Hello, Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome to my small, almost insignificant tribute to what is considered by a few livid video-game afficionados to be the greatest RPG in the history of mankind. Yes, I happen to be one of those people who holds this belief, and I'll tell you why.
RPG, for those of you who don't spend alot of time glued to a video-game screen, stands for Role-Playing Game. That means there is a complicated storyline, and as the player, to basically become the main character. You can change is name, for example, and you build up his experience points, and essentially develop him into a strong warrior as the game progresses. Typical RPGs have a great variety of additional cast members, a multi-faceted storyline, an imaginative array of weapons, armor, and magical skills, and finally a fabulously designed world for your team of heroes to explore. FFVII has all of these things, along with truly endearing characters with complicated relationships, amazing computer graphics, and twists in the plot sure to surprise anyone.
Anyway, since I regard this game so highly, I decided to expose my web friends to it. I did this mostly by writing a fanfic introducing the FFVII world into that of the Power Rangers. In order to make this story, as well as any other FFVII stories you may encounter, easier to follow, I'll give you a bit of information about it.
First, let us travel back in time thousands of years. A race of benevolent aliens known as the Cetra arrived on the lush planet Earth. They were a race far superior to the indigenous humans, and they learned to prosper on the planet by living in harmony with nature. They were so connected to nature that they were even able to communicate with the Planet. They could feel the pain of the Planet, and its joy. Also, they had a connection with the Lifestream, which as the name suggests, is the lifeblood of the planet, the energy of life from which all life is created, and to which all life eventually returns. Over time, the Cetra, known to mankind as the Ancients, decreased in numbers. Exactly what happened to them isn't entirely known, but many myths surround their dissappearance. Some believed that they simply died out. Other believed they were irated by the growing strength of men, who where notorious for stripping the Planet of its resources to further their society. Also, there is the mystery of the Promised Land, a paradisaic place that only the Cetra could reach. Some believed the Cetra took refuge there, where they could live without the interference of mankind. Although, as time passed, the story of the Cetra became more and more mythological, some still believed that a few of them still did exist, hidden amongst mankind, and endowed with the power to find the Promised Land, and to command the Planet itself to do their bidding.
Now we reach the present. The world of FFVII is comparable to the one we live in today. Sure, their are wizards and warriors, but there are also trains, buzzing cities, and a powerful corporate giant known as Shinra which basically runs the planet. This company has had a long history of being headed by completely megalomaniacle presidents, who sought to empower themselves at the expense of the planet. One means by which the Shinra corporation does this is by extracting Mako energy from the planet, which is in essence the Lifestream. By doing this, they are slowly killing the planet, and the amounts of Mako energy that permeate the world are dangerous.
It was then that some Shinra scientists came up with a new way to use Mako energy: by infusing it with a human being. Doing this gave the person increased physical abilities, but it also threatened to drive them to the brink of insanity. Such genetic projects created a few beings with abilities beyond those of normal men, who could be a great asset to mankind, or its downfall. One being such as this is the man known as Sephiroth.
Sephiroth was at first a warrior of Shinra in their elite military force known as SOLDIER. He was reknowned as the greatest warrior to exist, whose mighty Masamune could cleave anything in two, and whose command of different spells were awe-inspiring. However, on a routine mission for the Shinra corporation, to investigate a malfunctioning Mako reactor, he discovered something about his past. He discovered a being called Jenova, whose physical remains were trapped deep within the reactor. Through further investigation, he learned that Jenova was in fact an Ancient, that was abducted by the Shinra and whose DNA was used by the geneticists to create a more powerful breed of mankind, endowed with the might of the Cetra. Sephiroth also learned something else, that drove him to insanity... Jenova was his mother.
Enraged by the folly of mankind, he decided to make them pay, and show the inferior humans the wrath and vengeance of the Cetra by destroying them all. He also decided to take his birthright as the sole remaining descendant of the Cetra, and empower himself by absorbing the Lifestream into himself. Such an action meant the imminent destruction of the entire world. None could stand up against Sephiroth's might. The economic and military might of the Shinra organization couldn't contain the monster it had created, neither with genetics or war. Instead, a band of heroes emerged from the chaos of a doomed planet, to prevent Sephiroth from destroying the Planet, as well as to undo the wrongs of the power-hungry Shinra organization, and to prevent such manipulations with the delicacy of genetics from creating such a monster again.
