Throughout the history of gaming, few villains have ever come close to rivaling Sephiroth,Final Fantasy 7’srepresentation of evil incarnate. Once a noble member of SOLDIER, Sephiroth is a force to be reckoned with against all those who oppose him. Believing himself to be a descendant of Jenova, Sephiroth sees the world of Gaia as his birthright and will stop at nothing to reclaim what is rightfully his.
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There are several elements to Sephiroth that make him a frightening villain inFinal Fantasy 7, but all of them combined serve to showcase histruly terrifying nature. Though he is only alluded to for a large portion of the game, how he is incorporated into the story swiftly strikes fear into those who hear his famous tales.
10The Nibelheim Flashback
The opening segment ofFinal Fantasy 7opts to antagonize the Shinra Electric Power Company over the game’s primary villain, but with good reason. It is only after leaving Midgar that the player is given the chance to witness Sephiroth’s frightening powers.
While Cloud recounts his past dealings with the mysterious villain during his time in SOLDIER, the player is allowed to fight by Sephiroth’s side. Sephiroth’s damage output is frighteningly high compared to Cloud’s, thus enhancing the threat he poses to Cloud and his companions.
9His Past
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7offers fans of the series a closer look into Sephiroth’s life before the events ofFinal Fantasy 7. As a Shinra employee, Sephiroth was once regarded as the most powerful SOLDIER in the company’s ranks.
Crisis Coresees Sephiroth as a valuable asset to Zack as he journeys to become a hero. Zack idolizes him and aspires to be like him, so his sudden turn to evil createdconflict in Zack’s mind, while also showcasing how easily one can be swayed by the power of Jenova.
8His Philosophies
Upon discovering that Jenova cells dwell inside him, Sephiroth became obsessed with ideas of world domination. Convincing himself thatJenova is his mother, Sephiroth believes that he is destined to rule over Gaia and will do whatever it takes to reclaim the planet for himself.
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Sephiroth thinks that the humans who dwell on Gaia have no claim to it as they eradicated the planet’s true rulers, the Cetra. Believing himself to be a descendant of the Cetra, Sephiroth intends to bring ruin to the planet to avenge his fallen ancestors.
7Sephiroth Clones
Throughout the opening segments ofFinal Fantasy 7, Sephiroth is alluded to in a variety of ways with his most disconcerting reference being seen through the presence of his followers. Often depicted in black robes, these cult members are fixated on thoughts of reviving their fallen idol.
Referred to as clones, these monstrosities were test subjects in Professor Hojo’s cruel experiments. By administering these unfortunate beings with Jenova cells, Hojo destroyed their minds and, in doing so, allowed Sephiroth to take control of their bodies. Sephiroth’s ability to manipulate these mindless beings further enhances the threat he poses toCloud and his friends.
6Best SOLDIER Ever
If not for Sephiroth’s accomplishments on the battlefield, Cloud would never have sought to become a SOLDIER. Throughout the narrative, he is regularly referred to as themost powerful First Class SOLDIERto have ever existed: a title that is not easily earned.
To become a SOLDIER, the Shinra company infuses its candidates with Mako energy: a process that shortens the receiver’s lifespan while also granting them inhuman combat abilities. The frightening power associated with SOLDIERS is made evident throughout the series, but for Sephiroth to be the most powerful of them all makes him an otherworldly foe.
5The One-Winged Angel Theme
Composed by Nobuo Uematsu,One-Winged Angelis one ofthe most popular songs present in the entireFinal Fantasyfranchise. Played during the Safer-Sephiroth boss battle, it adds a new level of horror to the famous final boss ofFinal Fantasy 7.
As one of the first songs in the series to incorporate lyrics,One-Winged Angelis nothing short of a masterpiece. With Latin lyrics illustrating themes of fire and death, along with its multiple sections, this piece perfectly captures the scale of the battle while highlighting what could happen if the party fails to stop him.
4Constant Allusions
It is unusual for a villain to see suchlittle screen timeduring a game, but for Sephiroth, this strange approach serves to further vilify him. Described to be an extremely powerful war hero, Sephiroth’s change in allegiances results in him becoming one of the most terrifying characters in gaming.
While exploring the world of Gaia, Cloud will often stumble upon the ruins left behind in Sephiroth’s wake. Upon escaping Midgar, the party ventures to a location known as the Marshes, where they happen upon an impaled Midgar Zolom. It is recommended that the player avoid this foe due to its vast strength, but upon navigating its domain, it is revealed that Sephiroth felled this terrifying beast with ease.
3Supernova
As well as being an extremely powerful attack, the Supernova ability utilized by Sephiroth during the climax of the game is one of the most frightening moves seen in gaming. Taking approximatelytwo minutes to perform, the Supernova attack spends its screen time promoting fear in those who witness it.
The attack sees a planet-sized meteor being summoned from a distant galaxy. As it journeys to Gaia, it crashes through Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter, rendering them destroyed before devastating the party. Sephiroth’s ability to destroy galaxies in mere moments is a prime example of the power he holds and why he should be feared.
2Killing Aerith
By solidifying Aerith as one of the main protagonists inFinal Fantasy 7, fans felt safe in the knowledge that she would outlive her adversaries, but this was unfortunately not the case. As one of the last Ancients on the planet, Aerith was the only charactercapable of summoning Holy, one of the few things capable of stopping Sephiroth.
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Upon discovering this, Sephiroth journeys to the City of the Ancients to ensure she never gets the opportunity to hinder his plans.He impales her with his Masamuneand leaves her for dead. Through him killing Aerith, fans were taught to fear for the safety of the game’s other main characters.
1His Designs
Even without his heinous desires, Sephiroth is still an intimidating presence. No matter what side he is on, his design commands respect while also striking fear into the hearts of those who encounter him. Clothed primarily in a black, altered SOLDIER uniform, Sephiroth’s design implies that he is an extremely powerful being.
Though his human design can terrify his foes, his depiction duringthe Safer-Sephiroth boss fighthas cemented him as one of the most frightening depictions of man-turned-monster in gaming history. Having abandoned his human form, all that remains of Sephiroth is his torso and his head, while the rest of his limbs are replaced with large wings. Players who were once frightened of taking on this otherworldly foe will find themselves frozen with fear upon witnessing his final form.
