As I sit writing this I am listening to Aeris's
theme in the background. I first learned about Aeris's death when I was
casually browsing FF7 web pages and I came across Andrew Vestal's masterful
editorial on whether or not FF7 is complete. Ignoring the spoiler warning
I found out that Aeris died during the course of the game. I was upset
that I knew this fact, but I then decided that it was six months before
the release, it didn't really matter. When I finally got the game I knew
that Aeris would die at the end of Disc One. I decided to use her all the
time during the battles, and I gradually got attached to her. Attached
to a video game character? (Can you
belive it?) Well, most people get attached
to characters in movies or novels, and that is really what FF7 is, not
just a game, but a movie/novel experience. As one of my friends who played
the game said "Man it felt like I knew her." When I reached the Forgotten
Capital I realized that Aeris was about to die and it seemed that my time
with her was all too short and fleeting. It had been the date at the Gold
Saucer that had really made me love her as a character. (Okay
this guy is starting to freak me out)
I watched in horror as Sephiroth decended and gutted the peaceful
Aeris. As Cloud later said "She smiled, in the end..." I couldn't believe
what I was doing. I was feeling sad at the death of a fictional video game
character! (this man needs help)
----> I was on the verge of tears,
real tears of sadness! How ridiculous and idiotic and stupid was that?
(very)
Except it's not. Square has made a game where the characters seem real,
and it is indeed a testament to them that we feel this way about them.
It's nothing to be ashamed of, or to be embarassed about. The rest of the
game was good, but not as good as the first twenty hours. The first disc
of the game was pure genius. The second disc only got interesting when
we learned about Cloud's past and the Sapphire Weapon attacked Junon. Otherwise,
the second disc only gets very, very depressing, with the storyline making
you think Cloud is a Sephiroth clone and Bugenhagen dying (although that
is actually on Disc Three). The fall of Shinra was horribly done, in fact
the last ten hours of the game are ltogether horrible. (not
so!) The storyline is rushed,
many plotlines are left unexplained, and the characters undergo very little
development (besides Cid and Cloud). The third disc is a waste, as the
last
dungeon is hardly a challenge. (this is
very true) The path to Sephiroth is
interesting, and the fight with Jenova is good, but the Bizarro-Sephiroth
fight is horrible and tedious. The final battle is incredible, literally
some of the best
music in any game. The ending was also good in
the beginning, as Cloud's final battle one on one with Sephiroth was spectacular.
Otherwise, the ending was absolutely a waste. FFIII's ending was just as
bad, (NOO!!! I'M NOT LISTENING! Say
it ain't so!) with absolutely no character
development occuring. The ending in FF7 was a waste of disc space and uninventive
thinking. The script writers should be shot for destroying such a good
game. Indeed, many people I have talked to have totally changed their opinions
on the game after viewing the ending. My roommate broke the third disc
into pieces after viewing the ending (I know, that's a little weird,
ctually, it's really weird...). (not
only does this guy need a lobotomy but he needs new friends)
In short the ending is horrible. My first opinion on it was that humanity
was wiped out by Holy, as Bugenhangen hinted at earlier on in the game.
However, upon thinking about it, wouldn't it be the ultimate injustice
if humanity had killed Sephiroth, freeing Holy and thereby saving the Planet,
and the Planet repayed humanity by killing each and every last one of them?
But now, thinking about it, I hope that Holy did indeed wipe out humanity.
It would be a fitting ending to an altogether tragic game.
(actually that could be cool) Why am
I so bitter about the ending and the latter half of the game, you ask?
Well, the nswer is simple. Everyone probably knows about the Aeris
resurrection theory, as originally presented by Ben Lansing on the Internet,
supposedly an employee of Square. If you look at the game there is a vast
amount of empirical evidence that Aeris's resurrection was originally supposed
to be part of the game, perhaps if only in the original script or in early
versions of the game. I believe that there is NO WAY to resurrect her now,
however, I believe that FF7 is incomplete, and that we are all playing
a game that is truly the greatest ever made, but that could be so much
better. First I will present the evidence that can be found in the game
and related to the game. Most of these points were compiled by Tony Destro.
1. The presence of Aeris's ghost in her church is a very small plot point
in the game. In fact, it's barely discussed by any one in the game itself.
