The Buster Sword Challenge

[MidgarFanatic]

Greeting friends, I gotta challenge for you…

The Buster Sword Challenge… I’m doing it right now and I’ll tell you what it is…

I am attempting to complete the entire game of Final Fantasy VII with all of the player’s using their original weapons… and none other. So Cloud will basically be equipped with the Buster Sword for the entire game.

Likewise, Tifa will hold onto her original Leather Gloves, and Barret will only use his Gatling Gun, and so on for all of the characters. It is a wonderful way to play because it forces a challenging new strategy on the game. I find myself being extremely cautious with Materia for example, as too much magic will bring down my warrior’s strengths and dexterities. And I make meticulous use of things like Power/Mind Sources and Accessories with additions to Vitality, Speed, and Luck. It forces me to think more… and I like it. But also because I’ve played through this game already so many times before, this offers something new.

I also like it because it brings out the strength of the characters, I like the idea that it is Cloud who is growing stronger in higher levels and is inflicting stronger damage and not a new and improved piece of metal. This makes a lot of sense to me as I have always hated how weapons just seem to get stronger later in the game for no reason. (why? are they sharper?) Does this make sense? XD Most people don’t know how strong their characters actually are, just how strong their weapons are. This challenge forces you to see who they really are in battle, and it’s fun.

And the Buster Sword is my favorite sword from any FF game, so I love doing this challenge. I’ve done this once before a long time ago, but I didn’t make it till the end, I got too tempted with the later weapons (damn you Ultima Weapon!!!) I still collect the assorted more powerful weapons, but the only time I ever use them is when I’m in the Battle Arena at Gold Saucer since there’s no experience points.

A second part of the challenge involves Materia usage. I am keeping all of my Materia fixed on the characters… so no interchanging once they are in place. This is an optional part of the challenge, but I find it does help create more character identity.

So this is the Buster Sword Challenge and it is open to anybody. Good luck to you if you choose to take it on. I’m going to try to finish the entire game this way… I’ll let you all know if I make it.

[Miss Lockheart]

Jebus are you mad, man????

But what an interesting spin on the game!! It's gonna be really tough going, like when bigger summons come along, and that Demon Wall, curse that Demon Wall!!!

I've heard of a method that someone has used where they used the materia assingment to create "jobs" for their characters eg. creating a white mage with healing materia, creating a monk etc. That would be really interesting, and you'll have to let me know which materia you choose for each character, see if it fits into the job theory

Oh dear, defeating Safer Sephiroth with the Buster Sword *cowers in fear* I might try this challenge myself sometime!!! Awesome idea MF!!

[JET73L]

Oh, yeah, these low-level weapon (or even weaponless, depending on the game) challenges are so hard, but it's worth it to make your characters stromg enough to defeat the final bosses, Weapons, etc, with their base equipment, then replay the ending from a save file with all their ultimate/legendary weapons.

[Terminal Est]

Will you attempt to defeat the weapons this way as well? That might be next to impossible, as mostly, specific materia combination is required, and the first weapons have only a few slots...but if you manage, you are a God indeed. Sounds as an interesting idea though. I wonder if I am good enough to do this?

[MidgarFanatic]

Originally Posted by Terminal Est

Will you attempt to defeat the weapons this way as well? That might be next to impossible, as mostly, specific materia combination is required, and the first weapons have only a few slots...but if you manage, you are a God indeed. Sounds as an interesting idea though. I wonder if I am good enough to do this?

Absolutely, I think anyone can do this, you just need to take the time to develop your levels… and I know you do this anyways T. You would find it fun.

Well so far most of my characters are at about level 25 and I’m just exploring the western continent now. Cloud is taking off anywhere from 90-150 HPs per attack away from his victims with the Buster Sword, so he’s doing pretty well. His limit breaks do considerably better (as they should) by taking off about 500-600 HPs. I’ve given him things like the Counter materia and Power Wrist accessory to increase the damage.

The biggest change to the overall game play I have noticed is that the battles just simply take a lot longer. Normally this isn’t a problem (I like the battles anyways), but it would seem that I have come upon my first real snag (and challenge) in the game. It is taking place in the Cave of the Gi in the depths of the Cosmo Canyon. There are a lot of two types of monsters in this cave that cast Doom (Gi Spectors and Sneaky Steps). Traditionally when I have encountered Doom I simply have been able to wipe-out anything in the battle before the clock runs out… but because of my player’s weaker weapons and the resulting longer battles, this is proving to be a challenge which I had never before faced in this part of the game… in fact it was the first time all three of my players had died in this game. I learned a very valuable lesson; Doom with the Haste spell cast is DEADLY! Oh man I couldn’t whip out those phoenix downs outta my pocket fast enough, the countdown timer just goes too fast. So it looks like I just gotta take my time a little more, and maybe some stronger magic, meh, it’s all good though.

Originally Posted by Miss Lockheart

I've heard of a method that someone has used where they used the materia assingment to create "jobs" for their characters eg. creating a white mage with healing materia, creating a monk etc. That would be really interesting, and you'll have to let me know which materia you choose for each character, see if it fits into the job theory.

As for what materia I’m using for each player, well…

Cloud’s Buster Sword initially comes with two slots which have Ice and Lightning… so I've stuck with these as part of the overall grand ensemble and have chosen these two magic materias as the only ones Cloud will hold because any more will bring down his strength at least two points each, and every bit helps. His bangle holds mostly Independent materia such as Cover, Counter, and HP Plus… Oh, and I also couldn’t help but give him the Time materia (but only because Haste is my favorite video game spell to use, and it makes Cloud a total bad-ass, YAOOOWWW!!!)

