Mako Eyes

One thing that has puzzled me about all the entries in the Compilation thus far is that for all the fuss that was made about Cloud's "shimmering"/"shining"/"glowing" blue eyes in Final Fantasy VII, none of the Compilation entries have seemed to accentuate or mention it.

I've wondered this since AC, but the fact that they mention it in his Dissidia profile got me thinking more about it. Cloud's eyes always look...relatively normal. Obviously he got the most face time in AC, and while sometimes his eyes were striking, they never seemed quite as attention grabbing as the game made them out to be. And I thought in FF7's rendered scenes his eyes were very bright. The even bigger difference is Sephiroth, in FF7 his eyes were incredibly bright green, but in AC you could scarcely tell they were green. Cid had brighter eyes.

In CC, Zack's eyes WERE pretty bright, but they looked a lot like Sora's bright eyes, not any different kind of mako eyes. None of the other entries have really made any mention of the 'mark of SOLDIER', nor could you tell difference in Cloud's eyes before and after the Mako treatment in CC.

Why do you think this is? Did they just think it not all that important or they couldn't figure a way to do it without him looking too inhuman? Dissidia's profile even mentions it and his eyes don't look any brighter than anyone else's eyes.

(Also, whatever happened to his eyes in Last Order was different. Most likely it was reflecting light, and at most it was a limit break thing, but its not what I'm talking about as he hadn't had mako treatment yet)

Any ideas?

Something interesting is that, in CC, Aerith mentions something about Zack's eyes, but she doesn't say anything about the glow.

Sephiroth, in his CC artwork doesn't have the glow either:



As for Sephiroth's eyes in AC, they seem to have a darker shade of green when compared with his eyes in FFVII.

But the glow is definitely there.



Like you said, maybe they didn't show the glow in Cloud's or Zack's eyes because they would look a bit inhuman. Sephiroth is different, because he is supposed to look like a supernatural entity.

I recall it being mentioned in the Reunion Files that the animators wanted it so that Cloud was a character that spoke mostly through his eyes. Upon the constant redesigning, they found that his eyes tended to look "scary" so they had to keep readjusting them so they looked more normal. I'm gonna venture a guess that they tried to possibly add the eye-glow thing, but it probably ended up looking more frightening than striking. I dunno, it's just speculation.

I did find Zack's Crisis Core eyes to be much brighter in-game than in the FMV sequences. Aeris comments on his eyes being "pretty," to which Zack responds with "they're Mako eyes" (from what I remember). Sephiroth has very bright eyes in-game aswell, but they're not very prominent in the FMV sequences. It seems to me that the developers thought by making really bright eyes for the FMVs would compromise realism.

Zack's eyes glow whenever he performed his limit breaks in Crisis Core, especially when he did Hard Rush.

I thought it might be something like they glow sometimes, but not all the time. SOLDIERS don't go around with Cyclops eyes, but every once in a while they get an creepy glow.
By the way, are they really "mako" eyes, or do you think they are actually caused by the Jenova cells?

Zack's eyes were super bright for five seconds when he tells Aerith to look at them:

[ame="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TObG06_hjvY"]YouTube - Crisis Core: C05S02 First Date [English Sub][/ame]

You're right Tenny, they are really bright there, but are they brighter than usual? Maybe, it'd be easier if we watched them change. But I did forget the mention of mako eyes in that scene.

But maybe you're right, SOLDIER's eyes only glow sometimes? But people mentioned it at pretty random times in FF7, not when anything huge was going down. Aeris noticed them on the junkyard pile, Don Corneo/his men noticed them, the people in Mideel noticed them (course, he was Mako saturated by that point, his eyes should've been flashlights )

The time they look brightest in Advent Children (I think), is when he's about to kill Bahamut: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI0Rd3wl7fU&feature=related"]YouTube - Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children - Cloud VS Bahamut Sin[/ame] (1:44)

But they don't seem that bright when he limit breaks elsewhere, so I was never sure if it was just because of the amount of blue in that scene or something.

Interesting though, wonder if they'll look at different in ACC.

Vid is no longer available.

Zack's eyes also look really bright in this scene:

[ame="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=feQQ_OUqbXE"]YouTube - Crisis Core: Sephiroth Cares - English[/ame]

But Sephiroth's don't. :/

I just think it all comes down to asthetics. They could get away with the bright eye thing in FFVII but maybe with the more realistic direction they have taken it looks weird. They leave it out until it is needed, or something...

