A Story Analysis of Final Fantasy 7

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  • Опубліковано 28 тра 2024
  • Final Fantasy 7 is a story about our relationship with nature, our relationship with self, and our relationship with each other.
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    TIMESTAMPS
    00:00 Corporate Greed
    05:03 Misguided Environmentalism
    06:51 The Soul of the World
    08:50 Aerith and The Cetra
    10:30 The Destructive Power of Nature
    13:25 Our Relationship With Nature
    15:54 Sephiroth and Cloud
    20:35 Barret and Rex XIII
    23:52 Be Careful What You Pretend to Be
    27:11 Cait Sith
    30:07 Something to Fight For
    32:00 The Girl Next Door
    35:38 The Flower Girl
  • Ігри

КОМЕНТАРІ • 303

  • @fatbrett
    @fatbrett  2 місяці тому +231

    This is a reupload. I accidentally uploaded the wrong version the first time and didn't catch the mistake until the video was already up.
    Edit: And, embarrassingly, my God of War instincts kicked in and I accidentally pronounced "Midgar" as "Midgard" in the video, so make sure to let me know about that in the comments as much as possible.

    • @blacksmith679
      @blacksmith679 2 місяці тому +1

      What's the mistake, at what time

    • @fatbrett
      @fatbrett  2 місяці тому +18

      @@blacksmith679 It was a different version of the same script. It was messier and more repetitive. The information was the same, but the writing wasn't as good. The only mistake was clicking on the wrong file when I went to upload and not doublechecking afterwards.

    • @isaacsanford6340
      @isaacsanford6340 2 місяці тому

      I feel like you do a better job in your essays than many, which I think is why I subscribed. The subject matter is sometimes covered elsewhere, but your writing voice flows better. 👍

    • @dominiqueodom3099
      @dominiqueodom3099 2 місяці тому +1

      Is there any chance you'd do a villian breakdown of Zeus and Greek Pantheon from the God of War series?

    • @blacksmith679
      @blacksmith679 2 місяці тому

      Can you do indie game villain breakdowns

  • @blackfox4138
    @blackfox4138 2 місяці тому +253

    I know a lot of people claim that the game kinda goes off the rails when Sephiroth and Jenova become a factor in the story--that being it goes from a commentary of unchecked corporate greed to just another fantasy story. However, I would argue that it all still falls in line with the problems regarding corporations. Sephiroth and Jenova are direct results of Shinra's unchecked greed. If we're going by the idea that 7 is working off of ideas regarding corporations and climate change, then Sephiroth, Jenova, and the Weapons are all the result of what happenes when corporations lose control. If anything, the plot going so off the rails actually makes a lot of sense for the narrative they're working with.

    • @shanlie3505
      @shanlie3505 2 місяці тому +35

      Exactly it's all connected. Like if Shina is an allegory for our government, Sephiroth could be an allegory to the Nuclear bomb in the 90's. Sephiroth is the evil our corporations and Countries create that someday can no longer be controlled and outgrow their creators. 20 years later today and Shira's greed is very on point with our current struggle with capitalism, and Sephiroth/ Jenova are alike to the threat AI could possess once it manages to think freely for itself.

    • @mrbubbles6468
      @mrbubbles6468 2 місяці тому +6

      It could also be srgued that Seph and Jenova are like the weapons another example of the planet fixing making a choice. If we can’t save it then it has choosen to completely restart itself.

    • @MilkyWayGrump
      @MilkyWayGrump 2 місяці тому +9

      Id also say that even if it deviates from the economic side of corporate greed/overreach, Sephiroth's motivation still very much speaks to the fascist-esque compartmentalization and rank-based subjugation and dehumanization of people under corporate rule.
      Sephiroth was raised to be a perfect soldier, and in his mind, that means his only use as a person, and his true destiny, is literally just whatever the people who made him great/came before him have planned for him. When he first figures out that he's the son of Genova, he doesn't stop to re-examine his values or how he should be conducting himself with others all that much, his number one priority is "What is my new mission? If my old bosses aren't the boss of me, what does my REAL mom/boss want me to be doing?", which speaks to how his mind is wired.
      This works very well for Shinra, who have Sephiroth believing that they "molded" him into this soldier, and thus he should be following their orders without question... that is, until he finds out where he (thinks he) REALLY came from, Jenova, and that soldier-esque, collectivist, respect-your-elders-and-bosses-always-no-matter-what way of thinking totally backfires on everyone once the "leader" Sephiroth ends up thinking he needs to follow ends up being a genocidal space alien with powers and ambitions Shinra cannot control.
      Because frankly, I dont think you can tell a story about the intersection of corporate greed/corruption/control and identity WITHOUT exploring that idea of "toeing the company line" and the societal expectation to obey the orders of those who say you owe everything to them without question. I think that Reeve/Cait Sith also explore this idea a bit, with Reeve realizing he's in too deep but too afraid to leave his post for whatever fears he may have, so he has to construct another simulacrum of himself in order to externalize his rebellion and assuage his guilt for participating in the system.

    • @marche800
      @marche800 2 місяці тому

      ​@mrbubbles6468 I don't know if I can agree with that full. Jenova and Sephiroth are undeniably hostile towards the planet and humans. They are a third part but one that was created due to Shinra's attempt to control and conquer nature. The consequence of their obsessiveness with conquering nature and anyone opposed to them resulted in the accidentally awakening a being that will destroy everything but in their ignorance they decided to toy with that power making their situation infinitely worse. The verh Nature of Jenova, Sephiroth and their plan are all inherently other and parasitic. They are planning on fatally wounding the planet using a materia to summon a mass of rock from space. Their purpose in the story is to be a mutual enemy that encourages man and nature to work together to protect each other. Which might be the reason the lifestream spares humanity. Our party defeats Sephiroth and the planet stops Meteor.

    • @marche800
      @marche800 2 місяці тому

      ​@@mrbubbles6468I don't agree. Jenova and Sephiroth are hostile and parasitic to the planet. They are the result of shinra's hubris but pose a threat outside of the planet and humanities conflict. They exidr in the story to force the two to work together. They only survive meteor because the party defears sephiroth and the planet summons Holy.

