Date Mechanics
Most people don’t realize it their first play through but the date scene in Gold Saucer is not always Aeris. In fact, it’s not always Aeris or Tifa. Aeris, Tifa, Yuffie and Barret all have a chance to partake in the date scene, although getting Yuffie or Barret to join you can be particularly difficult.
Certain decisions made throughout the game determine which of the characters Cloud will go out on a date with. The full walkthrough has little side-notes added as you go, but if you’re interested in all of the possible decisions they can all be found here.
Below is a document written by Terence Ferguson in its entirety that describes how the date scene and its accompanying mechanics work. Links and formatting have been added in afterwards and the original document can be found here: http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/file/197341/2385
THE FF7 'DATE' MECHANICS v1.20
By Terence Fergusson <tf_faq@btinternet.com>
Final Fantasy 7 Copyright 1997, 1998 Square Co., Ltd. Final Fantasy and
Squaresoft are registered trademarks of Square Co., Ltd.
This document is entirely my work, and was written and is owned by me, Terence Fergusson. All copyrights and trademarks are acknowledged where not specifically mentioned. If you wish to reproduce this document AS IS, you may do so without having to ask my permission, providing that the entire document including this copyright notice is left intact, preferably in ASCII text format, and is done so for non-profit purposes. I do, however, reserve the right to revoke permission and ask for it to be taken down should I feel it necessary.
VERSION HISTORY
v1.00 : 21/04/99 : Original Release
v1.10 : 05/09/00 : GameShark and GameHack Codes Added, plus additional Guides
v1.20 : 08/07/09 : Final update to finish things up - all possible Affection changes should now be documented
FOREWORD
For a while after FF7's release, the Gold Saucer Date was a mystery. People knew you could date different characters at that part of the plot, but weren't exactly sure how. There were a few guides to get some of the harder characters - notably Yuffie and Barret - but some of them included unnecessary tasks, or simply failed in execution.
So in early 1999, after a discussion on Usenet, I ran some memory editing software and started researching it on the PC version. It took a few days of replaying various scenes over and over, but the original guide was finished shortly after, and was submitted to GameFAQs. And since then, it has continued to be one of my most popular guides.
Anyways, it's now been almost over ten years since then (and almost nine since the last update). And after having updated the Game Mechanics guides, I thought it'd be a good idea to finish this one up, now that we know so much more about how FF7 works.
So here it is. Hope you enjoy it.
THE AFFECTION VALUES
There are four values in the game, and I have termed them Affection values for the purpose of this document. At the start of the game, they are set as thus:
Aeris: 50
Tifa: 30
Yuffie: 10
Barret: 0
As the game proceeds, certain decisions or tasks you undertake will amend them. When you reach the date, whoever has the highest Affection value will be the one chosen for the cut scene. If, however, there is a tie for the highest, then the priorities are thus: Aeris, then Tifa, then Yuffie, and finally Barret.
GAMESHARK/GAMEHACK CODES
This table is for the PSX version, using a GameShark.
GameShark (US) GameShark (UK)
Aeris' Affection Value: 3009D28B 00xx 3009D156 00xx
Tifa's Affection Value: 3009D28C 00xx 3009D157 00xx
Yuffie's Affection Value: 3009D28D 00xx 3009D158 00xx
Barret's Affection Value: 3009D28E 00xx 3009D159 00xx
This table is for the PC UK version, using the software known as GameHack. The Riva column is for those with the latest Riva patch installed (the one that adds both Riva 128 and Riva TNT compatibility). It's possible that these codes will also work for the US version, but I cannot vouch for them in that respect.
GameHack GameHack (Riva)
Aeris' Affection Value: 00DB1EC7 00DC08DF
Tifa's Affection Value: 00DB1EC8 00DC08E0
Yuffie's Affection Value: 00DB1EC9 00DC08E1
Barret's Affection Value: 00DB1ECA 00DC08E2
Remember that whoever's Affection Value is *highest* will be the one showcased on the 'date' sequence. Due to the fact that I have little access to any version other than the UK PC version, I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the codes listed here, nor can I provide codes for other versions.
THE DECISIONS
Midgar
Talking to Aeris the first time, no matter what you say (believe it or not), has no effect. If you buy the flower, you will later have the option to earn some extra points with either Tifa or Barret.
