[SPOILERS] Regarding Tifa and the Masamune

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Mattix111

Chocobo Breeder
Joined
May 1, 2010
Messages
16
Gil
0
Its mentioned in multiple places (including in-game) that the famous super long Masamune, sword of Sephiroth, can only be wielded by him. Yet the red handled blade, seen similarly sticking from the back of President Shinra in the Shinra H.Q, was picked up by Tifa as she "attempted" to strike Sephy with it.

This scene is during the flashback to Nibelheim when Tifa's father is killed in the reactor by Sephiroth. Now how the hell did she manage that? I HIGHLY doubt something so massive could be an oversight by Square... Even I give them more credit than that :P, am I just a moron and have always missed some insanely huge plot point that should have been painfully obvious? If so regard this as :spam2:
 
wieldWhy Did The
 Pronunciation: \ˈwēld\Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English welden to control, from Old English wieldan; akin to Old High German waltan to rule, Latin valēre to be strong, be worth
Date: before 12th century
1 chiefly dialect : to deal successfully with : manage
2 : to handle (as a tool) especially effectively <wield a broom>
3 a : to exert one's authority by means of <wield influence> b : have at one's command or disposal <did not wield appropriate credentials — G. W. Bonham>




Anyone can pick the Masamune up with their hands, but only Sephiroth and use it effectively. Notice that Tifa never even manage to land a blow with the sword.
 
True, although her hands are grabbed before she manages to get it above her head. Funny that a sword that's presumably 6-8 feet long can be wielded by someone who's said in the game guides to be 5'8. Especially if the blade happens to be "magic", IMO seems like yet another strange occurrence in the world of VII.
 
And by wielded I mean picked up/generally handled :P I wouldn't simplify the word wield to the point it meant landing a successful blow, I was impressed a 90 lbs girl lifted an 8 foot sword above her head in the first place let alone up those stairs in such a hurry.
 
I think what they meant by saying that only Sephiroth can wield the sword was that only he has the skill to use it in battle effectively. Tifa is very clumsy with the sword and doesn't manage to do anything with it. Only Sephiroth can handle it and use it.

That said I'm sure others could learn how to use it if they were as powerful and skilled as Sephiroth. I don't think that there was much attached to them saying that only Sephiroth can handle it, as that seems to be common for describing any characters weapon in a game, movie or book etc for any story, even if later on in the story we see another character pick up that same weapon and attempt to use it.


EDIT - I agree it is impressive that Tifa picked up the sword, but she was by then much stronger than nearly every girl on the planet at that point (having had years of training), and stronger than a lot of the planet's male inhabitants too. I know she's not a muscle-lady and she still can't pick things up that are very heavy, but I would say that her strength was enough to pick up the sword, and struggle with it.
 
Yeah I suppose your right, I was likely reading into it to much. Maybe I'm just jealous Tifa gets to hold it but Cloud can never get it, sweet irony.
 
Well, when you start the game, the Buster sword is bent at an angle. Thats always bugged the hell outta me. Maybe it is something Square overlooked. Then again, Tifa was in a state of rage, so maybe she summoned the strenght to pick up the sword. She didnt land a blow with it, it was a spirr of the moment moment XD
 
Pretty much what Alak and Argor said. Others can pick up the sword but cannot use it effectively as the weapon was tailored for Sephiroth and I'll go out on a limb here and assume that Sephiroth developed his own combat style to use the long blade most effectively.

Besides, Tifa is trained as a karateka (yes, that is the actual designation of someone who specializes in karate). She has utterly no idea how to use the weapon beyond 'sharp end goes into the other guy'. Because of the unique qualities of the sword, not even someone experienced with such a weapon -- let's say Zack for instance -- would be able to use it effectively. But that being said, it doesn't mean other people can pick up the sword and carry it and swing it around a bit.


Note that this whole idea of 'only the villain/hero can use this weapon' goes back to Homer and the Illiad, where it is said a few times that only Achilles can wield the ashen spear. It was too heavy for someone that wasn't a demigod to actually use. Does this mean that Patrocles could still pick up the spear and drag it around? Yeah. Does it mean he could actually use it in battle? Nope. Same idea here.
 
I agree with Dragon Mage picking up and waving a sword around with no finesse is easy. Wielding a sword 8 -9 feet long without getting it caught on everything and lopping off your own limbs is hard. Also for anyone with a strength issue on the matter. Tifa beats the crap out of various sized creatures that take similar amounts of damage from guns, spears, teeth and other oversized weapons and you have no problem with it and yet wielding a sword that may weigh 10-16 lbs depending on materials and forging techniques gives you a problem. I think your perceptions of what is wrong in FFVII may be a bit off.
 
Last edited:
And by wielded I mean picked up/generally handled I wouldn't simplify the word wield to the point it meant landing a successful blow, I was impressed a 90 lbs girl lifted an 8 foot sword above her head in the first place let alone up those stairs in such a hurry
Click to expand...

Tifa's not 90lbs she more like 120-145 she a muscular chick and as the man said above her breasts are a major factor lol(so l dont sound like a pervert),The sword itself only wieghs 2.5 kg(7lbs) which, dare can be lifted by anyone save the elderly,children and frail people.
The Masamune is only 5'8 not 8 foot ,no sword is 8 foot ,thats a spear ?

Anyone here tried wielding a 68" sword? it aint easy!
 
Last edited:
I wasn't really being serious, I was just being ridiculous about the 90 lbs chick thing. And also if you look at the battle animation/cut scenes of/for Sephiroth the sword is easily longer than his body, he is stated in multiple locations to be over 6 feet tall... so 5'8 while making sense in reality, isn't quite how its portrayed in game (I am not an FF VII buff nor do I own a psp with CC or DOC etc etc). Like I said I was just being silly about the Tifa thing I know she kicks ass, shes one of my favorite character. My original question was about whether Sephiroths sword was usable at all or if it was similar to Greek Mythology, my question was answered right away, thanks though ;).
 
Last edited:
Yeah I know, the first two posters were very direct and to the point. I just can't remember every detail of a 50 dollar game I bought back in the 90's, its nice to know it still has such an active community after all these years. Someone should close this thread, I got my answer from Alak.
 
Last edited:
Sephiroth is 6"2 and as you say the Masamune is depicted at over 8 foot in FFVII so thats the way it goes sometimes, Just look at Dissidia it got even longer in that! I thinki in crisis core it was the same length as in FFVII.....l know you were only joking and your question has been answered FF swords are my favorite part of FF.
 
GalaxyFlare said:
l know you were only joking and your question has been answered FF swords are my favorite part of FF.
Click to expand...

Agreed, Square has some very unique awesome sword designs. Not sure if your a fan but FF X has some AWESOME swords. Aurons aren't quite as cool as some of Tidus's but he does have some sick ones fo sho. :starwars:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top