VERSION: 1.02 (Build 2.19.97) ======================================================================== KEY: [!] = Decision Point. You will be given choices in response to the various interaction with the characters & environment. Note that the majority of the choices encountered in FFVII have a certain level of significance in the course of your saga. In certain decision points, you will be given only 1 chance to answer them correctly, so be aware of your actions.... [Tip!] = Tip point. (duh) From time to time, little advises on certain situations will be given, for assisting you in solving certain sequence of events without completely losing the game's innovative appeal due to using this walkthrough or "cheat" as some would say.... [^o^] = Secret/trick point. In the course of your epic saga, there will be various opportunities to find secret artifacts, hidden events & sequences, or little added bonuses. Some events require that you accomplish a certain sequence, while others are merely well hidden. Advises & solutions will be provided to help you cover as much of those secrets that the wizards at Squaresoft have managed to hide within these 3CDs... [OP!] = Optional Event. There will be several optional/side events throughout the course of your journeys - none of which will have any effect to the primary storyline, whether if you take part in the optional side events or not. These optional side events are, however, great opportunities to obtain certain special artifacts or even a hidden materia or two... ======================================================================== ** DISK 1 ** [1.]---[ Inside Area 1 of Makoro Industrial Complex ] o Proceeding the introductory sequence, as you along with the few resistance members, known as the "abaranche", leap off the train, Barrett will urge you to hurry & follow. o Battle your way up to the outer gate of the industrial complex - the rest of the resistance members (Vicks, Wedge, JC) will be waiting there for you. o Talk to Vicks. He will then ask for you name. (refer to the Reference Section for details on the control interface of the name screen) As the gate is opened and the resistance members proceed through, go ahead & customize Barrett's name to your own preference, or leave it as is. o Battle your way through the industrial levels of the Makoro complex - talk to JC in order to open the 2 gates. Upon reaching the elevator, JC will tell you to push the elevator controls. Upon leaving the elevator, JC will later stop to tell you the controls to maneuvering around the ladder & beams. (Press Circle button to leap onto ladder) (Use directional pad to maneuver) o Upon reaching the core level of the Makoro complex, Cloud will proceed to initiate the bomb. Prepare for a battle sequence w/the level boss. o You will then have 10 minutes to escape the Makoro complex. Well, what are you waiting for? RUN! (Make sure not to leave anyone behind inside the complex) o Upon successfully making your escape, Barrett will tell everyone to meet at the train station. o Shortly after, you will encounter Aerith for the very first time. (At this early point in the game, she is identified only as a young girl selling flowers) Aerith will approach you to ask what had happened. [!] You will be given a choice to respond: Top Choice -> Tell Aerith to escape/run as well Bottom Choice -> Tell Aerith not to worry...and [!] If you choose the bottom choice, you will be given another choice: Top Choice -> Show interest in Aerith's flowers Bottom Choice -> Nevermind [!] If you choose the top choice & show interest in Aerith's flowers, Aerith will offer to sell you some flowers. You can respond: Top Choice -> Buy the flowers for 1 Gil Bottom Choice -> Do not buy [Tip!] - If you choose to buy the flowers, there will be a little "bonus" scene that will occur later on at the bar in the slum town of Agito w/Tifa & Marin. o After Aerith gives you the flowers, proceed on through the Area 8 city. Guards will be lurking around -- You will even be given choices if you want to confront the guards or not. (Choose the top choice to fight them, the bottom to run) (Note: You will only have a few seconds to make this decision) o Upon making your leaping escape onto the train & gather back together w/the abaranche/resistance, talk to everyone. You will need to talk to JC for information on the structure & foundation of Midgar (how the cities are divided into 8 subsections and named w/numerical area values - i.e. Area 8) and the Shinra corporation. He later goes on to explain how each of the 8 subsections have ID censor checkpoints which are interconnected to Shinra Corp's host computer. (If you talk to JC once more, he will suggest possibly giving you a gift that he made. - Choose the top choice to deny it, or choose the bottom choice to accept it if & when he does have it) o Upon reaching the train station of Area 7, Barrett will tell everyone to head to the slum town of Agito. Follow them. [2.]