I’ve given Tifa’s Leather Gloves the materia Steal (but I will be replacing this with Deathblow once I get it, and will eventually give the Steal materia to Yuffie). Her bangle holds a Restore with an All materia, as well as a Lightning materia that is currently at level 2 (which will eventually be Ultima later in the game).

Barret’s Gatling Gun has a Fire materia (eventually will be Comet).

Aeris’ Guard Stick has one material slot which I have given Life. Her bangle holds Restore with an All material, as well as Heal and MP Plus.

Red XIII’s Myrith Clip has two material slots… so I gave him Added Effect with Fire.
He holds Bio on his bangle (which I alternate with the Fire with the Added Effect for a nasty bite).

Cait Sith comes with Manipulate and Transform on his yellow megaphone when you get him, so he’s keeping those. I’ve also loaded him up with mostly Command materia since his high Luck stat makes these perfect for him. So he also has Sense and Enemy Skill and I will be giving him Morph and Mime once I get them. As well as the Chocobo Lure materia for a little extra Luck since most of limit breaks such as Dice depend on this.

I currently have no Summons equipped, and am probably gonna keep it that way, at least until I get Odin (probably for Vincent) or Pheonix (probably for Tifa, along with the Final Strike).

I have not gotten Yuffie, Cid or Vincent yet, that will be next after I do a little more leveling. But I expect that I will be giving Yuffie the Steal material which Tifa is temporarily developing, and Vincent will be given different magic materia from everyone else such as Gravity and Seal as well as status changing Materias like Time and Mystify. Cid will probably have (other than whatever materia he starts with) magic similar to that of Barret and/or Red XIII. I havn’t decided yet.

I’ve got some work to do at the Gold Saucer, as there are several Meterias here that I want… such as the Exp. Plus materia for Aeris, Speed Plus for Tifa, and Pre-emptive Strike materia for Cloud. But one thing at a time I suppose. No rush.

These are just my preferences, obviously everyone is different and would want to switch around some of the choices I’ve made.

As for the accessories, I’ve tried to pick the pieces that best suit their character’s strengths… so Cloud is stuck with the Power Wrist for now (eventually will be replaced with the Champion Belt). Tifa has been given a Chocobo Feather to increase her Dexterity which aids in hand-to-hand combat. And Aeris is given a Protect Vest to aid in her strong constitution against poisons and status ailments.

Other than that, I’m really enjoying this challenge… I’ll keep you all posted on how the progress goes. Cheers.

[Miss Lockheart]

Wow you're doing really well with that!!

Yeah Doom will be a problem, but there are a few options open with the Time materia- either equip it with an All, so he casts Haste on everyone, otr equip it with Added Effect on his bangle so that he will be immune to any slowing spells

Interesting choices of materia. There are some there that I would never have thought to use, such as Seal, I never used Gravity or Revive either, though revive would seem much more necessary now that you have more challenge in the game.

How are you coping with your MP levels? One thing I liked about the magic materias was that they increased your MP, so it was difficult to run out. Though again if you are spending plenty of time attacking then it's probably not a problem

[Terminal Est]

Very impressive, and quite interesting. I knew that it would be complex and that it would involve quite a lot of planning and consideration, but...you know what MF, you should try and write a FAQ about ''The Buster Sword Challenge''.

That could be interesting, and while I am more then positive that you must feel fulfilled and entertained by doing this, the FAQ could be a testament to your achievement. Because it sure sounds as you shall get to the end of the game this way.

Sort of like the player who discovered how to destroy the Emerald Weapon with Vincent alone, in one hit.

Keep us posted indeed, I am curious to see how this shall unwind in the farthest reaches of the game.

As for me-I am doing something quite boring-an enemy item obtain and steal list. I know this has been done before, but as collecting everything is always part of my fun, this is a significant part of it. I started one years ago but gave up. I still have it though, so I am picking up from it.

[JET73L]

Originally Posted by Terminal Est

Sort of like the player who discovered how to destroy the Emerald Weapon with Vincent alone, in one hit.

Wait, what? I have not heard of this...

PS: The Buster Sword challenge also seems to be a good way to restart the game if you have lost track of where you need to be or have lost momentum on the current save file.

[Miss Lockheart]

The person who discovered how to kill Emerald Weapon in just one hit probably used the Death Penalty glitch (SPOILERS ARRRRGGGHHH!!!!!!)-









You know how Death Penalty gets stronger with the amount of enemies you kill? Well apparently if you get Vincent to monopolize enough on the killing eventually he will come to a point where he is doing 9999 damage with that gun. Regardless of his strength. Go beyond that with the number of kills (god knows how many, I can imagine thousands), and instead of doing 9999 damage he does an amount that comes up as a scrambled set of figures, finishing everything off in one hit. Including big beasties like Emerald Weapon

Oh god, I just saw another thread on this subject. Whoopsie!!

[Kawamura Seraph]

Greetings to you all!

Today I was in my usual search for FF7 stuff and I foud this interesting topic.
As an addicted player of this amazing game, I couldn't hold myself and started the challenge right away.
But I have one question: Are you guys keeping the initial bangles on your characters too?
I understood that you only changed the accessories.

Well, I'm going to lv up my chars a little XD

See you soon.