Kefka’s Tower - Summit
-Strago pressed the final switch, and the way opens to the summit.
-All three parties join up.
-Kefka’s laugh, which we first heard as he made soldiers clean sand off his shoes so long ago, introduces him. He floats in a pyramid of magical power above us.
-He telekinetically picks up Shadow and Terra. “Embrace your destruction… it is the fate of all things.” Well, that’s Kefka’s motto in a nutshell.
-Locke protests. Maybe everything will be destroyed, but it’ll be rebuilt.
KEFKA: “And those will be destroyed as well. Why do people insist on creating things that will inevitably be destroyed?” That’s some major league nihilism. “Why do people cling to life, knowing that they must someday die? Knowing that none of it will have meant anything once they do?”
I feel like FFVI, especially the second world, has been about each party member trying to answer that question. Terra finding family. Celes finding forgiveness and community. Strago emerging from the funk of the cult to see Relm alive, and fulfilling his dreams of killing Hidon. Locke making peace with his past to move on. Over and over and over.
Terra actually answers him: “Because it’s not the end that matters! It’s knowing you have something to live for right now, at this moment!”
KEFKA: “And did you all find your “somethings” in this broken world that just won’t die?”
YES!
This is amazing. I’m tearing up again – each party member around answers that question very directly, and sums this game up.
TERRA: “Love!”
LOCKE: “A person worth protecting.”
SHADOW: “Friends… and family.” (THIS IS AWESOME TO SEE, though I still want more Shadow/Relm stuff.)
EDGAR: “A peaceful kingdom.”
SABIN: “A loving brother who always looks out for me! Gah-ha-ha-ha!”
CELES: “Someone willing to accept me for who I am.”
STRAGO: “An adorable little granddaughter.”
SETZER: “Wings from a dear old friend!”
MOG: “New pals, kupo!”
GAU: “These people! All them! Uwaooo!”
-Everyone finds meaning, even in this world of ruin and despair.
-And yet, Kefka hears this and feels only disgust.
He doesn’t connect with any of it. It enrages him. His Imperial Carnival (so I think of it) music bursts in. And he determines then that he’s had enough.
-OH SHIT WE SEE THE LIGHT OF JUDGMENT TEARING INTO THE EARTH BELOW
-The continent starts to burn and rip apart, wih Kefka on top. “I’ll destroy everything! I’ll create my own empire… of death!” Terra and Locke protest, but the Light keeps burning.
-“Decide battle participation order.” Um. What? Is this gonna be a series of one on ones, like the Coliseum? I think I’ll just go with the order of the three parties.
Here we go.
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Kefka
-IS THAT KEFKA’S NEW FORM? It’s... random.
-Music starts out very dramatic. Operatic.
-Holy shit, the music is really building awesomely.
-Did we beat the first form?
Sorry if I’m repeating myself, but now the transition music is great and WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT
IS THIS LIKE A TOTEM POLE FROM HELL
-Ok, this isn’t Kefka, who are these people? Are these cultists? This feels very Lord of Illusionsy.
-It lets off a “10 hit combo.” Come on, survive… YES!
-This phase is down. Next phase…
-This is like a Mary-Jesus motif here. Except with spinal fluid and vents that shoot fire.
-The music again (SORRY I KNOW I’VE TALKED ABOUT THE MUSIC), but the music! It’s become some joyous organ piece. It just keeps building. Maybe it’s seeing Jesus and Mary, but this feels like music that’d play in some ginormous cathedral.
-Beat this phase. Next phase... But nothing else is in the totem pole.
-HAHAHAH IT’S THE MUSIC FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME
-THAT’S WONDERFUL
-Are we ascending to heaven now?
-Oh. My. God. Look at Kefka.
LOOK AT KEFKA THIS IS THE BEST
KEFKA: “Life… Dreams… Hope… Where do they come from? And where do they go? Such meaningless things… I’ll destroy them all.” Then, of course, he laughs.
-I’m tearing up. I’m not unhappy or sad; I’m absolutely overwhelmed by how awesome this is. Can’t stop smiling at this. Hard to believe this is the same guy who we pouted about being sent somewhere by Gestahl. Who enslaved Terra. Who burned his own soldiers. Who obliterated the espers. Who killed his emperor…
Actually, not so hard to believe.
-This music is so INTENSE.
-Ow. Ultima’s fun to cast, not so much fun cast against you. Still, not too tough compared to prior final bosses.
-VICTORY!!!!
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Next time: Celebrate?
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