---[ Slum Town of Agito: Abaranche Headquarters ] o Head into the bar - the rest of the Abaranche/resistance members will be there, as well as Barrett's daughter (Marin) and Tifa. After Marin mistakes you for her father, Barrett, Tifa will approach you, welcoming you back. Tifa will first ask you if you had any quarrels with Barrett during your mission. [!] You can respond: Top Choice -> Tell Tifa you quarreled/argued with Barrett Bottom Choice -> Tell Tifa you restrained/held yourself from quarreling with Barrett If you chose the bottom choice, Tifa will complement you in a surprised manner that you are acting more mature now. Name screen will pop up - customize Tifa's name to your own preference or leave it as is. o If you bought those flowers earlier from Aerith, Tifa will notice the flowers. She will be surprised that you found flowers in Midgar. [!] You will be given a choice - You can: Top Choice -> Give the flowers to Tifa Bottom Choice -> Give the flowers to Marin (Barrett's daughter) (I will leave this choice up to you -- although if you really must know, I chose to give them to Tifa) (^o^) o Walk towards the entrance of the bar - Barrett will rush in. After Barrett & the rest of the Abaranche members head down to the secret headquarters, talk to Tifa. (NOTE: Depending on who you gave the flowers to, will determine what Tifa will say to you. If you chose to give the flowers to Marin (Barrett's daughter), Tifa will urge you to follow them down to the headquarters.) [!] If you chose to give the flowers to Tifa, she will offer a drink to you. You can respond: Top Choice -> Tell Tifa you do not feel like drinking at the moment. Bottom Choise -> Tell Tifa you want a sharp/heavy shot of liquor. o After the light conversation, Tifa will urge you to go down to the headquarters. As Cloud & Barrett once more get into an arguement, Cloud emphasizes the fact that he feels no obligation to neither the Shinra Corp or the Abaranche, despite the fact that he once used to be a "soldier". o Head back to the bar level. Tifa will shortly follow after you, urging you to help Barrett & the Abaranche against the Shinra Corp. Cloud states, as he did before, that he has no interest in whether or not the planet is in danger of destruction. Tifa argues how Cloud is so easily willing to part away from the long friendship they had once shared since they were young children. [!] In response to this, you can respond: Top Choice -> Tell Tifa that what she speaks of is meaningless (Similar to saying "Whatever" in English) Bottom Choice -> Tell Tifa solemnly that there is nothing else he can do.... (Either choice will result in the same response) Tifa then continues to remind Cloud of his special "promise"... ...a promise Cloud made 7 years ago to which he would come save Tifa in the case if she were to ever be in trouble... o Barrett will shortly come in & give Cloud the money due to him for the earlier mission, as promised. Cloud then offers to take part in the next mission for double the price - 3000 gil. o Head up to the bar level & talk to Barrett - he will tell you that the next target is the Area 5 Makoro industrial complex. He will then ask you to teach him how to equipt & use the materia orbs. [!] You will be given a choice - you can respond: Top Choice -> Although it is too much work, you will explain Bottom Choice -> It is too much work.... Assuming you chose the top choice, a demo sequence will start, showing the steps in how to equipt & use the materia orbs. For further details, please refer to the "Reference Section" of this guide. o Tifa will also join in your character party. Before heading off to the train station, explore the town and purchase any supplies you may need on your journey. [3.]---[ Train Sequence - To Area 5 Makoro industrial complex ] o Proceed on boarding the train - a sequence will soon take place, as the Shinra's ID scanning system will burst out in full alert. Follow & run past each train cart within the time frame given or the doors will lock. Well, what are you waiting for? Run! o Upon making your leaping escape from the train, proceed down the train tunnel. You will encounter a section gated off by the laser barrier. Just to the left of it lies a small hole that will lead to inside the Area 5 Makoro industrial complex. Go ahead & proceed in. o Battle your way through the corridors of the inner Makoro industrial complex. Head down to the core area of the complex, similar to the place where you planted the bomb at the Area 1 Makoro complex. Upon reaching there, Cloud will briefly experience a flashback which had taken place years ago. o After planting the bomb to the core, proceed to head up to the control center -- there, Tifa will instruct you to push the botton at the same time as they do, in order for the gate to open. (Simply coordinate Cloud's action with Tifa & Barrett as they press the button. It will take a few tries before you get it.) o Proceed on to the bridgecross -- you will find yourself surrounded by an army of guards, met by the president of Shinra himself. Prepare yourself for a battle against the subboss, "Airbuster" robot. o After defeating the subboss "Airbuster" robot, a brief fmv sequence will follow, as Cloud falls to the depths of the city below... [4.]