  • @marche800
    @marche800 2 місяці тому +74

    One of the clearest example of how destructive Shinra and the reactors are is the environment around Midgar. It is a total wasteland in a perfect circle around the city. Outside that circle there is grass and trees and wildlife. Inside that circle, desolation. It's like Midgar itself is a massive mechanical tick sucking the life out of everything around it.

    • @malucoblz588
      @malucoblz588 Місяць тому +1

      To be fair, thats usually the case for all power generating facilities, even green ones, from what i see midgar is primarily a "worker city", that is everyone there is meant to keep the reactors running which in turn sends energy to areas like kalm which have the benefots of mako but dont suffer from the downsides.

  • @shaifs5072
    @shaifs5072 2 місяці тому +39

    Cait Sith’s line about not forgetting him even if another shows up makes me think of Jung’s concept of the Persona. The mask we wear, it’s how we interact with the world. It is who we are and also not.
    When people pretend to be something they are not, that still comes from within, it is driven by something very real. If a person makes up a story about their childhood being rough they seek empathy and to be comforted, if they try to pretend to be smart, they wish to be respected, if a person pretends to be cool, they wish to be admired, etc.

  • @RaineAvina
    @RaineAvina 2 місяці тому +102

    "I wish the new games could capture the absurdity and silliness that the old games had."
    The new game has Red XIII dance out dressed as a Shrina soldier on a cruise ship and challenge you to a card game.
    Remake had Cloud go to a gay bar, dance against the owner, do FAR BETTER than anyone would have expected, and then crossdress on stage.
    The new games literally jack up the absurdity to 11 at every opportunity xD

    • @liammcnicholas918
      @liammcnicholas918 2 місяці тому +22

      There’s music just for finding a dog

    • @andrewramirez3998
      @andrewramirez3998 2 місяці тому +15

      Ikr if anything they just dialed the ridiculous parts to the max lol

    • @ericbright1742
      @ericbright1742 2 місяці тому +10

      FF7 had Hojo on the beach.
      FF7R had Hojo being Hojo on the beach.
      The Synergy Abilities also have a lot of fun, and allow the characters to show off. Anything with Tifa is absolutely chaotic, with either her throwing something at the enemy, or her _being_ thrown at the enemy. Anything with Cait Sith is absolutely demented, like the Mayhem-Go-Round with Barret, or Aerith deciding to "embiggen" (sic) the Moogle only to cower as it starts mashing the bad guys. Barret and Aerith standing back-to-back with sunglasses. Tifa spiking the Moogle doll like a volleyball. The Moogle doll cradling Red XIII in its arms. Barret recreating FFVIII's Angelo Cannon with Red XIII. Even Cloud gets in on the fun when he flings Tifa at them, or just hands over his sword to the Moogle doll and hops on.
      There is a lot of whimsy in this game, and I love it.
      Now if you'll excuse me, Cloud needs to go stop Hojo being Hojo, with an oversized beach parasol.

    • @manuelmialdea5127
      @manuelmialdea5127 2 місяці тому +6

      Exactly! If anything we got even more than we expected in this regard.

    • @ericbright1742
      @ericbright1742 2 місяці тому +9

      Cloud has parried a motorcycle with his Buster Sword.

  • @Born2b4everMe
    @Born2b4everMe 2 місяці тому +50

    "Sephiroth's insane mako-nations" lol. Solid pun 24:40

  • @sidg868
    @sidg868 2 місяці тому +20

    There's a somewhat minor detail on the remakes that I love that emphasizes how Avalanche are just as separated from nature as the rest of Midgar.
    On Rebirth, the first time you aproach a Deer only Cloud and Red XIII kniw what it is. And then Red has to explain the rest the difference between a wild animal and a Fiend.

    • @bradhorowitz2765
      @bradhorowitz2765 2 місяці тому +2

      …you know for all of the problems of the remakes/sequels (and no this didn’t make them any less good I mean what game is perfect? None! AHA). But that’s such a fascinating detail. Makes sense as Barrett’s greatest flaw is his inability to think long term (he does eventually and he will always remain one of ff’s greatest heroes). But what would he actually accomplish with avalanche? A group of ragtag rebels who are outgunned outmanned with LESS fighting experience. I mean if cloud didn’t join them in the very first mission they would have died.

    • @malucoblz588
      @malucoblz588 Місяць тому +2

      Glad i wasnt the only one who noticed Barret's Avalanche...carelessness, IMO the whole group just uses the catchphrase of saving the planet as an excuse to actively hurt Shinra

  • @AMHarbinger
    @AMHarbinger 2 місяці тому +62

    Taken at just FF7 I agree with you on Cloud's analysis but after playing Crisis Core I would disagree. Granted this is added information but I would argue that Cloud's skill was also due to his improved confidence thanks to Zack's positivity. Zack took Cloud under his wing and gave Cloud the confidence to trust in his skills, seeing something in Cloud. Until the scene where Cloud attacks Sephiroth we see how weak and undeserving he feels but then when confronting Sephiroth picks up the Buster Sword, which is no small task. The weapon is huge and requires a great deal of strength to use but lifts it with ease, showing what Zack saw in Cloud that no one did; the strength of a SOLDIER. But most importantly he attacks Sephiroth, something that would require a great amount of emotional strength. It runs parallel to your discussion about identity and relationships with others. Cloud always had the strength to be better and found it with the help of Zack to unlock that part of himself and the rest of the party helping Cloud accept both versions of himself.

    • @wmen48
      @wmen48 2 місяці тому +7

      You're right but the thing is OG Cloud, Aerith and Zack are different characters than in the rest ff7 universe.
      And with Kitase stating that OG is a complete story we have this branching off.
      Aerith isn't that holier than though character. She is street savvy, more down too earth. She's over Zack seeing him as a womanizer that he was.
      Zack talks about many girls in japanese version. Is with shinra until they put him in a test tube. After that his motivation in life is money. He never had that honor pledge like in CC. Only really redeeming quality, is him helping Cloud. He is a character similar to Tseng or Reno.
      Cloud doesn't see himself as Zacks legacy. And later he and Tifa fix his mind. Which lead to him accepting himself, Aerith sacrifice and stating he fights for planet first. His AC version stands clearly counter to this.
      CC Zack is a great character. Better than current Cloud probably. The only thing is, I think they had to water down Cloud a bit to make the gap between
      them bigger to make Zack stand out. Though I think it's dumb seeing his later power boost.

