The Wutai Pagoda Opponents

[chasesummers]

I have finally passed through Wutai, who doesn't hate having all their materia scrambled and later having to give the best ones to Yuffie for the Pagoda?

So... what are the Pagoda opponents?
Does each opponent throw a creature pokemon-way and Yuffie fights it?
Do they somehow transform into creatures?

I always thought Square couldn't possibly animate each opponent so they used enemies, but really, what were they suppose to be? If I remember well, the enemy's name is the same as the opponent, so that could only mean that it's them... I'm confused!

 

[Starling]

The whole __ change thing suggest they actually transform, and yet no comment is made regarding that. It makes me wonder if Yuffie gets to learn how to do that too.

 

[Flare]

I remember wondering that too when I played the game earlier this year. It seems like they're the ones that transform, but how? Is it an illusion, or an actual shape-shift ability?

 

[chasesummers]

They either shape-shift or somehow appear as enemies, which is strange.

 

[RedFFWolf]

Seeing how the whole section was optional, I always assumed the developers didn't want to (or simply didn't have time to) create new models for these once-off (and again, optional) characters - perhaps putting in the dialogue suggesting this change helped cover this (indeed, it may have simply meant channeling their inner strength, such as Gorky's "Power Change" and Shake's "Speed Change"), and the choice of enemies used to represent them was indicative of this fighting style of theirs. Except, of course, Godo, being Yuffie's father, was that bit more relevant.

Edit to add: Have a quick Google Image search under "wusheng". From what I could gather, the term in Chinese Opera refers to a male military role, one who specialises in martial arts (or acrobatics even). You can probably draw some comparisons with the style and Godo's appearance.
(I know this doesn't answer the question really, but it's still pretty interesting). If anyone can correct me, please do - I can safely say my (scant) research was limited!

 

[leadmyskeptic]

It's definitely surrealist, whatever it is...I'm almost certain it's not a third-party monster, but rather the actual individual you are speaking to, so the only question is whether it's 'actually' happening or just an illusion or symbol of their battle. But then again, I guess considering it's the same as the fact that they are standing their bowing their heads in defeat after the battle, rather than having disappeared in a big red flash, it's up to you to decide how much of the battle reflected actual reality.

 

[Starling]

Isn't Godo's form a reference to Asura? It fits with the Buddhist feel of the Da Chao statues.

 

[Kionae]

They either shape-shift or somehow appear as enemies, which is strange.

Shapeshifting is part of the FF7 canon, though. Transform materia turns enemies into toads or miniaturize them, and those evil bastard frogs in certain forests can do the same to your party.

 

[RedFFWolf]

Isn't Godo's form a reference to Asura? It fits with the Buddhist feel of the Da Chao statues.

Ah, indeed I see the comparison there.
(Wutai just seems to be "Asia" )

The Wusheng reference still has me wondering though whether or not "wusheng" stands as a unique term, or whether translations of the words "wǔ" and "shēng" are just combined to form the meaning for what stands for "The Wusheng" of FFVII - Urgh, my brother's in China; maybe it he's brushed up on his Chinese he can help me make some sense of this

Regardless, with the characters of the Pagoda being referred to as the Wusheng, it may mean something to draw up a connection (at least, via translation - - - maybe )