In a way, Sephiroth is responsible for my playing FFVII at all. I was one of those who saw the TV ads with all the shots of Midgar and Cloud on a motorcycle - and not having internet access at the time, I assumed that the game was all techno-punk. Not interested, sorry. But then I was reading through a comic book a few months later, and came across an ad for the game, featuring a picture similar to the one on the left. Usually I just flip past the ads, but this caught my eye, and I took a closer look. I had no idea who it was or what it was about, but something about that shot just captivated me. As dark and creepy as it was, I could tell immediately that there was something strangely touching going on as well. It was then that I actually started looking into the game, and as soon as I discovered that the motorcycle-to-chocobo ratio was pretty small, I decided I'd better play it.

I was just playing through, enjoying myself but not thinking much about it, when the scene came with President Shinra dead at his desk. That actually gave me something to think about, and so when Cloud decided to do the flashback sequence in Kalm, I had no idea what to expect from this mysterious person known as Sephiroth. I'd only barely flipped through the booklet when I got the game, so I didn't even know what he looked like...

As soon as I saw Sephiroth sitting in that casual way in the back of the truck, saying very little, I had formed a picture in my mind of his attitude, all reserved and controlled. When he went into battle, I could definitely understand why Cloud was "mesmerized by the way he fought." His grace, his strength... and of course the huge sword. Being an SCA geek, I can appreciate an awesome weapon, and the Masamune is definitely that. I have to wonder where it came from... it's so long, it would have to be balanced really well for even someone as strong as he is to be able to manage it so gracefully.

Then when he commented about his not having a hometown, and his parents, I added a touch of subconscious loneliness to the earlier assessment. I was already completely fascinated by his character at this point. After he discovered the nameplate at the reactor, and flew into a rage, I became riveted. The reserved, confident man that I had found so interesting became in essence a frightened, confused child searching for an identity, trying to hold onto what he thought he knew of himself - the strong, independant, capable SOLDIER - as he discovered what he really was. If I'd simply had a crush on him before, I was absolutely infatuated now.

Given these two aspects of his nature, the confused child and the invincible warrior, it's not at all surprising that these two fused into a single disturbed persona, as he learned what he thought was the truth about his past. My heart skipped a beat as he told Cloud he was going to see his mother, knowing already that this meant trouble... and when Cloud walked outside, and the infamous FMV with Sephiroth began, I got a big surprise - not only was this character fascinating, but also incredibly beautiful. The closeup of a handsome, youthful face with arrogant, burning green eyes, and the grace he'd shown in battles carried through as he simply turned and strode away through the flames, his waist-length silver hair trailing behind him... My only response could be "...Wow." Despite the fact everyone with a shrine will tell you Sephiroth is really hot, there's a very good reason why they all say the same thing: because it's completely true. By themselves, looks aren't much of a reason to like a character, at least for me, but it's not as if I'll ignore them either. Yes, Sephiroth is gorgeous, yes, everyone finds him sexy - but it's probably the least interesting thing about him!

When I first mentioned this to someone I knew who had beaten the game, he said "You won't think he's attractive by the end of the game, when he turns into a big deformed freak with wings growing out of his butt." Exact quote. -_-;;; One-winged angel Sephiroth might look... well, he does look bizarre, but it just makes me wonder, is this how the poor guy sees himself, that he would transform into this shape? By that time, he'd learned what Jenova really was, and had the power to change his shape at will. Was it a transformation brought on by his Jenova cells and gone out of control, like some people think? I find that hard to believe, simply because it's so strangely beautiful and majestic... Inhuman, yes, but he's taken the shape of an angelic being, which he believed himself to be, but strangely twisted, almost as if in reflection of the way he was pieced together genetically by Hojo. Such a fragmented, contradictory mind is exactly the kind I find fascinating, making him all the more attractive.

Of course, there's a major problem with being crazy about Sephiroth, and that is that you have to kill him. But consider this - his story would be incredibly lame if he suddenly became a good guy. He's so forceful, so driven, that his relenting on his quest to become a god would just have felt forced and contrived. It's possible he might have come around eventually, but from anything AVALANCHE or Shinra would say to him? Unlikely. If he'd just quietly accepted their words and turned to the side of good, I'd have had no respect for him at all. After all, his character demands proof - that's why he holed himself up in the Shinra mansion reading for days before he finally decided on a path to follow. Another reason I respect him: he doesn't do anything major without thinking it all through and planning carefully. He's not one given to changing his mind every few minutes, at least. Without several hours of dialogue added into the story, so that he could gradually begin to see the light, a change in his plans would have just made him come off like a wuss.

Not that good guys are wussy. I've noticed at most Sephiroth shrines, people tend to get down on Cloud. I'll admit it, I like Cloud a lot too. He's also got an interesting and tragic story, and he's really kinda cute (at least in battle and SD form... the FMV shots of him irritate me. That hair... ugh...), but his struggle to keep fighting for the planet wouldn't have been so touching if it weren't Sephiroth that he was fighting. He idolized Sephiroth, so how do you think he liked the fact that his idol burned down his village and wants to destroy the planet? Sephiroth adds a lot to Cloud's story, and therefore the entire story of FFVII - another reason he's so awesome.

Psst. Hey you. Yeah, you with the sick mind. Wanna see something funny? Click here and input the url of this Sephy shrine (http://www.thegia.com/andrea/tnc/aod/why.html). It's really freakin' funny. Thanks to KabukiFrog for telling me about this site! ^_~