    • @joeblanquie3561
      @joeblanquie3561 2 місяці тому +2

      Cloud is "clouded" by trauma, and deep down, all that he wants to be is there, and we see it before he gets jenova cells into him. I absolutley love is arc, and i really hope they nail it home in part 3. Wasn't a huge fan of how evil they made him act towards the end but I guess that's the fleshing out. He hid the black materia in OG right? I think before they get to northern crater he realizes he's lost it and gives it to TIfa? Then Jenova tricks Tifa? I have to replay it now

  • @sykune
    @sykune 2 місяці тому +15

    When you bring up clouds strength coming from his relantionships. It reminds me of AC when Cloud locks sword with sephiroth and ge he replies with "oh where did you find this strength?" Implying that sephiroth was clueless as to where Cloud gets his strength to opose him. He also asked him "to tell me what you cherish most so I may take it away." Sephiroth whole power is to cause dispair.

    • @bradhorowitz2765
      @bradhorowitz2765 2 місяці тому +2

      Is it corny? Sure. Is advant children good? Not exactly but sometimes the movie really got key story points right. The gang in the end DIDNT defeat sephiroth to save the planet exactly. They admit that they have their PERSONAL reasons. But all share one contributing factor (aerith, its revenge time). Their relationships make them better. As for sephiroth, it’s fascinating. It’s debatable if Jenova is “alive.” So sephiroth, who actually shows a shocking yet creepy attachment to his “biological” mother may not have that close relationship. I mean jenova can’t compliment him or call him out. If Jenova alive this raises more questions. 1)is jenova controlling sephiroth? 2)is jenova so evil that she’s letting her son commit these atrocities? None of these options are positive and shows how sephiroth can’t fathom strong bonds.
      Either way, the one winged angel grew up as a mere tool, never given any real semblance of kindness, never could bond with others, always told he was superior, and even when he was with people who did make him feel “human” it never lasted, possibly because of professionalism, the idealization of him to others (he was widely known as a hero so no one ever really knew him), and his own inability to truly like humans.

    • @sykune
      @sykune 2 місяці тому

      @@bradhorowitz2765 oddly enough sephiroth is in a abusive relantionship with Jenova on one hand she maybe controlling him, however it's likely the other way around he literally makes Jenova take his Form. So who is controlling who. As for bonds their was Angeal and Gensis, to which he show some comadrie but in the end he turned his back on them both, genesis even asked him to save him by giving him his cells and Sephiroth said No. I would agree his supiority complex made it virtually impossible for him to form lasting bonds. However sephiroth and Cloud share a bond, one in cells the other is harder to explain Kingdom hearts tries to explain that sephiroth is a representation. Of cloud dark side or perhaps whats he is fighting not to become. They are two sides of the same coin essentially. As one youtube video stated The legacy of the pride of a soldier (Angeal/Zack) and the legacy of a Monster (Sephiroth)

    • @tabbofii
      @tabbofii 9 днів тому

      The cringe anime power of friendship, ugh

  • @crystalstone1290
    @crystalstone1290 Місяць тому +4

    Very nice video but I'm a little disappointed there was no Yuffie in here. She was a literal child that witnessed war and death, and had to flee her home, watch her friend die right in front of her eyes. A lot of people forget that just because she has a happy go lucky facade but she's such a deep character. I hope you analyse sometime her character!
    But once again very nice video! I subscribed!

  • @reun1clus
    @reun1clus 2 місяці тому +59

    I played the game when I was 6-10 but only finished the first 2 parts. I was 23 when I revisited the originals to finally complete the game and appreciate how amazing the game and story really was. I’m grateful the remakes are being done and I love that you are doing an analysis for one of my favorite games of all time
    Commenting again for the algorithm

    • @HunterStiles651
      @HunterStiles651 2 місяці тому +1

      Dude. I honestly can't even imagine a bigger "Common Consoomer L" than buying Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. You bought the inappropriately named "Remake", which is the first 6 hours of the original bloated to 40 with endless amounts of filler content and has the expectation that you've played the original, and having been through that once thought "I think I'll buy into this scam a *second* time."

    • @M1sterE321
      @M1sterE321 2 місяці тому +3

      Your comment is a massive L.
      Yes, you should have played the original game, but it isn't necessary. It takes some special liberties but the series is very well done and does the original justice.

    • @HunterStiles651
      @HunterStiles651 2 місяці тому +1

      @@M1sterE321 I mean no offense, but the Remake Project could be the second coming of *Jesus* (which it isn't) and splitting what was originally one game into three separate full price releases is still a hard sell.
      You Square Enix corpo-fans need to raise your standards is the problem. You went gaga for Final Fantasy XVI too, praising it as a bastion of anti-wokeness for doing the absolute bare minimum.

    • @M1sterE321
      @M1sterE321 2 місяці тому +3

      @HunterStiles651 Raise our standards? What is wrong with it? The fact that the original story was split into 3 games? I applaud that decision. Their dream would have been rushed to present it all in one game. That would have led to messy results. Would have been a massive letdown.
      And who said FFXVI was anti-woke? It's not anti-woke. It just lacks noticeable woke elements, which is how entertainment media should be.

    • @HunterStiles651
      @HunterStiles651 2 місяці тому

      @@M1sterE321 Whatever man. You believe whatever you want to believe. You bought Final Fantasy VII Rebirth so no matter how many times you're given the choice there's not a doubt in my mind that you'll take the Blue Pill every time.
      I'm just glad that idiots like you are the vocal minority and most people see this travesty for what it is, judging by the sales.

  • @nightmare0xranmabloodedge122
    @nightmare0xranmabloodedge122 2 місяці тому +26

    Final Fantasy VII had some crazy signs and hints. Square did an astounding job.

  • @sunayocarissime5309
    @sunayocarissime5309 2 місяці тому +14

    31:00 Yeah it kind of reminds me of that movie The Core when Beck says, "NOT THE WHOLE WORLD JOSH...just three of them," referring to what Serge said at one point. Serge himself says, "I came here to save my wife and my two children and... seven billion lives... it's too much. I just hope I'm, I'm smart enough and brave enough to save three." Saving an entire planet can be overwhelming and sometimes the microcosm is more relatable. Sometimes its the small things that are more important.