---[ Area 5 - Encounter with Aerith ] o Finding himself with Aerith in a chapel of Area 5 slums, go ahead & talk to Aerith - in the course of the conversation, she will ask you if you still remember her. [!] You can respond to her: Top Choice -> Tell Aerith you recall meeting her before Bottom Choice -> Tell Aerith you do not remember [!] If you chose the top choice in that you recall meeting her before, another set a choices will be given - you remember her as: Top Choice -> She was selling flowers... Bottom Choice -> She was drunk on the streets... - I hope you chose the top choice - (^o^) - [!] As the conversation continues, Aerith asks if you do not mind talking to her more... You can respond: Top Choice -> You do not mind the conversation Bottom Choice -> There is nothing you wish to talk about. o Assuming you chose the top choice, she will tell you to wait a minute, as she finishes tending the flowers. Talk to her once more - you both will formally introduce your names to each other - the name screen will appear. (customize Aerith's name to your own preference, or leave as is) As the Shinra guard walks into the scene, talk to Aerith once more - she will ask if you will become her hired bodyguard, and request that you escort her safely to her house. As a payment for Cloud's services, Aerith offers to go on a date with Cloud later on. (^o^) o Proceed on up towards the top of the chapel -- a sequence will occur, as Aerith falls from the top ledge before making the leap. As the guards begin to close in on Aerith, Cloud quickly notices the few barrels positioned on the beams above him. [!] You will be given a choice: Top Choice -> Tell Aerith to wait a little while. Middle Choice -> Tell Aerith to fight the guards. Bottom Choice -> Tell Aerith to run from the guards. (I will leave this option up to you -- I do not want to spoil all the fun out of these intense moments from you, ya know.) o After making your escape w/Aerith through the roof of the chapel, proceed on to Aerith's house, located to the far northeastern part of the Area 5 slum town. o Upon reaching Aerith's house, you will be welcomed by Elmina, Aerith's foster mother. As Cloud then suggests that he needs to go to Area 7 in meeting up with Tifa, Aerith will curiously question of your relationship with Tifa. [!] You can response to Aerith that Tifa is: Top Choice -> Not your girlfriend. Bottom Choice -> Is your girlfriend. (I will leave this choice up to you) o Head up to the stairs to rest. Seeing it that he should not involve Aerith into a dangerous situation, Cloud decides to sneak out & head to Area 7 without her. You must sneak out of the house without making any noises or Aerith will hear you & you will have to start over. (Hint: Try not to run) o Leave the slum town. You will find Aerith waiting for you at the entrance to Area 6. o As you approach near the entrance to Area 7, Cloud suggests that Aerith return to her house. [!] You are given a choice - If Aerith says she does not want to go back, how would you respond: Top Choice -> Take her back to her house. Bottom Choice -> Take her with you to Area 7. (Although I chose the bottom choice & chose to take her with me to Area 7, I am pretty sure the outcome will be the same in either choice) As a little sequence is proceeded between Cloud & Aerith at the playground area, a caravan with Tifa approaches the scene & heads off to the slum town nearby. Follow Aerith to the slum town. [5.]---[ Area 6 - Inside the Slum Town & Encountering Corneo... ] o Explore the slum town - you will find that there are many.... ...interesting people who inhabit this little slum town. o First, you will need to head to the "girl bar", located towards the lower southeastern end of the slum town, and talk to the towns people there. [!] If you talk to the manager there (the character in the big red vest), he will ask you if you are looking for females - you can respond: Top Choice -> Ask him if he knows where Tifa is. Bottom Choice -> Tell him you have no interest in his business. If you chose the top choice, asking him about Tifa's whereabouts, he will tell you that Don Corneo has taken her to his mansion. o Now head up to Corneo's mansion, located to the very top end of the slum town. Talk to the guard standing front. As you find out that only females are allowed into Corneo's mansion, Aerith suggests that you alter your appearance to disguise as a female. o You must now obtain a dress for Cloud to disguise in. Go to the clothing shop - talk to the clerk behind the counter. He will tell you unless his father can stop drinking & get to work more, the dress that Cloud seeks will not be completed. o You must now talk to the father of the clerk - he is in the bar, located right across from the weapon/gun shop. [!] Talk to the father - once Aerith convinces him to make a dress for Cloud, he will ask you what type of dress you want: Top Choice -> A smooth dress Bottom Choice -> A silky dress [!] You will be given another set of choices: Top Choice -> A shiny dress Bottom Choice -> A well-blended dress [Tip!] - Top Choice for 1st + either Top or Bottom for 2nd will get you a "cotton dress" - Bottom Choice for 1st + Top Choice for 2nd will get you a "satin dress" - Bottom Choice for 1st + Bottom Choice for 2nd will get you a "silk dress" o Now, leave the bar & head back to the clothes shop. The father will be there & will give you the dress. o Of course, a dress will not be complete without a wig, right? So, after Cloud gets out of the dressing room, you will need to obtain the wig from the wresting arena, located below the weapons/gun shop. o Talk to the female - she will offer to give you a wig, only if you can beat her hefty brother in a fitness match. After she explains how to operate the buttons for this match, she will ask you if you understand: [!] You can respond: Top Choice -> You do not understand - please explain once more. Bottom Choice -> You understand - go ahead with the match. [Tip!] - Press the [square] button to kneel. - Press the [X] button to stand up. - Press the [circle] button to bend over & stance. Basically, the fitness drill here is to kneel, stand-up, & bend over again & again until the time has run out. The best way to beat the hefty brother in this fitness match, is to keep a very steady pace of pressing the buttons in a consistant pattern of pressing [square], [x], & [circle] over & over. [!] Choosing the bottom choice, she will go on to explain that you will have 30 secs to beat her brother. You will be given a choice: Top Choice -> Practice first before the match. Bottom Choice -> No practice is needed - go on with the real match. (I suggest you practice first - the timing of pressing the buttons will require some getting used to) NOTE: The real match will promptly begin right after the practice. [Tip!] - If you win, you will get a "blond wig" - If you tie, you will get a "chapatsu wig" - If you lose, you will get a "kusege wig" [!] After obtaining the wig, head back to the clothes shop & go to the dressing room. Aerith will ask you if you are ready to change your clothes - you can respond: Top Choice -> You are ready to change your clothes. Bottom Choice -> Not ready yet. o If you chose to change your clothes, Aerith will change her clothes as well, but note that once you change, you must proceed to Corneo's mansion -- you cannot go back to the "girl bar" or get the coupon from the restaurant... o Once disguised in your dress & wig, head up to Corneo's mansion. Talk to the guard - he will now let you in. Once inside, go to the dungeon room, where you will encounter Tifa. o Surprised at your state of appearance, Tifa will go on to explain that Corneo may have some information that will come invaluable to them. Head up to Corneo's office - where, Corneo will choose from the 3 of you to become his...um....woman. [Tip!] - Corneo will choose TIFA if: You have the cotton dress. - Corneo will choose AERITH if: If you have any of these 3 or more of the special items: - "silk dress" - "sexy cologne" - "blond wig" - "lingerie" - "facial make-up" - Corneo will choose CLOUD if: You must have all the special items listed above. o Once everyone has arrived in Corneo's bedroom, Corneo will confess to the Shinra's next plan in ridding the abaranche of its menacing existance, along with the little slum town surrounding it, through the destruction of the entire Area 7 of Midgar. [!] Just as you are about to leave, Corneo will ask you, when should a person expect the worst in a given situation... You can respond: Top Choice -> When a person is prepared to die. Middle Choice -> When a person is winning/victorious. Bottom Choice -> When a person does not know what is going on. (Every choice will get you the same result - go ahead & pick any) o A sequence will follow. The president shinra has made his final decision to destroy the entire Area 7 of Midgar, for the sake of ridding the Abaranche.... [6.]---[ Underground Sewers and Abandoned Trains ] o Prepare yourself for an immediate battle with a subboss "Apusu". o Tifa suggests that there may still be time left to save Barrett and the rest of the Abaranche before the entire Area 7 is literally brought down. Battle your way through the sewers & through the abandoned train station. [7.]