Sony (Kaz Hirai added a little love letter during the Anniversary, stating that "The best is yet to come"). This isn't a question of if, but when.
The Bad:Like everything else, the waiting is excruciating. This project could be confirmed in development any day now, or it could take another 5 or so years to get it off the ground. Square has stated that they aren't going through with it without Nomura and Kitase, and both have their hands full with other projects, including FFXIII. Plus they probably want to get the next FFVII sequel out the door before stepping backwards with a remake. That's not to say they couldn't scrounge up a development team solely dedicated to this remake, and rumors have it Sony is even personally funding the remake (which would be a very smart move considering their current situation).
The Characters:
What has our party and supporting characters been up to since 1997? What's coming up ahead for them?
Cloud Strife:
His story so far:After the events of the first game, Cloud was willing to move on and start a new life with Tifa, staying with her and Marlene in the new Seventh Heaven, along with taking in a new kid whom he learned to love as a son. But Cloud couldn't bear to let go his past failures (not just Aerith), and was willing to accept death when he was infected with Geostigma. But thanks to some verbal bitch-slapping from Tifa, Cloud manned up and learned to let go of his past.
What's next for him?: Hopefully, Cloud should be fully cleared of his angst and self depression by now. His last appearance was brief in Dirge of Cerberus, but he seemed in better spirits. You still have to hand it to the guy; It's not every day someone bypasses getting it on with a hot girl and jumps right into fatherhood. Stop wasting time, man.
Tifa Lockhart:
Her story so far: She was given the best redesign of all the characters, focusing more on her natural beauty and less on a revealing tank top and miniskirt. That hasn't really stopped the armies of hentai fanatics from ogling her, sadly, but at least she managed to become the first RPG heroine to wear more clothes in the sequel.
Storywise, Tifa's been busy, rebuilding her bar in a new city, taking in Denzel and watching Marlene while Barret's away, caring for both as if they were her children.
What's next for her?:Her desire to have a real family with Cloud is borderline depressing, so here's hoping the age old romantic debate between the two finally reaches a satisfying conclusion. She seemed to be in rather high spirits in Dirge, so there's a hopeful sign. I still support the idea of making Tifa the lead in a spin-off game; If Square really likes to play around with different genres, then a Heavenly Sword brawling game with Tifa would be pretty sweet, in that "she's hot, but she could also beat me in arm wrestling" sort of way. Just don't make it into a J-pop fest like FFX-2.
Vincent Valentine:
His story so far: He had the lead in the most recent post-FFVII game, had acquired his most powerful form for Chaos, and like Cloud, learned to forgive himself for being unable to protect someone important in his life.
What's next for him?: With his story pretty much wrapped up, Vincent will probably step back down into a supporting role, letting one of the other characters get more screentime. They had a prime opportunity to officially make him Sephiroth's biological father (Lucrecia ended up with Hojo, but there was no love there), but ultimately wasted it. Perhaps there's still a chance to toss that twist in.
Yuffie Kisaragi:
Her story so far: She scaled back her obsession for collecting Materia, now that her town is a famous tourist resort again, and has become content in spending time with her friends. She also holds the record for the most number of outfit changes within the Compilation, but never got over her air sickness.
What's next for her?: Yuffie will probably remain as the "buddy" character for the leads, but never taking the spotlight herself. She had developed a rather close relationship with Vincent in Dirge, but it's debatable if the thousands of fanfictions out there actually hold some merit with pairing these two.
Barret Wallace:
His story so far:Leaving Marlene in Tifa's care, Barret went back to his hometown of Corel to mine a new source of energy to replace the planet-draining Mako; That would be oil. He also outfitted himself with a snazzy mechanical hand that opens up into a gattling gun, but if AC is any indication, it still has some kinks to work out.
What's next for him?:No idea, really, but it's almost guaranteed that he'll have a more active role in the next entry, regardless of who takes the lead.
Aerith Gainsborough:
Her story so far: Dead and....loving it? Aerith has seemingly rejected crossing over so she can watch Cloud and friends from above, lending a helping hand with her now-goddess-like power.
What's next for her?: I'm hoping Aerith's afterlife influence doesn't end up as a deus ex machina twist to bail out the characters each time. I was personally hoping that FFVII's proper ending would have Aerith reincarnated as Cloud and Tifa's child, based on the whole circle of life speech from the original game. It could still end that way, and I still want it to end that way.
I was also hoping Aerith would be brought back as a slightly undead, slightly evil husk (think Ice and Fire), but there's no way SE would get that ballsy. If any other major character dies before the Compilation ends, I'll be very surprised.
Zack Fair:
His story so far: Also dead, and also watching and supporting Cloud from above, while sweetening his relationship with Aerith.
What's next for him?: Zack is the one character I wouldn't mind seeing brought back to life; Cheesy as it might be, I'm all for Cloud and Zack joining forces for one last final battle. After all, the Omnislash was actually Zack's final attack, which Cloud inherently picked up on.
Cid Highwind:
His story so far: Cid's had the most success so far post-game, marrying Shera after years of verbal abuse, and creating a far superior airship named after her.
What's next for him?: Like Yuffie, Cid will probably remain as the ever faithful supporting character, but will probably never step up to any roles beyond that.
