Again, working from specifically the Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 2: Scenario guide. This post is a follow-up to the “Sources of Power in FF” article I just posted, which also included translations from the FF 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 2: Scenario book.

Actually, this post might better be characterized as a follow-up to the “Love Triangle Debate- over” article that Ryushikaze posted a couple of days ago. That article included selected translations from the section which I am now posting a translation of in its entirety.

I think you’ll find that the ramifications for the Love Triangle Debate are even more obvious when you can read the entire page. Do enjoy.
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Final Fantasy Seven’s love triangle debate has been raging for the better part of twelve years now, and caused no end of interfandom tensions. For those of you unfamiliar with the whole debacle, I first congratulate you on your luck in remaining free, and I next explain that it is the debate over which of Tifa or Aerith Cloud Strife loves. Many a year, and countless hypotheses have been spent trying to argue that Cloud and Tifa are not a couple despite all the best evidence, and that Cloud and Aerith have a relationship despite the latter’s unfortunate condition. For some time, the love triangle debate has been in what could aptly be described as its death throes. Today, hopefully, we can perform a mercy killing.

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The final round of voting has ended, and the most memorable moment of the Compilation of FFVII has been decided. Throughout the contest, there seemed to have been a decisive struggle between Zack and Aerith’s death vying for the number one spot in each bracket of voting. Now, a decisive winner has emerged from this…..lover’s postmortem rivalry. (A big thanks to our forum user Glaurung for this hilarious and adorable fanart XD)

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So the final vote for the most memorable moment of the Compilation of FFVII begins now. Which moment has had the most impact amongst the fans of the Compilation? Well…it’s now a final match between these four events. Below you’ll find the ranking results of the previous vote. Now we’ll see which moment is most memorable of all.

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After much voting, and a few delays, the results of our first poll have been tallied and gathered. And some of what users nominated and voted for the most memorable moments of the Compilation are quite surprising.

The moments that made it into the top ten will proceed to the next tier of voting to see which moment is the most memorable of all. Below you’ll find the results of which moments made the cuts, the moments that didn’t, and the personal commentary of members who picked out these events for their memorability. So enjoy, and see what ends up making the cut next time, when only the top four are selected.

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Zack’s final moments on the outskirts of Midgar.

Aerith’s rescue from the Shinra Building.

The final confrontation between Cloud and Sephiroth high above Midgar.

Vincent and Lucrecia’s moment after the climactic ending of Dirge of Cerberus.

Out of all the moments of the Compilation of FFVII… Which moment stood out to you the most?

That’s what TheLifestream.net wants to know, and with that, we’re holding our first contest on which moments of the Compilation of FFVII are the most memorable.

The forum community has nominated twenty-one of the most memorable moments of the series, and we want to know which is the most popular and memorable of all. The first round of voting will be for the top 10. After that, the next voting bracket will be for the top 4. And from there, we will look for which single moment from the Compilation of FFVII has stood out most in the hearts of fans.

So if there’s a moment you want to win, be sure to vote for it here! If you haven’t registered for the forums, be sure to do so, so that you can have your vote counted. We will publish the results of each vote bracket on the front page, so be sure to check back, and above all else, vote and have fun!

Apparently Cloud Strife is continuing his foray into digital modeling and merchandising with the release of his new brand name cologne, “Cloud Strife.” The new cologne was showcased at Tokyo Gameshow 2009 in the Square Enix Merchandise booth. A bottle of the FFVII hero’s scent is going for 6,800 yen. No word for when it’ll be released over seas.

Because nothing says you’re SO CASH, than smelling like an JRPG hero from 1997! Although I am curious as to what this stuff would smell like…Thanks to Tennyo for bringing this.. rare gem of S-E news to our attention. Oh, and don’t worry female fans, the cologne is apparently unisex, so you can get in on Cloud’s sexy aura too. Glad to know Cloud’s still swinging both ways 12 years later.

Source: Destructoid Site

Ahh, the Love Triangle of Final Fantasy VII. It is arguably, the most passionately discussed topic of all of FFVII fandom. Going by the comments on this site, at least.