  • @Lady_Omni
    @Lady_Omni 2 місяці тому +99

    FF7 is a damn near direct allegory for our planet

  • @BIGBODYDARWIN
    @BIGBODYDARWIN 2 місяці тому +11

    This channel is so slept on bro I really can’t believe it

  • @machi536
    @machi536 2 місяці тому +12

    cloud is not cold and emontionless with tifa, shes the first person hes nice to when you first play the game, cloud only finds his real self with tifas help in the lifestream because shes the only one that really knows him then he reveals he did it all to be worthy of her

  • @PerfectEclipse
    @PerfectEclipse 2 місяці тому +49

    Overall great video, and thank you for not diminishing Aerith's importance to Cloud's character (which many people do in service of their shipping Bias). Not many people catch onto the fact that the very personal thing Cloud mentions fighting for in the end of the OG is Aerith.
    One detail that wasn't completely as presented:
    The moment Cloud meets Tifa at the Train station is not interpreted correctly. When she meets him there and calls on him (while he's catatonic), the Jenova cells use the mimic ability to attach to Tifa's false memories of Cloud plus her idealized hero version of him. This then merges with the false recollection of the Nibelheim event and creates the false identity Ex soldier for Cloud.

    • @manuelmialdea5127
      @manuelmialdea5127 2 місяці тому +12

      This really happens a lot.
      Aerith being the intended love interest up until she died is very important for Cloud's arc as a whole.

    • @josh-oo
      @josh-oo 2 місяці тому +5

      Tifa doesn't have false memories of Cloud though. Her memories of Cloud are real. Cloud's memories of himself is what's false.

    • @PerfectEclipse
      @PerfectEclipse 2 місяці тому +3

      @@josh-oo Actually she does have false memories, she says so herself during the lifestream sequence in the OG. She thought they were friends, but didn't remember that they never were close.

    • @SUpersaiyajinjerkbag
      @SUpersaiyajinjerkbag 2 місяці тому +3

      Nah thats just inventing the narrative (the game had bad exposition even with some respect for it)
      if you must get to that point, I'd argue that "shared memories" allow Jenova to read minds of only those she infected, not Tifa

    • @PerfectEclipse
      @PerfectEclipse 2 місяці тому

      ​@@SUpersaiyajinjerkbag That's not what the lore says.

  • @marche800
    @marche800 2 місяці тому +6

    In the conflict between the Planet and Humanity, Jenova and Sephiroth act as a third party, a mutual enemy that neither force can handle alone. They are a necessary factor in the story becuase they force the planet and humanity to work together to survive, which is the ultimate message of the game. Shinra's Machinations and the Planet's retaliation are meaningless before the total cosmic annihilation posed by Jenova and Sephiroth. The planet ultimately only pulls through because Humanity, in the form of the party, are able to band together and kill Sephiroth so that the Planet can summon Holy to protect itself.
    In this context Sephiroth is particularly interesting because he is a combination of all three forces. He was conceived naturally and give a soul by the planet but was genetically modified by humanity using the alien dna of the extraterrestrial parasite Jenova.

    • @malucoblz588
      @malucoblz588 Місяць тому

      Here's hoping the next game emphasizes more on the need for team human( represented by Rufus Shinra) and team nature(Cloud and co.) to coexist.

  • @TsuriaDragon
    @TsuriaDragon 2 місяці тому

    Thank you Brett again I truly look forward to watching your videos thank you for all your hard work and dedication in making these. ❤

  • @shanlie3505
    @shanlie3505 2 місяці тому +3

    This was super well organized and fun to watch. I recently revisited the 1997 game getting ready for the Rebirth and even after all these years the original game has so many relevant topics about ourselves and our society that mirror the real world today.

  • @shenloken2
    @shenloken2 2 місяці тому +7

    Keep the FF 7 content coming! I loved this and your Sephiroth vids! Hope you cover all the other main characters.

  • @steelcurtain187
    @steelcurtain187 2 місяці тому

    You’ve done an amazing job with these past few videos on this game. Really enjoying listening to them 😎

  • @robertolimas19
    @robertolimas19 2 місяці тому +3

    Every time I see there is a new video I know it’s going to be a sweet ride to work and back

  • @latima123ify
    @latima123ify 2 місяці тому +32

    I was confused about tifa and cloud's relationship but rebirth helped clarify it. They definitely weren't super close but they did hang out enough to form crushes on each other

    • @ArlecchinoAKAFather
      @ArlecchinoAKAFather 2 місяці тому +5

      You might wanna play the OG game if you really wanna know. Or wait for the 3rd game to come out in maybe 4 years

    • @isaacsanford6340
      @isaacsanford6340 2 місяці тому +13

      They were acquainted in youth, and Cloud admired her from a distance. One of the cutscenes from the original game showcases them having a close talk once before he runs off to join SOLDIER, where he alludes to his feelings, and she gets it.
      Later on he returns to Nibelheim with Zack and Sephiroth, and keeps his face covered because he's ashamed of his lack of achievement within the program, but he had already sworn to protect Tifa just the same. The events of Nibelheim take place, and if I'm not mistaken he is present to see Tifa being thrown away from Sephiroth at which point he is indeed the one to step up, get impaled by Masamune, and then impossibly lift and throw Sephiroth into the Nibelheim reactor pit, which I believe Tifa remembers by the first act of the game.
      By the end of the first game, the developers tried to make it clear with their limited mechanical toolset via the PS1 that Cloud and Tifa consummate a long-held mutual affinity and attraction before venturing into the crater in the north. Remember, by that time, Tifa had already been inside Cloud's mind, and was responsible for spear-heading his recovery and the re-integration of his identity.

    • @ArlecchinoAKAFather
      @ArlecchinoAKAFather 2 місяці тому +1

      ​@@isaacsanford6340how about you don't freaking spoil?

    • @isaacsanford6340
      @isaacsanford6340 2 місяці тому +16

      @@ArlecchinoAKAFather The game has been out for 27 years, and has been heralded as the very best of it's genre, and possibly the best of it's time. I may as well avoid spoiling the Lord of The Rings- -the ring is cast into Mt. Doom.

