before crisis

In 2004, a Japanese-only FFVII cell phone game called Before Crisis was released. The non-Japanese-speaking FFVII fandom, I am given to believe, collectively groaned.

In the years since, it's been tough to find translations of the game; after all, it came out on cell phones long before smartphones were a thing. This was a shame, because BC did a decent job of fleshing out FFVII's canon and adds a ton of depth to the Turks (its protagonists) along with pretty much every other character in the original game. I don't think all the changes are great, but as someone who enjoys any expansion of FFVII's worldbuilding I like a lot of the ideas in BC.

There used to be an English fansite that contained transcripts of the game's episodes, Gunshot Romance, but it's been defunct for years. These days there's a handy Youtube playlist of the entire game.

So, Cid appears in the 15th episode, which covers the original rocket launch. It starts out with Cid doing a rehearsal for the rocket launch ceremony, flying the Tiny Bronco in formation — nice to see the poor thing in the air! (Not, of course, that Cid would be part of the ceremony, as Rufus points out, he'd be in the rocket getting ready to launch, but. Details.) Cid also says he plans to plant Shinra's flag on the moon, so I guess he was planning to go to the moon, and not just to space? Good to know they were dreaming big.

What's interesting is seeing Cid's personality pre-launch. He's the same straightforward Cid, but without the bitterness that dragged him down years later. He's quick to praise President Shinra and laud his accomplishments. He's very grateful to the Turk who helps him out with everything the day before the launch (the player), and all in all comes across as a friendly guy.

Of course, things don't go so easily. BC is a retcon, but it's still mostly in line with the original game — it just shows a lot of extra details. The reason for the oxygen tank's malfunction is because an Avalanche member tried to steal it to ruin the launch. (This Avalanche isn't the one seen in FFVII, but a different organization that served as its precursor. The fight between Avalanche and the Turks forms the basis of BC's plot.)

Anyway, a tank gets stolen, which means they have to do a fresh check on the rocket. However, the issue then arises that the check might not be completed in time, and it puts Cid's life at risk. Rufus, who's secretly working with Avalanche, pushes for the launch to be postponed, but Cid says that he doesn't care about the risks.

Cid: I don't mind.
Turk: What?!
Rufus: Cid! What are you saying?! You don't care if you die?
Cid: Yeah. As long as I get to go into outer space, that's fine by me. If we don't do it now, we won't get another chance for six months. And who knows what might happen in the meantime? It's so close. That's why I'll take my chances.

That's certainly well in line with Cid's character as we saw it in the original game. All Cid wants it to make it out in space, no matter what. President Shinra and Rufus get in an argument directly following this, both about the launch and how to run the company, and Cid interrupts purely to ask if they're launching or not. It's all he cares about.

There's a minor incident the day of the launch, but otherwise, it goes down as we already know. Shera isn't satisfied with the results of the oxygen tank test, which is why she's still in the engine when the launch takes place. Cid aborts the launch, unwilling to sacrifice her for his dream the way he would have gladly given his own life.

Afterwards, looking at the tilted rocket, Cid makes a decision.

Cid: My dreams... Shinra No. 26... This isn't the end. I won't let it end like this... Someday, I'll fly the Shinra No. 26 into outer space. Until that day comes, I'll keep it in shape.

Personally, I enjoy Cid's story in BC. It's a good example of how a retcon can expand a canon without spoiling the original thing. All of the dialogue from the original launch scene is the same, there's just added context for it all. I also really like the contrast of Cid freely offering up his own life, but seeing Shera giving up hers as murder. It brings up some interesting points about their relationship that weren't there in the original game.

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