FF7 - Brushing up on the entire story of the game...

[Jive3D]

I was absolutely obsessed with FF7 back when it came out on the PS1. I'm pretty sure that I did almost everything that I possibly could, save for beating Ruby Weapon. It was an amazing experience.

I'm very excited for the flow of FF7 spinoffs/sequels that are coming out soon.

I would love to replay FF7 so that I could re-fresh myself on all the characters and everything that happened. But I have come to terms with the fact that (1) I don't have the time to replay FF7 (2) I could never re-create the experience of playing that game for the first time.

So my question is - whats the best way for me to brush up on the story of the game? Every detail. Does anyone know of a Killer FF7 fan site that summarizes everything? I've done some poking around at GameFAQs, but I'm not sop sure if that's the best way to do it.

Any suggestions? Thanks all.

[Jibbajaba]

The official strategy guide is chock full of spoilers. You might want to give that a quick read. Otherwise just try google.

Chris

[hezeuschrist]

You know, I thought the same thing about not being able to replay it, but a month ago I went all the way through it and did everything, and it was incredibly enjoyable. Far more than I expected it to be.

I wouldn't really know where to start, so if you've got specific questions I can try to answer them, but it's already starting to fade.

There's a script of the entire game here:
http://dw.com.com/redir?asid=197341&astid=8&siteid=19&edid=107&destCat=18433&destURL=http%3A%2F%2Fdb.gamefaqs.com%2Fconsole%2Fp sx%2Ffile%2Ffinal_fantasy_vii_script_d1.txt

While I was looking through all the FAQs at gamefaqs, I found some kind of end-all be-all of the events that take place during FFVII.

Finally, here it is. Enjoy ;)

http://db.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/file/final_fantasy_vii_plot.txt

[Gapporin]

Direct linking on GameFAQs is a no-no. Here's a page that should have all the documents that hezeus mentioned:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/game/197341.html

[hezeuschrist]

Direct linking on GameFAQs is a no-no. Here's a page that should have all the documents that hezeus mentioned:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/game/197341.html

Bah. The main one is "Plot Analysis"

I just read some of it and it's very, very helpful.

[badinsults]

FF7's plot was confusing and cliched. Of course, that was in no small part to the horrid translation. I figure the only reason to play the game was for the gameplay itself, which is quite enjoyable.

[hezeuschrist]

FF7's plot was confusing and cliched. Of course, that was in no small part to the horrid translation. I figure the only reason to play the game was for the gameplay itself, which is quite enjoyable.

Oh please do explain. The only poor translation I found in the literal sense last month was Aeris saying "That man are sick."

Aside from that, it's not difficult to grasp whats going on with the plot. And how it's cliche is beyond me. It might be cliche NOW, but in 97 there was nothing like it. Sure, it's a Final Fantasy game and it certainly involves saving the world, but the means to that end were and still are rather unique.

[badinsults]

Oh come now. The plot isn't all that different from any other FF game. Evil being tries to take over world. Hero has self conflict, that is resolved shortly before the end of game. Hero defeats boss. Except in FF7, you never really have a true idea of what Sephiroth is. Was he a ghost? Was he not killed by Cloud? What the heck is Jenova? Why wasn't Aeris mentioned after the first disc?

Also, if you don't think the translation was poor, you will change your mind after reading this:

http://zanyvg.overclocked.org/finalfantasy7/index.html

[Chronodriftersx]

Evan there is a page somewhere that explained all that and I mean really got in depth explaining it, as to far remove it from any other plot/stories. Opened my eyes wide a least, have no idea where it is though, oops.

[hezeuschrist]

Oh come now. The plot isn't all that different from any other FF game. Evil being tries to take over world. Hero has self conflict, that is resolved shortly before the end of game. Hero defeats boss. Except in FF7, you never really have a true idea of what Sephiroth is. Was he a ghost? Was he not killed by Cloud? What the heck is Jenova? Why wasn't Aeris mentioned after the first disc?

Also, if you don't think the translation was poor, you will change your mind after reading this:

http://zanyvg.overclocked.org/finalfantasy7/index.html

That's exactly what i said. The world in peril is just like any other RPG ever, but the means to that end are quite unique. How Sephiroth comes to exist, what he does when he finds out what Hojo has done, the connection between Lucretia, Vincent, Hojo, and Sephiroth. Cloud's "self conflict" being he finds out he's a failed Sephiroth clone, and so on. If you can point to another FF game that deals so heavily in mutated cells and cloning (all closely related to Jenova), let me know.

As for "what the heck is Jenova" from the Plot Analysis:


- Approx 2000 years ago.

Jenova arrives. He/She is known as the "Calamity from the Skies". It lands at
the north of the Planet and Cetra who have settled in a place called
"Knowlespole" go and investigate. Jenova appears disguised as a Cetra,
promising peace, but infects the Knowlespole Cetra with a terrible virus that
mutates and destroys them. Jenova then moves across the Plant infecting and
destroying the Cetra tribes.

Jenova's landing caused a huge wound in the Planet and the Lifestream gathers
there at what becomes known as the Great North Cave to repair the Planet. Five
Huge Robotic Weapons of increasing power are created by the Planet to kill
Jenova (WEAPON, DIAMOND WEAPON,ULTIMATE WEAPON, RUBY WEAPON and EMERALD
WEAPON), but before they can be used, a few surviving Cetra manage to defeat
Jenova (now in permanent female form) and seal her in rock.

The Weapons go into hibernation and the few surviving Cetra disperse amongst
the Human population.

So, thats what Jenova is, a virus bent on destroying the Ancients.

From that, Sephiroth is created. While Lucretia is pregnant with him, Hojo infects her with Jenova cells and thats how he becomes so incredibly powerful, and is also why he's bent on killing Aeris.

