Chapter 809 - 809: The Worker, The Spirit of Work

After a deep emotional moment, Ben felt happy again.

Isn't playing a game all about the feeling of immersion?

Putting yourself in the shoes of the game's protagonist and going on an adventure with them?

It was clear that Cloud's looks made him feel very immersed.

No matter what he himself looked like, as long as he felt immersed, that was all that mattered.

"But, right now, Cloud has only just met Barret?"

Ben turned his attention to the conversation between Cloud and Barret.

They wanted to blow up a Mako reactor right from the start, and Barret spoke just like in the movies, so impulsive!

Watching the interactions between Cloud, Barret, and the Avalanche trio in the game, Ben felt a sense of anticipation and curiosity.

Even though Barret's face wasn't shown much in the movie, Ben knew he was part of the main cast.

There were also characters like Red XIII, Vincent, Yuffie, and Tifa, and Ben was very curious about how they became acquainted with Cloud.

The beginning of the game wasn't particularly noteworthy.

It was pretty much the usual simple game progression, with related tasks explained along the way.

Cloud was a mercenary who knew Tifa.

And Tifa was a member of Avalanche, so Barret and his group hired Cloud to help them blow up the Mako reactor.

However, Barret didn't quite trust Cloud at this point.

The game's combat system wasn't purely action-based as Ben had initially thought. It was more like "Xenoblade Chronicles," but without auto-attacks. Players had to control Cloud to attack and dodge, and there were also magic and special skills in the game that players could choose to use.

Although it looked like an action game, it had more of an RPG feel. After playing as an old gamer for a bit, Ben instantly came to a conclusion.

If your technical skill was good enough, it could make up for some data disadvantages. However, the most important things were data upgrades, strategic planning, and skill selection. The game also included elements like elemental weaknesses.

Of course, if you didn't want to control it manually, the game also had an auto-battle command. After selecting it, it would be similar to "Xenoblade Chronicles."

Having played "Xenoblade Chronicles," Ben found the combat system very easy to pick up.

Especially since in the game, unlike "Xenoblade Chronicles" where you could only control one character and switch between three Blades at most, in this game, players could switch between the controllable characters Cloud and Barret. Their roles were also clearly defined.

Cloud could easily handle ground monsters, while Barret was more efficient at attacking aerial monsters.

In the elevator, Barret also gave a detailed explanation of the news about Shinra and the Mako reactors.

This was also information that wasn't fully explained in "Advent Children."

Simply put, the Lifestream was extracted and converted into Mako, becoming a new energy source like oil or coal.

But the price for this new energy was the reduction of the planet's lifespan and the land losing its nutrients and vitality.

This was why green plants were almost nonexistent in Midgar. In "Advent Children," most areas of Midgar were covered in greenery.

It was precisely because all of Shinra's Mako reactors at that time were blown up that the earth was able to regain its vitality.

"So, Shinra Corporation is a big capitalist company. On one hand, they create social wealth through Mako and exploit ordinary people. On the other hand, they destroy the planet's environment."

"And Avalanche is a civilian environmental organization that wants to purify the environment and defeat the big capitalists!"

Based on the content of "Advent Children" and the information gathered so far, Ben summarized it simply.

In addition, as the game progressed, Ben noticed some differences. Cloud's personality seemed very aloof at this point, somewhat like Sephiroth.

But in "Advent Children," Cloud's initial impression wasn't like this.

To describe it in one word, Cloud in "Advent Children" had a sense of guilt and insecurity from the start.

He was insecure about his own abilities, which was why Cloud left Tifa and the others. But in the end, with the encouragement of his companions, Cloud rallied and faced Sephiroth.

However, the current Cloud gave Ben the impression of being aloof and supremely confident.

Especially the phrases "not interested" and "Shinra's 1st Class Soldier" which he often used, further proved this.

So, the story of "Final Fantasy" mainly revolves around the great battle against Sephiroth, and Cloud's personality gradually changing?

Just like Pyra becoming Mythra in "Xenoblade Chronicles"?

Ben pondered this as he went all the way, but this guess quickly disappeared once the plot officially entered the Mako reactor.

This was because his attention was completely captivated by the spectacular scene.

Thick copper pipes, huge machines in operation, continuously extracting the Lifestream from the seemingly bottomless underground world and converting it into Mako.

And a mechanical BOSS as large as a scorpion.

It fully demonstrated the unique mechanical aesthetic of steampunk.

Unable to find any other words, he could only use "spectacular" to describe it.

Then, the escape scene after the Mako reactor exploded gave Ben the illusion of playing "Uncharted."

Fighting all the way, accompanied by the collapsing Mako reactor equipment and the burning flames, the VR perspective brought an immersive sense of thrill and excitement.

Following the planned route, Cloud and his group successfully escaped. On the chaotic streets, Ben finally saw another game character, the flower girl Aerith. However, at this point, Cloud's interaction with her was just buying a yellow flower.

Next, Cloud followed Barret and the others onto the subway and headed to their secret base, the Seventh Heaven bar in the slums.

And the bar's owner was Cloud's childhood friend, Tifa.

"Tifa! This is amazing!"

Compared to the flower girl, whose role was still unknown and who only appeared in photos and fleeting memories for Cloud in "Advent Children," at which point he didn't even know her name.

Tifa's appearance was obviously more exciting for Ben.

Her black, shoulder-length hair, paired with her visible abs and black skirt, made Ben feel like "Awai" who was already in the grave, had died once more.

"Damn it! Minus points! Why can the player control and make the character crouch in Detroit: Become Human, but in 'Final Fantasy,' aside from level interactions, you can't even normally squat down!"

Ben, feeling a bit embarrassed and wanting to glimpse special angles, was very disappointed.

The subsequent plot wasn't particularly dramatic but rather a period of ordinary narration.

At this time, Tifa wanted to ask Cloud to help Avalanche and used a very common flashback.

"If Cloud really became a great hero like Sephiroth, then will you come and save me when I'm in danger?"

Faced with this heartwarming flashback, Cloud then showed a very "tough" side.

"Sorry, I'm not a hero, nor am I famous... so I'm afraid I can't keep my promise."

This damned iron will.

Cloud, you won't get a girlfriend with this attitude!

Listening to Cloud's words, Ben was anxious to death.

This felt like playing a dating sim.

The protagonist's direction was completely different from the imagined romance route!

Clearly, Tifa had not expected Cloud to act this way at all.

At this moment, Barret also appeared, but the reward offered to Cloud was significantly less.

Here, Lucas had improved a bit compared to the original. At least Marlene, the little girl, would still have her tuition fees covered. After all, you can't neglect education no matter how poor you are.

And here, Tifa also asked Cloud to be understanding, saying that they would have money soon after replacing air filters for the slum businesses, and asked Cloud to go with her to collect the money.

"Come on, consider it protecting me."

Facing Cloud, who showed little interest, Tifa said in a coquettish tone while leaning on the bar.

Listening to Tifa's coquettish voice.

Ben couldn't help but sigh along with Cloud. Who could resist Tifa acting so cute?

Ben felt that this scene was purely Boss Lucas wanting to show off Tifa's persuasive charm when she acted cute.

With a sigh, Ben wandered through the slums with Tifa, experiencing a completely different atmosphere.

"As expected, it's the slums! This feels completely different from the upper districts of Midgar!"

Walking out of Seventh Heaven and following Tifa.

During the daytime, Ben could observe his surroundings more carefully.

As the name of this area suggested: the slums.

From an environmental perspective, it was extremely dilapidated.

When they blew up the Mako reactor and took it out of Shinra Corporation.

The surrounding city, at least, looked like a modern style.

It wasn't luxurious, but it was at least orderly, and the streets were clean and tidy.

But it was completely different in these slums.

Various stray cats and dogs, houses built with plastic sheeting, and numerous small houses surrounded by fences.

It felt like the environment of a wasteland world.

Under Tifa's guidance, Cloud, played by Ben, gained a more comprehensive understanding of the slum area.

Along the way, he also learned some game operation related knowledge. Of course, there were some people who were friendly to Cloud, but there were also those who were malicious.

To improve relationships with local residents, one needed to increase their reputation points.

The simplest way to gain reputation points was to help local residents solve their troubles.

This way, not only would they receive some rewards, but their reputation in the area would also greatly improve.

In the warehouse, he met Jessie and the other two members of the Avalanche trio again.

As for side quests, they followed the standard RPG game progression, which Ben didn't find particularly surprising.

Helping a little girl in the sand park find her good friend: a cat.

For this, Cloud, carrying a greatsword, needed to search all over the slum's winding paths for "Meow Meow."

He also had to help the owner of the grocery store to teach a mutated rat a lesson.

And to deal with mutated beasts outside the slums that could threaten local residents.

In addition, there was helping researchers, who were Shinra members but dedicated to opposing Shinra, collect information on various monsters.

And helping the warehouse owner drive away various mutants from the warehouse.

"This is not a Shinra warrior mercenary, this is just a worker!"

"Workers, the spirit of work, even a protagonist like Cloud can't avoid working!"

After completing two side quests, as his level increased and he received his payment from the employers.

Ben suddenly came to a realization.

Both the current main story and side quests emphasized one point.

That was, Cloud at this moment was not some world-saving hero.

He was a ruthless work machine.

He used to work for Shinra Corporation.

Now he worked for the slum residents and for the Avalanche team.

But when he thought about it, it seemed that no matter what game it was, the protagonist was a worker!

When Geralt of Rivia was searching for his adopted daughter, he could only accept various commissions to earn a living.

Arthur Morgan worked for Dutch his entire life, not only contracting a disease from his work but also losing himself when the company went bankrupt. Moreover, if the company had truly gone bankrupt, it would have been one thing, but the company had transferred its assets in advance.

But then again, in "Advent Children," Tifa opened a delivery company, and it was obvious that Cloud had funded it.

Where did this money come from? It was earned through labor!

So, to start your own business, you have to work first?

(End of this chapter)