These are the heroes, all from very different backgrounds, who were united by Destiny to save the planet...
When first introduced at the beginning of the game, Cloud is immediately a person shrouded in mystery. Formerly an employee of Shinra's SOLDIER forces, he left that organization to become a mercenary. He was hired by the rebel team AVALANCHE, which existed entirely to fight against Shinra's iron-fisted rule over the city Midgar. As time passed, his team encountered Sephiroth, who served as a member of SOLDIER at the same time Cloud had. Cloud's anger against Sephiroth brought him to focus all his energies to end his insane quest for power, which had caused the destruction of Cloud's hometown Nibelheim five years earlier. With Cloud's great passion for Sephiroth's destruction, it couldn't help but be asked, is he fighting to save the planet, or for his personal vendetta?
Cloud is a warrior born. He possesses increased physical abilities, as a result of joining the elite SOLDIER, and he is also quite skilled at using various forms of materia. His weapons are all very long, broad swords, each one about the size of a full grown man. His prized weapon is the Ultima Weapon, which is a magical sword of incredible power. When he focuses his anger through the sword during a battle, he can release the Omni-Slash, a deadly attack of dozens of lightning quick, ferocious slashes aimed perfectly at the opponent. Very few enemies can withstand the Omni-Slash.
Barrett was the leader of the team AVALANCHE, and so he was introduced early into the game. He worked with Cloud on a few raids of Shinra's bases in the city of Midgar, but later on he joined Cloud's quest for the greater good of the planet. He is a hero with extremely rough edges, and a mean streak that could frighten nearly anyone. But his allies know him to be a loyal warrior who never would let his friends down, and who'd do anything to make the world a safer place, so his adopted daughter Marlene could grow up in a world of tranquility.
Barrett uses a gun arm which he replaced his lost limb with years ago, when his hometown was burned to the ground by the Shinra Corporation. Most often, he uses his physical strength and rapid fire weapon against an opponent, but on occasion he will take advantage of a powerful materia. His special Limit Attack, that he uses by harnessing building anger, is called the Catastrophe, which releases a powerful sphere of crackling energy from his gun arm into the opponent for multiple hits.
Tifa Lockheart is the owner of the bar Seventh Heaven, a place for the weary traveler in the slums of Midgar to rest his hat. Seventh Heaven is also the secret headquarters of AVALANCHE. Tifa herself has worked with Barrett for some time against Shinra, but even before that, she was a close childhood friend of Cloud. She and Cloud grew up together in Nibelheim, but once he joined SOLDIER, he never kept in touch. Their friendship is very special to Tifa, and although she would never admit it, she has strong feelings for him. Tifa is a skilled fighter, trained by a famed martial artist since childhood, but she also has a gentle side, which most often displays itself when a teammate is either in danger or injured.
Tifa's weapon of choice is a glove, which enhances the force of her punches. Also, she is a very skilled materia user, especially of the magic materia. She is known to carry heal or cure materia, to restore battle damage to allies during a fight. Her most powerful attack is a series of single hits, in rapid succession, which allow Tifa to defy the restraints of her limited strength through focused force of anger.
Aeris is a flower merchant living in Midgar who bumps into Cloud rather accidentally. She is instantly captivated by the mysterious stranger, and winds up joining his mission against Shinra, and later Sephiroth. She is a young woman that exudes love and compassion, which makes her a bright person to have in one's company during a dire adventure as the one Cloud and his friends journey on. However, it is discovered that she is in fact an Ancient, which makes her the target of the Shinra geneticists, and later, Sephiroth, who views her as a possible rival to the inheritance of the Cetra.
As an Ancient, Aeris has a special connection with the Planet itself. When her allies are in dire need, she can call upon the restorative abilities of the Lifestream floating beneath the surface, to cure almost any injury sustained by her friends, and also cast spells to weaken opponents defenses. Although she is a notable fighter with her staff, her greatest asset in battle is this command of life energy, as well as her unparalleled skill with materia.
Red XIII is introduced into the game as a hostage of Shinra's genetics ward. He is freed from his confines, and joins Cloud and his friends on their quest. Red is the last member of an ancient race of brave and intelligent wolf-like creatures, who once upon a time lived in greater numbers throughout the planet. He was orphaned when his father, the warrior Seto, died while defending the town of Cosmo Canyon, a city of vast scientific, astronomical, and philosophical knowledge. The leader of Cosmo Canyon, the famed elder known as Bugenhagen, took Red XIII under his wing, and raised him from infancy. Just like his father before him, Red XIII is the protector of Cosmo Canyon, and is a skilled fighter with a sharp headdress he uses as a weapon, as well as his sharp fangs and claws.