As to what happens after Cloud "kills" him, we'll find out in a week when Advent Children comes out.

EDIT: Or not. Apparently this is what happens.


Far from dead, Sephiroth washes through the Life stream until he ends up at
the Great North Cave. Having assimilated the knowledge of the Ancients while
in there he begins to formulate a plan to turn himself into a God. This
involves summoning a Meteor to cause a big enough wound on the planets surface
to make the Life stream rush to one place, where he can absorb it all. Over
the next 5 years he experiments with controlling the Sephiroth clones remotely
and projecting himself psychically. His physical body however remains in the
Great North Cave for the duration of the game.

[jdc]

You'd be surprised at how quickly you can rip through the game once you've played it a few times. It seems that you just put in the first disc....and you've got Red 13 already! LOL

It wouldn't take that much time to replay it since you can skip alot of the "fluff".

[hezeuschrist]

You'd be surprised at how quickly you can rip through the game once you've played it a few times. It seems that you just put in the first disc....and you've got Red 13 already! LOL

It wouldn't take that much time to replay it since you can skip alot of the "fluff".

Indeed. It took me 80 hours to complete it the first time, doing a whole bunch of stuff... but last month it only took me 50 hours and I did more than in my 80 hour game. Killed every weapon, got every materia, chocobo racing to the max, everything. Probably could have beat the game about 40 hours in if I hadn't gone for killing the weapons.

[Kim Possible]

Yeah, it goes MUCH faster the second or third time around, but its still just as fun. You should give it another go.

[Jive3D]

I want to give it another go - especially b/c I got the ULTIMA EDITION (FF7 PC Ultima Edition is a hacked - i think - version of the PC game that's optimized for all different kinds of computers - as the regular PC version will not work on Laptops/Notebooks without certain patches which didnt work for me in the first place).

The music is all re-done and sounds very very good. Ooh and you can see the character's mouths! Ha.

I just don't have the time these days. FF7 was a freshman year in College thing for me, lot's less time now!

[hezeuschrist]

I just don't have the time these days. FF7 was a freshman year in College thing for me, lot's less time now!

Heh, oddly enough, I just graduated and now I've got a whole bunch of time to play games.

I need a job :(

[badinsults]

I gave up on the game after the third time trying to pass it again after the memory card erased everything. I think my original playthough is still intact, though (I did beat the weapons).

[Jorpho]

Y'know, I never have heard of a decent method of killing the Red Weapon without repeated uses of KOTR. Not even GameFAQs really has anything.

Yes, it's important to start the level with only one living party member, and yes, Hades can be used to Paralyze the weapon, but nothing (aside from KOTOR) really does that much damage.

[badinsults]

I seem to recall that the Knights of the Round did nothing. But then, I passed that part over 5 years ago. I think you just keep hitting the two pillars, and it will eventually die. Having a couple of Mime materias mastered is a must. I don't know, I thought that the Emerald Weapon was harder, because of the time limit.

[InsaneDavid]

Direct linking on GameFAQs is a no-no. Here's a page that should have all the documents that hezeus mentioned:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/game/197341.html

Indeed, and hezeuschrist - if you're going to post LONG links, PLEASE truncate them and use the alternative method of posting hypertext links. That LONG link kills any kind of readability of this thread.

[hezeuschrist]

Direct linking on GameFAQs is a no-no. Here's a page that should have all the documents that hezeus mentioned:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/game/197341.html

Indeed, and hezeuschrist - if you're going to post LONG links, PLEASE truncate them and use the alternative method of posting hypertext links. That LONG link kills any kind of readability of this thread.

What horrid browser are you using that doesn't wrap the link?

[Half Cab Leroy]

I just started playing through FF7 again to brush up on the story also. Its been too long since I've played it and I need to get ready for all the FF7 compilations coming out.

[Amy Rose]

Heh, oddly enough, I just graduated and now I've got a whole bunch of time to play games.

I need a job :(
Then you'll have the money to buy games, but no time to play them! It sucks!

[Jive3D]

@ Amy Rose - How true it is.

The Advent Children DVD is floating around the net now. I saw a bit of it and it looks GOOD!!

2 month wait until the US release!!

[hezeuschrist]

@ Amy Rose - How true it is.

The Advent Children DVD is floating around the net now. I saw a bit of it and it looks GOOD!!

2 month wait until the US release!!

Now, where are you getting this info from? A lot of places still have the date set as tomorrow, but Gamestop/EB have the end of November.

[Jive3D]

Sorry - I don't know whatever the US release is. It could be this week for all I know - my mistake.

I better read that dang plot summary again...

[Dimitri]

You don't really need to know the FF7 story in depth to be able to follow AC -- I haven't gone through the game in about two years now, and I was able to understand the movie just fine. That said, you're going to be completely lost if you've never actually played it...

On a side note, it does indeed look GOOD... :D

[Gemini-Phoenix]

It is possible to play right through FFVII in well under 30 hours, and still manage to get pretty much everything (Including Gold Chocobo and all Master Materia) if you know what you are doing.

If you've played through it once, you'll already be able to get right in there and make the right decisions, and know where to go and what to do Etc...


Speaking for myself, I have played it through at least five times since 1997 (I tend to spend a week every year or so refamiliarising myself with the game / story), and have cut it down to full completion in about 25 hours


Have you perhaps tried tracking down the official guide book, or perhaps reading a few walkthroughs on GameFAQ's? That'll do the trick, without you actually having to play the game. ;)

[Richter]

I'm hearing within this month, this November & January for the US dvd release

sheesh, starting to sound like WD

[MarkMan]

Final Fantasy VII Advent Children was a great movie, I love how they tied the whole series together, can't wait until Dirge of Cerebus... even though it has nodirect correlation to what happens in the aftermath of FFVII or AC...