Final Fantasy VII is more relevant than ever, 25 years later

digitaltrends.com:

“The planet is dyin’, Cloud!”

The most memorable video game quotes tend to be iconic right out the gate. Kids wasted no time in turning Mortal Kombat’s “Finish him!” into a playground battle cry in the ’90s. Then there’s Portal’s infamous “The cake is a lie,” which launched an immediate meme that almost single-handedly changed how a lot video games handle humor. These are hall of fame one-liners that could only be born out of a “you had to be there” watercooler moment.

Barret’s frustrated wail about Gaia’s slow death in Final Fantasy VII is different. “The planet is dyin’, Cloud!” wasn’t something you’d find on a list of “best video game quotes of all time” alongside classics like “It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this!” It was one quick line in a sea of RPG text boxes — almost a punch line setup where Barret’s passionate plea falls on the deaf ears of an apathetic Cloud Strife.

But the throwaway line gained new relevance in 2021. As cryptocurrency and NFTs became hot topics, those who were concerned about the environmental impact of blockchain transactions looked to Barret to plead their case.

“The planet’s dyin’, Cloud! And these crypto-fuckers are trying to get us to burn down half the rainforest for a damn JPEG?” reads a meme edit of the classic scene that’s a popular response to any company’s NFT announcement on Twitter.

The sudden resurgence of a 25-year old line speaks to the ultimate staying power of Final Fantasy VII. It’s a timeless story that only seems to become more relevant as the years go on. That’s extremely rare considering that video games weren’t exactly known for their weighty themes 25 years ago.

Final Fantasy VII is an iconic RPG that tackles environmentalist issues, capitalism, and class inequality