Why else would it be in the game. A nostalgic moment? Perhaps. 2. Before
the final battle there is an extra ledge that no one is standing on.
. For the battle against Bizarro-Sephiroth, if you are strong enough to
form three parties, then one party has only two characters. Each party
should have three members... 4.Throughout the game Cloud is in situations
in which he must pick Aeris over Tifa or show that he is an uncaring
or a caring guy. However, after Aeris's death, this entire point is dropped.
Considering the number of decisions you are forced to make (around twenty
some) you would think it would have more bearing than who you et
to date... 5. In the Japanese version, why does Aeris speak at certain
points after you use use the Game Shark to get her back? Why does
she only have it in certain spots? 6. Aeris's best weapon has only seven
Materia holders and it can gain AP, while EVERYONE else's best weapon has
eight linked slots and gains no AP. 7. Aeris's Umbrella has a higher Attack
Power than her best weapon, the Princess Guard, whereas everyone else's
best weapon has a higher Attack Power than all of their other weapons.
8. When you get Aeris's fourth limit break she has most likely already
died. If you actually o what you need to do to get it before she
dies you waste vast amounts of time (it took me three extra hours of getting
her limit breaks up). The point is that if you get it before she dies,
it doesn't seem like you should have it yet. 9. Right before the pillar
steps in the Forgotten City before Aeris dies there is doorway in the background.
If you look at the patterns on the pillar, the doorway is somewhat similar
but markedly different. Programmers usually don't put extra stuff like
that in a game, it's a waste of time and effort. There is no way
to reach the door. 10. If you look at the floor before Cloud is trying
to kill Aeris, there is a spiral staircase leading downward. If you think
about the way the City is shaped it should be the reflection of the stairs
above, but if you think on how the glass around Aeris is shaped, it physically
couldn't be so... 11. In the game manual there are FMV (What
are those FMV?) drawings of the characters.
Every characters' drawing except Aeris' actually occurs in the game, or
could realistically occur. Aeris's canot, as she wasn't with Cloud when
he first saw the Highwind on the first trip to Junon. She had already died
when Barret and Tifa made their escape on the Highwind later. In the picture
she also dressed in white, and the entire game she dressed in red... 12.
The strongest empirical evidence for this lies in a conversation Cloud
has with Tifa during on the bridge of the Highwind... Tifa:I wonder what
Aeris felt... when she was on that Altar... Cloud: I'm sure she wanted
to give her life for the planet... Tifa: Really? I wonder? I don't think
that's it at all. I think she didn't think she would die at all, but that
she planned on coming back all along. She always used to talk about the
"Next Time". She talked about the future more than any of us." (TRUE!
Everyone seems to forget that part but it is very important)
This is very, very suspect, as anyone can see. The entire game is ruined,
in my opinion, by the loss of Aeris, and the death of hope and joy. Many
argue her death insured the player's hatred of Sephiroth. Even if she were
to be theoretically resurrected, I would still
hate Sephiroth. (No,
you would loose some of it. Look at youself you are so attached to
Aeris that if she came back you would be so happy that would Sephiroth
really matter. He would only be there to beat the game.)
In my opinion, Square should re-release the game with her resurrection,
and a better ending, one worthy of a Final Fantasy game. Would it make
her death meaningless? (YES! my whole point
are you hearing this!) Yes, it would, her
sacrifice would be null and void and hollow. But her death makes the game
meaningless... Judging by the number of people who desperately want to
resurrect her, I think Square would profit financially from such a decision.
A game which was already great could be made truly perfect. But somehow,
I don't think this will ever happen. -Mike Lenzo
Alright! I think this guy has staired at the TV for too long! He seems to be a true gamer, probably pail and doesn't get many dates! Never the less he has some nice answers. In "MY" opinon they should be a way to bring back Aeris, WAIT! the Game Shark maybe? Right so all those silly little lines everyone get's upset about are supposed to be in there. You want Aeris pay more money for a Game Shark. It's all about making money, that is probably one of the reasons she is so likeable. Square could probably care less about if you liked the ending or not. You are going to buy the game because it says Final Fantasy on it! That's all I have to say about that! It's just one more addiction...