---[ Abaranche - Battle to save Area 7 ] o By the time you reach the entrance to Area 7, Barrett & the Abaranche will already have engaged in battle against the Shinra army at the top of the tower. (Even after that long fall, Wedge seems to still be alive....) o Battle your way up the tower & meet up with Barrett. Along the way up the tower, you will even encounter Vicks & JC injured. Upon reaching the top of the tower, prepare for a brief battle with Leno - a Shinra operative who will initiate the destruction of Area 7. o A CG sequence showing the utter destruction of Area 7 will follow. o As Barrett expresses his rage over the death of his Abaranche resistance - Vicks, Wedge, and JC - Tifa suggests that Barrett's daughter, Marin, may still be alive. [8.]---[ Inside the Shinra Building... ] o Head off to Aerith's house. (You will find Aerith's foster mother there, who will explain how she encountered Aerith & her real mother some 15 years ago at the train station - her mother whose dying words were for Elmina to take Aerith to a safe place...and so Elmina had realized...she would never see her husband again, nor did she have any children of her own -- and so, there was nothing else for her to do, but to take Aerith home with her... Elmina goes on to explain that she somehow knew Aerith was different from others....Aerith retained a certain inner power - a power to which had interested the Shinra corp as well for their own corrupt uses. When Aerith had just brought Marin to her home for safety, the Shinra operatives had taken hold of her -- and Aerith had offered to be taken in exchange for Marin's safe passage.) Upon learning of this, Barrett solemnly expresses his apology to Elmina for what Aerith did for Marin. (Barrett goes on to explain his reasoning for leaving Marin behind during the battle -- he wishes to be with Marin more often, but should he be with her, he cannot fight the Shinra corp. And if he does not fight, the planet will die -- and so, he explains how he finds himself in an endless turmoil between being with Marin & saving the planet...) [!] o Head up the stairs. Talk to Barrett - he will tell you that he will join you to help fight against the Shinra corp to save Aerith at any cost. Marin will then suggest that Aerith may actually be in love with you (Cloud). You can repond: Top Choice -> Tell Marin you do not know anything about it. Bottom Choice -> Tell Marin it would be nice if it were true. (I will leave this option up to you) [!] o Go to the next room over - an option will be given to you if you want to rest or not: Top Choice -> Rest. Bottom Choice -> Do not rest. o Head downstairs & towards the entrance of the house. After everyone has gathered back together, Tifa will suggests to go back to the Slum Town (wall market). Go. o Head up towards the northern end of the slum town -- you will encounter a bunch of children running about. Follow them - they will lead you to a wall w/a pipe structure up through the middle. If you talk to the child sitting in front of the pipe, he will tell you that the pipe leads up to the upper levels of Midgar, specifically to the Shinra Corp Building. o Climb the pipe. Towards the top of the pipes, you will find a battery outlet, which will open up a passage for you to proceed. Since you will now need a set of batteries, climb back down to the surface. o Go to the weapon/gun shop. Talk to the blacksmith on the left side -- he will offer to sell 3 batteries to you for 300 gil. (Choose the top choice to buy) After buying them, head back up the pipes & use the battery on the outlets. Proceed on through the various obstacles. There will be 3 battery points you will need to cover. (Note: Press the [circle] button to jump onto the swinging wire) (Note: It may take some time before you correctly position yourself to jump. Ignore the messages that keep on popping up repeatedly -- they are just instructions on how to jump on to the swinging wire) o Once you finally get to the Shinra Corp Building, Barrett will explain that Aerith has probably imprisoned in the upper levels of the building (60-68th level). Tifa & Barrett will briefly get into an arguement in how they should approach inside the building. Barrett's Method: Bum Rush through the front door & battle your way up to the 60th or so floor. Tifa's Method: Secretly sneek in through the back stairs, without the suspicion of the guards. [!] You will be given a choice. You can either: Top Choice -> Bum Rush in through the front. Bottom Choice -> Go in secretly through the back stairs. (I will leave this up to you -- however going through the front will probably gain you more experience points & items, although it will be quite a tedious task.) o Any path you choose to proceed up the building, you will end up at the 59th floor regardless. Upon reaching the 59th floor, battle against the 3 guards -- one of them will drop a key for the 60th floor. o Proceed on to the tube elevator -- choose the 60th floor. o Upon reaching the 60th floor, go to the left control operating room - you will have to coordinate each person to successfully cross over to the other side without being caught. Time your movements carefully & accordingly. [Tip!] - Move only when the guards are crossing & in motion. Once Cloud crosses over, you will have to press the [circle] button to signal the others when to move. o Proceed on up the stairs to the 61st floor. You will find yourself in the building's "refresh floor", with several other wandering characters. [!] o Talk to one of the characters walking around. One of them will suspiciously ask what you are doing here - You can respond: Top Choice -> Ask him where Aerith is held. Bottom Choice -> Don't answer him. Choose the bottom choice, and he will give you the access key to the 62nd floor. o Now head up the stairs once more, up to the 62nd floor. o You will notice that the 62nd floor has 4 different colored chambers, each containing 3 sets of bookshelves. Go to the room on the western part of the floor, where Domino will offer to give you the keys up to the 65th floor if you can guess the password correctly. As a bonus, if you can solve his password in the 1st attempt, he will even give you a special materia orb (Zokusei Materia). o Leave the room & goto any one of the 4 chambers & read a book. [Tip!] - Now, normally, you would have to research all the books in all 4 chambers - and using your intuition & cognitive reasoning, you would have to try to come up with a valid guess at the password... HOWEVER....lucky for you, I will provide the correct answer for you (^o^). The correct answer is "Shichoo Bakuhatsu" ....er, at least most of the time.... Unfortunately, I have found that the answer is not always the same in each game, so you may find the answer to be different in your game... (Ok - So this is not much of a tip.....I know, I know) o At any rate, go back to the room & talk to Domino once more to make your final answer selection. After obtaining the key up to the 65th floor, head back up the stairs & go to the 63rd floor. o The 63rd floor is quite optional -- However, it is an opportunity to obtain a "Zentaika materia", which will allow you to cast your normal spells onto multiple enemies. [Tip!] - The objective of solving the 63rd floor is merely to find the best/shortest route in getting to the coupons, through only opening 3 locked doors. You can only choose 3 doors to unlock, so use them efficiently. Once you obtain the coupons, you can exchange them for special items from the computer console. - "A Coupon" will get you the "Pendant of the Stars" - "B Coupon" will get you the "Four Slot" - "C Coupon" will get you the "Zentaika Materia" o Go back up the stairs & head up to the 64th floor. Replenish your characters & save your game here. o Go back up the stairs & head up to the 65th floor. Upon reaching the 65th floor, you will notice that there are several item/treasure chests located throughout the many rooms -- and you will also notice that most of them locked. o There will be 1 chest that is unlocked -- locate it & you will obtain a broken piece of the mini-midgar structure, located in the center circular room. Go to the circular room & attach the broken piece onto one of the missing sections of the Midgar structure. You will hear a clicking sound -- that is the sound of one of the other chests unlocking. Now repeat the procedure until you obtain the key to the 66th floor in one of the chests. o Once obtaining the key, go back up the stairs & head up to the 66th floor. o On the 66th floor, go to the toilet. You will discover that you could crawl into the air vents. [!] o You will be given a choice: Top Choice -> The toilet a little dirty - let's flush it first. Middle Choice -> Climb on top of toilet. Bottom Choice -> Leave the toilet. o Choosing the middle choice, proceed on through the air vents and you will be able to witness the Shinra president's meeting with his officials. You will soon learn that President Shinra has no intention of rebuilding Area 7 of Midgar... o Leave the toilet - you will notice that the scientist Hojou, from the meeting, is about to head off as well. Follow him up to the 67th floor. o Keep on following him - a sequence will soon follow. o Proceed on to the elevator. You will finally encounter Aerith, enclosed within the laboratory capsule -- a sequence will follow. [!] o Red XIII will join you for your upcoming battle - you will be given a choice to choose who to join in your upcoming battle: Top Choice -> Choose Tifa Bottom Choice -> Choose Barrett Red will then formally introduce himself - the name screen will pop up. (Customize Red XIII's name to your own preference or leave it as is.) o Prepare to battle against the subboss. o Once everyone has gathered together, the remaining characters will tell you that they will be waiting at the elevators on the 66th floor. [Tip!] - (Make sure not to forget to pick up any materia orbs you may find lying around) o The lab assistant/guard will be standing around on the upper level of that room -- talk to him. He will give you the key for access up to the 68th floor. o Your task