The Most Memorable Moments of the Compilation of FFVII – Part 1

Moment Number 5: Tifa helping Cloud piece together his memory in the Lifestream.

“SOLDIER First Class Cloud Strife is a mystery – from the strange voices in his head to his baffling actions as he surrenders the key to destroying the world to his greatest enemy, and tries to kill one of his friends. The mystery is apparently explained when Sephiroth reveals Cloud to be nothing but a failed cloning experiment, lacking a true will or emotions of his own. Believing himself to be only a copy of the real person in Tifa Lockhart’s memories, Cloud loses his grip on sanity, and once again delivers the Black Materia to Sephiroth – this time, with disastrous consequences.

The mystery behind Cloud is finally cleared at Mideel, where Tifa has been patiently caring for him in his traumatized, mako-poisoned state. After falling into the Lifestream with Cloud, Tifa is able to step into his memories and help him put the pieces of his past together. Gently, yet firmly, she rejects his initial recollection of the events at Nibelheim, and urges him to explore the memories locked deep in his heart. As Cloud describes a secret memory involving Tifa and his decision to apply for SOLDIER, it becomes obvious that he is more than just a product of a failed experiment – he is, in fact, the real Cloud of Nibelheim, his mind and memory sadly ravaged by the combined effect of mako and Jenova. The effects of Sephiroth’s lies are dispelled. Cloud, regaining his true persona, returns to his friends with Tifa, and resolves to take responsibility for Meteor by heading the strike against Sephiroth.

The events occurring in the Lifestream finally answer one of the game’s biggest mysteries – the true identity of Cloud Strife – by exposing his innermost thoughts and broken memories through Tifa Lockhart’s eyes. They provide the true retelling of the Nibelheim Incident, detailing the pivotal role played by Cloud, a lowly Shinra grunt, in Sephiroth’s fall. They also provide fresh insight into his history and relationship with Tifa. A plot twist upon a plot twist, and the resolution of Cloud’s identity and his return to the party all mark a turning point in a bleak outlook, making the Lifestream episode one of the truly memorable events in Final Fantasy VII.” -Neutron Ronnie

Moment Number 4: The final battle between Cloud and Sephiroth in ACC.

“”Good to see you, Cloud.‘

And it is with those words, one of the most amazing battles to ever grace anime movies begins. The sky turns black, swords clash, the stage is set, and you know no one’s messing around. The last time these two warriors met head on, it was about settling the past, unfreezing a smile and proving that with one’s willpower, you are not bound by anyone but yourself to choose the paths you take in life. This time it was much more personal. A planet is in crisis much like before, but this time, our young blond friend has to fight, not just for himself, but for his friends, his family and his beloved. He also must prove to himself that he is, in fact, worthy of calling himself a hero.

Although the battle starts much like the one in the previous Advent Children movie, right off the bat things are different. The atmosphere is darker, the music seems more sinister, and you can feel the tension between our two fighters. With every clashing of their swords, and every flame that burns from the fire, the scene pulls you to the end of your seat.

However, as well as Cloud is able to avoid injury throughout the start of the battle, and in Advent Children, the same does not apply in the extended edition. Rather than kicking Cloud into a wall, our vicious silver haired friend sends him through the very wall, and we only hear as Cloud grunts loudly and painfully as he lands. But his torment doesn’t end there. Glowing with the power of his limit break, he charges bravely at Sephiroth preparing his Omnislash, but it’s unfortunate that the silver haired demon is fully ready to take the attack head on.

Dodging and countering each attack, Cloud only grows more frustrated, taking a running leap into the air desperate to land a hit. This proves to be the most devastating move Cloud could make as Sephiroth smilies evilly upward at Cloud, and impales his Masamune directly through Cloud’s upper chest. Cloud can do nothing but cry out in agony, and listen as his hated enemy taunts him, while easily holding up in the air by the sword.

