Honestly, it may have worked better if the HP Shout's damage algorithm was based on Vincent's Death Penalty instead where the weapon begins weak and grows stronger based on how many kills the user acquires with it equipped. Would have have made acquiring that early in the game not a big deal, but then again we wouldn't have had a good reason to explore the Shin-Ra tower again, so maybe the way they did it was for the best.

Speaking of the tower, finding Red XIII's Behemoth Horn in the staircase area when you return was the closest thing to a major discovery for me, especially since the Guide book back then didn't ever mention it.