Red XIII/Nanaki:
His story so far: Nomura had declared Red XIII to be one of his favorite characters, but so far his presence in the compilation has been minimal to the point of nonexistence. He seems to have made some sort of arrangement of carrying Cait Sith around, and he was seen sleeping in Seventh Heaven during Dirge's ending, but that's about all we know.
What's next for him?: At this point, anything would be good, because Red deserves more screentime and dialog then what he's gotten so far. Perhaps we'll finally get to meet his future mate (he's not asexual, so those cubs had to have come from somewhere).
Cait Sith/Reeve Tuesti:
His/Their story so far: Reeve is now the head of WRO, the World Regenesis Organization, an army devoted to peace but forced to keep on fighting nonetheless. Cait Sith remains his semi-sentient contraption, and no matter how many times he dies, there's plenty of spares on hand.
What's next for him/them?: In Denzel's story, it was mentioned by Reeve that WRO is currently at war with some unnamed force, so he may end up having a large role in the next game as he did in Dirge. I'm still wondering whatever became of Cait's fat Moogle partner. It was briefly mentioned somewhere that Cait dumped him on the account that he moved too slowly.
Marlene Wallace/Strife/Lockhart?:
Her story so far: She was adopted by Barret, but she's spent more time with Cloud and Tifa, looking to both as her family. She also seems to sense whenever Aerith is around in spirit, and has grown close to Denzel. They're brother and sister now, but could they grow into something more serious?
What's next for her?: It's interesting how despite the fact that neither character is a couple, Marlene has spent her life viewing Barret as her father and Tifa as her mother. Seems she considers Cloud a father figure as well, so I guess in the end she's everyone's daughter. I wonder if she'll ever find the truth about her real father, and that Barret was the one that killed him not too long ago?
Denzel (Washington? No, probably Strife):
His story so far: He was taken in by Cloud and Tifa after his parents were killed during Sector 7's destruction. He's looked up to Cloud as a father figure and a hero, and desires to venture forth and grow as strong as Cloud.
What's next for him?: He tried to join WRO, but was talked out of it due to his young age. There's a chance they could do the timeskip angle and make Denzel the new lead, several years older, but I'm against the idea; I don't want to see Cloud and company in their mid 30's, nor do I want Cloud to lose the spotlight. The story began with Cloud, it needs to end with Cloud.
Rufus and The Turks
Their story so far: After nearly dying in the original game (you'd be surprised how many people, myself included, felt that he survived despite no evidence as such), Rufus changes his views and swears to only use his company's resources to protect the planet. The Turks remain loyal, assisting Cloud and company as well, but had let slip that Rufus desires to rebuild Shinra back to its former glory.
What's next for them?: It's amazing how Cloud and Tifa can converse friendly with the Turks, even though they were the ones who annihilated a large amount of Midgar's population (including Denzel's parents). Rufus himself also tried to have Barret and Tifa publicy executed. However, it seems he and the Turks are too popular to kill off, so they may legitimately be good guys. After all, it was mentioned in Dirge that WRO was privately funded by an unknown person who "wanted to pay his debts to the planet". This would be an ironic twist if Rufus was the one funding WRO, since it was revealed in BC that
Sephiroth:
His story so far: Like Aerith, being dead hasn't stopped Sephiroth from wrecking havoc across the planet; Spreading Geostigma, creating Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo from his remains, absorbing the energy of the dead, and even coming back to life in AC, only to be soundly defeated by Cloud, who surprised him with his increased strength.
What's next for him?: Whatever SE is planning with Genesis, they have stated their awareness that Sephiroth is the only true villain of the FFVII series; Expect to see him come back at least one more time before the series wraps up for good.
Genesis Rhapsados:
His story so far: It turns out Sephiroth was just "Project S" in an undetermined number of super soldiers created by Shinra. Genesis here is "Project G", who is shrouded in mystery but nonetheless still active, based on Dirge's teaser ending. His origin will be explained in full in Crisis Core.
What's next for him?: Many fans have cried foul over the use of Gackt as an actual character in the series. I'm neutral on the idea, but either way he should make for an entertaining boss fight. I just hope SE remembers that the story has to end with Sephiroth, and that no one can rise above him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3Z3B189cFE
Shelke the Transparent:
Her story so far: Another one of Hojo's secretive projects, Shelke is actually a 19 year old girl with an un-aging body that requires regular does of Mako to stay alive. She ended up joining Vincent and WRO to maintain her own survival, but eventually grew to care about him. She was last seen having a drink in Tifa's bar, and keeps watch on her catatonic sister, who took a serious blow to the head while protecting her.
What's next for her?: Of all the new characters from the Compilation, Shelke is by far my favorite. I hope to see her as an actual party member in the next game, and I fully support her taking Aerith's place as the token third female character (in case you haven't noticed, most FF games consist of at least three female party members). I just hope they don't go too far with her uncontrollable feelings for Vincent, which result from her absorbing Lucrecia's memories and emotions.
Ultimania Translations
The good folks at adventchildren.net have posted translations from the latest artbook, which contain extensive timelines and character details in the FFVII world. Read up on your favorite characters, and see if you might learn anything new about them. Forum registration is not required.
http://forums.adventchildren.net/forumdisplay.php?f=255
Other Media:
Finally, SE keeps the FFVII train rolling with a bunch of merchandise, including new figures, models, images, and.....soda cans.
