Aeris

[mike without a hat]

Err, that was actually a quote from Teh Lavos that I just sort of agreed with. Like I said, when everyone thinks about Aeris dieing they get all sad and moody, but they don't consider the countless Shinra soldiers you killed and the families you ruined.

There was nothing sad about slaughtering shinra soldiers. Since when do you weep for slaughtering an endless supply of pawns? It's not like their flashing red death was really that tragic. Don't be such a hypocrite, I don't think you weep every time you press the attack button. "Oh dear god! I killed two shinra soldiers. Time to pull out my tissue-box!" Who cares?

You can't weep for everyone that dies, but the ones that you know and are close to, their death's are more sad. The reason their death's are sad is because YOU lost them.

So how about all those enemies you slaughtered, all those evil meniacle bastards you killed? Their death's were never intended to be sad, except for Dyne of course, but he killed himself.

"one death is a tragedy, one million deaths is a statistic"
You shouldn't care about really any random soldiers you kill if you cared about Aeris's death. Its not like a family of some random soldier is going to give a hoot i about Aeris's or any other soldiers death.

[KoShiatar]

I don't know why, but I'm afraid I'll barely be able to stand Aeris when I play this game...

[cal113]

aw u really will - wen i first played this game all those years back in 97 aeris came across as so weak and in need of protection - like her physical strength sucked, cloud was her bodyguard etc etc - when she is actually killed it is such a shock - i can honestly say i was deep in the feelin of that game i shed a tear !

[Masamune·1600]

I don't know why, but I'm afraid I'll barely be able to stand Aeris when I play this game...

Aeris, for whatever reason, is a very polarizing character. Almost everyone seems to either like her or hate her; those that stick to the middle ground are certainly in the minority. However, even if one views her personality as annoying (I didn't; I felt Yuffie was far more irritating. Again, however, that is solely a matter of opinion.), her tragic story is among the more powerful dynamics in the history of the series. My advice is not to let your perception of her character be overly influenced by her fans or her detractors; simply immerse yourself in the game, and make your own decision regarding Aeris.

[Vyk]

That would be a good idea regarding pretty much anything in life (:

[Ageless_Bum]

New here but felt like contributing
(I apologise if you feel like anyones previously made points are needlessly restated)

I havent played VII in a long time but i can tell you I was actually amazed by Aeris' death. I dont mean that to sound uncaring, but I can not think of a more precise word to describe it.
It was a first to me. Not the first time to permenantly loose a character, but the first time i had actually felt affected by a action in a game. Was it that I was enthralled by the character of Aeris? No, she was a worth while character, but not any more or less than the others. It was the first game that had, without my knowing I must sadly admit, engrossed my attention and emotions. I can see it for the masterful story telling it is now. Now that I look back at it. But ... at the time it was ... well ... sad.
Consequently I must give the game makers their dues on this sequence of events. They did it all very well. Yes the music does make it more poignant (think i misspelled that). Music inherintly has that effect on all things. Watch any movie ... thats why they have sound tracks applied to them. And, despite you like or dislike of a character, you have an attachment to them. When it is taken from you in such a way as you do not feel it was right to let it go, it increases the emotion response. Which brings me to the next point
I enjoyed the line that was made about the fires of hatred for a villain never burning so brightly (Its almost poetic) It makes you hate and want to kill her murderer. Even though Sephiroth is undeniably one of the most liked (i hate to term him villain it sounds dimeaning) antihero, After he does this you want to see him pay. You want to see him suffer before you crush the last breath out of him. *looks around* Ohh sorry, zoned out there. Or so the more emotional people do. The death of other characters (IE) Dyne are important and emotionally captavating, but with Dyne do you care more that he killed himself or that his daughter's dad is now truelly dead? As for the deaths of most of the villains, this is once again a masterful story telling. Their characters have been constructed in such a way that by the time most of them die, you are ready and almost happy to see them get what the deserved (IE) the Don. Wrong as it may seem morally, you carry no emotion conection to the mass of unnamed soldiers you mow through simply because; you know that if you go back to that spot they will atack you again, or atleast clone characters of them. This cheapens the ideas of their "deaths" nearly to a comical level.

Phew got that out of my system thanks for listening

[Armisael]

I had it spoiled for me before I even played the game, so it wasn't all that sad to me.

[Ashen-Shugar]

I didn't like it when Rufus died. I liked him. Is that wrong?

[Armisael]

I didn't like it when Rufus died. I liked him. Is that wrong?

Actually (SPOILER)he didn't!

[Gwelenguchenkus]

When aeris died, it definitely effected the way I felt, simply because I felt that Aeris was a crucial character in the first part of the game. Every time you lose a main character, there is a sense of loss. Aeris is no longer in your team, you won't be using her again. It's like when cloud leaves your party you feel awkward because you lost THE main character, except Aeris isn't really the main, but you lose her permanently.

The only other game to give a 'feeling of loss' was in Dragon Warrior 7 when (SPOILER)Keifer leaves your team for good, and you never see him again, only traces of his influence, like Aira, who is his distant ancestor. Most who have played this game will remember thinking 'wow, this can't happen... Keifer was my favorite!' 99% of the time. The game doesn't feel the same past that point.

When in FF5 (SPOILER)Galuf died, that didn't give me a sense of loss, since someone was right there to replace him with all of his abilities.

[TurkSlayer]

I didn't like it when Rufus died. I liked him. Is that wrong?

I have to say I was stunned when Rufus "died" *wink wink*. I admit I was fairly sad when Aeris died, but I think it was because of the music, and that the way the did the scene was incredible. It was disturbing that she was still smiling, though. But when Rufus "died" I went "WTF!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Of course (SPOILER)It turns out he is still alive in Advent Children.

[Seal Evil]

after compleating FF7 a while ago i desided to have another shot at it and have just got through disc one and didnt realise how sad it was, Aeris was my favourate character and it was sad for me to see her die :-[

Aeris is my favourite character too.

I couldn't believe she died. It actually made a tear come down my face, the first time I got up to that bit. :-[ It made my stomach go all weird, aswell.

Tut. It's always the nice people who die.

I have to say I was stunned when Rufus "died" *wink wink*.

OMG, yeah. I was totally not expecting that. I was stunned, too.