Final Fantasy’s Advent Children Finally Arrives On US Shores

An English-speaking Cloud and the rest of the survivors of Midgar have now docked at Uncle Sam’s ports (assuming that you read this today – April 24). A night’s rest is all that’s needed before we finally get our hands on American UMD copies of the highly anticipated straight-to-movie sequel of Final Fantasy VII.

Before, the only way to get copies of these were via imports, and even that is subject to a lot of conflicts. First off, the ordered copy cost the PSP owner around $40 USD – shipping not included. After finally having mom agree to cough up the dough, the expectant gamer disappointingly finds out that the version he imported lacks English subtitles not only from its special features (if he’s totally unlucky) but for the whole movie itself. Fortunately for little Timmy (brace for the sarcasm), he won’t find out that the English subtitles are missing because he won’t be able to play it in the first place – since the disc will only be playable on Japanese PSPs due to its region-coded (for the Japanese market) content. I won’t go to the part where mom finds out that the UMD bought was useless (that scene is pretty ugly).

So naturally, a few American FF fans rejoiced after being informed that the movie is about to ship to the states (American-coded of course). The delight multiplied exponentially when reports leaked out that aside from having English titles, the sequel will be dubbed to the English language – with quite famous personalities such as Rachael Leigh Cook (Tifa Lockhart) lending their voices.

As for the movie itself (I’m trying my best not to leak out too much spoilers), a series of to-drool-over action scenes faithful to the actual game are aplenty. The characters and realms are very detailed with uber fluid movements and effects.  You know the plot right? It takes place two years after Sephiroth has been pawned by Cloud and his FF7 troop, thus preventing the fall of Gaia. The movie’s very first scenes show the ruins of Midgar, with survivors looking for a new way of living; Tifa enters contemplating a new life; and Cloud lays down his sword and Fenrir to follow a life of solitude; peace is abruptly disturbed when a group of enemies collaborate to bring back the most evil of Midgar (yes, “him” – not the one from Townsville though) back to life… Oops, too much info, better watch it yourself, you only have to wait until tomorrow anyway.

An English-speaking Cloud and the rest of the survivors of Midgar have now docked at Uncle Sam’s ports (assuming that you read this today – April 24). A night’s rest is all that’s needed before we finally get our hands on American UMD copies of the highly anticipated straight-to-movie sequel of Final Fantasy VII.

Before, the only way to get copies of these were via imports, and even that is subject to a lot of conflicts. First off, the ordered copy cost the PSP owner around $40 USD – shipping not included. After finally having mom agree to cough up the dough, the expectant gamer disappointingly finds out that the version he imported lacks English subtitles not only from its special features (if he’s totally unlucky) but for the whole movie itself. Fortunately for little Timmy (brace for the sarcasm), he won’t find out that the English subtitles are missing because he won’t be able to play it in the first place – since the disc will only be playable on Japanese PSPs due to its region-coded (for the Japanese market) content. I won’t go to the part where mom finds out that the UMD bought was useless (that scene is pretty ugly).

So naturally, a few American FF fans rejoiced after being informed that the movie is about to ship to the states (American-coded of course). The delight multiplied exponentially when reports leaked out that aside from having English titles, the sequel will be dubbed to the English language – with quite famous personalities such as Rachael Leigh Cook (Tifa Lockhart) lending their voices.

As for the movie itself (I’m trying my best not to leak out too much spoilers), a series of to-drool-over action scenes faithful to the actual game are aplenty. The characters and realms are very detailed with uber fluid movements and effects.  You know the plot right? It takes place two years after Sephiroth has been pawned by Cloud and his FF7 troop, thus preventing the fall of Gaia. The movie’s very first scenes show the ruins of Midgar, with survivors looking for a new way of living; Tifa enters contemplating a new life; and Cloud lays down his sword and Fenrir to follow a life of solitude; peace is abruptly disturbed when a group of enemies collaborate to bring back the most evil of Midgar (yes, “him” – not the one from Townsville though) back to life… Oops, too much info, better watch it yourself, you only have to wait until tomorrow anyway.