Weird, I watched it RIGHT before posting it. Well here:[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKdYaGDRpek"]YouTube - Advent Children, Cloud vs. Bahamut[/ame] (3:08 this time)

[quote author=ForceStealer link=topic=126.msg2042#msg2042 date=1229298508]
One thing that has puzzled me about all the entries in the Compilation thus far is that for all the fuss that was made about Cloud's "shimmering"/"shining"/"glowing" blue eyes in Final Fantasy VII, none of the Compilation entries have seemed to accentuate or mention it.

I've wondered this since AC, but the fact that they mention it in his Dissidia profile got me thinking more about it. Cloud's eyes always look...relatively normal. Obviously he got the most face time in AC, and while sometimes his eyes were striking, they never seemed quite as attention grabbing as the game made them out to be. And I thought in FF7's rendered scenes his eyes were very bright. The even bigger difference is Sephiroth, in FF7 his eyes were incredibly bright green, but in AC you could scarcely tell they were green. Cid had brighter eyes.

In CC, Zack's eyes WERE pretty bright, but they looked a lot like Sora's bright eyes, not any different kind of mako eyes. None of the other entries have really made any mention of the 'mark of SOLDIER', nor could you tell difference in Cloud's eyes before and after the Mako treatment in CC.

Why do you think this is? Did they just think it not all that important or they couldn't figure a way to do it without him looking too inhuman? Dissidia's profile even mentions it and his eyes don't look any brighter than anyone else's eyes.

(Also, whatever happened to his eyes in Last Order was different. Most likely it was reflecting light, and at most it was a limit break thing, but its not what I'm talking about as he hadn't had mako treatment yet)

Any ideas?
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That's funny, I was thinking the same thing. Their eyes really don't stand out as much as they should according to the comments made by the characters within their world.

johnboy said:

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Props for originality, buddy.

Back on topic: I've always thought that too. I mean, his eyes are bright and perhaps striking, but I've never really got the whole "glow" thing. They always seemed normal, nothing that really stands out, as you said.

As for Zack... tbh I never payed enough attention to know. Maybe I'll know once I play CC.

I think Mako Eyes is a pretty cool guy. eh bans members and doesn't afraid of anything.

I cba to read everything everyone wrote here, but even in day-to-day life most people's eyes aren't really noticable unless you're looking DIRECTLY at them. It may be accidental or whatever you want to call it, but it's quite possible that they were being more realistic in their approach to designing the eyes and only emphasising them where it was necessary and natural.

I have a particular hypothesis on this- basing this of off FF7, CC, and Doc, while SOLDIER eyes glow, it is incredibly faint under normal circumstances, and generally only becomes noticable under certain situations, like Limit breaks, or Shelke's use of her energy swords.

Similarly, even a normal folk with prolonged exposure to high levels of Mako might also have their eyes begin to glow, which, incidentally, explains Tifa's oddly red eyes during FF7, which are otherwise a much more understated reddish brown or straight brown.

Similarly, This also explains the quick flash of Mako Eye Cloud experienced during LO, given the exposure to the ambient mako and the feat he just pulled.

I'm sure there's other examples as well.
Any evident counterexamples anyone can think of?

Y'know, I was thinking. Since Cloud and other SOLDIERS have light eyes, wouldn't you think that they would be more sensitive to light than even normal people with blue eyes? At least, at their moments of brighting up?

I've seen studies that people who have light colored eyes (such as blue, green, & gray) have higher photo sensitivity. I can believe it, since I'm blue-eyed, I am ALWAYS squinting in the sun light. And I hate it when oncoming cars have their high beams on. It makes me nervous that I'm gonna end up crashing into them.

But since Cloud would have brighter eyes than me (at least, at times), he would probably have higher photo sensitivity than the rest of us blue-eyed folk.

BTW, I've also noticed that SE haven't really displayed their glowing eyes. But I have noticed that Cloud's eyes did look a bit lighter than Denzel's.

When I was watching ACC the other day, I noticed that Cloud had a hint of a crystallization look in his eyes. It's when he's about to reach to Aerith during the Bahamut battle. I'll post a screenshot. I may just be seeing things, but, oh what the heck?