The Good: The new Play Arts figures are coming along nicely, especially Aerith and Red XIII. I also sincerely hope that those gorgeous posters end up on sale.
The Bad: FFVII soda cans? Sephiroth flavor? It's the equivalent of Gamerfuel over here. At least they come with small figurines, though not all of them are of exquisite quality. Also, I'm a bit disappointed that the PA figures of Cloud and Tifa in their old outfits takes a step backwards with their original, more cartoony proportions. I was hoping Tifa's oldschool figure would resemble that beautiful render on the poster, though the finished product does look a bit better. Yuffie's oldschool figure is surprisingly voluptuous, though, not quite the cute but skinny figure she's supposed to have.
The figures, along with some jewelry, can now be purchased in Square's NA Online Store. Always check this site first before spending more than necessary in another vendor, online or off.
Let's Play: FFVII
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=53218
Originally I wanted to be in charge of this little fan project, but real life responsibilities have forced me to pass it on to someone else. Female (gasp!) PA member Reznik is currently working on the LP, and is doing a bang up job considering the scope and scale of the game. Take a look, cheer her on.
Final Fantasy VII was the most well received and highest grossing in Square's RPG series, but like its predecessors, it had a beginning and an ending, and paved the way for the sequential entries following it. But one day, Square decided to revisit the property again, years from its debut but no less popular as it was in its debut. Thus came the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, beginning with a CG movie and a few prequel and sequel entries in videogame, visual and written media. And despite some backlash from
purists and the lengthy development time of its last-revealed game, the Compilation is still going strong, as evidenced by the illustrious anniversary party thrown a couple of weeks back, the rising sales of Crisis Core's opening weekend, and the personal promise from Square Enix that the Compilation will continue, and that "the best is yet to come."
I won't hide it, I'm an FF nut, and I revere the seventh entry as the holy grail of the series, with the best setting, supporting cast, and overall mythology out of all the entries preceding and succeeding it. And even with all the extra attempts by Square to milk the cash Chocobo dry, I'm still looking forward to what they have in store for the series, including the promise of an epic, final entry that will wrap the series up forever and ever.
So let's take a look at what's happened so far in the Compilation, and what we may expect in the future.
I implore you, however, to keep things civil here. FFVII is a popular series, but it also brings out the worst kinds of fanatics and purists who love to rain on everyone's parade. This isn't a thread where you can vent how Square is whoring the series to new levels of mediocrity, or how you've grown tired of Tetsuya "Belts and Zippers" Nomura's artwork, or how you absolutely abhor X character or X celebrity playing a new character. You're entitled to show your apprehension towards certain aspects of the Compilation, but again, please keep it civil. This isn't /v/.
The Compilation So Far:
WARNING: NSF56K, SPOILERS FOR ADVENT CHILDREN, DIRGE OF CERBERUS, KINGDOM HEARTS, AND THE ORIGINAL GAME.
Advent Children:
The Story: It all started here. What was originally a compilation (heh) of famous scenes from the original game, re-rendered with current CG, was taken over by Nomura to turn into an original film, giving the new artists from Square Enix that wished to revisit FFVII's world along with the fans. It was Square's second attempt into filmmaking after Spirits Within, but a smaller budget and a more recognizable storyline brought home the big bucks for the company. In the end, what was meant to be a new but final look into the original game ended up being the beginning of a whole new continuity.
The Good: It finally shows us what became of Cloud, Tifa, and company after the abrupt and abysmal ending of the original game (don't let fanboys convince you it was actually good), shutting up everyone who was insistent that "they all died". It also features some fantastic redesigns of all the main characters, as well as some incredible action scenes that Square promises we'll one day be able to replicate with the PS3.
The Bad: It suffered far too many delays, including an 8 month delay that separated the Japanese and American releases from launching simultaneously as previously promised; You knew more than half of the movie from the countless trailers. It's also not very newbie friendly for anyone unfamiliar with the original game, and even those who did play it might end up lost if they didn't read the short story novels that bridged the game and movie together.
Also, despite being an incredible visual feast that references the original in many ways, it only minimally expanded on the affairs of the characters post game. Cloud pretty much takes center stage, while Tifa earns a respectable second lead, but all the other characters are put aside until the final act.
Can the movie be enjoyed by non-fans? I couldn't answer that for you, but it's a fantastic ride for those who finished the game, but it is not a proper ending, but merely the beginning of the new stories to come.
A Blu Ray edition is in the works, featuring brand new scenes and touched up visuals, but it's taking as long as the original movie did to get finished. It was also mentioned to be dubbed only, so it's unknown if there will actually be new dialog scenes (I'd be very surprised if there were).
Before Crisis:
The Story:An online mobile game where you play as the Turks, years before the events of the original game. Create an original character employed by Shinra, and run into nearly every notable character from the series.
The Good: It helps add some extra details and facts about FFVII's supporting cast that could help enhance your enjoyment of the original series.
The Bad: It's probably never coming here at this rate, even though it's been partially translated by SE. Our phones suck compared to Japan's.
Dirge of Cerberus:
The Story: This game did a lot of firsts for the series; It was the first FF game starring someone other than the main lead (FFX-2's Yuna would count as the "main female lead"), it was the first FFVII PS2 game (just not the one everyone wanted), and it was the first FF game to feature a completely non-RPG style of play to it.
