The Genius of Shinra explained | Final Fantasy VII Analysis

[@AlleywayJack]

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[@buddhablue21]

Great take on the nuanced impact of Shinra. I found myself somewhat liking Shinra in the original because they brought some structure to the world. I think everyone was rooting for them to some extent during Sapphire Weapon's attack on Junon.

[@AlleywayJack]

I didn't mention the defence of Junon here (though I covered it in my Rufus discussion), but you're exactly right. I thought it was a pivotal scene and I really enjoyed it because regardless what you think about Shinra, Rufus, or his intentions, he stayed and faced down that threat personally to save the city and there's something admirable in that. Also watching Shinra unleash that awesome firepower on a legitimate threat does show their power and resources cut both ways, good shout.

[@jamesgravil9162]

"I found myself somewhat liking Shinra in the original because they brought some structure to the world." But they're also the ones literally killing the world...

[@alisaforster28691]

​@@jamesgravil9162 but in that example they are the lesser evil. Immediate extermination in 7 days vs undetermined extinction in the future

[@jamesgravil9162]

@@alisaforster28691 Sephiroth only exists in the first place because of Shinra.

[@alisaforster28691]

@@jamesgravil9162 non sequentor. all that doesnt really have anything to do with my point. in that scenario he is the lesser evil, hence people will view him a certain way

[@MrJCMasterman]

One thing I love about Shinra’s portrayal in both the remake and the original is how they’re villainous and cruel, but in such a way that they believe they’re serving the people of Midgar. Even Zack remarks in Crisis Core to Wutai soldiers that the Mako reactor would make people happy once installed. Of course, he’s fully invested in them by that point, but it just shows the sinister delusion that runs through the company as a whole. You also see this in the propaganda spread throughout Remake through billboards and the like. That kind of villainy pushes them well beyond the level of cartoonish to something more plausible, in my opinion.

[@madmaxxx69]

Kind of like the governments of the world today in reality

[@Leondragon06]

@@madmaxxx69 well said!

[@jamesgravil9162]

Professor Hojo is the real villain of Final Fantasy VII.

[@timestampz]

Your right. Dirge of Cerberus, The Neibelhiem Incident, & the path to Reunion all products of Hojo 💯

[@sidcomegys4154]

Why hojo and not jenova? All of his tests involved her in one way or another.

[@jamesgravil9162]

@@sidcomegys4154 Because Jenova doesn't have a personality and we know absolutely nothing about her past, goals or motivations. That's part of what makes her so interesting and terrifying, but at the same time I don't know if we can consider her a "villain" in the usual sense. More like a force of nature.

[@Thecoolguy463]

He’s def the most evil character.

[@RetroGamesAddict]

They were so ahead of time with FF7, it feels like it deals with so many themes that are extremely relevant today. In this case, corporate greed, power and control. Shinra rules over the people almost like it is its own government, and it feels like we are seriously heading in that direction in real life.

[@Kimarusco]

Excellent video! I’ve always been fascinated by the Shinra and how they got so much influence so quickly, I hope Rebirth expands on the company’s origins!

[@ManicMuppit]

One of my favourite aspects of the compilation as a whole is the use of image for shinra. Sephiroth being used as both a living weapon AND a propaganda tool to inspire more young men to join the war machine, as an example. The fan clubs in crisis core make me laugh too, the finesse of the company creating these powerful warriors to wage a literal war for resources whilst simultaneously utilising/ capitalising on their images/personalities to win a propaganda war on their own population, so they stay popular and in power. Superbly done (until they all lost the plot and went nuclear, at least 😆)

[@goingcrazy201]

Would love to see the analysis of the characters remade once all 3 parts of the remake are out & have been picked apart. Rufus is also my favorite with how much they expanded who he is.

[@flareinc7413]

Some years ago I wrote a short FF7/Exalted-RPG-campaign w the base idea "what if Shines survived Meteorfall" and it was ugly. Shinra is stronger in-world than people understand ( one of the best qualities in the remake is showing Shinra's strength). Very good analysis :) Thanks for making this.

[@jeremyhall2727]

Yeah they was low down evil. I firat realize how evol theh was when they dropped a whole area on that neighborhood. Then they pinned it on a group they hated. God only knows who many times they did something similar. I loved the small plus size guy & hojo the scientific mind the most. I loved their personalities ❤ bloody awesome bro 👍🏾 i wouldn't mind see a spin off fan game about them

[@Sentinel_ICBM]

I'd be interested in your thoughts of Shinra in Advent Children. At that point in the FF7 saga they almost seem to be good guys.

[@chronica6457]

I don't know if you've ever even played it, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on FF4 The After Years someday. You seem to have a generally positive outlook on games from what I can tell so I think it'd be interesting to hear your take on such a divise entry

[@jimconner3983]

yes please

[@Jacois]

Shinra op. I recall a Shinra employee Reese outing himself after betraying party as a Shinra operative controlling Cait Sith. He then apologizes and rejoins the party. I was like, "wtf?! fuck this muppet! Get outta my party!". XD

[@darksaint0124]

You can't really say that Shinra is responsible for everything bad. Jenova has been on the planet for 2,000 years. You say none of it happens without Shinra, I say none of it is even possible without Jenova.

[@revolvingworld2676]

Who do you think rediscovered, unsealed and experimented on Jenova in the first place? As far as I remember Jenova was nothing more than a motionless husk that could only influence people through its cells spread around by shinra itself. The cetra already dealt with Jenova at its most deadly and sealed it for good. If Shinra left Jenova and its cells alone than none of the story in FF7 would ever happen. At most Avalanche or maybe even Gaia itself would have enough and eventually attack Shinra (or humanity) for messing with the lifestream and destroying the planet but that would still be Shinras fault. Funny enough Shinra eventually drying up all the lifestream and destroying the planet would actually be fulfilling Jenovas will anyway.

[@sidcomegys4154]

Nah, the cetra themselves said the prison was only temporary which is why the planet didn't unmake the weapins.

[@colmnolan3792]

Enjoyable video and with the release of ff7 rebirth your question on new hojo sun bathing is reworked to make it all plausible (no spoiliez)

[@jamie4099]

1984 stuff lol i never knew they had 100+ inch tvs in the slums

[@TequilaToothpick]

Great video. However what is the evidence Shinra had anything to do with making the explosion on the Sector 1 reactor in the original game?

[@AlleywayJack]

Most of the speculation comes from Jessie's dialogues after we escape the reactor which questions the size of the explosion compared to the device she made etc. it was never questioned at the time of FF7's original release but since the Remake some have pointed to it as a nod to Shinra's involvement

[@KashifVGC]

In the remake, this is made more apparent because we see Heidegger activate a button that made all of the robots in Reactor 1 go berserk and attack the Reactor core directly after the explosion to maximize the damage

[@Luca-bel]

U know I love ur vids, but the sound is ridiculously low.

[@sidcomegys4154]

Hmm, I didnt notice a overload of bass. Where was there low sound issues for you?

[@solidghus4799]

I disagree with so much said here.

[@SlugSage]

So on?