[Warning: The following contains spoilers for Final Fantasy 7.]
Speedrunners for the unique Remaining Fantasy 7 from 1997 have made a weirdly essential discovery for longtime FF7 followers, non-speedrunners included. It seems, by a sequence of very troublesome in-game maneuvers, Aerith can stay within the participant’s occasion even after her loss of life scene. She will be able to stick round and watch her personal climactic, notorious homicide by the hands of Sephiroth after which simply cling 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 information 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 referred to as Kalm. That skip entails making the most of the best way that the sport reads several types of terrain on the world map, such that the participant can stroll in sure patterns as a way 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, during which Cloud walks throughout water (enjoyable stuff). Finally, this new skip permits speedrunners to go from Midgar all the best way to the Metropolis of the Ancients, which may find yourself shaving off as a lot as two hours off FF7 speedrun data.
Speedrunning techniques are all the time a bit esoteric to clarify, however I discovered 4-8Productions’ YouTube video on this subject to be fairly clear and straightforward to grasp.
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 facet impact of the skip. Finally, speedrunners wish to discover glitches and tips that get them by the sport as quick as potential. Whether or not or not Aerith comes alongside for the experience is kinda secondary.
Moreover, since Aerith does nonetheless should witness her personal loss of life, you could possibly argue that she isn’t actually being “saved” right here — regardless 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 combating 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 varied means to skip random battles. So, this isn’t precisely the “save Aerith” dream that followers believed may be potential for thus 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.