FF7 Ever Crisis Latest Chapter Thoughts
I finished the latest chapter of FF7 in Ever Crisis finally. It's a bit embarrassing how under performing my non Tifa/Aerith/Sephiroth parties are, but who cares now that the game is dying, amirite?
Guys look. We all have our own taste. Some prefer the way Aerith is a healer, more assertive and extroverted, pairing with the main hero. That's fine.
But finishing the Lifestream chapter in EC alone makes me think if you cannot appreciate what the devs are doing with Cloud, Tifa, their relationship and their natural character arc, you cannot fully appreciate the story FF7 is trying to tell. I mean I get it, when I first met Aerith I was like "oh no I don't want Cloud to be cold to her!"
Idk how much of Cloti and Zerith Revelation will give us exactly, but I am convinced this is the natural conclusion of the story. And you know what? Leaving biases aside, it is a BEAUTIFUL story. You should appreciate imo.
Cloud and Tifa are ordinary people thrown into extraordinary circumstances. They survive, they rebuild. Cloud literally rebuilds himself. Tifa encourages him, but I love how much credit she gives to his own resolve. She is the only one that could have guided him to the truth because she was the only one there before Shinra, before Hojo and before Sephiroth went delusional.
The water tower scene - despite them being kids - has really sweet and romantic undertones. Like innocent childhood crushes finally cementing their feelings as adults, through this deeply held memory.
Cloud was such a shy little dork. I like how the EC translation did not give weight to Tifa being a mean, manipulative kid, but just a kid who didn't know better, did not know how to communicate with the shy boy. She just did not realise how much he was longing, how much he noticed her. She had no ill intent by ignoring him.
Cloud also went into himself too much and assumed so many negative things to protect his inner softness against rejection by the other kids. Imo this is very similar to Sephiroth. Except Sephiroth was eventually consumed by this trait.
Speaking of Sephiroth, I think this chapter in EC firmly cements that Tifa is Cloud's big motivation for joining Shinra. The guilt of not being strong enough to save her from the fall from Mt. Nibel drove Cloud to want to be stronger, better. He found a means to an end in Sephiroth. Of course I think with time spent in Shinra he grew to admire & respect Sephiroth. But Sephiroth was not the motivation. If another SOLDIER caught Cloud's eye, they could have very well been his means to an end. For story purposes, it had to be Sephiroth.
But Cloud and Tifa just feel like...each other's natural story conclusion.