Well, you can't really see it in these pics. You'll have to watch it to maybe see the crystal look in his eyes. But like I said before, I may just be seeing things.

I thought this was a p2p thread to Mako Eyes.

I think Mako Eyes is a pretty cool guy. eh bans members and doesn't afraid of anything.

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OHMAILOL

When I was watching ACC the other day, I noticed that Cloud had a hint of a crystallization look in his eyes.

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What do you mean by crystallization exactly? I wanna see it too.

All I see in the screens is the figure of Aerith forming...

I Am Not Me said:

I thought this was a p2p thread to Mako Eyes.

OHMAILOL

What do you mean by crystallization exactly? I wanna see it too.

All I see in the screens is the figure of Aerith forming...

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Well, it's kind of hard for me to explain. But pigments in the iris of his eyes (especially his left) are quite shiny. It looks a bit crystallized, I think.

I don't know. I mean, the thought just popped in my head. My mind may just be playing tricks on me. But I'd just thought I'd share what I thought I saw and see if others would notice it.

Although, when I was posting the screencaps, all I thought was "no one's gonna see this." But I went ahead and posted them. If you haven't, try watching the scene and see if you notice the "crystal look".

Slightly related to the topic: Why is there no deal made about Cloud's UNIFFORM?

It's a SOLDIER 1st Class uniform! Why does he need to dress up like a Shinra Soldier in Junon? He should have walked up to the guy manning the elevator & been saluted!

The ONLY thing I can think of is the belt symbol: In CC, the symbol was retconned to be more like a regular polygon. The symbol on Cloud's belt only appears on Nero & Weiss, possibly insinuating that it's Deepground's symbol. And Deepground isn't exactly an official SOLDIER unit.

But then you have to ask, if all of this is true, why was there one sitting there in the closet?

...Hell, why was there a SOLDIER uniform hanging in the closet of an abandoned mansion, anyway?

Damn you, RPG Fridge Logic!

Why did Cloud dress up as an MP? - "Hey, look, it's a blonde SOLDIER 1ST, Like the one we're supposed to catch!"

Why was a SOLDIER 1ST/ Deepground uniform hanging in SHINRA MANOR, where HOJO worked for many years and which has human testing facilities hidden in the basement?- Honestly, is answer question.

Hell, it's probably just the OLD uniform before they updated the buckle.

This isn't even fridge logic.

Why did Cloud dress up as an MP? - "Hey, look, it's a blonde SOLDIER 1ST, Like the one we're supposed to catch!"

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And yet practically no one recognizes him, anyway.

Why was a SOLDIER 1ST/ Deepground uniform hanging in SHINRA MANOR, where HOJO worked for many years and which has human testing facilities hidden in the basement?

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With tests that had nothing to do with SOLDIER, as it wasn't started yet.

Hell, it's probably just the OLD uniform before they updated the buckle.

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And Weiss & Nero are wearing old, outdated uniforms just for the Hell of it?

This isn't even fridge logic.

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And this isn't fridge brilliance.

Neo Bahamut said:

And yet practically no one recognizes him, anyway.

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Very few Shinra Military Personnel see him in SOLDIER

With tests that had nothing to do with SOLDIER, as it wasn't started yet.

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SEPHIROTH. COPY. PROJECT.
But my POINT is that it's ShinRa Manor, and has been used and occupied by the company that controls SOLDIER for longer than Cloud's been alive. A SOLDIER uniform being inside is mundane compared to everything else.

And Weiss & Nero are wearing old, outdated uniforms just for the Hell of it?

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Sure, why not? They're both yabbo anyways.

And this isn't fridge brilliance.

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Never claimed it to be, nor is that trope even attempting to be employed.

For those playing at home, Fridge Brilliance is when something initially makes no sense but upon later reflection is actually quite ingenious. I'm just saying there are simple, parsimonious explanations for what you are touting as major logic gaps in the story. There are a few, but these aren't they.

I always was thought it was kinda weird that Cloud could walk around in a SOLDIER uniform (a first class one, at that) and not really get called out on it.

He should have walked up to the guy manning the elevator & been saluted!

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This too.

