Final Fantasy VII: Lifestream Edition is an expansive gameplay and graphics mod with many new features, including some not seen anywhere else. It's still in development but is progressing steadily.
I've made a discord server for Lifestream Edition, you can find all the latest updates there, though I'll still post things here as well. You can get glimpses of how the mod's progressing between releases as well as find a guide to all the new gameplay additions such as 1/35 soldier locations, sidequest walkthroughs, and more, along with videos of each completed section, notes and screens of whatever I'm working on during a given day, and a fun little community. I hope to see you there!
Final Fantasy VII:Lifestream Edition Discord Serverhttps://discord.com/channels/1209331354370834532/1209339407493111829Implemented/In-Progress FeaturesUI EnhancementsLifestream Edition requires the ESUI (and all credit goes to Chrysalis, Bonez, DLPB, Fewtch, and the rest of its creators for all their hard work) but also provides additional options on top of it such as more font choices, the ability to choose materia and slot types independently of each other, extra cursor and UI border choices, the ability to mix and match remake and non-remake UI elements, new start and credit screens, and more. Combined with the ESUI, you'll be able to make your FF7 experience truly your own. Here's a preview of each one. Any other options from the ESUI, such as the different battle views, etc. can still be set there and should work with Lifestream Edition.
New Start ScreensStandard ESUI by Chrysalis, etc.
Remake
Jessie by Serafleur
Lifestream
Standard ESUI by Chrysalis, etc.
Cloud & Jessie by Stephen Giann
Remake
Standard ESUI by Chrysalis, etc.
Jessie by Hunter7j
Midgar
All start and game over screens have both 4:3 and 16:9 versions, with the appropriate ones being loaded automatically. Credit screens are only in 4:3 because there's no support in FFNx for 16:9 ones at this time.
New Font StylesIn addition to the original bright and gradient ESUI fonts done by Chrysalis, I've added three new options - Lifestream Bright, Lifestream Gradient, and an improved remake font with a drop shadow for better visibility.
Lifestream Bright
Lifestream Gradient
Remake
You can now choose between the ESUI finger and sword cursors or the remake arrow pointer. Also, there are several choices for the menu borders - blue, classic gray, or remake style with star shapes on the corners. If you want to use the ones included with the ESUI itself, that's also an option by making sure "No change" is selected and the ESUI is active under Lifestream Edition in 7H. This goes for some of the other UI elements as well, such as the timer - you can use the remake style included in LE or the classic style that comes with the ESUI. You can also choose either the standard or remake style for the various menu gauges.
Items & MateriaUnlike the ESUI, Lifestream Edition allows you to choose options for item icons, materia orbs, and materia slots independently of each other, allowing you to use different combinations of each to give your gameplay experience a unique flair. Item styles include grayscale, colored, and remake white. Materia orbs come in standard ESUI, shiny, and remake varieties, and the slot options are standard ESUI, shiny, and remake blue.
New AvatarsLifestream Edition comes with a set of high-quality classic avatars done by Satsuki, available with both the normal white and transparent backgrounds. I might add other sets later on. Also, if you want to use a different set, just make sure it's above Lifestream Edition in your 7H mod order and select "No change" in the options.
Controller OptionsYou can also choose which controller buttons you want to use - Xbox or Playstation - and standard or swap order, just like the ESUI. But it's important to do so from Lifestream Edition, as it uses different icons (from the Remake ESUI) and its settings here will override those of the ESUI. Otherwise it works exactly the same.
Script RevisionAs other modders have done, I'm revising all the dialogue in the game. However, my approach is a bit different. Basically, I try to keep the intended meaning intact while making the lines themselves livelier, fuller, and more natural-sounding. Here are some examples:
Original
Barret: Yo! This your first time in a reactor?
Cloud: No. After all, I did work for Shinra, y'know.
Lifestream Edition
Barret: Ain't your first peek at a reactor, is it, SOLDIER boy?
Cloud: No. Been in them before. I'll manage. Don't tell me you forgot I used to be on Shinra's payroll.
Original
Biggs: Wow! You used to be in SOLDIER all right! ...Not everyday ya find one in a group like AVALANCHE.
Jessie: SOLDIER? Aren't they the enemy? What's he doing with us in AVALANCHE?
Lifestream Edition
Biggs: Hey! You were a SOLDIER, right? Sure got that look at least. Damn tough. Kinda surprised you'd be here with us in Avalanche.
Jessie: Wait, what? SOLDIER? Talk about sleeping with the enemy… Anyway, what's SOLDIER boy's deal? Why's he here?