    • @ArlecchinoAKAFather
      @ArlecchinoAKAFather 2 місяці тому

      @@isaacsanford6340 got it, you're just low iq

  • @TheJpnsf
    @TheJpnsf 2 місяці тому +2

    Definitely my favorite game. Looking forward to Cloud's vid

  • @devasprime6700
    @devasprime6700 2 місяці тому +1

    "Believe you can, and you're halfway there." ~Teddy Roosevelt
    That thought explains a lot of Cloud's capabilities and achievements, and it is one of my favorite quotes that I take to heart in my own life.

  • @any4448
    @any4448 17 днів тому

    Just the way you summed it up right at the beginning sold it for me

  • @Fugazity
    @Fugazity 2 місяці тому +1

    I always was under the impression that Cloud could snap form his first catatonic state after Jenova cells in him read Tifas mind and influence Cloud to remember a false memory of him being Zack, this also affected Tifas memories as well in a lesser way. When Cloud tells the story about what happen in Nibelhim with Sephirot in Kalm town, Tifa was listening, but she didn't tell then Cloud was not there as he said, because she never meet him, but he knew so many details of what happen she got scared, she literally said that something told her to keep quiet or something terrible will happen, and so she did. That was Jenovas influence making her unable to talk. was only after he enter in his second catatonic state, when they both fall into the life-stream that his and Tifas connection to Jenova was lost for good, and so Cloud together with Tifa could truly remember who he was.

  • @ArlecchinoAKAFather
    @ArlecchinoAKAFather 2 місяці тому +53

    18:33 actually it wasn't that Cloud wasn't strong enough, his mentality stopped him. In a mobile game that only released in Japan it was stated that Cloud was abnormally strong compared to the other infantrymen. Not to mention him and Tifa falling off mount Nibel as well as him overpowering Sephiroth

    • @arpadszabo661
      @arpadszabo661 2 місяці тому +9

      I blame the ff7 anime for making a lot of people think that Cloud wasn’t strong enough from the get go. In that anime the first relevant achievement of his, overpowering Sephiroth, is shown to be the result of Mako poisoning because immediately after throwing Sephiroth to the wall, his eyes start to become green.

    • @ArlecchinoAKAFather
      @ArlecchinoAKAFather 2 місяці тому +2

      @@arpadszabo661 Man ain't no one watched the anime 😅 Sephiroth just jumped into the mako for some reason

    • @arpadszabo661
      @arpadszabo661 2 місяці тому +1

      @@ArlecchinoAKAFather yeah i’m sure no one watched it even though all of those clips on UA-cam have over a million view. Idk why you act all stuck up over a fact weirdo.

    • @arpadszabo661
      @arpadszabo661 2 місяці тому +4

      @@ArlecchinoAKAFather yeah i’m sure no one watched it with every single clip of that scene on UA-cam having over a million view bud.

    • @santinopaone-hoyland
      @santinopaone-hoyland 2 місяці тому

      Who cares what is in a mobile game? Why should it undermine analysis of the original game?

  • @tyrantravealpha
    @tyrantravealpha 2 місяці тому +2

    The crazy thing about Cloud, is that despite so many people say cloud is weak, he had the potential, he needed something that could unleash that, it just happened to be Jenova Cells and Mako. He starts out believing he is essentially Zack (but still himself). With his knowledge of Zack, and his new enhancements he then has the capability to be the soldier he always wanted to be. By the end of their journey, Cloud develops that strength through not only hardship, but because of the growth his companions provide him as well. He shows his strength again in Advent Children when he defeats Sephiroth on his own.

  • @Keyatzin
    @Keyatzin 2 місяці тому +2

    I didn't even play the game, but I really dig your breakdowns, analysis, and deep dives into themes and character.

  • @harrisparrish9336
    @harrisparrish9336 2 місяці тому +4

    Does anyone else hear “Cloud Antifa” when he says “Cloud and Tifa”?

  • @RSollers
    @RSollers 2 місяці тому

    I’m super stoked for your deep dive into HFW!

  • @pixelgoat7317
    @pixelgoat7317 2 місяці тому +11

    I await the stupidly long video on Cloud; these lectures are so intriguing and give me something to paint to :D

  • @sephiroth0992
    @sephiroth0992 2 місяці тому +1

    This is a fantastic story explanation. You've earned my sub

  • @supersaiyanzero386
    @supersaiyanzero386 Місяць тому

    Great video.hopefully we can get more. I know it is hard to dig up all the words and make sure it's right so ill wait. This helped me through a workout before work!

  • @AMAJ4
    @AMAJ4 2 місяці тому

    These are great videos! I assume they take a lot of time, which is admirable.
    I would love to see a video like this on Legend of Dragoon.
    That game has some fun story/character development.

  • @sarringtoniv
    @sarringtoniv 2 місяці тому +3

    It's always seemed to me that the only perspective narration of Clouds past that we have is Cloud himself and Jenova ("Sephiroth") trying to manipulate him. So we don't actually really know what happened for sure.

  • @FortressWolf97
    @FortressWolf97 2 місяці тому +1

    I think it's also worth pointing out that Rufus Shinra has his own identity crisis as well. He wants glory and praise because he wants to surpass his father. He hates having to live in his father's shadow, so he looks for the Promised Land to mark his crowning achievement. When that failed, he then made it his mission to destroy Meteor, but only because he wants the glory of being seen as a hero. Rufus isn't your average corporate CEO. He legitimately wants Midgard to see him as the incredible man. Money is only secondary to his true motives.

  • @Dgamer-kq5kt
    @Dgamer-kq5kt 2 місяці тому +2

    I literally was just watching your villain video about Sephiroth this morning and then you give me this 😂

  • @Inosix
    @Inosix 2 місяці тому

    I played the original for a ungodly amount of time in the late 90s. I didn't know how to articulate the nuances in the Tifa Cloud thing. This really helped put it together.

  • @memes3751
    @memes3751 2 місяці тому +1

    This guys channel just don’t miss

  • @iferren
    @iferren 2 місяці тому +1

    Amazing! thank you very much! for the video!

  • @ralphsaid9239
    @ralphsaid9239 2 місяці тому

    I really like the videos you make to be honest the in depth analisys are just good and i really appreciate the way you expose your opinion on a caracter without invalidating the other points of view that could exist on certain topics.
    i would suggest making a video on Zack FAIR since he is part of the base mindset that Cloud used to ''reconstruct himself''.
    After that making Cloud's video could focus on his true Identity, the man behind the lie, the man who dived deep into his psyche to survive trauma.
    Also because Zack is my favorite Caracter of Finals Fantasys Period but that is beside the point, even tho it matters but i'm side tracking,... Buuuuuuuuut....
    So yeah Zack, Could be fun to make and Final Fantasy Crysis Core is entirely centered around him and his meeting with Cloud.
    Keep up your Work because, these is just as good as to make me see certain topics and characters in a new light.

