Whether you're a diehard fan that lives and breathes the Final Fantasy universe or you're someone that has no idea why the franchise is hyped up as much as it is, there is no denying that Final Fantasy 7 was an influential and important title in the history of video games. Developers learned a lot about world-building, visuals, and even combat mechanics from this PS1-era gem.
But as "good" as Final Fantasy 7 is, there are a lot of elements that don't make sense, specifically in the department of game logic (or just logic in general).
We came across 10 logic-specific memes that will show you exactly what we mean.
Updated March 23rd, 2020 by Russ Boswell: Final Fantasy 7 is always resting gracefully on the tips of the tongues of every RPG fanatic. Even in 2020, this iconic title is heavily referenced by Final Fantasy fans, turn-based enthusiasts, and video gamers in general. With the upcoming release of the Final Fantasy 7 remake, we thought it would be a fantastic time to revisit some classic FF7 logic memes (and toss in a few more rib-ticklers just for good measure). How many of these strange occurrences and logical issues will we see in the remake? Only time will tell!
14 14. The Dreaded Unskippable Attack Animation
Final Fantasy 7 is filled with all sorts of cool attacks and summon animations. When the game first came out it was a delight to see all of the visual effects unfold during battle.
Unfortunately, it gets old really fast. Once you've seen a summon animation for the umpteenth time, you'll likely find yourself frustratedly tapping the X-button in the hopes that you can skip through all the nonsense.
13 13. Fight Fire With Fire
Final Fantasy 7's storyline can be a bit complex at times. There's a lot going on during the expansive adventure so we don't blame anyone for missing out on some of the intricate details sprinkled throughout the narrative.
All you really need to know is that an angry silver-haired man with mommy issues is summoning a massive Meteor to wipe everyone out.
Thankfully, Cloud and his party are nearby to pelt frogs and other creatures with summoned Comets. Yeah, this one doesn't really add up, but it looks cool.
12 12. A Spiky-Haired Icon
Some video game characters are simply so iconic that their name, look, and "brand" transcends all platforms. Everyone knows who Mario is, players can easily pick Kratos out of a lineup, and Doomguy is a demon-slaying legend. Cloud Strife is definitely part of the cast of characters that all gamers are familiar with, even if they've never picked up Final Fantasy 7 for themselves.
Still, it's pretty crazy to see him battling it out on the Smash roster, even if Smash has pulled icons from other PlayStation games and IPs.
11 11. Hurry Up And Wait
Final Fantasy 7 had the awesome benefit of bringing the much-beloved franchise into the "new age of graphics" during its time. Sure, by today's standards it looks terrible but back then it was a visual Godsend.
We really can't blame the developers for wanting to utilize all their fancy new tools and artwork space to create elaborate animations and visual effects but there's no denying they went a tad too far at times. Take for example the agonizingly long mid-battle cutscene that is Sephiroth quite literally exploding planets with his Supernova. Not only is it non-sensical when you really think about the damage that's happening on-screen, but it also takes FOREVER to progress from start to finish.
10 10. There's Always Time For Fun
Regardless of where you stand in the debate of Final Fantasy 7 and its reign as "the best game in the franchise," it's hard to ignore that the title is filled to the absolute brim with sidequests and mini-games. Don't get us wrong, this is a good thing from a gameplay standpoint (although some of the mini-games run a bit long and are a bit awkward) but it puts a huge damper on the "logic" surrounding the story.
This is especially true when you realize that Sephiroth is slowly working towards completely decimating the world with a massive meteor. It's your main priority until you discover the Golden Saucer. Curse those addictive Chocobo Races.
9 9. Phoenix Downs Do What?
Let's just go ahead and get this one out of the way. Any Final Fantasy 7 logic article wouldn't be complete without a look at perhaps the most glaring inconsistency of all.
After Aerith is cruelly struck down Sephiroth, a tear-jerking cutscene plays in which Cloud is forced to say goodbye to someone he cared deeply for (although he hadn't known her that long, but that's another story for another time).
The emotionally-devastating musical scores and build-up of emotions are enough to make any fan break out the tissues but it still leaves us scratching our heads about why the group didn't just use a Phoenix Down to bring the beloved flower-seller back.