here is done - head down to the 66th floor to meet up with everyone at the elevator. o Upon reaching there, you will be captured by the Taaks, the bounty hunters for the Shinra Corp. o Finding yourself in the prison cells, talk to everyone. (If you go up to the cell entrance, you will be given options: Top Choice -> Talk to Barrett Middle Choice -> Talk to Red XII Bottom Choice -> Talk to Aerith) o Upon resting, a sequence will follow - you will find your cell door unlocked & the guard killed. Proceed on to the elevator, heading up to the laboratory. (where you found Aerith) o Find the entrance to the stairs & head up to the 69th floor. At the 69th floor, it is recommended that you save your game here. o Head up the stairs to President Shinra's floor -- You will soon learn that Sephiroth was responsible for killing the guards & the president. o Proceed through the door located by the stairs -- you will encounter Rufus - the son of the dead president and now the new self-proclaimed president of Shinra. As the sequence follows, Cloud will tell Barrett to take everyone else to safety, as prepares to face off against Rufus by himself. o The control will switch over to Aerith's party -- Head to the elevator tubes located on the same floor. Prepare for an intense battle down the elevator! o The control will now switch back to Cloud's scene -- (Note: Press the start button to proceed) Prepare for a battle against Rufus. o After Rufus flees from the battle, proceed back down the stairs to meet up with Tifa. As the events follow, you will be soon treated with an extremely well-done CG fmv of the escape scene. [9.]---[ The Great Escape - Motorcycle Chase ] o As one of the mini-games in this epic saga, the objective in this intense moment is to control Cloud w/the motorcycle and ward off the Shinra army from attacking your character party's truck. If the truck takes too many hits, it's gameover. [Tip!] - How to operate the controls: o Use the direction pad to maneuver Cloud in his motorcycle. o Press the [square] button to swing your sword to the left. o Press the [circle] button to swing your sword to the right. o Press the [triangle] button to bring up the main menu screen. o Press the [X] button to change your party characters. o Press the [start] button to begin your mini-game. o Once you reach the end of the road, prepare yourself to battle against a subboss. o Once escaping from Midgar, everyone will gather in front the main gate - Talk to everyone. Leave Midgar. Barrett will suggest that you head to the town of Kaamu, located not far off from Midgar. You will also need to choose which characters to accompany Cloud, as the rest of the remaining characters will meet you at the town of Kaamu. (NOTE: For detailed information on best operating the controls during the 3d map view, refer to the "Reference Section" of this guide.) [10.]---[ The Town of Kaamu ] o Follow Aerith & Red XIII into the inn - the rest of the characters will be waiting for you there. o As the conversation follows, Cloud will go on to explain his past relations with Sephiroth... (...it was because of Sephiroth that had inspired Cloud to initially join the Shinra army...and within time, they had found themselves to become close associates, despite their vast difference in age & experience. But from friendship to bitter betrayal, Cloud recalls of the very incident that had completely altered their association to the worst...5 years ago, when Cloud was but only 16 years of age...) [!] o You will now be controlling Cloud in his own flashback. Follow Sephiroth into the inn & talk to him. If you talk to him once more, you will be given a choice: Top Choice -> Do not rest yet. Bottom Choice -> Rest for the night. o Go ahead & rest for the night. In the morning, Tifa will accompany Sephiroth & Cloud to the Makoo Energy -- make your way through the mountainous path. (Sephiroth will even briefly join you in your battle sequences! ...although not playable/controllable though... Check out all the spells & abilities he can cast!) Upon reaching the makoro, follow Sephiroth into the core chamber. You will notice the many capsules interconnected -- Sephiroth will ask you to release the bulb of one of the capsule hatches. As the events follow, Sephiroth will undergo a state of berzerk rampage, upon learning of his origin as a mere creation....a laboratory monster much like those discovered in the capsules... [!] o As the scenery switches back from the flashback to the present time & place, you will be given a choice: Top Choice -> Save your game for the time being & rest. Bottom Choice -> Continue on with the story/flashback. (I will leave this choice up to you) o Resuming with Cloud's story/flashback, head into the mansion. You will find a passage leading down to the depths of the corridors below, where you will also find Sephiroth, aimlessly searching for records of the underlining truth & origin of the Jenova Project, his