Red XIII is equally skilled in combat and materia use, though he often prefers to simply use his own natural skills in battle. Also, when angered, he unleashes his physical might with an intense attack on any and all opponents by leaping at them, and continuing biting and clawing seemingly uncontrollably, but extraordinarily accurately.
Cait Sith is the small black cat atop the stuffed "toysaurus" creature in the shape of a mog. Cait Sith is in actuality an artificial intelligence, controlled by a top Shinra executive to infiltrate Cloud's team. Later, after betraying the heroes by stealing a valuable materia, he repents his action, and sacrifices his robotic body for the benefit of his friends. Later, he returns to the team in a new stuffed body, and continues the fight against Sephiroth. Although he constantly tries to display his loyalty, the fact that he betrayed his friends to Shinra before makes it difficult for them to fully trust him again.
Since Cait Sith is essentially an artificial lifeform, he is less prone to injury as his allies. Also, the strength of the Mog upon which Cait travels is superior to any human, enabling it to deliver powerful blows to any attackers.
Cid Highwind is an old pilot from Rocket Town with a dream of going up in space. The self-proclaimed greatest pilot alive, he believes he can fly anything with wings. Cid joins Cloud's crew after he was once again disappointed by Shinra, who he always blamed for abandoning the Space Program that could have given him his chance in space. Cid is a brawler by nature, whose sarcasm and short temper get him into trouble on many occasions.
Cid is a fighter by nature, whether it be with words or weapons. Rather than relying on materia in a fight, he depends on his trusty array of lances and spears. His own limit attack, dubbed the Highwind, is the rare occasion that he does use magical power. He summons small missiles from the earth beneath him, launching an explosive attack on the enemy or enemies.
Yuffie is the daughter of the leader of the city Wutai, a city rich with heritage and famous for being a world center for the martial arts. However, its recent economic struggles brought Yuffie to take on the mantel of materia hunter, hoping that by collecting the small orbs of power, she could amass a fortune to calm the ills of her home town. She initally joins Cloud's teams for selfish reasons, hoping to get her hands on their materia, but later displays a change of heart, and continues to fight for the world. Yuffie, at the age of sixteen, is the youngest member of the group, and is therefore the most prone for youthful rebellion. However, it isn't doubted that she is deadly with her shuriken-style weapons, and her lust for adventure and a good fight make her a valuable asset in a fight.
Yuffie relies on her ninja skills, honed since childhood, in battle. She prefers to attack with sharp-edged throwing weapons, her most powerful being the Conformer, but if she feels her weapon isn't succeeding against the opponent, she is quick to use some of the collection of materia she established during her journeys with Cloud. When angered, Yuffie releases her rage in the form of a wide beam of mighty energy focused from the spirit within her into her Conformer. That attack is known, and feared, as All Creation.
It is ironic that a man named Valentine could have a heart as cold as ice. However, for this bitter warrior, love was the source of his downfall. His past hidden in the shadows, Vincent prefers to be alone, and bury himself in his remorse over the loss of his beloved Lucrecia. Since her apparent death, he had blamed himself for the suffering of her innocence, and felt the need to attone by aiding Cloud and his friends against Sephiroth. Although Vincent is outwardly cold and often obnoxious, it is due to the torment of emotions lurking within, that he refuses to display to his allies. Despite his secrecy, he is still an important member of the team, with surprising knowledge of the Shinra organization and a deadly aim with his handheld pistol.
In battle, Vincent is swift and sure. Most often he fights with one of his guns or rifles, but he also quite skilled at up close and personal combat, using his claw arm as a weapon, and displaying his impressive physical agility and speed. Also, Vincent is known for having strange, arcane abilities that surface when angered. Formost of which is his ability to call upon a beast within. When angered, the spirit of the monster forces its way out, physically transforming Vincent into the mighty bat-like creature known as Chaos.
Well, that's the team. Hopefully, I've whet your appetite for FFVII, or at least given you the background necessary to enjoy FFVII storylines. If you'd like to see more images, or learn more about the intricacies of the game, check out these fabulous websites, where I got the pictures and some of the info from:
