The Joy Of Not Knowing
About five hours into Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth’s story we’re introduced to a cloaked gentleman by the name of Glenn. You get a bit of information in-game about who he is and what significance he has to the plot, but by the end of the story I was left with more questions than answers. I figured he was just some new character that the writers spliced into the plot to spice things up. This wouldn’t be the first time after all that new characters would share the spotlight with Cloud and the gang.
It wasn’t until just a few days ago that I learned that Glenn was an already established character, first appearing in the battle royale mobile game that was shut down less than a year after it launched. Since then he’s appeared in the new mobile game Ever Crisis, where he plays a more involved role alongside a young, not yet radicalized Sephiroth.
This news lead me down a bit of a rabbit hole, resulting in me playing about an hour or so each of Ever Crisis: Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, the original Final Fantasy VII, followed by a marathon of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete, Last Order: Final Fantasy VII, and On The Way To A Smile: Episode Denzel.
To say I was overwhelmed with content would be an understatement. I spent an entire day trying to enjoy Final Fantasy VII’s extended story, while at the same time trying to reconnect with the FFVII fan I once was. Aside from Ever Crisis and Dirge of Cerberus, I had already experienced Final Fantasy VII’s lore all the way back in highschool over a decade ago, and while Advent Children is still a delight to watch all these years later I don’t have to have all the answers. I don’t have to know Glenn’s whole backstory. I’m sorry, but his name is Glenn for christ’s sake.
I can’t help but think about all the “X GAME ENDING EXPLAINED” videos that pop up when a new game comes out. Sometimes it’s fun to not know something right away. It makes figuring it out yourself all the more satisfying. I know this isn’t a popular opinion, but I actually don’t mind not knowing everything about a game’s systems or plot. By the end of FFVII Rebirth it was 4 in the morning. The ending took me aback, and I nearly clicked on one of those videos. Thankfully I stopped myself. It feels great not being one hundred percent sure of something. It gives me something to think about when I’m cooking dinner or walking to work.
All these thoughts about FFVII’s story got me thinking about when I sat my mom and friend down and made them watch one of the greatest cell phone advertisements ever made…
2010
In highschool I had my usual group of gross, sweaty anime nerd buds, and then I had Austin. Austin was and still is a great friend, but he and I didn’t have much of anything in common at the time aside from being gym rats. We’d get lunch, work out, and chill at my place. At one point he was essentially a permanent fixture at my house, coming and going as he pleased. My parents and I consider him family, even to this day. One evening while we were all in the living room my mom suggested we watch a movie. We would do this every week or so, and this week was my turn.
I suggested Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.
After some negotiating I managed to sway the argument in my favor, and I popped in the bluray.
Two hours pass.
“Well? What did you think?”
Austin was trying his best to be nice, but I knew he couldn’t give less of a shit about the film. He didn’t play games like Final Fantasy. He played Halo. With a half smile he expressed his love for the fight scenes, and how attractive Tifa looked. My mother on the other hand was definitely more confused, but she had an eye for the deeper plot points in the film.
“So that girl at the end…and that guy with the black hair…they’re in love…but they’re dead? That’s sad. The blonde pretty boy….he’s that guy’s friend? He liked the girl too huh … .I bet they fought over her…and why was that cat talking … .and the dog too…huh…I’m confused. I love you son but this was weird. I liked it…but it’s weird. That long haired guy’s the devil isn’t he?”
Just wait until I tell her about Glenn.
-PA
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