Chapter 807 - 807: Good Looks Equal 'Justice'

As 'Advent Children' gained popularity, players online began discussing the content of 'Final Fantasy'.

The game's presentation was quite unusual for players.

If it were just a movie, there wouldn't be much to discuss. But the crucial point was that based on previous announcements from Nebula Games, many people understood that 'Advent Children' depicted the game 'Final Fantasy's' world.

However, the background of this world in the movie was incredibly complex.

There was the mechanical beauty of steampunk, along with magical fantasy elements, plus sword fighting with cold weapons, and the concept of Materia. It felt like science fiction yet also like fantasy, which was quite baffling.

Amidst player anticipation and curiosity, the official trailer for 'Final Fantasy' finally arrived.

In fact, during this time, players could also sense Lucas's seriousness, not just with the CG movie 'Advent Children,' which clearly was a massive expenditure.

After the movie's success, advertisements for 'Final Fantasy' and 'Advent Children' appeared on billboards in subways and large screens in commercial squares in some first and second-tier cities.

Although 'Advent Children' generated more buzz than 'Final Fantasy' in terms of popularity, the two were inseparable. You couldn't talk about the movie 'Advent Children' without mentioning 'Final Fantasy.'

And since it was produced by Lucas, and the game had remained shrouded in mystery until now, with nothing revealed except its background world-building.

Many players who had been following the game closely, as well as viewers curious about it because of the movie, were understandably eager to watch the trailer when it was released.

They really wanted to see if Lucas would bring them new surprises this time.

......

Clicking on the trailer, it began with the Nebula Games logo, which gradually faded.

A simple background music started, a melody composed of arpeggios.

First, a C major chord with four ascending notes played back and forth, then it transitioned to an A minor chord, following the same diatonic pattern.

This was the renowned Crystal Prelude from the 'Final Fantasy' series.

Initially, due to the limitations of the FC and SFC hardware, only three tones could be used.

But later, this piece evolved into the symbol of the Final Fantasy series.

After darkness, a starry sky appeared on the screen.

On a wind-powered water tower at night, a young Cloud and Tifa sat there.

'What do you want to tell me?'

With his back to Tifa, Cloud rested his hand on his thigh and said earnestly.

'I'm leaving the village this spring to go to Midgar... I want to become a SOLDIER.'

'Become the strongest SOLDIER, like Sephiroth!'

As Cloud spoke, many viewers who had seen the CG movie 'Advent Children' were a bit stunned.

In 'Advent Children,' it was mentioned that both Sephiroth and Cloud were once Shinra special operatives.

But the movie didn't mention that Cloud initially joined Shinra because he admired Sephiroth. Seeing this, many players showed surprised expressions and also became curious as to why Sephiroth and Cloud later became mortal enemies.

The next second, the scene instantly switched. Cloud, now a SOLDIER with a large sword on his back, appeared in front of a Mako reactor.

Beside him were Tifa and a red-clothed girl not seen in the movie.

Her name was unclear, but her appearance alone made many players unable to contain themselves.

A female character who was no less attractive than Tifa!

As for Sephiroth, standing in front of Cloud with a 40-foot-long katana and white hair, he was almost overlooked by players.

'Is it really you? Is it really you?'

Looking at Sephiroth's back, Cloud seemed disbelieving.

Next, the camera switched to various departments within Shinra.

It seemed Shinra was working on some plan.

However, the next scene was unexpected for everyone.

The camera cut to a nightclub.

A group of dancers dressed as bees performed a lively dance on stage. Under the lights,

A man who looked rather flamboyant named Aps entered from the crowd.

'Welcome to Honey Bee Inn, Cloud.'

'True beauty is in the eye of the beholder.'

'Cloud, listen to me, beauty knows no gender.'

A brush painted Cloud's face, his hair was styled into two small braids, and he wore a black evening gown.

'Absolutely perfect!'

Making eye contact with Cloud, fireworks then exploded on the stage.

