Hello, everyone!

[Conr]

Hello! It's been many years since I've used a forum, and I'm a bit shy. I suppose I should give an introduction!

I'm 25 years old, born in 1999. I grew up on the SNES, N64, and GameCube. I didn't get the chance to play a Final Fantasy game until high school when I emulated Final Fantasy 6. Since then, I've played 1, 7, 8, 10, and 12. Kingdom Hearts and Parasite Eve are some other Square series I really like.

I am quite passionate about FF7. I realized it was my favorite game quite recently, when I noticed how defensive I felt about it, hahaha. I didn't grow up with the game (I first played it three or four years ago), but it still struck a chord with me. Tifa is my favorite character, though I love the entire cast. I related a lot to Cloud; never had I felt so "seen" by a game.

Anyways, for some other quick details; I'm a student of political science and I have an interest in voice acting. And if my writing style didn't give it away, I've got ADHD. I've got lots of views on Final Fantasy and would love to get more involved with the community!

Thanks for reading! I hope I haven't breached forum etiquette in some way, I appreciate everyone's patience!

Bonus question: What party was the first you used to beat Final Fantasy 7? Mine was Cloud (naturally), Vincent, and Cid.

 

[Clicky Person]

I've never actually beaten ff7, although I watched my brothers beat it multiple times when I was a kid. They were kinda system hogs, so I didn't get the chance to beat very many games. But I loved watching so I might've enabled a little. I think the first party I watched beat it was my older brother using Cloud, Tifa, and Red. Then a few hours later my younger brother beat it with Cloud, Yuffie, and Sid. I feel like I've misspelled something.

 

[Ite]

Hi welcome! Great first post!

My first and still-favorite party is Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith — er, then Barret. I’ve had the joy of being passenger on multiple friends playthroughs - including my best friend in college who was also poli-sci and whose team was also Cloud Cid and Vincent —— huh!

Welcome. It’s truly rare to be born in 99 and have your first FF be VI. I’m old enough to be your mother and my first was VII lol

Being in poli-sci must be very interesting in this day and age. It was interesting for us during the Bush years, well, I guess it’s always interesting. Do you feel like your attachment to FFVII is linked to your passion in your field? Or is it something else about it?

 

[Conr]

Hahaha, that is interesting! Maybe Vincent and Cid have a secret following in poli-sci circles

I grew up on the Super Nintendo, that was my first console. I suppose that gave me a higher tolerance of "old-game jank". My first game was Goof Troop, a fun Capcom co-op game, which is still a favorite of mine. I also grew up in a Disney household, so you can imagine how much I love Kingdom Hearts.

I forgot why I played 6 first, but I definitely clicked with Final Fantasy's style. I already had a fondness for JRPGs, but was rather starved for them due to how few there were on Nintendo systems at the time.

As for political science, yeah, I've definitely found my studies relating to Final Fantasy 7 quite strongly recently. The fact Mayor Domino of Midgar has an office in a company building beneath a bunch of CEOs feels really, really relatable in the current political era.

I've been wanting to do some deeper analysis of it, Final Fantasy 7's themes of exploitation and of life have really clicked with me even more lately.

Beyond just the politics however, the characters really clicked with me too. Cloud initially puts on a masculine front, but is really a sensitive guy who struggles to find who he really is. I relate to that so much; I always struggled with representing myself authentically for a long time. I'm comfortable in my identity as a cis male, it's just that I'm not traditionally masculine. Seeing Cloud have those same struggles resonated with me a lot.

I could go on about characters like Tifa and Cid and how I related to them as well, but I fear I'd be rambling far longer than I already have, hahaha! Thanks for the thoughtful response : )

 

[Elkazor]

I can't exactly remember the first party I used to beat Sephiroth... I know it was Cloud and Vincent but I don't remember the third character. Either Tifa, Cid, Nanaki or Yuffie I think.

I'm curious about what you get defensive about, and I'm also curious, as someone who didn't grow up with it, what do you think about the Compilation and the Remake project?

 

[Conr]

I'm curious about what you get defensive about, and I'm also curious, as someone who didn't grow up with it, what do you think about the Compilation and the Remake project?

Good questions!

I don't get unreasonably defensive, I'd like to think. Usually I distance myself from games enough to accept criticisms of them without feeling anything sour. I'll think about my disagreements but won't post them. But with Final Fantasy 7, I feel a bit of a personal connection since it's one of the few games that inspired such strong feelings in me. So when people say the characters are bad or that the story sucks, I tend to feel the need to defend it, or at least explain my own perspective.

Of course, the game isn't perfect. The plot isn't perfect either. There's plenty to criticize, and I love hearing people's viewpoints! I've got my own criticisms as well. It's important to try and maintain some objectivity, after all.

I think the one critique that tends to get under my skin most is when people say Tifa is "too normal", irrelevant, or something to that effect. That's precisely why I like her! She's not an over the top hero, she's a woman trying to navigate a tough life in a shitty place. All she'd like is to live peacefully and for those she cares about to be safe. Shinra has made both rather difficult. She's strong and kind on the surface, but she's also vulnerable. Despite her own personal abilities, she still holds a childish dream of being saved by a knight or hero of some kind. As an adult who's struggling to navigate his own life, it's very relatable. Tifa being so regular makes her one of the easiest characters to relate to, and it's admirable that despite her fears and doubts, she still works to do the right thing.

Compilation I have... Not so great opinions on. Of course, I still need to experience much of it, but the characterizations left a lot to be desired. I've heard there are some gems in there though, and I'll probably dive in someday when I find the time.

As for Remake/Rebirth, I actually enjoyed them quite a bit. I'm still working my way through Rebirth. I'm not overly fond of open world games, and the tasks in Rebirth feel a bit like a checklist of chores, but the combat is still fantastic. I love how fluid it is while maintaining some strategic elements. Being able to play as the party members is also nice, there's a ton of variety. I have some reservations about side characters, and the overarching plot alongside some scenes here or there, but for the most part I enjoy the expansion of characters.

One thing I really like about Remake/Rebirth is that there's many more character interactions. In OG FF7, I can think of very few times where Nanaki/Red XIII and Aerith spoke. All that comes to mind is their meeting in Hojo's lab. But in Rebirth, they have more moments together. It's nice seeing everyone interact more! Remake/Rebirth also retailed the characters a bit, which I'm very fond of. The voicework is amazing, I give special mention to Barret's VA. Almost every line delivery of his has me smiling. Cloud saying "I don't know where I begin and end" or something to that effect was such a good line.

Anyways, I'm about to head into class, so apologies if my thoughts are disorganized!