8 8. The Mysterious Float Materia
While we're here, talking about the emotional cutscene with Aerith and cloud, we have another logical bone to pick. There is no denying that the cutscene itself is beautifully displayed and that (for the time especially) creators did a great job implementing some expertly-rendered animations and visuals into this particular moment.
That said, and beauty aside, we can't for the life of us figure out what Cloud is "standing on" in this scene. He seems to be anchored pretty well when he's holding onto Aerith, yet, when he lets her sink into the abyss, we can clearly see there are no platforms anywhere around.
7 7. Not Everyday Is Leg Day
Sure, Cloud may have some seriously strong legs to be able to "make up his own invisible ground and platforms" but the guy seems to lack any consistent arm strength. It's a bit strange to see too, considering he spends a majority of his time dragging around a massive piece of metal. The Buster Sword is no joke, especially when you consider how much upper body strength it must take just to swing it once successfully.
But Cloud obviously doesn't hit the gym for any arm-based exercises. Just take this classic in-game scene for example. Cloud can effortlessly swing the Buster Sword but can't do a single pull-up?
6 6. I Have No Mouth But I Must Scream
You really have to applaud Final Fantasy 7 for helping to break some of the visual barriers for video games. It was released at a time in which blocky aesthetics and polygonal people were the norm, yet, it featured beautifully stylized FMV sequences that played out like a blockbuster animated film.
That said, it's still beyond jarring to see the game transition from the gorgeously smooth lines of an FMV to the dull, pixelated, and overly-polygonal shapes in-game. Even more alarming? Outside of these cut-scenes, the characters themselves don't have mouths.
5 5. Maybe It's Maybelline
Anyone who watches a lot of anime knows that Japan loves to create wild and exaggerated hairstyles for a lot of their characters. It's a welcome addition as it gives each character a unique set of visuals to coincide with their often boisterous personalities.
Final Fantasy 7 is no different, and although many may complain that Cloud's hair looks like the hind-end of a Chocobo, we're more interested in the logic behind those ever-rigid follicles.
How exactly does Cloud's hair keep its insane shape over the entire course of the Final Fantasy 7 adventure? Imagine having to stock up on hair gel like you would potions or tents.
4 4. That's One Strong Sword
Let's revisit the whole "Aerith died in a really silly manner considering how magical the world of Final Fantasy 7 is" argument and focus on Sephiroth's methods of attack this time. Sure, taking a sword through the stomach is no picnic and we're sure in most instances that would be a "fatal blow" but all of that comes into question when you fight Sephiroth later on.
The villain has an attack that is capable of quite literally destroying the universe (even poor little Pluto) and will use it on the party when given the chance. The weird thing? It only deals 15/16th damage to each character's HP. Swords can kill but Universal destruction can't?
3 3. Celebrate The Small Victories Too
The one thing that most players criticize Final Fantasy 7 for is its subset of exceedingly long cut-scenes and sequences that are unskippable. Some of the attack animations and summon spells can take a long time to actually proc and every time you battle an enemy you'll be forced to wait through the opening animation as well as the small happy-go-lucky victory fanfare at the end.
This is all well and good, unless, you know, you're trying to escape an exploding building.
2 2. Weaker But Not Really
This doesn't just apply to Final Fantasy 7 but we figured we'd include it here since the meme in question features Sephiroth as an example. It's a well-known logic flaw in games that some enemies defy all odds and become stronger as you whittle away their health. Sure, you can consider it a sort of "desperation mode" in which their adrenaline is kicking in and they're trying to defy all odds to live but some bosses take this to the extreme.
Sephiroth, for example, changes forms a couple of times and gains the ability to obliterate an entire universe when you have him on the ropes.
1 1. The Ole' Remaster
This last one is less of a logic gripe and more of a personal "fans don't understand why there is an inconsistency between these games" type of problem but it makes a good point all the same. Final Fantasy X received some decent visual upgrades as it passed through PC emulation and was re-released onto the PS4. Final Fantasy 7, however, did not benefit from moving to better hardware. We suppose you could argue that the game engine and resources have a lot to do with it but it's still a letdown.