The world map, a staple of classic RPG's dating back to the original Dragon Quest. Often with peppy, adventurous music, always inspiring in the notion that "the world is just huge." Well, Final Fantasy 7 is no exception to this rule; the world map does a well enough job to paint the world as being appropriately large (though surprisingly empty, all things considered). But unlike most games, who give you access to the world map at the first hour, FF7 waits five to six hours before it lets you out of Midgar and into the world. And that first step out of Midgar makes its way to the sixth spot of the best moments in Final Fantasy 7.
Why is exiting Midgar for the first time so important to the game? For one, it's the first step in the bigger adventure that is Final Fantasy 7: the struggle against Sephiroth to save the Planet. The truth is that Sephiroth is out there, somewhere in the world, and the party needs to find and stop him. Sephiroth has just killed President Shinra and taken Jenova from Shinra HQ. Cloud knows this means bad news for the world, and it's up to him and his friends to stop that silver haired mad man.
But that's only from a story perspective. Graphically speaking, this moment was also breathtaking back in 1997; the blue sky, blue seas, the green hills, the clouds, they were all beautifully rendered with the best technology available at the time. It was a breath taking sight back then. Sadly, the graphics are rather dated today, so from a graphical stand point, this moment might not be so awesome anymore.
Musically, though, this moment is still awesome. After the part descends down to the ground below from Midgar's plate, there is a little song playing called Holding my Thoughts in my Heart. This piece is soothing but nostalgic, perfectly evoking the simultaneous sense of loss and wonder one feels when they leave home for the first time to become an independent individual. Here's a link:
After the party steps out into the world map, this piece is played:
The disc 1 world map music starts off slow; the first minute is mysterious, discomforting, keeps you on edge. The world seems huge and scary; fitting, as you will find many random encounters with enemies you've never seen before. Starting at the 1 minute mark, the music picks up considerably, becoming louder and at the same time, more assuring, as if to assure the player that they are on the right track. The world is no longer scary, and you start feeling like nothing can surprise you. The second minute mark takes it down a notch, but there is still a warmth in the music, an assurance that though something might go wrong, you are capable of handling it.
At the third minute mark, the music gets louder once more, becoming triumphant, as if to celebrate the beauty of the world. It's as if the soundtrack itself is singing praises for the blue skies, the flowing rivers, the seas, the grassy plains, the snow capped mountains. At the fourth minute mark, the music becomes more ominous, steadily growing louder and louder. This is a reminder to the player that Sephiroth is out there, plotting, searching for something that can bring a catastrophe to the world.
And finally, at the five minutes and thirty seconds mark, there's this triumphant finale, the reminder that YOU are the hero who WILL defeat Sephiroth and save the world. It lasts but half a minute, but it's arguably the best part of the song.
THAT is why this moment is so awesome. Without dialogue, the game is giving you a look into precisely what you're fighting for: the world. The music helps underscore the point that you're fighting to save the world, that this is an epic quest that goes far beyond the grime of the metropolis known as Midgar.
It also helps show just how big and wondrous the world truly is. For many hours, the player has been stuck inside Midgar, following train tracks, roads, and mazes that cramped and limiting. But out in the world map, the player is free to wander, to look, to enjoy the panorama and be amazed. The openness of the world, the beauty of everything, THAT s what AVALANCHE fought for, and what Cloud fights for.
And that is why this is the sixth best moment in Final Fantasy 7.
Why is exiting Midgar for the first time so important to the game? For one, it's the first step in the bigger adventure that is Final Fantasy 7: the struggle against Sephiroth to save the Planet. The truth is that Sephiroth is out there, somewhere in the world, and the party needs to find and stop him. Sephiroth has just killed President Shinra and taken Jenova from Shinra HQ. Cloud knows this means bad news for the world, and it's up to him and his friends to stop that silver haired mad man.
But that's only from a story perspective. Graphically speaking, this moment was also breathtaking back in 1997; the blue sky, blue seas, the green hills, the clouds, they were all beautifully rendered with the best technology available at the time. It was a breath taking sight back then. Sadly, the graphics are rather dated today, so from a graphical stand point, this moment might not be so awesome anymore.
Musically, though, this moment is still awesome. After the part descends down to the ground below from Midgar's plate, there is a little song playing called Holding my Thoughts in my Heart. This piece is soothing but nostalgic, perfectly evoking the simultaneous sense of loss and wonder one feels when they leave home for the first time to become an independent individual. Here's a link:
After the party steps out into the world map, this piece is played:
The disc 1 world map music starts off slow; the first minute is mysterious, discomforting, keeps you on edge. The world seems huge and scary; fitting, as you will find many random encounters with enemies you've never seen before. Starting at the 1 minute mark, the music picks up considerably, becoming louder and at the same time, more assuring, as if to assure the player that they are on the right track. The world is no longer scary, and you start feeling like nothing can surprise you. The second minute mark takes it down a notch, but there is still a warmth in the music, an assurance that though something might go wrong, you are capable of handling it.
At the third minute mark, the music gets louder once more, becoming triumphant, as if to celebrate the beauty of the world. It's as if the soundtrack itself is singing praises for the blue skies, the flowing rivers, the seas, the grassy plains, the snow capped mountains. At the fourth minute mark, the music becomes more ominous, steadily growing louder and louder. This is a reminder to the player that Sephiroth is out there, plotting, searching for something that can bring a catastrophe to the world.
And finally, at the five minutes and thirty seconds mark, there's this triumphant finale, the reminder that YOU are the hero who WILL defeat Sephiroth and save the world. It lasts but half a minute, but it's arguably the best part of the song.
THAT is why this moment is so awesome. Without dialogue, the game is giving you a look into precisely what you're fighting for: the world. The music helps underscore the point that you're fighting to save the world, that this is an epic quest that goes far beyond the grime of the metropolis known as Midgar.
It also helps show just how big and wondrous the world truly is. For many hours, the player has been stuck inside Midgar, following train tracks, roads, and mazes that cramped and limiting. But out in the world map, the player is free to wander, to look, to enjoy the panorama and be amazed. The openness of the world, the beauty of everything, THAT s what AVALANCHE fought for, and what Cloud fights for.
And that is why this is the sixth best moment in Final Fantasy 7.
No comments:
Post a Comment