Hi there again.
Well, this is the second of three projects I'm carrying (yea I have that free time.. hehe). The idea is to make a "Hard mode" of FF7. Why? Well, this is something me and my friends wanted for a long time, because we too share the common complaint that FF7 is too easy.
Last Update: 23/07/2005 - Current Version: 0.1.3.2DOWNLOAD BY CLICKING HERE.Total Enemies Changed:
83History
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Version 0.1.3.2 - 23/07/2005
> Fixed a bug where Zemzelett's Status won't change
> Fixed a bug where some Capparwire's status wouldn't change
> Balanced gameplay issues on Junon Area
> Increased Challenge rate of Heli Gunner
> Increased Challenge rate of Bottomswell
> Increased Challenge rate of Jenova BIRTH.
Version 0.1.3.1 - 21/07/2005
> Increased Challenge rate of Devil Rider
> Increased Challenge rate of Kalm Fang
> Increased Challenge rate of Levrykon
> Increased Challenge rate of Crawler
> Increased Challenge rate of Castanet
> Increased Challenge rate of Madouge
> Increased Challenge rate of Ark Dragon
> Increased Challenge rate of Mu
Version 0.1.3.0 - 19/07/2005
> Added 32 new enemies. The game is changed until Jenova*BIRTH.
Version 0.1.2.3 - 18/07/2005
> Increased Challenge rate of Motor Ball.
Version 0.1.2.2 - 17/07/2005
> Fixed lots of Gameplay issues in Shinra Headquarters.
Version 0.1.2.1 - 17/07/2005
> Made changes on some monster's HP values.
> Fixed a bug on Eligor's HP
> Fixed a battle where Might Grunt's status' wouldn't change.
> Fixed a battle where SwordDance's status'wouldn't change.
Version 0.1.2.0 - 16/07/2005
> Added 21 enemies. Now the whole Midgar City is complete.
Version 0.1.1.2 - 15/07/2005
> Fixed a bug where Corneo's Lackeys' HP wouldn't change in the battle.
> Increased challenge rate from Sewers
Version 0.1.1.1 - 15/07/2005
> Fixed a bug where Vice would remain stopped for the whole battle.
> Increased challenge rate from Sector #6 Slums
Version 0.1.1.0 - 14/07/2005
> First version. Changes 30 enemies up to the Train Graveyard.
Warning: Big personal coment about Final Fantasy VII gameplayMy complaint is that: Squaresoft was aiming first-time rpgists. Most of the bosses are, IMO, a joke. Air Buster is, i.e., a boss whose only purpose is being beaten. He takes 5 times the damage from behind, is slow, has low HP, and on top of that he is attacked from both sides. Guard Scorpion attacks twice per eight turns. Aps damages himself more than you do. Alright, these are the first bosses, but as the game progresses, things gets worse. Safer Sephiroth can be beaten with one summon. So does Bizzarro. Et cetera et cetera... but this is my opinion.
Because of this, I've decided to make a Patch, which I call Hardcore Mode. My intention is not just to make the enemies much harder, but to make some aspects of the game make more sense. Some of these aspects are, but not limited to:
1) All Materia Mastered selling for the ridiculous amount of 1 million Gil.
2) A certain Summon being able to obliterate most bosses.
3) Some certain Limits being able to crucify all bosses.
4) Some combos being able to make your party play by itself against what is supposed to be the hardest bosses in the game.
5) One of the two hardest bosses, Ruby Weapon, be able to be defeated by Level 7 Tifa.
6) One of the two hardest bosses, Emerald Weapon, be defeated in one turn by a Counter+Mime Combo.
7) Bosses that, on top of having AIs set up to aid you on battle, have still low attributes.
And what I consider to be, definitely, the two not worst, but surely stupidest gameplay aspects:
8) Common, the first bangle has Defense 8. The second has defense 10. TWO points of Defense? What the hell is the use of two points of defense? That means 0,4% less damage or, in other words, that means absolutely no reduction in damage at all. Not that 8 points (about 1,6%) do much difference against attacks that cause 30 damage. As Alhexx said to me, "they just want you to think that it's going to be better".
9) The absolutely same statement, but this time to weapons. No extra coments necessary.
With that said, I would like to present my Hardcore Mode Project. The main aim of the project is:
1) To make the enemies harder and more challenging.
2) To make the players use a little of strategy.
3) To fix some gameplay issues
4) To reduce the extreme power of some materias.
The project it is in the very beginning. Reunion was Beta-testing the first versions of it to me, and at least him seems to have liked a lot.
So, what are you waiting for? Download the Patch
here and start playing right now the Hardcore version. By the time you reach the Train Graveyard I will have (I surely hope so...) released a new version with updates past it!
FAQ:As for now, which areas are affected?The affected areas are:
Reactor #1
Winding Tunnel
Lower Plates
Reactor #5
Sector 5 Slums
Wall Market
Sewers
Train Graveyard
The Pillar
Shinra Headquarters
The Escape from Midgar
Midgar Area
Kalm Area
Chocobo Farm Area
Marsh Area and Cave
Junon and Fort Condor Area
Junon
Shinra Boat
But Elentor, how do I install the Patch?It's simple. First backup your original scene.bin file in your /data/battle/ directory where FF7 is installed, then download my scene.bin and put on it.
Recomendations:Unnecessary to say, I suggest you to create a new game and play it from the very beginning, since all it is changing right now is the very beginning. I don't know if you're going to find my patch still too easy or way too hard, but in case you find it way too hard (trust me, even I, the creator, died once to Guard Scorpion and was completely obliterated during my first time on the Reactor #5), make saves in multiple locations, specially before entering somewhere you cannot go back (like the train to the Number 5 Reactor. If you do not have enough potions and phoenix downs, you might be doomed).
Leveling up is not necessary. Even though I like to join some battles, Reunion managed to kill Guard Scorpion on level 7, even though he is much harder. Some of you may find necessary, though.
I'm not releasing *yet* the changes I made, as I want you all to play without already knowing what to expect. I hope you guys enjoy the few changes I made yet and please, leave feedback. You're all being my beta-testers. I want to know if you guys enjoyed, have any complaints about single monsters or areas and
if you find any bug, drop it here. Only god knows how painful is to edit the same enemy's hex on multiple files, and I may have made some mistakes.
So, what are you waiting for?
Click here and experience your wildest dreams.Credits:First and foremost,
Terence Fergusson (which don't even know who I am) for having compiled a so huge amount of information I made sure to carefully read before putting my hands on this.
L.Spiro for having helped me and sent me all the information he gathered, which without I would never have begin this project.
Reunion for Beta-Testing my humble Patch.
M4V3R not just for doing the original Scene Explorer, but for creating recently the Scene Edit which surely will save me from many headaches.
And last me, for having the patience to be working on it.