Talk to Jessie twice on the train home from the first mission:
"Thanks anyway" - No change -
"Looking forward to it" (-3 Tifa)
When you enter Seventh Heaven, and you have a flower:
"Give it to Tifa" (+5 Tifa)
"Give it to Marlene" (+5 Barret)
If you talk to Tifa while she's behind the bar:
"I don't feel like it" - No change -
"Give me something hard" (+5 Tifa)
When Tifa accuses you of leaving your childhood friend:
"How can you say that!" (+5 Tifa)
"...Sorry" - No change -
When Tifa asks how you slept:
"Barret's snoring kept me up..." (+5 Barret)
"Next to you, who wouldn't?" (+5 Tifa)
Giving Barret a Materia tutorial has no effect.
Getting to the last car of the train without getting caught by the Security Lockdown: (+5 Tifa, +5 Barret)
When Barret asks if you're alright:
"(Be strong)" (+2 Barret)
"(I don't know if I can hold on)" (-3 Barret, +1 Tifa)
The conversation with Aeris after you awaken has no effect at all. Treat her anyway you feel like.
When Aeris is fleeing the guards, if you:
Push a wrong barrel (-3 Aeris)
Ask her to fight them (-1 Aeris)
Ask her to run - No change -
Ask her to run and she has to fight (-1 Aeris)
Push the right barrel (+1 Aeris)
When Aeris asks if Tifa is your girlfriend:
"No way!" (+1 Aeris)
"Yeah, that's right" (-5 Aeris)
After you get through Sector 6 to the playground:
"Take her home." - No change -
"Go on to Sector 7." (+1 Aeris)
If Tifa is chosen as the Don's date:
"You all right?" (+3 Aeris)
"We gotta help Tifa!" (-2 Aeris)
If Aeris is chosen as the Don's date:
"You all right?" (-2 Tifa)
"We've gotta help Aeris!!" (+3 Tifa)
(Yes, it *is* that way around. Don't ask me why....)
If Cloud is chosen as the Don's date:
"Yes, his name's Barret..." (+5 Barret)
(No other choice matters, not even almost kissing the Don)
When everyone lands in the sewer:
Talk to Aeris first: (+3 Aeris)
Talk to Tifa first: (+3 Tifa)
When Marlene tells you about Aeris:
"I don't know" (-3 Aeris, +3 Tifa)
"Let's hope so" (+3 Aeris, -3 Tifa)
When you first meet Red XIII:
"Tifa, I'm countin' on you!" (-2 Tifa)
"Barret, take care of her!" (+2 Barret)
If any of the following are in your party after you agree to split up:
Barret (+2 Barret)
Tifa (+2 Tifa)
Aeris (+2 Aeris)
When Tifa asks if you can break out:
"(Leave it to me)" (+1 Tifa) (as many times as you like)
"(Kinda hard)" (-1 Tifa) (as many times as you like)
When you get the option to think about Barret, Red XIII or Aeris:
Whomever you think about first: (+3 Barret or Aeris) or --
Whomever you think about second: (+1 Barret or Aeris) or --
Whomever you think about third: - No change -
When you choose your party after escaping Midgar:
If Barret's in it: (+1 Barret)
If Aeris is in it: (+1 Aeris)
If Tifa is in it: (+1 Tifa)
Kalm
When Barret leaves, and tells you to get a move on:
"Wait a sec" - No change -
"Beautiful, just beautiful!" (+3 Barret)
"Is that all?" (-1 Barret)
"Right" (+1 Barret)
Talking to a woman in Kalm, who says Mako energy is convenient:
"Yeah, maybe" (-2 Barret) if Barret is in party
(-1 Aeris) if Aeris is in party
(-1 Tifa) if Tifa is in party
(+1 Yuffie) if Yuffie is in party
"You're full of it" (+2 Barret) if Barret is in party
(+1 Aeris) if Aeris is in party
(+1 Tifa) if Tifa is in party
(-1 Yuffie) if Yuffie is in party
Talking to a girl upstairs, who thinks the old life is better:
"Yeah, maybe" (+2 Barret) if Barret is in party
(+1 Aeris) if Aeris is in party
(+1 Tifa) if Tifa is in party
(-1 Yuffie) if Yuffie is in party
"No way" (-2 Barret) if Barret is in party
(-1 Aeris) if Aeris is in party
(-1 Tifa) if Tifa is in party
(+1 Yuffie) if Yuffie is in party
Fort Condor
When you first talk to the old guy in Fort Condor:
"I guess so" (+5 Barret, +3 Aeris, +3 Tifa, +2 Yuffie)
"Not interested" (-5 Barret, -3 Aeris, -3 Tifa, -1 Yuffie)
After the old guy tells you about his problem:
"All right" (+5 Barret, +3 Aeris, +3 Tifa, +2 Yuffie)
"Not interested" (-5 Barret, -3 Aeris, -3 Tifa, -1 Yuffie)
Meeting Yuffie
You can fail this as many times as you like, and you'll still get the points every time you meet Yuffie until you get her in your party. The points will continue to increase until they reach 30 or more, at which point any further increases will be ignored.