Today, we post the next article from his FAQ, written by Squall_of_SeeD. In this one, he’ll analyze the hot button topic of Cloud’s feelings and affections for the two heroines of FFVII: Aerith and Tifa. What do the creators and story have to say regarding Cloud’s feelings for the two? Anything? Squall_of_SeeD gives us the answer.

With great pleasure, we host this controversial, yet well written and insightful analysis. Enjoy!

EDIT: As expected, Squall_of_SeeD and I have received lot’s of feedback, both positive and negative, regarding this article. Squall_of_SeeD decided that it was necessary to address several of the additional points and critiques of his analysis that were mentioned, and with that, he has amended several portions of his FAQ regarding his analysis. You can read the newly edited article below.

EDIT2: Squall_of_SeeD is such a slave driver making me update this FAQ again, today, the eve of Halloween. But he’s just a stickler for completion. So again. Take a look at what else has been added XD

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For the next few days, we’ll be posting articles on various topics regarding FFVII, written by Squall_of_SeeD. You may recognize this name. He has authored several other in-depth, and well written FAQs on Final Fantasy and its elements. Whether it’s disproving the speculation of Ultimecia being Rinoa Heartily of the future, comparing the thematic similarities between FFVII and FFIX or explaining the origins of the remnants of Sephiroth, Squall_of_SeeD’s analyses dissect and offer incredible insight in some of the more intricate plot elements of Final Fantasy.

It’s with great pleasure we host the first segment of his FAQ here, that answers some of the frequently asked questions and plot points regarding FFVII and the Compilation. You’ll be able to read the entirety of his FAQ on Gamefaqs where he will host the entire FAQ, which will include this information and much more. So for now, enjoy the first post in this series!
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Deepground.

This location has been the most esoteric plot addition to the Compilation of FFVII for Western fans, due to the lack of an international release of Dirge of Cerberus’s short lived Multiplayer mode.

Following the release of the single player Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus in Japan in 2005, an online mode was established to enable fans of the title to use their honed skills to do battle in a multiplayer environment based on the world and characters created by the original. Dirge of Cerberus: Online allowed the player to delve deeper into the history of the secret facility of Deepground, and of the antagonists of the single player mode; the Tsviets. The player controlled a newly-recruited Deepground SOLDIER entangled in the conspiracy that led to the eventual seizure of power by the Tsviets. Unfortunately, many secrets regarding its back story, NPCs, and overall plot have been lost due to its subsequent canceling on September 29, 2006, after a mere 7 months of service.

However, S & G, has been able to accumulate numerous images and some hard to find details regarding the intricacies of this online mode’s storyline, and has compiled a lengthy synopsis of the history of Deepground and what US fans might have missed in this rare, and now completely out of production chapter of the Compilation of FFVII. You can read his awesome history synopsis, with some hard to find screenshots below.

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In an interview with videogamer.com, Yoshinori Kitase gave a promising hint of news of an FFVII remake, stating fans should expect news on it at a later date.

Also, at GamesCom in Cologne, Germany, Kitase was quoted saying regarding an FFVII remake through a translator..

There’s no official project that’s up and running for a remake of Final Fantasy VII at this point. Both Toriyama-san and Kitase-san were involved in the development of the game, however, and it holds a special place in their hearts. They do talk about it on a personal level, like, ‘If we did it it would be like this or like that.’

“So, they do talk about it, but there’s no official project yet. But there’s that PSN release that just came out, so if you could play that for the time being, it should be fun.”

So for now, fans will have to tide themselves over with the re-release of the original game on the PS Network. But it still seems the creators are toying with the idea and thinking on it fondly. Who knows where their discussion will lead.

Source: Videogamer.com and gamezine.co.uk

The last segment of the FFVII Early Material Files has been translated by hitoshura, and this one by far, offers the best look into the possible world of FFVII had the creators gone a different route. Below is a collection of notes and definitions regarding the world scenario and plot points of the draft of FFVII. Many things here are different from the original, finalized game, so please keep that in mind and don’t let yourself actually think this has anything to do with the finalized story. With that, enjoy!

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