Below is a list of cheats, codes, secrets, tips, hints and video guides for Final Fantasy VII, the hit classic RPG that is now available on PlayStation Network for play on PS3 and PSP (originally released for PS1 in 1997).
HOW TO BEAT THE WEAPONS
The strongest bosses in Final Fantasy VII aren’t the normal game bosses but rather the Weapons, which are the tougher than even the end-game boss. These formidable opponents symbolize the Planet’s will to protect itself. They are released as you make your way through the game, which means they will automatically appear after a certain point. You can fight most of them at any point after they appear, although it’s not wise to do so because they are so powerful. You can see these five giant beasts during the Crater FMV where they will rush to various parts of the world.
You will defeat most of these hopefully during the course of the game. Two of them however are entirely optional: Ruby Weapon and Emerald Weapon. Here are video strategies on how to beat them both. Read this article for super detailed info on how to beat the Final Fantasy VII Weapons.
How to beat Emerald Weapon:
You can find Emerald Weapon (a giant looking green “robot”) swimming underwater when you dive under the ocean with the submarine. Here are two video guides showing how to beat him.
How to beat Ruby Weapon:
You will find Ruby Weapon in the Corel Desert outside the base of the Gold Saucer. It appears as two little red sticks, moving in the sand. To fight it fly into him with the Highwind. This will cause him to jump out and attack you. Be warned though that he is a 100x tougher than Ultimate Weapon.
How to unlock Master Materias
In order to unlock Master Materia, you must beat Emerald Weapon (see above). Upon defeating him you will get the Earth Harp. After you have gotten the Earth Harp, go to Kalm and give it to a Kalm Trader in exchange for these three Materias: Master Command, Master Magic and Master Summon.
Alternatively, you can master the Magic (green), Summon (red) and Command (yellow) Materias this way. First you need to master all the Materias of that type. After doing this, talk to the “Huge Materia” at the Cosmo Canyon observatory of the respective color above that you want to master. You will then get a Master Materia of either Magic, Summon or Command.
How to find an extra Elemental Materia
There is only one spot in the game where you can find an extra Elemental Materia. You will find it in Tifa and Cloud’s hometown at a point in the game where Cloud has been lost and you are controlling Tifa as the party leader. Before you go on your search for Cloud, return to Tifa’s house in Nibelheim and go upstairs. You will find a piano. Walk up to it and play it in order to find the extra Elemental Materia.
How to get the Turtle Paradise Prizes
There are six Turtle Paradise posters hidden throughout the game of Final Fantasy VII. As you find them you will be able to unlock prizes at the Turtle Paradise Restaurant in Wutai. To claim your prize talk to the restaurant owner.
Turtle Paradise Poster 1 – On the wall upstairs at a house in the Sector 5 Slums on the East Side of town.
Turtle Paradise Poster 2 – At a lobby in Shinra HQ on a bulletin board.
Turtle Paradise Poster 3 – Next to the item shop in the Ghost Hotel at Gold Saucer. Find it on the wall.
Turtle Paradise Poster 4 – On the wall at Tiger Lily Arms Shop in Cosmo Canyon.
Turtle Paradise Poster 5 – On the Wall next to the Inn Keepers Desk
Turtle Paradise Poster 6 – On the wall outside the Trap Room in Yuffie’s Basement next to Turtles Paradise
How to view an optional Cloud cinema scene
You can view an optional scene that explains how Cloud ended up in Midgar with Zach’s sword. To do this make sure to visit the Shinra Manor in Nibelheim after Cloud regroups from the fall of the Mako Reactor. In the Manor go to the library to view the flashback.
How to unlock the Ultimate Weapon for each character
Cloud’s Ultima Weapon
You can obtain Cloud’s ultimate weapon by defeating Ultimate WEAPON. Ultimate WEAPON is located hovering over a lake in the Eastern Continent by Junon. (Disc 3)
Tifa’s Premium Heart Ultimate Weapon
Return to the Wall Market after getting the Sector 5 key. Check the broken vending machine in the Inn. It’ll release Tifa’s Premium Heart.
Barret’s Missing Score Ultimate Weapon
While on the Sister Ray before running into Hojo, you can pick up Barret’s Missing Score on the steps.
Aeris’ Princess Guard Ultimate Weapon
At the end of the IV hallway by the clock room in the Temple of Ancients, you’ll find Aeris ultimate weapon, the Princess Guard.
Cid’s Venus Gospel Ultimate Weapon
Talk to the old man (who was obsessed with the rocket) outside the item shop after the rocket launches in Rocket Town. Speak to him until he hands over Cid’s ultimate weapon the Venus Gospel.
Cait Sith’s HP Shout Ultimate Weapon
Remember your first raid of the Shinra Building where you found that microphone that was of no use? During your second raid of the Shinra Building, make sure you check the locker on the 64th floor on the left side of the third row. The lockers are located behind (above from overhead shot) the exercise room.