  • @MrJam1858
    @MrJam1858 2 місяці тому +2

    O.o looking forward to your horizon videos!!

  • @hiddenscorpiusXI
    @hiddenscorpiusXI 2 місяці тому +1

    So, rewatching an LP of "Remake," and caught something interesting near the start of the game (spoilers below the break) (also, I haven't played or UA-cam'd "Rebirth" yet).
    -----
    So Sephiroth's first conversation with Cloud contrasts greatly with his speech after unaliving Aerith:
    "Our beloved planet is dying. Slowly. Silently. Painfully. Can you bear to see the planet suffer... Cloud? Were the planet to die, so many things would be lost. (...) That which binds us together would be no more. And I would be loath to live in such a world."
    In a way, this brand new dialogue is an echo of Cloud's retort to his "She's not actually gone" bs, which is definitely significant, and a sign that Sephiroth in the Remake is very different to Sephiroth in the OG.

  • @UltraInfernoJ
    @UltraInfernoJ 2 місяці тому

    Love your documentaries, each one is a great look into these incredible stories. One note with the upcoming Horizon theories it's a good thing to mix up the order between series otherwise the UA-cam algorithms may paint you as just an FF7 game channel and reduce your reach to non fans of the game. Happens after 3 consecutive uploads on a series I think.

  • @stephenb3026
    @stephenb3026 2 місяці тому

    Loved this. Looking forward to the Cloud video too but id love a deconstruction of villainy on Hojo at some stage!

  • @DEML91
    @DEML91 2 місяці тому +1

    Not sure on how this part is told in FF7 but Could doesn't make a new personality because he was wounded and experimented on, that still happened but what drove Could to have a new personality was Zacks sacrifice in which he told Could to "live for the both of us" which a still recuperating Could took literally and made is new personality based mostly on Zack.

  • @supersaiyanzero386
    @supersaiyanzero386 Місяць тому

    You could definitely do a 3 hour exposition on every main character and their home in ff7. Insane level of detail. The esoteric moves, designs, enemies, parallels. It's mind blowing. Even Jenova has a connection to reality. Ive experienced clouds false memory thing. Its wild.

  • @philybeanz23
    @philybeanz23 2 місяці тому

    Great video thank you!

  • @BlaineGifford
    @BlaineGifford Місяць тому

    Great review thanks

  • @kylieko2918
    @kylieko2918 2 місяці тому +2

    congratulations, you have managed to convince me to get the remake on steam :)

  • @BlaineGifford
    @BlaineGifford Місяць тому

    Great review 😊

  • @beastslayer8729
    @beastslayer8729 2 місяці тому +2

    37:30 It's pretty upsetting that Rebirth took away this grief moment for Cloud. I feel like it's pretty central to his character arc, and with Aerith seemingly still around in some form, it takes away from Clouds growth as an individual.

    • @randeroni
      @randeroni 2 місяці тому +4

      If anything they're doubling down on Cloud's grief. He was so traumatized by her death that his brain is deluding itself into thinking she's still alive, the same way he's been deluding himself the whole time that he was a SOLDIER. Which will make his eventual breakdown in Part 3 after learning the truth all the more painful

    • @ursaminor2732
      @ursaminor2732 2 місяці тому

      they ruined this moment

  • @resyarte1113
    @resyarte1113 Місяць тому

    We don’t mind the length of the videos. Keep the good work.

  • @yamatostwitcharchives3327
    @yamatostwitcharchives3327 2 місяці тому +2

    This is going to sound a little bit funny but the first half when we speak about the company shinra I instantly think of The lorax. Especially how Barrett acts towards shinra forgetting that the Earth is also a living being a in the resources that we take from her could kill and destroy the environment

  • @mikael.00
    @mikael.00 2 місяці тому +5

    best game of all time 🤞🏻

  • @THELYRICALTMAN
    @THELYRICALTMAN 2 місяці тому +3

    YES!!!!!!! MORE FINAL FANTASY!!!!

  • @Rhomagus
    @Rhomagus 2 місяці тому +14

    The story of Shinra is not the pursuit of greed. It's the abuse of power. At no point, are there any Shinra representatives doing the things they do for the pursuit of profit. Our main villains care nothing of money because they already have access to anything they want. Their only pursuit is power. Which makes them less corporate and more akin to an empire, and if there is any repeat theme throughout the entirety of the franchise it is the inherent evil of empire and power consolidation.
    "They do not care about making sure these resources will be available to future generations."
    Mako energy is not a form of energy to be reserved for future generations. Mako is not a metaphor for oil. Oil is not refined in a reactor. Mako is the very spirit of nature itself. The moral or warning of the story is that those who abuse it or try to circumvent the natural order do so at their own ultimate peril.
    The pursuit and abuse of power is what connects Sephiroth, Hojo, and Shinra, not corporate greed.

    • @bradhorowitz2765
      @bradhorowitz2765 2 місяці тому +5

      I think it’s somewhat like corporate greed because none of the Shinra executives accept that their lives are all they got. True they don’t care about wealth as first but really..if they didn’t then why build their tributes, show off their stuff to others? I mean the corporate structure allowed these individuals to accumulate their hearts greedy needs. If it wasn’t mako it was gonna be another resource. And the whole “they won’t leave anything behind,” yeah a corporation rarely has an incentive to be better (not all but too Many don’t. It’s why recycling turned out to be a big marketing ploy or why garbage is accumulated so much). Shinra is willing to destroy everything just to get what they want-godlike power. Similar to sephiroth jsut without the mommy issue. Shinra didn’t jsut simply let its greed ruin the plant, it encourages them to dominate all political and social life in their sphere. They choose to make wutai a puppet, they got the midgar government to operate under them, they rule the world to a large degree. And even before sephiroth was created or even thought of, they were seeking that promised land not to better the word by for their greed for power.

  • @zanychelly
    @zanychelly Місяць тому

    Dang, amazing video!
    I do really like Remake and Rebirth, specially because they are sequels to Advent Children and by consequence the OG.

