Editing Final Fantasy VII (section)

===Setting and characters===
{{Main|Characters of the Final Fantasy VII series}}
''Final Fantasy VII'' takes place on a world referred to in-game as the "Planet" and retroactively named "Gaia".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Interview: Kosei Ito Q&A |url=http://gamez.itmedia.co.jp/games/mobile/2004/ffbc/first/inter.html |language=ja |publisher=ITmedia |date=2004 |accessdate=December 16, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703162504/http://gamez.itmedia.co.jp/games/mobile/2004/ffbc/first/inter.html |archivedate=July 3, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="FFVIIhistory"/> The planet's lifeforce, called the Lifestream, is a flow of spiritual energy that gives life to everything on the Planet; its processed form is known as "Mako".<ref name="lifestream">{{Cite book | year=2005 | editor=Studio BentStuff | title=Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω | pages=216–217 | language=ja | publisher=Square Enix | isbn=978-4-7575-1520-8}}</ref> On a societal and technological level, the game has been defined as an [[Industrial society|industrial]] or [[Post-industrial society|post-industrial]] [[science fiction]] setting.<ref>{{Cite magazine | date=August 2001 | title=Final Fantasy | magazine=[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]] | issue=47 | page=16 | publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]}}</ref> During ''Final Fantasy VII'', the Shinra Electric Power Company, a world-dominating megacorporation headquartered in the city of Midgar, is draining the Planet's Lifestream for energy, weakening the Planet and threatening its existence and all life.<ref>{{cite journal|author=|date=February 14, 1996|script-title=ja:FFVIIスクウエアPSに参入|journal=[[Dengeki PlayStation]]|issue=17|pages=14–15|publisher=[[ASCII Media Works]]|language=ja}}</ref> Significant factions within the game include [[Characters of the Final Fantasy VII series#AVALANCHE|AVALANCHE]], an eco-terrorist group seeking Shinra's downfall so the Planet can recover;<ref name="FFVIIhistory"/> the [[Characters of the Final Fantasy VII series#The Turks|Turks]], a covert branch of Shinra's security forces;<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Teresa |last=Dun |title=Complete Final Fantasy VII Character Guide |magazine=[[PlayStation: The Official Magazine]] |date=February 2008 |issue=60}}</ref> SOLDIER, an elite Shinra fighting force created by enhancing humans with Mako;<ref>{{Cite book | year=2005 | editor=Studio BentStuff | title=Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω | page=217 | language=ja | publisher=Square Enix | isbn=978-4-7575-1520-8}}</ref> and the Cetra, a near-extinct human tribe which maintains a strong connection to the Planet and the Lifestream.<ref name="cetra">{{Cite book | year=2005 | editor=Studio BentStuff | title=Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω | page=59 | language=ja | publisher=Square Enix | isbn=978-4-7575-1520-8}}</ref>

The main protagonist is [[Cloud Strife]], an aloof mercenary who claims to be a former 1st Class SOLDIER. Early on, he works with two members of AVALANCHE: [[Barret Wallace]], its brazen but fatherly leader; and [[Tifa Lockhart]], a shy yet nurturing martial artist and his childhood friend. During their journey, they meet [[Aerith Gainsborough]], a carefree flower merchant and one of the last surviving Cetra;<ref name="cetra"/><ref>{{Cite book | year=2005 | editor=Studio BentStuff | title=Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω | page=30 | language=ja | publisher=Square Enix | isbn=978-4-7575-1520-8}}</ref> [[Characters of the Final Fantasy VII series#Red XIII|Red XIII]], an intelligent canine from a tribe that protects the planet;<ref>{{Cite book |year=2006 |editor=[[SoftBank]] |title=Final Fantasy VII Advent Children: Reunion Files |language=ja, en |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |isbn=978-4-7973-3498-2 |pages=52–53}}</ref> [[Cait Sith (Final Fantasy)|Cait Sith]], a [[fortune-telling]] robotic cat controlled by repentant Shinra staff member [[Characters of the Final Fantasy VII series#Reeve Tuesti|Reeve]];<ref name=ps1manual/><ref>{{Cite book | year=2005 | editor=Studio BentStuff | title=Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω | page=57 | language=ja | publisher=Square Enix | isbn=978-4-7575-1520-8}}</ref> and [[Characters of the Final Fantasy VII series#Cid Highwind|Cid Highwind]], a pilot whose dream of being the first human in outer space was unrealized.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy VII |developer=Square Co |publisher=SCE America |date=September 7, 1997 |platform=PlayStation|quote='''Shera:''' He pushed the Emergency Engine Shut Down switch, aborting the mission, to save my life. After that, the Space Program was cut back and the launch was canceled.}}</ref> The group can also recruit [[Yuffie Kisaragi]], a young ninja and skilled Materia thief; and [[Vincent Valentine]], a former Turk and victim of Shinra's experiments.<ref>{{Cite book | year=2005 | editor=Studio BentStuff | title=Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω | page=46 | language=ja | publisher=Square Enix | isbn=978-4-7575-1520-8}}</ref> The game's main antagonists are [[Characters of the Final Fantasy VII series#Rufus Shinra|Rufus Shinra]], the son of President Shinra and the later leader of the Shinra Corporation;<ref>{{Cite book |year=2005 |editor=Studio BentStuff |title=Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω |pages=56, 58 |language=ja |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |isbn=978-4-7575-1520-8}}</ref> [[Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)|Sephiroth]], a former SOLDIER who reappears several years after being presumed dead;<ref name=ps1manual/> and Jenova, a hostile extraterrestrial life-form who the Cetra imprisoned 2,000 years ago and who Sephiroth was created from.<ref name="SephOrigin">{{Cite book | year=2005 | editor=Studio BentStuff | title=Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω | page=198 | language=ja | publisher=Square Enix | isbn=978-4-7575-1520-8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |year=2005 |editor=Studio BentStuff |title=Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω |pages=210–215 |language=ja |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |isbn=978-4-7575-1520-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game |title=Final Fantasy VII |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=SCE America |date=September 7, 1997 |platform=[[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]|quote='''Ifalna:''' A small number of the surviving Cetra defeated Jenova, and confined it.}}</ref> A key character in Cloud's backstory is [[Zack Fair]], a member of SOLDIER and Aerith's first love.<ref name="FamVIIanniversaryB"/>