once-presumed "mother". You soon learn of a scientist by the name "Gasto", who was responsible for the Jenova Project, but also the creation of Sephiroth, whom he did not reveal at the time of his existance... o (Cloud now lying on the bed) Head down through the secret passage down to the corridors below, where you will find Sephiroth in a complete state of madness... o Sephiroth has made his decision to retrieve his "mother" (Jenova) back. Leave the mansion - you will find that Sephiroth has inflicted his rage against the town & everyone in it... o Back in the makoro, proceed down to the core chamber room. You will encounter Tifa, lying next to her father's dead body, vowing revenge against Sephiroth for what he has done... Only to prove her actions useless against Sephiroth, Tifa falls to the cold surface, uttering her last words of Cloud's promise to her that he would come save her when she needed him the most... o After setting Tifa's body aside (note: Tifa is not dead), head up the stairs where Sephiroth went. A sequence will follow -- As Cloud vows his revenge against Sephiroth for the destruction of his hometown & killing the people.....the flashback ends right before the final blows of fate. (doh!) The scenery switching back to the present day & time, Cloud will state that he does not remember what had happened afterwards. At this point, many questions arise from the characters -- what happened to Sephiroth afterwards; why are Cloud & Tifa still alive; why was Jenova at the Shinra building; and did Sephiroth take Jenova from the building.... (...and now back to the normal routine of the game...) o Heading downstairs, talk to Barrett - he will give you a PHS - which will allow you to change/switch your characters at the save points or at the 3d map environment. (For further details on how to operate the PHS, refer to the "Reference Section") o Explore the town & purchase new weapons, items, supplies, etc. (Make sure to search bookshelves & cupboards for hidden items.) o Leave the town & head off to the Chocobo farm. [11.]---[ Chocobo Farm ] [!] o Upon reaching the Chocobo Farm, talk to the chocobo in the very front - you will be given a choice: Top Choice -> "Kue." Bottom Choice -> "Kueeeeeee." (It would help if we knew how to speak Chocobo) (^o^) o At any rate, choose the top choice & the chocobos will dance for you! At the end of the dance, it will also give you the "Chocobo & Mooguri" Summon (Shookan) orb! o Go to the Chocobo stalls/barn & talk to Grin-Grin, who will explain to you how to get Chocobos. Eventually, he will tell you that you will need a "Chocobo Yose (Attract)" materia that will enable you to encounter chocobos in certain areas. He will sell it to you for 2,000 gil. (Choose top choice to buy, bottom choice to not buy) [12.]---[ Mithril Mines ] o Leave the Chocobo Farm & head to the mithril mines/cave, located right across from the Chocobo Farm. [Tip!] - Note: As you approach the entrance area to the mithril mines/cave, you will notice a large snake shadow crawling around aimlessly. You can try to quickly run across to the cave without being caught, but the chances are very slim. - So, you will need to find a chocobo to ride on, and you will have a much better chance to get across without being caught. For more details on how to catch a chocobo, refer to the "Reference Section" of this guide. [Tip!] - If you have the "tekino waza" (enemy's special ability) materia, you can learn the spell "Beta" from the large snake -- If you can manage to still be alive when the snake casts that spell, you will learn the "Beta" spell, which can inflict over 1000hp damage on the enemies! Well, for the early to middle portion of the game, this will come in handy. o Upon entering the mithril mines/cave, you will come across a snake corpse on a stick -- one of Sephiroth's artistic work. Proceed on and battle your way through the cave. o Inside, you will encounter the Taaks, the infamous bounty hunter gang/side arm, courtesy of the Shinra Corp. As their current prime objective is to stop Sephiroth, they will leave the confrontation for another time.... o Once leaving the cave, you will first notice a structure peaking out with a golden condor sitting on top of the egg. [OP!] - If you choose to go to the structure, note that it is an optional event.....for now. In this optional event, you take a role as a commander in a fleet of an army & position them as you would in any war simulation game. (For those of you who have played PC titles as "WarCraft" or "Heroes of Might & Magic" will come to appreciate the similar tactics utilized within this mini-event.) - For now, I will skip this event & explain how to operate it later on in this guide when it is required to play it in the course of the journeys. o Your main objective for now is to get to the town of Junon. In order to get to the town of Junon, you will first need to somehow find a way to get across the sea...