[Sephiroth (exceedingly insane but strangely endearing) in a sea of flames after destroying Nelibieum]

While Final Fantasy V and VII were more in the tradition of medivial RPG, FF VII and VIII seem to be more of a futuristic or alternative world with a general soldier-for-hire theme. I suppose this way we get to reflect on how a person must choose between caring for himself only or for others … hmm … The story had great potential, but it is a pity that the final product seems rushed. I will not comment on this anymore than what has already been said about the game by others, except that the story could have been one of the legends in computer gaming …

Anyhow, it is still an entertaining and cool game. Basically, we start the story with Cloud Strife, ex-SOLDIER with more holes in his memories than a wedge of swiss cheese. Persuaded by his childhood friend Tifa, he joins in the fight against Shinra, the present government of this world. At the heart of this, there is the necessary threat to the planet, the greed of mankind, and the ultra-powerful villain. Except that this villain is also the ultra-cool Sephiroth. Sephiroth was a SOLDIER, just like Cloud, or rather he inspired Cloud and many others to join SOLDIER. I really dig his silver mane, and his sword is the coolest!!! Pity the guy when mad and bad when he discovered his family roots … I don't blame him, his mother (or one of them) was actually a monster created for the sole purpose of destroying anything and everything, and get this, actually not female despite being called Jenova … :P

But I have a question, why are all the villains in Final Fantasy always bad to the bone persons with no purpose in life but to destroy everything in sight? Personally, wouldn't it be cool if RPGs were written from 2 perspectives I would love if there could be a villain with a tragic purpose for going bad (which is the theme in most mangas) … who is somehow redeemed before his tragic destruction … sigh (^^ Just like Kuja of FFIX) … Better still, what if you could choose whether you will play the game as Cloud, trying to thwart the maniac plans of Sephiroth, or to play the game as Sephiroth, in a bid to outsmart the good guys?

The world has just been rescued by heroes!!!