Yet again, Cloud’s pain is only beginning. Sephiroth reveals his wing, and tosses a surprised and pained Cloud into the air. Unable to defend himself, Cloud is helpless as Sephiroth brutally slashes and stabs at him a total of eight times. Blood is sent flying as the blond is stabbed in the arms, chest and even his feet and knee. The brutal attack stops only when Cloud grabs the Masamune trying to protect his face. He is then hurled downward, causing blood to rain from the sky as he crashes into the Shinra Building.

Barely able to move, or even breath, Cloud somehow finds the strength to grab onto his sword and try to get back up as the blood pours from his fresh wounds. Above him, his enemy asks him what he cherishes most, saying he would like to take it away. After this statement, he goes in for the kill and Cloud can only look horrified as his loved ones flash before his eyes. But it is at that moment he remembers a friend very dear to him. A friend he once lost, long ago.

Zack Fair.

Zack encourages Cloud, saying that he must not give up even if the situation is hopeless. He reminds Cloud that he must protect his honor in SOLDIER, and even though he never made SOLDIER, it’s what’s in the heart that counts. Cloud listens, as he slowly gets back to his feet, never once taking his eyes off his advisory. Above all else Cloud is reminded of one thing. He is Zack’s living legacy and he must protect his dreams and honor.

With new resolve, Cloud leaps up to meet Sephiroth’s attack head on. He tells Sephiroth that there isn’t a thing he doesn’t cherish, and their swords clash one last time. Cloud begins to glow with his limit break, and it is then that he unleashes the power that is Omnislash V.6. Cloud’s swords separate surrounding a confused and shocked Sephiroth and almost as fast as light, Cloud attacks. He grabs each sword, moving too fast for Sephiroth to follow and returns to slash his enemy as he grunts in pain with each and every blow. A total of eight hits are landed, but Cloud’s not done yet. He sends his energy copies out to strike Sephiroth four more times before landing on the Shinra Building and gracefully catching his sword before it hits the ground. He then looks up, a determined look upon his face, and demands that Sephiroth stays in his memories, where he belongs.

And with as great of a line as this battle began, it also ends with an epic line. Sephiroth almost appears to be shrugging as if he is un-phased by these words. He looks down upon Cloud, mirroring his determined look and he speaks one last time, “I will never be a memory.” and fades away leaving those to wonder if he will ever return again. Cloud then finally realizes that he is, in fact, worthy of living with his family and friends. He then basks in the warmth of the Great Gospel rain as it begins to fall. He smiles as he sees his friends approaching. He will return to live with his family, he will live on, because above all else, he is, in fact, a hero.” -Quexinos

Moment Number 3: Zack’s DMW destruction during the final battle against the MPs in CC.

“I’ve read plenty of great literature and seen plenty of classic films, but I’ve never taken part in anything that captured the loneliness of death the way the unraveling of the Digital Mind Wave does at the end of Crisis Core.

At first, the DMW was irritating. So much seemed to be left to chance. But little by little I came to rely on it. I know I can’t be the only one who cried, ‘Come on, guys, help me out here!’ when I was in the middle of a really difficult battle. And they always came through, if I could hold on long enough.

My friends were a motley crew. There were a couple of Turks, a fallen hero, a spoony homicidal bard, and a backwoods boy like Zack who’d had more than his fair share of bad luck; there was the girl who was the love of Zack’s life, and the man who’d been like a father to him. They all gave support and encouragement in their different ways – even when Zack didn’t want it (why did Zack keep shouting at Genesis, ‘Mind your own business’? I was always grateful for Genesis’ help!).

I really had not appreciated how much I’d come to depend on them, or to what extent I had identified with Zack, until I lost the DMW and realized, to my horror, that it was gone for good. My friends couldn’t rescue me. Even my memories of them were being wiped from my consciousness.

The piecemeal manner in which the DMW was taken from me, the way in which the spinning dials stuttered, and stopped, and faded, made it feel as if my brain was shutting down bit by bit. Aerith was the last to go. Then I was completely alone. For me, that was the moment when the finality of Zack’s/my impending death fully hit me. It was such a powerful experience that even the tear-jerking farewell scene and the execrable ‘Why’ couldn’t diminish its impact.