Lifestream Edition also includes new and expanded scenes to add to the overall story and further develop the characters. Scenes you once knew by heart will still be familiar but now refreshingly different as well, with more than a few surprises along the way. A few scenes cut from the original game (such as Jessie's expanded dialogue on the train) have also been (or will be) restored. And characters such as Biggs, Wedge, and especially Jessie have much more development and deeper backstories than before as well as greatly expanded roles.
The dialogue changes and scene extensions/additions are probably the most time-consuming part of the mod since they'll encompass the entire game and virtually every field will have to be edited, both to change the text and also to align the transparent boxes to the bottom center of the screen (like the subtitles in the remake). I'm still in Midgar at the moment, so I've still got a lot yet to do, but I do intend to finish this, so don't worry.
Name ChangesMany items, equipment, spells, materia, limit breaks, and enemies have had (and will have) their names changed, including the usual modern FF spell names like Fira/Firaga, Blizzara/Blizzaga, etc. Here are just a few examples:
Titan Bangle = Titanium Bangle
Hyper = Adrenaline
Tranquilizer = Sedative
Cover materia = Lifesaver materia
All materia = Magnify materia
Fire Ring = Blaze Ring
Grunt = Shock Trooper
1st Ray = Sentry Ray
Chuse Tank = Terpsicolt
Big Shot = Focused Shot
Climhazzard = Ascension
Lifestream Edition also features a few new items and materia. Details on some of the items can be found in Jessie's section below, as most of them are made by her throughout the game. There are also a few new key items related to new quests/story segments. I've only implemented a handful of new materia so far, mainly to fill in the gaps in the stat bonuses that the original set has. So you'll now be able to find Strength Up, Spirit Up, and Defense Up materia. Also, I'm adjusting most enemy drops/morphs/steals, shop inventories, and item locations so that nothing will be missable. Enemies also have higher drop and steal rates to make item hunting less tedious.
New SidequestsAreas such as the Sector 7 slums now have optional sidequests that you can do for extra items, gil, and experience. In addition, new quests such as collecting 99 1/35 soldiers for Wedge are being implemented - I'm placing them as I go, and it'll span the whole game. Also, I'll be adding an additional reward to the Turtle's Paradise flyers quest on top of what's normally given. See the planned features section below for more details. And there may be other new sidequests as well.
Other FeaturesMost save points now provide more options - in addition to saving your game and changing your party members (when possible), you can now also restart the game (force a game over to return to the title screen) and view detailed information on the local enemies. Biggs and a few other characters can show you the limit break totals for each character (the numbers of uses and kills needed to learn them) while Marlene, Wedge, and a few others can tell you the affection values for each of the five characters they affect. And that leads us to the next new feature of Lifestream Edition.
Affection System ChangesThe affection system works much like it always has, only now you'll get a message whenever a character gains or loses affection (or respect, in Barret's case) with the value gained or lost. Also, Jessie is now part of the system as well, with many new opportunities for you to gain her affection.
Jessie!Everyone's favorite tech girl gets a massive update in Lifestream Edition. Along with an expanded backstory that is broader and more developed than what was provided in the remake, Jessie becomes a fully playable member of the party. More than just a model swap for Tifa, she has her own character arc that is being fully integrated into the overall FF7 story. And she is also part of the affection system as previously noted and will have her own Gold Saucer date with Cloud.
Character SwapMost of time, once Jessie joins the party fully at Fort Condor and at certain times before that, you'll be able to switch freely between using Jessie and Tifa. This can be done either by talking to one of them or at most save points. There are certain times, however, when one of them will be required to be in the party (such as Tifa in Reactor 5 or Jessie on her new mission).
Limit BreaksAlthough Jessie and Tifa use the same basic moves for their limit breaks, Jessie's have different names and function a little differently. She does slightly less damage, but each of her limit breaks also inflicts an unavoidable negative status ailment as well. Due to the way the kernel.bin file works, you'll need to save and reload after switching between Jessie and Tifa to make sure they're using the right set of limit breaks. Also, when first starting up FF7, Tifa's limits will be active by default.
Special ItemsJessie lives up to her role as Avalanche's technical genius by being able to make new items for use in battle, special grenades called raspberries that are much more powerful than the standard types. Some of them also have additional effects such as inflicting negative status ailments, and others are defensive in nature and provide healing and support, in some cases beyond what other items can do (such as replicating the effects of certain limit breaks of Aerith's like Fury Brand and Planet's Protection). Jessie will learn new recipes as the game and story progresses, and she'll need you to give her specific quantities of different items to make the different types. For example, to make a normal raspberry, you'll need to give Jessie four grenades.
