Squall The Impaled

[Jiro]

I really like the Squall is Dead theory. However I think it's simply a case of mysterious magic at work. How did Cloud survive being impaled by Sephiroth's sword when Aeris died in one hit? Same with Tifa surviving. It's all just conveniently ignored because there's not a realistic explanation.

[blackmage_nuke]

Another question arises. Why is the spell equivalent of the phoenix down called "Life" if they are only KO'ed? And I believe it has always been implied that the party gets killed after they're KO'ed, hence the Game Over screen instead of the "enemies that just destroyed us leave us alone while we regain consciousness" screen.

Waxing philosophical over here.

Sometimes it's called "Revive" which can apply to bringing an unconcious but not dead person back to conciousness.

[maybee]

I really like the Squall is Dead theory.

Why ? If CD 2 onwards is Squall's ego fantasy then what's the point in playing and spending a hour drawing Meteor magic from a level 60 Red Dragon ?

It might as well just be a movie. Plus it makes Squall look like some huge egoistical ass-hole instead of a misunderstood soul.

[Clo]

I think they were just like, "We need to end the first disc with a BANG!" and someone said, "Let's make people afraid that Squall might be dead but then he's okay!" and then someone else said, "Make it so."

[Jiro]

I really like the Squall is Dead theory.

Why ? If CD 2 onwards is Squall's ego fantasy then what's the point in playing and spending a hour drawing Meteor magic from a level 60 Red Dragon ?

It might as well just be a movie. Plus it makes Squall look like some huge egoistical ass-hole instead of a misunderstood soul.

I enjoy the theory for the same reasons I enjoy the theory that Pokémon is Ash Ketchum's comatose fantasy. It provides an interesting framework for which to wave away some of the flaws while simultaneously giving us a great insight into Squall's personality. It doesn't make him look like a huge egotistical asshole, or at least, no more than he already is. Instead, it shows how his mind reconciles all of his flaws and insecurities by pitting him against an impossible foe and having to rely on the people he loves closest but fears to lose.

The mechanics of the game are irrelevant. You're right though: it might as well be a movie. Every good video game story might as well be a movie. Or a book. Or whatever else. The mechanics are often completely removed from the tale itself and while you might be a gaming buff for the gaming, I'm a gaming buff for the story.

[DMKA]

In a game where you can bring dead characters back to life and heal their wounds with magic...

[Yar]

In a game where you can bring dead characters back to life and heal their wounds with magic...

True. But the game never explains why or how. Squall comments on it briefly and then everyone moves on with their life.

[Loony BoB]

You can't bring dead characters back to life - only knocked out characters.

[Mercen-X]

Final Fantasy protagonists are difficult to kill unless they are on their knees begging to be impaled from behind.

[DMKA]

Final Fantasy protagonists are difficult to kill unless they are on their knees begging to be impaled from behind.

Or not consuming enough healthy fish during the apocalypse. ;__;

You can't bring dead characters back to life - only knocked out characters.

So...is the "Death" spell a mistranslation?

[maybee]

In some Final Fantasy games it's knocked out when you loose HP and sometimes it means death. I think in Final Fantasy VII 0 HP equals knocked out. In Final Fantasy VIII I think it's death.

In Final Fantasy IX it's death for sure because the game over picture is a graveyard same with Final Fantasy VIII I think.

[Citizen Bleys]

He survived specifically because he's a Final Fantasy character, and if there's one thing we know about Final Fantasy characters, it's:

[Mercen-X]

Or not consuming enough healthy fish during the apocalypse. ;__;

What?

[Gamblet]

Or not consuming enough healthy fish during the apocalypse. ;__;

What?

Haven't played a certain game, I presume?

[Red Mage Coffman]

Wow. What a fantastic theory. The Squall is Dead theory is deep and explains a lot. And for someone like me who HATES this game with a burning passion for its horrid story, plot holes, and gameplay, this offers an escape from all that. If this theory were true, I could like this game. I really could. I'd still hate the battle system to some extent, but I could still accept this.

To bad it isn't true though. I think everytime I play this game now, I'll remember this theory. It'll keep me playing, looking for more evidence supporting the theory.