Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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in the original this was a very straight-to-the point beeline to the fight with reno. however it has been massively expanded both in tone and purpose to be a defining moment in the game. jessie and biggs's deaths punctuate the bleak tone of this jaunt up the pillar, broken up by a quick segment where you play as aerith trying to rescue marlene.
the "twists" of this part is that wedge's ambiguous fate is now changed and he becomes the focus of a rescue effort later on. the other twist is that rude joins the fight with reno partway through, the turks-two-step is a tough fight overall and marks the climax of the sector seven pillar event.

afterwards some things are handled better and others worse, the president's "transition to opera" scene has no opera music, which i dislike.
barret's breakdown is much more impactful thanks to john eric bentley's performance.

gameplay wise each helitrooper encounter is very difficult, they hit harder and come with sentry guns, elite grenadiers and riot troopers as well as elite troopers.
reno will also regularly pop in and pepper you with gunfire from his helicopter, adding to the buildup to his boss battle.
reno has an attack that can be precision-dodged and one that can be precision-blocked, opening him up to being pressured. most of his damage can be negated with electric+elemental linked on armor.
like in the original he uses pyramid, it's best to use magic on it. he's also weak to fire due to what a goblin he is! (dd reference)

rude is a tank, just use wind a lot.
overall the sector seven pillar sequence eclipses its counterpart tonally and in terms of gameplay. -- Watch live at twitch.tv/doktor_amazing