The Good:Like BC, the game is interesting if you're looking to flesh out the FFVII world and characters a bit more; Vincent is fleshed out quite well here, showing that he isn't just a carbon Cloud copy (he's depressed about his life, but he doesn't whine about it like Cloud), but it also gives some extra screentime to Reeve, who had about two scenes total in the original game. Yuffie is also experiencing some increasingly sexy growth spurts as the years roll by.
The Bad: As a shooting game, it's mediocre in execution. It also incurred the rage of many fans for its new story details, mainly the inclusion of Gackt as a legitimate character in the series who might be even more powerful than Sephiroth. If you're an FFVII fan, it's worth getting in the bargain bin, but this project would've served much better as a 2nd CG movie.
Crisis Core:
The Story: I could never understand why people loved Zack so much, when his screentime in the original game was extremely brief. His appearance in the recent Compilation titles, however, have converted me. He's everything Cloud wished he was (and for a time, even thought he was), but he's also his dearest friend. This is his story.
The Good: It's confirmed not to suck, and adds even more details to the beginnings of the story than any other project. Zack and Aerith also make a cute couple, thus putting an end to the age old Love Triangle debate for good.
The Bad: We know how it's going to end. Also, people are afraid that the new story details might hamper the original continuity. We're going to get an explanation for Sephiroth's "One Winged Angel" shtick, as well as the origin for Genesis, who turns out was Sephiroth's one and only friend. Also, the fact that Zack was actually acquainted with characters like Yuffie might end up reaching a Chewie/Yoda level of forced continuity.
Last Order
The Story:A short anime OVA included with the limited edition of Advent Children (and now available in the NA version) that recounts the Nibelheim Incident.
The Good:I've wanted FFVII in anime form for years, but skeptics said it couldn't be done; this movie proves otherwise with fantastic animation and an incredible recreation of Nomura's character designs. Sephiroth is menacing, young Cloud is full of hate and rage, and young Tifa is just damn cute.
The Bad:They've teased us with this OVA, but there's been no mention or plans for an actual anime series. Also, it hasn't been available dubbed as of yet (I'm hoping the Blu Ray version of AC will change that, but I'm not holding my breath). Finally, fanboys whine over some of the story changes in this short OVA ("he jumps on his own? Lame!").
Kingdom Hearts
The Story: Yes, this counts too. An entirely original story from the continuity, Aerith is alive and acquainted with Squall, Cloud is a lone soldier who managed to survive his heart being taken by the Heartless due to his strong will, and Sephiroth is another soldier who willingly surrendered to darkness.
The Good: It offers a fresh new take on the FFVII characters, offering all sorts of theories. Why is Cloud so intent on hunting down Sephiroth? What did Sephiroth mean when he told Cloud "I am you.". Why is Cloud avoiding Tifa, and what is this "light" that she carries?
The last scene in Cloud's story also featured a brief but very fan-tastic scene where Tifa actually takes on Sephiroth, one on one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CDC9NlDN00
The Bad: Cloud's story is purposely left ambiguous as Nomura milks it for another KH game, so it's unknown how long, if ever, it'll be until we get a proper resolution. Also, there is ridiculous speculation that Tifa is actually a ghost in this game, since she doesn't converse with any of the other FF characters (even though she does interact with Sora, and Squall does look right at her when she enters a room).
On The Way to a Smile
The Story:A series of short story novels that bridge the gap from FFVII to AC. Previously in japanese with online english translations, the stories are now available in english with the NA limited edition of AC. I have provided links to the fan translations, and highly recommend you give them a read, especially Case of Tifa.
Case of Denzel
http://one.xthost.info/ffwebnovel/chdenzel.htm
The Story:Ever wondered where the hell this kid came from? His parents were squashed under the plate when the Turks blew up Sector 7. This story says what he was doing after that time, and how he ended up under Cloud and Tifa's care.
The Good:It fleshes out the kid, as well as offer the most up to date look into FFVII's story (one year after Dirge of Cerberus, Denzel is looking to joining WRO to help fight against some unknown force).
The Bad: Not much, but his backstory would've been better saved for the movie.
Case of Tifa
http://one.xthost.info/ffwebnovel/chtifa.htm
The Story:The closest there is to an official post-game epilogue, this story literally takes place a second after the first game's "ending", and pretty much details everything that's happened from now to AC.
The Good: Of all the Compilation stories, this is easily the best written and most endearing; Tifa has always been a fantastic character, and this story really helps flesh her out even more, but it also fleshes out Cloud, who is shown here at his most affectionate with Tifa. The two were destined for a happy life together, but the past comes to pull them apart in a very emotional way. You definitely need to give this a read.
The Bad: This story was wasted in its obscurity, and should have been included as an extra part of the movie. Also, despite the bittersweet ending, Cloud and Tifa's relationship is still restrained in order to keep AC rolling along, and likely will remain that way until the finale. Perhaps Square doesn't want to alienate the Cloud/Aerith lovers, but you can't help but feel that way when Aerith herself claims only Tifa can heal Cloud's heart (see below).
