[Warning: The following contains spoilers for Final Fantasy 7.]
Speedrunners for the unique Closing Fantasy 7 from 1997 have made a weirdly necessary discovery for longtime FF7 followers, non-speedrunners included. It seems, by way of a sequence of very tough in-game maneuvers, Aerith can stay within the participant’s social gathering even after her dying scene. She will stick round and watch her personal climactic, notorious homicide by the hands of Sephiroth after which simply hold round after that.
As with all speedrunning discoveries, this one was a gaggle effort, though the 2 names most frequently shouted out are speedrunners who go by AceZephyr and Kuma. This new skip builds upon data from a beforehand found FF7 speedrun tactic often called the Kalm skip, which (because the identify implies) permits the participant to skip over an in-game space known as Kalm. That skip includes profiting from the way in which that the sport reads various kinds of terrain on the world map, such that the participant can stroll in sure patterns to be able to get to locations they weren’t supposed to have the ability to attain but. This has opened up the chance for different comparable skips to be found, equivalent to this most up-to-date skip, demonstrated in a proof-of-concept video by Kuma and in a shorter demonstration video by AceZephyr, through which Cloud walks throughout water (enjoyable stuff). In the end, this new skip permits speedrunners to go from Midgar all the way in which to the Metropolis of the Ancients, which might find yourself shaving off as a lot as two hours off FF7 speedrun information.
Speedrunning techniques are all the time a bit esoteric to elucidate, however I discovered 4-8Productions’ YouTube video on this subject to be fairly clear and straightforward to know.
The funniest factor about this video, and most movies on the subject from speedrunners, is that it presents saving Aerith as little greater than a enjoyable aspect impact of the skip. In the end, speedrunners need to discover glitches and tips that get them by way of the sport as quick as potential. Whether or not or not Aerith comes alongside for the trip is kinda secondary.
Moreover, since Aerith does nonetheless must witness her personal dying, you can argue that she isn’t actually being “saved” right here — despite the fact that she’s nonetheless depicted as a celebration member after that scene unfolds. It’s not like you’ll be able to play the remainder of the sport usually with Aerith hanging out and preventing alongside you, although. The sport will soft-lock any time you enter a battle with Aerith there; that’s why utilizing this skip to efficiently full the sport would additionally contain utilizing numerous means to skip random battles. So, this isn’t precisely the “save Aerith” dream that followers believed may be potential for therefore a few years after FF7 was first launched. It’s nonetheless fairly superior for speedrunners, although, because it’s an enormous discovery with huge potential for extra.