"All right" - No change -
"Not interested" (+2 Yuffie)
"Petrified..." (+2 Yuffie)
"You're gonna lose again" - No change -
"Go ahead" - No change -
"Wait a second!" (+2 Yuffie)
"That's right" (+2 Yuffie)
"You kiddin'?" - No change -
"What's your name?" - No change -
"Let's hurry" (+2 Yuffie)
The Cargo Ship
On the Cargo Ship, if Yuffie asks you for Tranquilizers:
"Here, use this" (+4 Yuffie)
"Nope" (-2 Yuffie)
If you don't have any Tranquilizers, then it's simply: (-2 Yuffie)
When Aeris asks you about the Airship:
"I'll take you someday" (+2 Aeris)
"I dunno..." (-2 Aeris)
When Tifa asks you about war:
"Yeah..." (+2 Tifa)
"I don't know" (-2 Tifa)
Costa del Sol
I was *very* disappointed with Costa Del Sol; there are a lot of dialogue options that you could choose, but none of them alter Affection values at all, not even the ones that seem to *really* annoy the girls.
Mount Corel
Stealing the Phoenix Downs from the Cokatolis nest does nothing to alter Affection values. Neither does finding it but leaving it alone, for that matter. And no, it doesn't even matter who is in your party at the time. Another wasted opportunity, in my opinion.
Gold Saucer
When you first enter the Gold Saucer, you will have the option of talking to members of your party and asking them to accompany you:
Talking to Aeris:
Go together (+3 Aeris)
Don't go together (-2 Aeris)
Talking to Tifa:
Go together (+3 Tifa)
Don't go together (-2 Tifa)
Talking to Yuffie:
Go together (+3 Yuffie)
Don't go together (-2 Yuffie)
Talking to Red XIII:
Go together - No change -
Don't go together - No change -
Only the first of the above Affection changes may be made: if you decline Aeris first, you'll get -2 Aeris, but you will be unable to get a +3 Tifa as well, for example.
You can decline Red XIII for no effect and still get an Affection change by talking to one of the others. If you ask Red XIII to come along though, the rest of the Affection changes are locked off.
If you leave the area without choosing a partner, the character with the highest Affection will automatically join you, and no changes will be made.
If Barret has the highest Affection, then Red XIII will join instead.
Corel Prison
Depending on who you choose first to accompany Barret to see Dyne:
Aeris: (+10 Aeris)
Tifa: (+3 Tifa)
Yuffie: (+2 Yuffie)
Red XIII: - No change -
Gongaga
After either Aeris or Tifa (or both) meets Zack's parents:
Ignoring Aeris (-3 Aeris)
Talking to Aeris - No change -
"Poor guy" (+1 Aeris)
"(...jealous...envious...)" (+2 Aeris)
Ignoring Tifa (-3 Tifa)
Talking to Tifa (+1 Tifa)
(doesn't matter what you say to her)
Cosmo Canyon
When you first enter Cosmo Canyon, the entire party will split up. If you seek out Barret in the room behind Tiger Lily's weapon shop, he'll offer to talk more about AVALANCHE.
"Go on" (+3 Barret)
"Not really" - No change -
"And then?" (+3 Barret)
"Yeah, whatever..." - No change -
Choosing the non-scoring options halts the dialogue, but you can talk to Barret again to resume it at that point.
Wutai
After Yuffie gives back all your Materia in Wutai: (+10 Yuffie)
Note that you only get this bonus if Cloud is leading the party. However, since this part of the Wutai side-quest closes off before you get the opportunity to have a different party leader, it'll never really matter.