  • @supersaiyanzero386
    @supersaiyanzero386 Місяць тому

    Can we get an analysis on the BASIS and origins of summons and limits? And/or enemies and enemy skills. Like the greek or ancient origins lol. Will take a while but would be a god tier vid

  • @Oleus
    @Oleus 2 місяці тому +4

    I've been wondering for quite some time why Cloud's appliance to SOLDIER had been rejected, to be honest. Since the guy showed such exceptional capabilities once injected with Jenova cells and bathed in mako, was there more of a psychological reason ? I mean, Cloud had always been a somewhat lonely kid with, from what we can get, lonely occupations (his love for bikes is pretty much a "Cloud thing" and not something he took from Zack or Sephiroth, for instance), so maybe the little emotional disconnection you can get from that type of upbringing made him too weak to outer influences (like alien cells and a litteral bath in dead people memories) to begin with so he was rejected from the program.
    But to be fair, young Cloud had lots of weaknesses he had no more later on, like his motion sickness and all, so maybe it was a mixture of both physical and psychological inadequacies in the end. I suppose he wouldn't have made it back from his mako poisoning without the traumatic death of his only friend right in front of him in the end. 🤔
    So I think you're entirely right when you say Cloud became strong because of his friends while Sephiroth had nothing to help him overcome his loneliness. That was also my conclusion on the subject.

    • @ArlecchinoAKAFather
      @ArlecchinoAKAFather 2 місяці тому +2

      Cloud was always strong even before Hojo's experiment. When he was a kid him and Tifa fell down the mountain. Tifa was in a comma but Cloud only had scraped knees. Even in spin off games it was stated that Cloud was stronger than his fellow soldiers (not all caps SOLDIER).
      Most likely what stopped Cloud from joining SOLDIER was entirely his low mental

    • @captainpep3
      @captainpep3 2 місяці тому +2

      @@ArlecchinoAKAFatheryeah, I could see Cloud being the guy who passed the physical exam, but not the mental

    • @Cthululululu
      @Cthululululu 2 місяці тому +3

      He, cannonically had extensive self confidence and communication issues. He's noted to have been abnormally physically strong, yes, but he was also held back even in combat by his self worth and self image, and had minimal team work abilities.

  • @rasmus6236
    @rasmus6236 2 місяці тому

    Really nice. Really really nice.

  • @SoulsOfWisdom
    @SoulsOfWisdom 2 місяці тому

    I just noticed this is one of the few times you released a video without Zelda or Nintendo OST.

  • @joeblanquie3561
    @joeblanquie3561 2 місяці тому

    Etymology of the word Nature - NTR = Khemitian / Egyptian - the spirtual realm / AL - English Suffix - of our about - Nature literally means - of our about the spiritual realm. Not to mention Aerith means earth, Tifa / Tifarete is a sephiroth on the tree of life that, in a nut shell, means love and guidance, and of course Cloud is the solar hero by many obvious traits. But man, all JRPGS, are a breeding ground to teach allegories and the occult in a variety of ways. I absolutely love it

  • @TerryB01
    @TerryB01 2 місяці тому +1

    Alright more FF7! Keep em coming Brett!

  • @Chun_0w0
    @Chun_0w0 26 днів тому

    "Fake it until you make it." - Cloud Strife

  • @pureos4372
    @pureos4372 2 місяці тому

    It's made pretty clear that Cloud actually imprints his entire identity onto Zack likely due to the trauma and mako exposure he experienced at Nibelheim. This is why he truly believes he was in Soldier and I think at some point he introduces himself as Soldier First Class. He believes he's Zack in everything but name. It isn't until flashbacks and memories begin surfacing that the falsehood of that identity is revealed and that Zack died to save him.

  • @dantetaylor2395
    @dantetaylor2395 2 місяці тому +1

    Glad i caught this early🙏

  • @Raditc
    @Raditc 2 місяці тому +1

    yo i was curious what happened to that one video of FF16 where "kaiju simulator" was in the thumbnail?

  • @supersaiyanzero386
    @supersaiyanzero386 Місяць тому

    I love crisis core properly portraying a 1st class. Zack is an absolute monster in combat. Way stronger, better abilities, more skill. Love it. Reunion is a masterpiece too imo, except for the sonic voice dub but tbh it doesnt detract much!!

  • @beringuy89
    @beringuy89 2 місяці тому

    OH BOY WHAT A GREAT SUNDAY!
    Let me pop a beer and enjoy this new FatBrett's video!
    Greetings from Brazil!

  • @borys3108
    @borys3108 2 місяці тому

    I really like dealing with loss aspect of the game

  • @kevinluna5984
    @kevinluna5984 2 місяці тому

    Such an amazing video !

  • @lospollosgaming1624
    @lospollosgaming1624 2 місяці тому

    its crazy to see ff7 content

  • @tubbytubic
    @tubbytubic 2 місяці тому

    Good vid

  • @supersaiyanzero386
    @supersaiyanzero386 Місяць тому

    Barret is legit amazing

  • @mrbubbles6468
    @mrbubbles6468 2 місяці тому +1

    All the final fantasy games up till about 16 have been bonkers goofy most of the time though. Wanting them to return to that old style is just wanting them to go back to one entry ago.

  • @Manny-Prime
    @Manny-Prime 2 місяці тому

    At this point... just do videos for final fantasy 7 - 12. Great video as always sir

  • @josecuestas7246
    @josecuestas7246 2 місяці тому

    Regarding Rebirth's ending
    Cloud become like Batman from Arkham-verse, a poor guy suffering of notables hallucinations.
    Or, Aerith become a Force ghost that only allows Cloud to see her.

  • @badreedinebedro
    @badreedinebedro 2 місяці тому

    yeah I think greed is definitely the point of the story like what I love about areith is that innocent girl in dark world and sick world she’s like a light in the darkness

  •  2 місяці тому

    Hearing you talk about Cloud's relationship with Aerith and the reason in the original game as to WHY she had to die, makes me think that either: she will die again in the remake triggering the same growth in character in Cloud in it. OR she ALMOST dies, but Cloud has a flashback to her death in the original game and his identity and sense of self becomes leaps ahead to his "future" self's.
    The remakes are after all NOT true remakes. They are a continuation of the FF7 saga. It is a continuation of what all the previous FF7 games have set up and will end up in Sephiroth's & Jenovah's true end. And a happy ending for everyone, if interviews with the people behind the remakes are to be believed.
    So in other words: It could be tat the shock of Aerith's apparent death in the remakes, will shock all the characters in such a way where the future and past collide once more and their reasons and their senses of self wil be that of their future selves. Who have completed their character arcs and who have found what they were fighting for and have the connections with each other as strong as they will ultimately be. And maybe? Because the chains of fate have been severed, even Sephiroth can be saved? You never know, right?