Very few Shinra Military Personnel see him in SOLDIER

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...The segment you're quoting is talking about the soldiers who were supposed to be after him. Honestly, since you only ever get attacked when you're already being a thorn in Shinra's side, it leads me to believe they don't advertise what you look like, even to their soldiers.

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SEPHIROTH. COPY. PROJECT.

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Which had exactly 1 SOLDIER involved. Zack. Who FOUND the uniform.

But my POINT is that it's ShinRa Manor, and has been used and occupied by the company that controls SOLDIER for longer than Cloud's been alive. A SOLDIER uniform being inside is mundane compared to everything else.

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I know what your point is, but there's still no reason for it being there, unless Hojo attempted some demented feung sui (I probably butchered that), or something.

Sure, why not? They're both yabbo anyways.

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1: ...
2: What the Hell is yabbo?

Never claimed it to be, nor is that trope even attempting to be employed.

For those playing at home, Fridge Brilliance is when something initially makes no sense but upon later reflection is actually quite ingenious.

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Initially makes no sense, which is what I'm saying these things do.

Upon later reflection, is actually quite ingenious. You're saying they make perfect sense, & all the fridge logic I've been using is wrong.

This would be a form of fridge brilliance, if it was working.

I'm just saying there are simple, parsimonious explanations for what you are touting as major logic gaps in the story. There are a few, but these aren't they.

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And so far, you've failed at it. Hell, look at one of your most recent "counter points": "Sure, why not?" That isn't an attempt at an explanation, that's a dismissal.

Neo Bahamut said:

...The segment you're quoting is talking about the soldiers who were supposed to be after him. Honestly, since you only ever get attacked when you're already being a thorn in Shinra's side, it leads me to believe they don't advertise what you look like, even to their soldiers.

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And he was seen by one, MAYBE two Shinra Folks, one of whom had the ass job of guarding the elevator, before donning the disguise. "Blond guy in SOLDIER 1st Uniform" is all they needed to say.

Which had exactly 1 SOLDIER involved. Zack. Who FOUND the uniform.

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One that we are aware of, but that's irrelevant.

I know what your point is, but there's still no reason for it being there, unless Hojo attempted some demented feung sui (I probably butchered that), or something.

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... Feng Shui has nothing to do with Clothing. And how can you be so sure there's no reason for it to be there. It's a ShinRa installation, for fuck's sake.

1: ...
2: What the Hell is yabbo?

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Yabbos are nutbars.

Initially makes no sense, which is what I'm saying these things do.

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Except you're insisting them as these bizarre, insurmountable problems, when they really aren't.

Upon later reflection, is actually quite ingenious. You're saying they make perfect sense, & all the fridge logic I've been using is wrong.

This would be a form of fridge brilliance, if it was working.

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I'm saying you're seeing problems where none exist.

And so far, you've failed at it. Hell, look at one of your most recent "counter points": "Sure, why not?" That isn't an attempt at an explanation, that's a dismissal.

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And your 'fridge logic' examples deserve nothing but dismissal. You're asking why two people's belt buckles lack an emblem, for crying out loud. All I'm offering is one of any number of possible simple explanations for the molehill you are making a mountain of.

No, you deserve nothing but dismissal. Every "solution" you've suggested makes absolutely no sense. You've resorted to idiotic phrasings like, "Well, there MAY have been another SOLDIER even though every indication is that there wasn't."

No, not an exact quote. But by saying, "one SOLDIER that we know of," you effectively said that.

I believe The Notorious M.O.G. put it best:

I always was thought it was kinda weird that Cloud could walk around in a SOLDIER uniform (a first class one, at that) and not really get called out on it.

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As you pointed out, he looks very conspicuous with this, coupled with his spikey blond hair. The fact that he was never given any attention as friend or foe by anyone, much less Shinra, is an oddity that has yet to be explained. It's not a game-destroying-plot-hole by any means, but your half-assed "possible solutions" are, in fact, not possible.

To put it in perspective, I could be saying, "It's possible that there could have been a gold-colored Tsviet who was orchestrating the events of Dirge behind the shadows."

This is a completely idiotic, unsupported statement that deserves no attention. Making up completely new characters, such as your anonymous 2nd SOLDIER of the Copy Experiment, doesn't point out inconsistencies with my logic at all. It does, however, make me wonder how you think any of these are decent arguments.