Case of Barret:
http://www.ff7citadel.com/compilation/ac_smile_barret.shtml
The Story:A brand new short story was included with the NA limited edition of AC, centering on Barret post-game. After some extensive searching, I have found an online transcript of the story, which you can read in the above link.
The Good: It's every bit as wonderful and heart wrenching as Tifa's story, with an extra dose of maturity and angst thrown in (there's even a couple of F bombs, although censored). Barret became somewhat forgotten during the game's second half, but here we are given a good hard look into the character, who not only struggles with inner rage and hatred for himself, but has to deal with being an outcast from the world around him (possible racial parable?). There's a few feel-good moments though, especially the conversation between Barret and Cid, the two biggest loudmouths in the cast, along with a quick insight into what the other characters have been up to post-game.
The Bad: It's a downer, that's for sure. Barret has a lot of inner turmoil inside, and there's also the suffering of the people due to Geostigma and the lack of mako across the world. But it ends on a positive note, and it just further fuels the anticipation for more personal stories like this. I really hope these short stories eventually get animated. It would make for a heck of an addition for the Blu Ray version of AC.
The Maiden Who Travels The Planet
http://one.xthost.info/ffwebnovel/maiden.htm
The Story:Aerith's events following the end of Disc 1. Despite all the mumbo jumbo about how everyone who passes on has their spirit energy recycled and reincarnated into a newly born being, Aerith takes the DBZ route and chills out in the afterlife, watching Cloud and the others from above while trying to halt Sephiroth's plans to use the planet's energy to further his goals.
The Good:It's pretty amusing to see Aerith interact with nearly all the dead characters from the game, including Shinra Sr, Hojo, and even Zack, who continues to flirt around with Aerith even in the afterlife, while watching Cloud grow into a competent fighter. It was also kind of neat to learn that Aerith had a hand in guiding Tifa to Cloud's subconscious when they fell into the Lifestream.
The Bad:Of all the debatable plot twists that the Compilation have churned out, such as Gackt and the origin of those wings, this story is where I have to draw the line. Aerith supporting her friends from the afterlife is perfectly fine if done with some subtlety (see AC), but there's nothing subtle about this story. Also, having Aerith admit some jealousy over Tifa being the only girl for Cloud seems a bit out of character.
The Remake:
The Story:Square just wanted to show off the power of PS3 with a little rendering of FFVII's opening scene. That's what they swear by, but the insane and undying amount of hype and pleading from fans has gotten them to seriously consider a full remake of the original game.
The Good:This project is going to happen, without a doubt. Everyone wants it to happen, including several of Square's own people, along with Sony (Kaz Hirai added a little love letter during the Anniversary, stating that "The best is yet to come"). This isn't a question of if, but when.
The Bad:Like everything else, the waiting is excruciating. This project could be confirmed in development any day now, or it could take another 5 or so years to get it off the ground. Square has stated that they aren't going through with it without Nomura and Kitase, and both have their hands full with other projects, including FFXIII. Plus they probably want to get the next FFVII sequel out the door before stepping backwards with a remake. That's not to say they couldn't scrounge up a development team solely dedicated to this remake, and rumors have it Sony is even personally funding the remake (which would be a very smart move considering their current situation).
The Characters:
What has our party and supporting characters been up to since 1997? What's coming up ahead for them?
Cloud Strife:
His story so far:After the events of the first game, Cloud was willing to move on and start a new life with Tifa, staying with her and Marlene in the new Seventh Heaven, along with taking in a new kid whom he learned to love as a son. But Cloud couldn't bear to let go his past failures (not just Aerith), and was willing to accept death when he was infected with Geostigma. But thanks to some verbal bitch-slapping from Tifa, Cloud manned up and learned to let go of his past.
What's next for him?: Hopefully, Cloud should be fully cleared of his angst and self depression by now. His last appearance was brief in Dirge of Cerberus, but he seemed in better spirits. You still have to hand it to the guy; It's not every day someone bypasses getting it on with a hot girl and jumps right into fatherhood. Stop wasting time, man.
Tifa Lockhart:
Her story so far: She was given the best redesign of all the characters, focusing more on her natural beauty and less on a revealing tank top and miniskirt. That hasn't really stopped the armies of hentai fanatics from ogling her, sadly, but at least she managed to become the first RPG heroine to wear more clothes in the sequel.
Storywise, Tifa's been busy, rebuilding her bar in a new city, taking in Denzel and watching Marlene while Barret's away, caring for both as if they were her children.
What's next for her?:Her desire to have a real family with Cloud is borderline depressing, so here's hoping the age old romantic debate between the two finally reaches a satisfying conclusion. She seemed to be in rather high spirits in Dirge, so there's a hopeful sign. I still support the idea of making Tifa the lead in a spin-off game; If Square really likes to play around with different genres, then a Heavenly Sword brawling game with Tifa would be pretty sweet, in that "she's hot, but she could also beat me in arm wrestling" sort of way. Just don't make it into a J-pop fest like FFX-2.
Vincent Valentine:
His story so far: He had the lead in the most recent post-FFVII game, had acquired his most powerful form for Chaos, and like Cloud, learned to forgive himself for being unable to protect someone important in his life.
What's next for him?: With his story pretty much wrapped up, Vincent will probably step back down into a supporting role, letting one of the other characters get more screentime. They had a prime opportunity to officially make him Sephiroth's biological father (Lucrecia ended up with Hojo, but there was no love there), but ultimately wasted it. Perhaps there's still a chance to toss that twist in.