  • @smoogieboogie1694
    @smoogieboogie1694 2 місяці тому

    I find Cait Sith so interesting and frustrating because the game is just so unclear on what or who exactly Cait Sith really is. Sometimes it seems like he's literally just Reeve speaking through an animatronic and for some reason putting on a silly voice and goofy personality. Other times he seems genuinely separate, like someone who really just reports to Reeve or acts as a camera for Reeve to see through. Sometimes we see Reeve talking through Cait, sometimes Cait expresses individuality. In Dirge of Cerberus, we even see Reeve and Cait both moving around and talking together. I have the belief that Cait is a separate animatronic being that Reeve can see through and sometimes speak through, but I don't think anything has definitively been stated. I do hope the third game in the remake trilogy gives us some kind of clarity on the situation.

  • @payback8685
    @payback8685 2 місяці тому

    What's the name of the music at the beginning of the video?

    • @liammcnicholas918
      @liammcnicholas918 2 місяці тому +1

      The music that plays in the Forgotten City, right before nothing important

  • @shadeblackwolf1508
    @shadeblackwolf1508 Місяць тому

    Shinra: the holy conglomerate, a parallel of the real world Zaibatsu of japan

  • @burningbronze7555
    @burningbronze7555 2 місяці тому

    That bit about identity resonates with me somehow, i am confused as to why?

  • @davidharner2481
    @davidharner2481 2 місяці тому +2

    Can someone please tell
    Me if there’s rebirth spoilers in this video I haven’t finished it but I’ve played the og ff7 so that’s fine

    • @SoldierXXL
      @SoldierXXL 2 місяці тому

      Any OG spoilers are Rebirth spoilers ..... and no not any Rebirth specific spoilers that I can tell.

  • @MasterKombatBro
    @MasterKombatBro 2 місяці тому

    Damn kingdom hearts is a refreshed ff7 huh. Cloud being split between sora / riku

  • @supersaiyanzero386
    @supersaiyanzero386 Місяць тому

    The og is always going to be the best. Seriously. But i love the story of all 3 ps4/5 spinoff/remakes and i love crisis core more than i ever thought i would. I like remake more than rebirth but rebirth has better controls I kind of wanted a tighter story in rebirth but they kind of made it a little bit childish Disney like Kingdom Hearts that kind of thing I wish they would have slapped an M for mature rating on it they should do that with part 3 because anyone who's playing it even if they were young going to be probably old enough not to mention if you didn't play the original Final Fantasy VII and you are on part 3 of the new one then maybe you should be playing that and let the veterans play the third part the way it was intended either way I'm super excited for the extreme climactic stuff and I know some of the scenes and Materia that we're left out will make their debut

  • @supersaiyanzero386
    @supersaiyanzero386 Місяць тому

    Quick question...why Migard? Instead of Midgar? Jw if that is the intended name or the correct pronunciation or if that's just a mispronunciation like the way people said aeris

  • @supersaiyanzero386
    @supersaiyanzero386 Місяць тому

    I think mako is analogous to oil, natural gas and such. I'm not going to sugar-coated this game was definitely an extreme criticism of the direction the world was going in at the time and still is and it holds up very well other than a few of the extremely Magical elements everything in Final Fantasy VII is accurate and honestly the way they portray corporate greed might actually be an understatement if you see the way things actually are in real life and take the blinders off which I'm sure a lot of people have, but not to the extent that they should have, we have slavery and genocide and 500,000 people dying in wars and 50,000 people being indiscriminately destroyed by a larger Nation that's being backed by the ultimate corporate Nation and I have no doubt that shouldn't rule was based on companies from the United States of America I mean people are afraid to talk about this stuff and want to defend their country but honestly America is largely indefensible in many ways and that's not to say it's one of the worst places to be even though it is kind of bad but it's a really bad place as far as what it does to the rest of the world Shinra could be a parallel to the United States but I'm not exactly sure that Avalanche has a parallel because in the real world there aren't any environmental Heroes no matter what this game is a masterpiece even if the world was peaceful and overcomes most of the large problems if our species survives or another species stumbles upon Final Fantasy 7 it will almost be like a history a playable history book that is somewhat fictional what gives the general vibe in a fun way another species or the future species can enjoy and they can learn about it this way that's another element of how it is a masterpiece it is timeless as far as Avalanche and Cloud it's almost as if they introduce a hypothetical a what if scenario that probably should have happened that is a bunch of people protesting against it even in ways that people find unsavory man this game is Just Awesome it's dark I wish it got an M rated label from the very beginning and I hope part 3 is actually a little bit less like Kingdom Hearts and more like the original

  • @beauc7653
    @beauc7653 2 місяці тому

    Bruh, thank you

  • @TheAntiburglar
    @TheAntiburglar Місяць тому

    The real question is.... will you pronounce it Midgard in the Cloud video, too? Maintain the consistency, or correct the error? What will you do?!

  • @xtendoclip1517
    @xtendoclip1517 2 місяці тому

    time for another 21 hour playthrough of ffvii

  • @Fugazity
    @Fugazity 2 місяці тому

    FF7 is about life, and accepting death as part of life.

  • @steel2572
    @steel2572 2 місяці тому +2

    Would you ever consider doing videos on RDR2. Think they could be really interesting

  • @itsdantaylor
    @itsdantaylor 2 місяці тому

    6:23 technically they bombed to disable the reactors, Shinra detonated the reactors and subsequently killed people as a false flag operation.......(not sure if that was the case in the original game but it certainly was in remake)

  • @corndog9482
    @corndog9482 Місяць тому

    there is no wrong reason to fight against any entity wanting to rule the world.

  • @MrMeatyMeat61
    @MrMeatyMeat61 2 місяці тому

    Please, please do a video on Dutch Or Micah