In Final Fantasy VII and its Remake universe, SOLDIER is a term that's thrown around often, and it's an essential part of the game's lore. SOLDIER is both an organization and a role individuals can have, first appearing decades before Final Fantasy VII occurs. Understanding SOLDIER and its history can help make sense of the complex backstory present in all Final Fantasy VII titles. Here is some crucial information about SOLDIER and how it came to be.
SOLDIERs have appeared in every Final Fantasy VII title to date. Some notable SOLDIERs are Zack Fair, Genesis Rhapsodos and Sephiroth, protagonists and antagonists of the series, respectively.
SOLDIER began as an attempt by the Shinra Corporation to create an elite fighting force to handle dangerous or delicate situations as they arose. As a sizeable evil corporation, Shinra sought to ensure it would have the means to protect its interests by a show of force if necessary. It already had the Turks (Shinra's secret service) and the Shinra Peacekeeping Troops (Shina's police), but it required a group that could not be withstood -- especially during the outbreak of the Wutai War.
Though Shinra dabbled with different ideas to produce super soldiers, including showering fighters with Mako to increase their strength, actual SOLDIERs didn't come about until it attempted a change in procedure. This started as an attempt to splice the DNA of the Cetra with humans to create powerful hybrids. The Cetra were also known as Ancients and able to directly commune with the planet's Lifestream, opening the door to unique and powerful applications for their abilities.
Shinra mistook the alien entity Jenova as Cetra and began using its DNA in some of the first experiments to create true SOLDIERs. Jenova was known to the Cetra as the "calamity from the skies" and was bent on destroying all life on any world it encountered. Shinra's experiments combined Jenova's DNA and Mako energy to produce the first subject they deemed a success: Sephiroth. Sephiroth's amplified abilities manifested during his childhood, leading Shinra to declare its initial venture a success.
Shinra moved to mass-produce more fighters who could mirror Sephiroth's accomplishments. The company set its plans in motion and began using nearly-identical methods to produce ranks of warriors with unparalleled skills and prowess. These new warriors would be sent on the most dangerous and vital missions, gaining access to some of the best gear Shinra had at their disposal.
SOLDIERs are divided by class, with First Class outranking their Second and Third Class peers. First Class SOLDIERs are able to use personalized equipment, have the most abundant access to Materia and reserve the right to veto the orders given to them. Though they bear any responsibility for the outcomes associated with refusing their chain of command, First Class SOLDIERs are allowed to operate with a certain degree of personal agency.
That said, it's not uncommon for Shinra to monitor -- or even eliminate -- SOLDIERs who go against the organization's interests. Even after loyal service, retirement still means being under the watchful eye of the company.
After winning the Wutai War, some SOLDIERs went on to act as the faces of Shinra, developing their own fan clubs and inspiring the youth to follow in their footsteps. None were more prolific than the First Class SOLDIER, Sephiroth. After the mass desertion of Third Class and Second Class SOLDIERs, First Class SOLDIERs Genesis and Angeal left the organization. That left Angeal's protege, Zack Fair, and Sephiroth as the only two remaining First Class SOLDIERs of note.
When Zack and Sephiroth are dispatched to Nibelheim to investigate the local Mako reactor, the legendary SOLDIERs uncover the truth about their creation. After fixing the reactor, they uncover Makonids, the remnants of some of Professor Hojo's experiments. Behind the reactor is a door inscribed with Jenova's name, and Sephiroth, only knowing his mother to share that name, begins to develop the seeds of doubt.
Sephiroth seals himself away and spends several sleepless days researching the Jenova Project, only to realize that he's the product of experimentation with alien DNA. His discoveries drive him mad, and he denounces his humanity, believing himself to be a descendant of the Cetra.
Sephiroth goes on to burn Nibelheim to the ground, slaughtering civilians in his rampage. He's only barely stopped by the combined efforts of Cloud, Tifa and Zack while attempting to commune with the remains of Jenova inside the reactor. The aftermath would see Cloud, Zack and the remaining survivors of Nibelheim collected for Hojo's next stage of Jenova-related experiments. The results left Cloud sickened with Mako poisoning and ultimately result in Zack's death while protecting his friend.
By the time Final Fantasy VII starts, SOLDIER is a shell of its former glory. There are very few First Class SOLDIERs remaining, and the Second and Third Class warriors are used primarily as shock troops. This is a far cry from the originally intended elite fighting force Shinra had created, likely due to the loss of so many troops before the Nibelheim incident.
Though SOLDIER experienced its greatest successes prior to Final Fantasy VII's narrative, the group remains an integral part of understanding Cloud, Sephiroth and Shinra's motives. Shina created SOLDIER and (by extension) Sephiroth; both play their roles in developing Cloud into the person he is when players step into his shoes.
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