And the reason it is so memorable is that there is no other medium which could deliver this experience. I wasn’t a reader or an audience for this event. I was a participant. That, I think, is unique to gaming.” -LicoriceAllsorts

Moment Number 2: Aerith’s Death at the Forgotten Capital

“There’s no denying that this is a truly memorable scene. But not because it was the first heroic death seen in the series of Final Fantasy, certainly, Final Fantasy II beat it to the punch with Josef, Ricard, Minwu, Leila, etc., and FFIII and FFIV had the deaths of Tellah and Anna, FFV had Galuf, and FFVI had Leo and a number of the returners. It wasn’t the first party member death, either, not even in the english releases.

The thing that makes Aerith’s death so memorable, so meaningful, is how meaningless it is. In FFII-VI, all the ‘personal’ deaths, save that of Anna, the deaths occur either giving their life to save the lives of others or strike a major blow for their cause. They were all in direct confrontation with danger or the villains, Like Tellah, Galuf, and Leo, or throwing themselves in the way of danger to save another, like Josef and Aria. Aerith’s death, therefore, is memorable because of how absolutely pointless it was. Unlike everyone else, who had a noble death, or was a tragic victim of circumstance, Aerith’s demise was a brutal, meaningless murder of someone we and the characters cared about.

Her death was memorable because it showed us, the players, that no matter how noble the intentions of the people who died, death isn’t really noble. It’s sad, it’s brutal, and it’s painful, no matter how little you know the person who just died.”

Moment Number 1: Zack’s death and Cloud inheriting the Buster Sword

“Zack’s demise and the inheritance of the Buster sword is the most memorable moment of the compilation for various reasons. To go into them all would take far longer than I’m sure everyone wishes to read, so I’ll only go into a select few, the reasons that are true of both the original version, and the version presented in the end of Crisis Core.

The viewing of Zack’s demise shows us a man, trying to get himself home to his girlfriend and to safety, but moreover, it showed us a man who was going to make sure his comatose friend made it to safety too. It showed us a man, within miles of his goal, who is nevertheless fighting, to the death, to save that friend even as it means he cannot return to the woman he loves. It showed us a man who died so that his friend could survive.

Nextly, it shows us death comes to everyone, and by any hand. While Aerith’s demise was memorable, it showed us that the final boss of the game could kill someone, what Zack’s demise showed us was that death could come at any hand, even the hand of the MP grunts you fight at the very beginning of both FF7 and Crisis Core. It made you appreciate the exploits of the hero more, because it highlighted their fragility, and made their deeds the more impressive because of them. It also added a further point to the suddenness and the sadness and brutality of death, both in FF7’s recollection by Cloud in which the MPs finish him off once and for all with a riddling of machin gun fire, and in Crisis Core’s version with Cloud’s scream and Aerith’s shock.

But lastly, it is memorable, because while it highlights the sadness and brutality of death, it also shows us that death is not truly the end. In FF7, this was Cloud holding the Buster sword and telling Zack he would live on for him. In Crisis Core, this was the hand grab with Angeal, Zack’s calling Cloud his living Legacy, and in both cases, Cloud managing to walk standing up only after taking up the Buster sword, and renewing Zack’s struggle towards Midgar.

The passing of the Buster sword isn’t just a handing of a weapon on, or a keeping of a memento, but a passing on of honor and dreams, just as with Angeal and Zack before, and as a continuation of Zack’s role as a hero through Cloud. It is not the end of Zack’s story as a hero, but as Cloud notes at the end of Advent Children Complete, it is the start of one. His.

Before Crisis Core, Zack’s death and the passing of Buster was a scene that gave a little bit more information on who Cloud was trying to be, on why Cloud reminded Aerith of her old boyfriend, and on how Cloud came to be in Midgar’s slums after Nibelheim.

Now, it is the defining point between the two major eras depicted in the Compilation, the capstone to the themes of life and death that prevail throughout the series, and as the end of Zack’s life, but not yet the end of his story.” -Ryushikaze