This next brief section is concerning some secrets of FFVII which are not in the Strategy Guides. My notes on the following game secrets, just like my FFIII notes, have vanished. I don't recall my source of the information but, there is a slim possibility that this was the last good stuff obtained from the Nintendo Hotline a few weeks before it was changed to a 900 number - If that's the case, then I probably got the information from the same individual who gave me the FFIII Secrets! If not, then It had to have been someone who worked at the Electronics Boutique where I purchased FFVII for the PS.
The following are the Secrets I fouund in FFVII for the PlayStation - like FFIII, I believe there was a "dDebug" code which was entered on game controller while game was either paused during battle or prior to starting the game. These are not in any particular order.
1. Junon:
A. Helicopter Taxi - repeatedly riding the helicopter until one of its headlights
(a piece of Materia) is dislodged and falls to the street.
B. Elevator shaft - look closely and you see what appears to be a chest on
a ledge. to open requres standing at a certain place on the lift, I don't recall
where, and pressing the button you normally press to open a chest.
C. airport area - there is a secret area to the right of the lift; to gain
access, you must exit and re-enter this area (from the hall that also leads to
where Cloud changes into Shinra uniform) - eventually, there will be someone
(either behind the sign which later is lit up, or near the fenced area to the
right of the lift) who gives you a key - you can then enter a maintenance bay
and get a useful item in a chest there.
D. West Area of lift to offices; man near door at west end of this area -
keep exiting and re-entering this area until he randomly appears and talk to
him; I think he gives you an item.
E. path to submarine docks: room guarded by soldiers, later by dog - there
is a way to enter this room and get some items; I don't recall how.
2. Kalm: There is a locked chest in one house; how to open? I know it can be done - I did it when I first played this game.
3. Sleeping Forest: the area with hollow log - there is a cave on a ledge with a vine; I recall being able to climb the vine and enter that cave but now am no longer able to do this!
4. Costa Del Sol:
A. Shinra manager hides; if you find him, he gives you an item - don't recall
when or how to go about this.
B. I seem to recall there was a way to board the other ship at the docks;
anyone know anything about this one?
5. Corel Reactor: hidden chest in dirt area.
6. Gold Saucer: Secret area near where you encounter man who changes gil to GP?
7. Temple of Ancients: Secret area - how to enter? I don't remember.
8. Fort Condor: How to fight every battle; I know there was a way because I did it the first time through FFVII. It involves much backtracking!
9. I vaguely recall there being someone who would swap an item for 12 1/35 Soldiers, possibly in Costa Del Sol.
10. Costa Del Sol: I also recall there being a secret area that could be reached from the beach (to the NE of where Hojo was sunbathing); I don't recall the reason or any other details - I only recall doing it.
11. Trading a Super Sweeper for Tiny 'Tiny Bronco'? (or was it trading the big airship for the Tiny 'Tiny Bronco'?) I recall doing one or the other the first time through; if my memory is right, it has something to do with reviving Aeris - a feat which most gamers and Square say is not possible. I think it is possible and I believe there are a few individuals who have succeeded in reviving Aeris without a game Shark!
12. Curse Ring: There is a way to permanently remove the curse; you must equip the Curse Ring and an item (I'm not sure which item). After fighting x number of battles, the curse is permanently gone.
13. Corel Prison: In the prison, there is a place where you can buy items; there is a character who sometimes steps out of the backroom - by exiting and re-entering this building repeatedly, this character will randomly be outyside this building at its back door. If my memory is right, talk to him and receive an item.
14. Corel Desert: In the area where the screen is divided by a fault running east to west, there is a way to get the Gilgamesh Materia; if my memory is right it is either a controller code or, by exiting and re-entering this area repeatedly, a man will appear on the North Side of the fauly and will give this Materia to you.
I'm sure there are many other secrets of FFVII; if you know of any, please let me know!
If there are that many secrets in FFIII and FFVII, I wonder how many secrets there are in FFV (Anthology), and FFVIII and FFIX for the PS? Anyone know any "Debug" codes for these games that you enter on the game controller? If so, please let me know.