New MissionsJessie is also getting a few new gameplay sections where you can actually control her on the field! I've already finished one, a new quest with her and Cloud set in between the two reactor missions, and I have a couple of others planned as well.
Battle Models & AvatarsLifestream Edition also features two different battle models for Jessie that you can choose from - Grimmy's original model from the classic Jessie mod and Ninostyle's updated model. Both are available in normal and 60fps versions. In addition, I've included several different avatars to choose from along with battle versions compatible with ESUI's battle avatars feature, but unlike theirs, Lifestream Edition's battle avatars always match the menu avatars.
New SongsLastly, Lifestream Edition features two new songs related to Jessie - her theme and RUN! RUN! RUN! You can choose from either the remake versions or PS1-style demake versions done by Sara G. You can find her YouTube channel here -
https://www.youtube.com/@sonatina3 and listen to the demake versions of the two songs at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCmxKICVUuo (Jessie's Theme) and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPL3mGyOxO0 (RUN! RUN! RUN!).
Planned FeaturesFort CondorThe first visit to Fort Condor will now be mandatory. This is because this is where Cloud and the others will reunite with Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge after leaving Midgar (yes, the Avalanche trio will survive the plate collapse). Jessie will also permanently join the party here. Also, I plan to adjust the battle rewards so you can win better items, thus making it worthwhile to keep coming back to fight. And to make this easier, I also intend to have Biggs and Wedge contact the group whenever a new battle becomes available and provide the option to go there, fight it, and return to where you were before (or at least someplace close by).
Gameplay Sections for JessieI also plan to add a few more gameplay scenarios for Jessie, mostly in and around Midgar to help show what's happening with her and the others while Cloud's with Aerith after Reactor 5 and also later how she recovers from the plate collapse and leaves Midgar herself with her friends to catch up to the others. She'll also be required for part of the return there late in the game for story reasons (the battle against Pride and Joy/Proud Clad). In addition, she'll also have her own Gold Saucer date with Cloud, as noted earlier. I also intend for her to have her own scene with Cloud under the Highwind as well - instead of Tifa having two possible scenes, she and Jessie will each have a scene, and whoever has the higher affection value with Cloud will have their scene play out.
Highwind Personnel ChangesFor most of the game, Biggs and Wedge will stay at Fort Condor, and you'll be able to talk with them to get different information and complete the 1/35 soldier and Turtle's Paradise flyer quests. After the last battle there, however, they'll join you on the Highwind, where in addition to what they already do, they'll also tell you where to find all the ultimate weapons and level 4 limit breaks and give you rewards for collecting all of them. Jessie will also be there, and I intend for her to be at the helm instead of the original crew member. She'll be the one you talk to when you want to fly, and she'll still make her special items for you as well. She also gives you other items and materia throughout the game to help you in your journey and continues to fight at your side.
Revisiting Locked AreasAnother feature I plan to add is a way to revisit certain limited areas like Sector 7 that you normally can't go back to. In the story, this would take the form of a VR simulator Jessie develops, much like the Encephalon in the Xenosaga games. And on these return visits, you'll be able to find items that weren't there before as well as get anything you missed the first time. It likely won't be available while Tifa and Cid lead the party but only while Cloud is in charge (to make it easier for me to implement).
AcknowledgementsMany thanks to Chrysalis, Bonez, DLPB, Fewtch, and the rest of the team that created and maintains the ESUI, upon which the UI aspect of Lifestream Edition is built. All credit goes to you guys for creating such a useful and powerful mod, and I appreciate being allowed to expand on it. Also, thanks to Satsuki for your very well-done avatars and to Ninostyle and Grimmy for creating those battle models for Jessie and letting me include them in Lifestream Edition.
A great deal of thanks to Sega Chief for patiently answering so many of my questions - I know I've had a lot, and I'll probably have more to come lol. Ninostyle, Chrysalis, L@Zar0, cmh175, and Grimmy have also been very helpful on discord when I've struggled to figure out how to get certain things to work. This mod wouldn't have been possible without any of you, so thank you all. And if I've left anyone out, please let me know and I'll add you in here.
I don't know when I'll have the demo ready, much less the full mod, but I'll do my best to keep you all posted here and on discord on my progress. In the meantime, I hope you'll enjoy this little glimpse of what I've done so far. It's a video of the first half of Jessie and Cloud's new mission together before Reactor 5 (to hide the bomb in the underplate). Enjoy!