Yuffie Kisaragi:
Her story so far: She scaled back her obsession for collecting Materia, now that her town is a famous tourist resort again, and has become content in spending time with her friends. She also holds the record for the most number of outfit changes within the Compilation, but never got over her air sickness.
What's next for her?: Yuffie will probably remain as the "buddy" character for the leads, but never taking the spotlight herself. She had developed a rather close relationship with Vincent in Dirge, but it's debatable if the thousands of fanfictions out there actually hold some merit with pairing these two.
Barret Wallace:
His story so far:Leaving Marlene in Tifa's care, Barret went back to his hometown of Corel to mine a new source of energy to replace the planet-draining Mako; That would be oil. He also outfitted himself with a snazzy mechanical hand that opens up into a gattling gun, but if AC is any indication, it still has some kinks to work out.
What's next for him?:No idea, really, but it's almost guaranteed that he'll have a more active role in the next entry, regardless of who takes the lead.
Aerith Gainsborough:
Her story so far: Dead and....loving it? Aerith has seemingly rejected crossing over so she can watch Cloud and friends from above, lending a helping hand with her now-goddess-like power.
What's next for her?: I'm hoping Aerith's afterlife influence doesn't end up as a deus ex machina twist to bail out the characters each time. I was personally hoping that FFVII's proper ending would have Aerith reincarnated as Cloud and Tifa's child, based on the whole circle of life speech from the original game. It could still end that way, and I still want it to end that way.
I was also hoping Aerith would be brought back as a slightly undead, slightly evil husk (think Ice and Fire), but there's no way SE would get that ballsy. If any other major character dies before the Compilation ends, I'll be very surprised.
Zack Fair:
His story so far: Also dead, and also watching and supporting Cloud from above, while sweetening his relationship with Aerith.
What's next for him?: Zack is the one character I wouldn't mind seeing brought back to life; Cheesy as it might be, I'm all for Cloud and Zack joining forces for one last final battle. After all, the Omnislash was actually Zack's final attack, which Cloud inherently picked up on.
Cid Highwind:
His story so far: Cid's had the most success so far post-game, marrying Shera after years of verbal abuse, and creating a far superior airship named after her.
What's next for him?: Like Yuffie, Cid will probably remain as the ever faithful supporting character, but will probably never step up to any roles beyond that.
Red XIII/Nanaki:
His story so far: Nomura had declared Red XIII to be one of his favorite characters, but so far his presence in the compilation has been minimal to the point of nonexistence. He seems to have made some sort of arrangement of carrying Cait Sith around, and he was seen sleeping in Seventh Heaven during Dirge's ending, but that's about all we know.
What's next for him?: At this point, anything would be good, because Red deserves more screentime and dialog then what he's gotten so far. Perhaps we'll finally get to meet his future mate (he's not asexual, so those cubs had to have come from somewhere).
Cait Sith/Reeve Tuesti:
His/Their story so far: Reeve is now the head of WRO, the World Regenesis Organization, an army devoted to peace but forced to keep on fighting nonetheless. Cait Sith remains his semi-sentient contraption, and no matter how many times he dies, there's plenty of spares on hand.
What's next for him/them?: In Denzel's story, it was mentioned by Reeve that WRO is currently at war with some unnamed force, so he may end up having a large role in the next game as he did in Dirge. I'm still wondering whatever became of Cait's fat Moogle partner. It was briefly mentioned somewhere that Cait dumped him on the account that he moved too slowly.
Marlene Wallace/Strife/Lockhart?:
Her story so far: She was adopted by Barret, but she's spent more time with Cloud and Tifa, looking to both as her family. She also seems to sense whenever Aerith is around in spirit, and has grown close to Denzel. They're brother and sister now, but could they grow into something more serious?
What's next for her?: It's interesting how despite the fact that neither character is a couple, Marlene has spent her life viewing Barret as her father and Tifa as her mother. Seems she considers Cloud a father figure as well, so I guess in the end she's everyone's daughter. I wonder if she'll ever find the truth about her real father, and that Barret was the one that killed him not too long ago?
Denzel (Washington? No, probably Strife):
His story so far: He was taken in by Cloud and Tifa after his parents were killed during Sector 7's destruction. He's looked up to Cloud as a father figure and a hero, and desires to venture forth and grow as strong as Cloud.
What's next for him?: He tried to join WRO, but was talked out of it due to his young age. There's a chance they could do the timeskip angle and make Denzel the new lead, several years older, but I'm against the idea; I don't want to see Cloud and company in their mid 30's, nor do I want Cloud to lose the spotlight. The story began with Cloud, it needs to end with Cloud.
Rufus and The Turks
Their story so far: After nearly dying in the original game (you'd be surprised how many people, myself included, felt that he survived despite no evidence as such), Rufus changes his views and swears to only use his company's resources to protect the planet. The Turks remain loyal, assisting Cloud and company as well, but had let slip that Rufus desires to rebuild Shinra back to its former glory.
