FFVII & FFVIII End Storylines

[kahlzun]

Ok, let me start off here by saying i really like the FF series, especially 7 and 8, which I have played to various flavours of console death.

However, I was trying to explain the story to my GF, and found myself struggling to explain the antagonist's end goals.

-SPOILERS-

I get that Sephiroth flipped out after he discovered his mom was an alien, and sympathised with her to the point that he basically wanted to -become- her (explains the long hair ), and he used Meteor with the intent to drain all the Lifestream out of Gaia, to become god-like in power. But to what end? What was he planning to do with said power?

And Ultimecia. She really wanted this time-compression malarkey, but why? What was she going to do with it? Was she trying to nom all the sorceresses ever to make herself more powerful or something?

-END SPOILER-

Like I said, I like the games, but would really like to understand them a bit better.

 

[-Seraph-]

Sephiroths end goals were to absorb the lifestream into him to essentially attain the powers of a god. That would also in turn let him have his desired revenge on human kind for what he believed they did to the Cetra (which he wasn't even). Afterwords he would simply create anew and rule over the planet with full control of the lifestream and continue the Cetra race or seek out a new world with this new found power to create his own paradise.

That's pretty much the gist of Sephiroths plan, I can't say much about Ultimecia as her plan was pretty retarded, but that's to be expected from THAT game. I dunno if that helped you any.

 

[Grampy_bone]

I believe Sephiroth's goal was just regular old godhood. His name is revealing: 'Sephirot,' the ten attributes that God created through which he can manifest (from Kabbalah, wiki it).

The best explanation I have ever heard for Ultimecia is that she is an alternate timeline Rinoa where Squall died and she remained frozen by Esthar and eventually became a ruthless evil Sorceress. Thus Time Compression is a way to reconnect with her lost past and love. Honestly however I feel this gives the game's writers way too much credit and this interpretation is not canon.

The bottom line is even the people in the game have no idea what Ultimecia's goals were. When asked why she wants to compress time Dr. Odine just brushes it off with "Who care?! Don't ask stupid questions!"

So yeah don't feel bad about not understanding what's going on in that game because you are not alone. Whenever I hear a writer or author of any work say they deliberately created an ambiguous ending which is left to the viewer's interpretation, I can only assume they're lazy and they couldn't come up with anything better.

 

[Snarky Username]

Why wouldn't Sephiroth wouldn't want o be a God. He would be a mother fucking God!

 

[Spygon]

i always thought Ultimecia wanted to compress time so she could rule the compressed time world.So pretty much ruling time itself.

 

[Grampy_bone]

Also: I don't think it's ever stated what Sephy's goals were if the whole god thing worked out. Based off his actions during the game he would be the god of Walking Through Fire While Looking Totally Bad Ass, Killing Helpless Centra Girls, and Whining About Thy Cosmic Space Horror Mother.

 

[AfterAscon]

I can't believe you missed out Necron from the end of IX. Try making sense of that.

I love playing FF games but usually give up towards the end because the plots usually take a turn for the worse.

 

[-Seraph-]

Also: I don't think it's ever stated what Sephy's goals were if the whole god thing worked out. Based off his actions during the game he would be the god of Walking Through Fire While Looking Totally Bad Ass, Killing Helpless Centra Girls, and Whining About Thy Cosmic Space Horror Mother.

No...it's stated rather clearly what his goals were. Just to quote a few:

-"I have orders to take this planet back from you stupid people for the Cetra. '

-"Only death awaits you all, but do not fear. For it is through death that a new spirit energy is born. Soon, you will live again as a part of me."

-"Melding with the Planet... I will cease to exist as I am now... Only to be reborn as a 'God' to rule over every soul."

And Sephiroth whining? I must have missed something because he was smug more than anything.

 

[Logic 0]

I think Ultimecia's goal was to compress time into a singlularty allowing only her to exist to prevent her death by the "legendary SEED" she knew she would be killed by.

 

[Nicolefranklin]

I just recently read that Rinoa = Ultimecia theory, and don't really buy it.
Another one I found, is "Squall's dead". VERY good read, but I prefer the game without any deeper meanings. As for Ultimecia, well, yeah she wanted to become the most powerful sorceress in history, and rule over all of time.

Quick edit, I haven't played the game in a few years, but that was the impression that I got from it.

 

[kahlzun]

I can't believe you missed out Necron from the end of IX. Try making sense of that.

I love playing FF games but usually give up towards the end because the plots usually take a turn for the worse.

I usually try to pretend IX didn't exist. For some reason I found it completely irritating.

 

[Wounded Melody]

I think Ultimecia's goal was to compress time into a singlularty allowing only her to exist to prevent her death by the "legendary SEED" she knew she would be killed by.

I'm pretty sure this is the closest to it.