Forget Tifa, Sephiroth, and that red-clothed girl, cross-dressing Cloud is the only god!

Looking at Cloud in drag, all the players watching the video widened their eyes.

They absolutely did not expect that Cloud, who ultimately tore Sephiroth apart in 'Advent Children,' would have a cross-dressing scene!

And what was with this strange sense of excitement?

Then followed a series of quick cuts.

The Mako reactor explosion and the aerial chase with the Turks.

Red XIII, who could speak and looked like a wolf or leopard.

The scene finally returned to the front of the Mako reactor, showing Cloud's reunion with Sephiroth.

'What a touching reunion!'

Their eyes met, and as their katanas were swung,

A black feather slowly drifted down from the sky. The next moment, the camera zoomed in on Sephiroth's emotionless eyes.

Then, the video ended.

'I... will not become a memory!'

Although these exact words weren't spoken, thinking of Sephiroth's cold eyes at the end, all the players who had seen 'Advent Children' involuntarily thought of this line.

After watching the less than three-minute 'Final Fantasy' trailer,

Countless players, after a brief moment of excitement, quickly realized a bigger problem.

That is, before watching it, they had hoped to find answers to some of the questions they had about 'Advent Children.'

But after watching it, they found that

Not only did it not clarify their previous confusions, but it also generated more questions.

First was the Shinra Company.

In the movie, the Shinra Company didn't leave a deep impression.

Because by that time, Midgar had already been destroyed quite a bit.

What left a stronger impression was the somewhat comical Reno and his partner Rude.

But in the game trailer, players got to see Shinra in its prime.

The colossal steampunk city was truly breathtaking to every player who saw it.

Besides that, there was the addition of the red-dressed girl. She wasn't mentioned much in the movie, but from the game, it seemed she had a very important role.

And the line between Sephiroth and Cloud: 'What a touching reunion.'

This implied that Cloud and Sephiroth had known each other before, and it was very likely that Cloud had fought Sephiroth before, and Cloud had emerged victorious.

This complex web of relationships, and the vast world unveiled in just a trailer, left many players feeling a bit confused.

Of course, these weren't the crucial points.

The truly crucial point was that the game's characters were incredibly captivating to players.

The handsome Cloud, the long-haired Tifa, the new girl in a red dress, and even the aloof Sephiroth.

Especially the dramatic entrance music, which was incredibly powerful.

Although Sephiroth was defeated by himself in his own theme music in 'Advent Children,' this didn't diminish his imposing presence as the main villain.

Especially the line from 'Advent Children': 'I will not become a memory.'

It could be said to be full of gravitas.

This allowed Sephiroth, even though he only appeared at the end of 'Advent Children' to fight Cloud, to be immensely popular among many viewers, especially female viewers.

There was no other reason than Sephiroth's good looks were too compelling!

Ugly bosses are the kind who deserve to be beaten by the protagonist, and you wish you could kill them, revive them, and kill them again, and scatter their ashes.

But handsome bosses, even as villains, can still attract a large following of appearance-focused fans. Moreover, if they don't do anything too egregious, they can even be redeemed later.

Why are 99% of SSRs in card games depicted as handsome or beautiful characters?

This is the reason.

Although the idea that 'good looks equal justice' is a fundamentally flawed perspective, 'good looks equal sales' is quite sensible.

Of course, a game can't be all beautiful women and handsome men; there will also be some mediocre-looking supporting characters who serve to highlight the protagonist's brilliance. After all, contrast is what makes the protagonist shine.

In a sense, Barret, the powerful and imposing figure from the Avalanche team who looks very reliable, plays such a role.

As for the cross-dressing Cloud at the end, it made many players smile knowingly.

Because Nebula Games often includes such humorous Easter eggs in their games.

For example, Link in drag in 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,' Princess Peach in a wedding dress in 'Super Mario: Odyssey,' and Flores in 'Xenoblade Chronicles'...

(End of this chapter)