What's next for them?: It's amazing how Cloud and Tifa can converse friendly with the Turks, even though they were the ones who annihilated a large amount of Midgar's population (including Denzel's parents). Rufus himself also tried to have Barret and Tifa publicy executed. However, it seems he and the Turks are too popular to kill off, so they may legitimately be good guys. After all, it was mentioned in Dirge that WRO was privately funded by an unknown person who "wanted to pay his debts to the planet". This would be an ironic twist if Rufus was the one funding WRO, since it was revealed in BC that
he was the one who privately funded AVALANCHE, though that was so they could eliminate his father, thus making him the President of Shinra.
Sephiroth:
His story so far: Like Aerith, being dead hasn't stopped Sephiroth from wrecking havoc across the planet; Spreading Geostigma, creating Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo from his remains, absorbing the energy of the dead, and even coming back to life in AC, only to be soundly defeated by Cloud, who surprised him with his increased strength.
What's next for him?: Whatever SE is planning with Genesis, they have stated their awareness that Sephiroth is the only true villain of the FFVII series; Expect to see him come back at least one more time before the series wraps up for good.
Genesis Rhapsados:
His story so far: It turns out Sephiroth was just "Project S" in an undetermined number of super soldiers created by Shinra. Genesis here is "Project G", who is shrouded in mystery but nonetheless still active, based on Dirge's teaser ending. His origin will be explained in full in Crisis Core.
What's next for him?: Many fans have cried foul over the use of Gackt as an actual character in the series. I'm neutral on the idea, but either way he should make for an entertaining boss fight. I just hope SE remembers that the story has to end with Sephiroth, and that no one can rise above him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3Z3B189cFE
Shelke the Transparent:
Her story so far: Another one of Hojo's secretive projects, Shelke is actually a 19 year old girl with an un-aging body that requires regular does of Mako to stay alive. She ended up joining Vincent and WRO to maintain her own survival, but eventually grew to care about him. She was last seen having a drink in Tifa's bar, and keeps watch on her catatonic sister, who took a serious blow to the head while protecting her.
What's next for her?: Of all the new characters from the Compilation, Shelke is by far my favorite. I hope to see her as an actual party member in the next game, and I fully support her taking Aerith's place as the token third female character (in case you haven't noticed, most FF games consist of at least three female party members). I just hope they don't go too far with her uncontrollable feelings for Vincent, which result from her absorbing Lucrecia's memories and emotions.
Ultimania Translations
The good folks at adventchildren.net have posted translations from the latest artbook, which contain extensive timelines and character details in the FFVII world. Read up on your favorite characters, and see if you might learn anything new about them. Forum registration is not required.
http://forums.adventchildren.net/forumdisplay.php?f=255
Other Media:
Finally, SE keeps the FFVII train rolling with a bunch of merchandise, including new figures, models, images, and.....soda cans.
The Good: The new Play Arts figures are coming along nicely, especially Aerith and Red XIII. I also sincerely hope that those gorgeous posters end up on sale.
The Bad: FFVII soda cans? Sephiroth flavor? It's the equivalent of Gamerfuel over here. At least they come with small figurines, though not all of them are of exquisite quality. Also, I'm a bit disappointed that the PA figures of Cloud and Tifa in their old outfits takes a step backwards with their original, more cartoony proportions. I was hoping Tifa's oldschool figure would resemble that beautiful render on the poster, though the finished product does look a bit better. Yuffie's oldschool figure is surprisingly voluptuous, though, not quite the cute but skinny figure she's supposed to have.
The figures, along with some jewelry, can now be purchased in Square's NA Online Store. Always check this site first before spending more than necessary in another vendor, online or off.
Let's Play: FFVII
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=53218
Originally I wanted to be in charge of this little fan project, but real life responsibilities have forced me to pass it on to someone else. Female (gasp!) PA member Reznik is currently working on the LP, and is doing a bang up job considering the scope and scale of the game. Take a look, cheer her on.
Professor Snugglesworth on
0
Posts
What?
Their retconning is really starting to irk me. I guess it's not impossible, but still, that's pretty farfetched.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to whatever they have in mind that's going to resolve the series. They should focus on that more than they should a PS3 remake, no matter how much everyone wants it.
And keep Gackt out of VII. He's a musician; leave it at that.
Dirge:
Lucrecia's not dead. Bring her back. Vincent should be with her, end of story.
Though if nothing else, I got my money's worth out of it. All I really wanted was to kill Hojo, and it (sort of) delivered.
The short stories also came with the CE of Advent Children(as well as a script, though that's worthless, since it's just a literal transcription of the dialogue, nothing descriptive).
The stories are good.
Cloud is still a jerk, and the way he is in KH2 to Tifa pretty much confirms it.
Either that or he's just a complete idiot.
Actually, this is one of the retcons I'm in full favor of. It makes Rufus look more credible and conniving than he appeared in the original game.
Thanks a lot. I had some reservations with the thread, since FFVII is always a touchy subject (people are just sick hearing about it. I don't blame them, but when SE actually states that a surprise is on the way, I just can't help myself).
As for Cloud, one of the extras in AC went to a great deal in describing his situation with Tifa. It isn't that Cloud doesn't want to have a happy life with her, he's just afraid of growing close to anyone, since he has such little faith in himself. Everyone he's tried to protect has died, or nearly died (he hasn't been able to save Tifa even once). Tifa, who was also covered extensively in the Reunion artbook, realizes Cloud is practically another kid to raise, and doesn't want to push him too much. Both of them have to come to terms with their inner demons, and that's why I consider their relationship to be one of the most well written and touching romances, videogame or otherwise.
