There's more than just the 1997 game?
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII is the formal title for a series of games and animated features developed by Square Enix based in the world and continuity of Final Fantasy VII. Spearheaded by Tetsuya Nomura and Yoshinori Kitase, the series consists of several titles across various platforms, all of which are extensions of the Final Fantasy VII story. Kitase has further explained that The ending of FFVII seemed to open up so many possibilities with its characters, more so than other games. One of the main conditions for the project's launch was to be able to reunite the original staff members of Final Fantasy VII; art director Yusuke Naora, composer Nobuo Uematsu, and scenario writer Kazushige Nojima joined Kitase and Nomura to work on the project. Mr. Wallace is seen again in a few of the extensions. It's all explained below!
ADVENT CHILDREN
Long rumored to be project in the works at Square for a standard videogame sequel to the ultra-popular Final Fantasy VII, the eventual Advent Children project revealed itself to be a direct-to-video DVD movie, the centerpiece of a FFVII compilation (with spin-off games on cellphones, PS2 and PSP.) The movie features CGI design rendered by the wizards at Square-Enix behind the FVM sequences in previous FF videogames. It takes place two years after the end of the PS One game.
The Following synopsis was taken from IGN, who from time to time actually post something worth reading, even if they are male-dominated buttheads.
The story in Advent Children takes place two years after Cloud and the rest of the FF7 gang prevents the destruction of Gaia; Sephiroth has been defeated, his plot to send an asteroid crashing into Gaia thwarted.
The movie opens with the great city of Midgar in ruin. Bands of children roam streets and haunt alleyways. Tifa returns to Midgar in hopes of starting a new life. Cloud retires his sword to live a life of solitude outside city limits... But this lull after the climactic events in FF7 comes to an abrupt end when a group of mysterious thugs conspire to use the children of Midgar to resurrect an old nemesis.
Enough of that, now back to my thoughts. Barret isn't a major part of this film as it really focuses on the always complicated
relationship between Cloud and Tifa. However, he does show up to kick some major A$$. First, he leaves Cloud a message about his oil field find (he's on a search for new energy to replace Mako). Next, when giant Bahamut shows up, Barret appears in person and shoots the heck out of it with his giant machine gun arm. In doing so, he saves Denzel from getting smushed to bits. It's a funny moment, when the whole party is reunited to help out Tifa and Denzel. Tifa and Cloud leave, and Barret, Cid, Yuffie and Vincent are left to fight the giant summon. Then they come back and Cloud finshes it off because it was so threatened by his gorgeousness. Joke. He has "mad-skillz" and well, a gigantic Sword! Also, Barret uses his giant muscles to launch him towards Bahamut.
In the very end, Barret is shown holding Marlene's hand as they all welcome Cloud back. Clearly, their connection is still very strong.
VOICE ACTOR NOTES
(Courtesy of Stacey-Anne)
Masahiro Kobayahi:
"Barret has a good heart and is very strong. He's unrefined to say the least, but at the same time very dependable and unique. When I played this role, I tried to keep his good heard and generally upbeat outlook in mind, while at the same time I didn't want to lose that "Just what the hell are we fighting for?" kind of attitude. I tried to give him a booming, confident voice during recording, and sometimes I was instructed to take it up a notch. One of my favorite parts to do was the "Oil, Cloud!" scene where Barret's messgae about the oil fields plays on Cloud's cell phone. I feel that passage captures Barret's spirit well. The Final Fantasy series is so big in Japan that almost everyone has heard of it, and I'm really proud to have been able to take part in this project. Just watching the graphics is truly mind-blowing experience. I hope all of you will be able to appreciate this film as much as I did."
DIRGE OF CERBERUS
This was not my favorite game, so I'll be brief. Barret plays a part in aiding the World Regenesis Organization as shown in this game.
The main character is really Vincent Valentine so his story and past are both explained in the game, as well as his origins.
Reeve Tuesti, the former head of Shinra's Urban Development Department, leads the World Regenesis Organization, an operation dedicated to restoring the world and undoing the mistakes made by Shinra. Prominent members of WRO include Cait Sith, assisting both Reeve and Vincent in certain parts of the game; Yuffie Kisaragi, in charge of espionage and intelligence gathering; Shalua Rui, WRO's chief scientist; and Cid Highwind, head of the WRO's airship division. Cloud Strife, Barret, and Tifa Lockhart also lend their support to the WRO during the second half of the game. That's about it.
The offical site describes Barret as a secondary character who "Fought alongside Vincent three years ago as a member of Cloud's party. Ex-leader of the anti-Shinra revolutionary group known as Avalanche. Since the battle he's been searching for a new energy source such as oil fields to replace mako. Has he become involved in the fight against Deepground as well?
AHEM!
So, I was originally going to post my thoughts on his On the Way to a Smile case here since it's technically part of the
compilation; but I loved it so much that it became its own section. You can access it quickly here or through the information section in the main navigation.