Red XIII’s Limited Moon Ultimate Weapon
Return to Cosmo Canyon after taken Bugenhagen to the Ancient City. Make sure Red XIII (Nanaki) is in your party. Find Bugenhagen and Red XIII will obtain the Limited Moon.
Vincent’s Death Penalty Ultimate Weapon
Locate Lucrecia’s cave. You can do this after you obtain the submarine or a Gold Chocobo. Her cave is in the Nibel area behind a waterfall in a lagoon. Find the cave while on Disc 2 with Vincent in your party. Return while on Disc 3 (again with Vincent in your party) to obtain his ultimate weapon the Death Penalty.
Yuffie’s The Conformer Ultimate Weapon
After obtaining the submarine, locate the Gelinka, a crashed sub off the coast by the Gold Saucer. Inside the generator room is Yuffie’s ultimate weapon, the Conformer.
How to see different artwork on your saved file
The saved-game picture changes depending on the slot your game is saved in. Here’s the complete list:
FILE 1 : CLOUD
FILE 2 : BARRET
FILE 3 : AERIS
FILE 4 : CAIT SITH
FILE 5 : RED XIII
FILE 6 : CID
FILE 7 : TIFA
FILE 8 : VINCENT
FILE 9 : YUFFIE
FILE 10 : RUFUS
FILE 11 : TSENG
FILE 12 : PRISICILLA
FILE 13 : RUDE
FILE 14 : DAIN
FILE 15 : SEPHIROTH
How to get a Gold Chocobo without having to breed one
You can actually get a Gold Chocobo without having to take the pains to breed one! In order to do this, you must beat Ruby Weapon to get the Desert Rose. Then take the item to the old man in Kalm. He’ll exchange it for a Gold Chocobo!
How to buy your own house (Casa del Cloud)
You can buy your own place in Final Fantasy VII, but you only have ONE chance to do it. In Costa Del Sol, go into the building opposite side of the bridge and talk to the man lying on the bed. He will ask if you want to buy Casa del Cloud. Now MAKE SURE you have enough money to buy it before you talk to him as you will only get one chance to buy the place. If you have enough he will sell it to you for 300,000 Gil.
How to get out of North Crater (you aren’t really stuck)
A lot of people think they are stuck in North Crater once they slide down into it. However that is not the case! You can actually climb out. If you go to the hole near the cliff where you slide down into the crater you will notice a rock-shaped ladder that leads to the upper side of the crater, on the right side of the hole. This is missed by many people because the Green Triangles that show exits don’t show up on this particular ladder. After you climb out you can board the Highwind again and get out of North Crater.
How to find a hidden ghost with the Snowboarding mini-game
You can unlock a hidden ghost in the Gold Saucer snowboarding mini-game. To do so you will need to get a satisfactory score in all of the courses. This will make a yellow balloon appear near the beginning of the mini-game that activates Time Attack. After this get through the Beginner Course then select retry. Now select Tim Attack and go to the Beginner Course. There’ll be a silver balloon there that increases your speed when collected. The next part is very difficult. You must now set a record of under 54 seconds on the Beginner Course. Succeed in this and then pause the game in Time Attack Mode. Select Options then select “Ghost”. You’ll see a new question mark option at the bottom. Select this and it will activate a running Cactuar that will replace the Moogle. Save your game to save the ghost and record to your file.
How to find Cactuar Island
Cactuar island is an island so small it won’t show up on the radar and this is the only place you can run into Cactuars. First off you need the airship. When you have the airship fly above Cosmo Canyon. Then go straight south. Do this until you run into the island.
How to easily earn tons of Gil in Final Fantasy VII (video guide)
This guy shows you how to earn an insane amount of gil relatively easily. Basically you will want to master All Materia which then sells for 1.4 million gil, while only taking 35,000 AP to master.
How to get the Knights of the Round Summon Materia
To get Knights of the Round, one of the best and rarest Materia in the game, you first need to breed a Gold Chocobo. Now you will find an island in the top-right corner of the world that looks like deep cavern with high walls and a cave on the top. In the cave on this island you’ll find the Knights of the Round Materia. Knights of the Round does 70,000+ damage in one shot! Here is a video showing where to find the cave.
Rocket Town Materia Quest Code
Press: Circle, Square, X, X while in the rocket for a Huge Materia.
Easy Chocobo Races Code
During chocobo racing mini-game, hold L1 + L2 + R1 + R2 to increase your chocobo’s speed. Hold R1 + R2 to recover your chocobo’s stamina.
Chocobo-only Cave Locations
Here is a video guide showing four caves that can only be reached via Chocobo.
How to breed a Gold Chocobo (guide)
It can be quite complex to figure out how to breed a Golden Chocobo, but here is a video guide, split into four parts, showing exactly how to do so.
* Image by Norman13355