It's inevitable because it's highly demanded from the fanbase. Also, the original product really hasn't aged well. Sure, there's plenty of other games that deserve the remake treatment, but Square went and teased the idea in front of our very eyes with that Tech Demo. And it got us salivating.
Blog||Tumblr|Steam|Twitter|FFXIV|Twitch|YouTube|Podcast|PSN|XBL|DarkZero
That being said, now with all this additional crap surrounding the series on both sides of the timeline, they'd have trouble fixing the game's major problem; the last 1/3 of the plot is rushed and ill explained.
Great OP if you like spoilers, you should tag like half of it. :P
I'm not saying that time is now, but seeing as how they've done a sort of FF7 revival the past 2 years, this is the tenth anniversary of the game, and TGS is rapidly approaching, the mood seems to be aptly set for an announcement of this caliber.
Well, and adding more to it, which is a bad idea.
I'm playing through it again, getting prepared for an LP run. (Up tomorrow, if anyone cares) So I must say this; the game could use a little more, just it needed to be in the second part of disk 2 and all of disk 3.
Yeah, those posters are awesome. I'd kill for a set with Cloud, Tifa and Barret (or possibly Red XIII).
Gah, I'm such a FFVII whore. If I lived in Japan I'd be broke.
Do... Re... Mi... So... Fa.... Do... Re.... Do...
Forget it...
:^:
Since this thread is spoiler-heavy (thanks for the warning, btw!), I'll just say that, and return when I've completed the game.
The OP should really add (NSF56k and SPOILERS) to the title. It should fit.
The info is much appreciated.
seriously, a cell phone game?
now i'm leaving this thread until i finish Advent Children.
3DS Friend Code: 2165-6448-8348 www.Twitch.TV/cooljammer00
Battle.Net: JohnDarc#1203 Origin/UPlay: CoolJammer00
I think both of those are no-nos on this board, however.
...though, I would rather it not be a PS3 title...hah.
Secret Satan
Will japan explode?
wasn't that terrible? I read that thread. General consensus was that it was rubbish. I couldnt even get the torrent to work.
3DS Friend Code: 2165-6448-8348 www.Twitch.TV/cooljammer00
Battle.Net: JohnDarc#1203 Origin/UPlay: CoolJammer00
FF VII did pretty good over there, and did great over here. By great I mean it really opened up the market. This may largely be due to the absolute gigantic advertising campaign it ran.
So to answer your question. Maybe. Probably not.
THEY SAID IT COULD NEVER BE DONE IN A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE!
THEY WERE RIGHT!
Heh.
I actually liked FF7. Granted I love FF4 more but FF7 was fun. The materia system was much more pleasant to deal with than the Esper system of 6. Now, I do personally think that FF7's success had to do with timing and those awesome CGed commercials using clips from the game as well as Playstation's rising popularity as well as a widening gaming audience.
Zack was a favourite character probably because even though he had a short appearance in the main game, it was a strong enough and likable personality.
FF7 was the last FF I enjoyed until X.
The whole Compilation is so blatantly aimed at making money that it turns me off entirely. It just feels like the spirit of the original game is getting adulterated.
I second this.
I'm wary about the remake, but if it came out for the 360, I would buy it. I would not buy a ps3 for a remake of a game I already own.
-edit- I hated the ending, I felt really ripped off. What a lame ending for an epic game!
you know, I had interpreted the ending as the life force "rebooting" the planet. I.E. killing all man kind and stopping the meteor.
Red XIII survived because he wasn't human. It's a far off interpretation, but I liked it.
Shame that now it's explicit in what happened.
EDIT: And the reason I thought all human life had died was because they showed the city, abandoned and covered over with vegetation.
Does anyone know if you can buy these and if there are any more?
Think about that for a second. "We won! Great, how? By killing all the humans! Hi Five!"
On second thought, Master Asia would be proud...
It has a few pretty good songs. It's downfall is, well, like the website says, "From jazz to techno to rock to classical", nothing like listening to a very nice piano solo followed by some rubbish techno track, it ruins the mood. But yeah like I said, it has a few gems.
and I loaded up the torrent just fine, only took about 30-45 min to dl too (it's about 2.5 GB).
I'm dead serious."
A lot of people felt this way. Until Advent Children proved everyone wrong.
I didn't want to think that, but it made the most sense.
Holy eliminated the biggest threat to the Planet: man.
Midgar is the only city of that size and technology level, only sustainable by Mako. It also had a giant meteor blow up right over it. I think those two would explain why it was abandoned rather than the awesome plot idea of killing everyone and starting over.
No point talking about it because it'll never happen.
Anyway, two thumbs up for the OP, that thing is awesome. As for a FFVII remake announced at TGS, I really doubt it. If it were being developed for a console, it'd be done by Kitase's development team and since they're mid-way through FFXIII's development, they won't be able to do it.
An upgraded port though? I think it'd be possible. It'd probably be on the PSP, which means they probably wouldn't need to completely remake the game. They'd just have to remodel all the characters, monsters and vehicles and then throw in some pre-rendered cutscenes. The backgrounds should still be perfectly fine.