Anyone who has played Final Fantasy 7, be it the 1997 PlayStation original or the lauded Final Fantasy 7 Remake, has yearned to have it be physically possible to wield the game’s iconic Buster Sword. Known especially for its comically immense size, any chance of properly swinging the weapon in a real-life situation has been slim to none. That is, until now.
The Buster Sword’s owner, of course, is FF7‘s main protagonist, Cloud Strife. Cloud’s massive, boxcutter-like broadsword measures just over 6 feet long, with a 1:1 Final Fantasy 7 Remake replica made for the Tokyo Game Show in 2019 weighing approximately 100 pounds. This translates that Cloud is incredibly, unrealistically strong, although there are plenty of Final Fantasy heroes who are stronger.
The owner of the viral YouTube video is Allen Pan, who runs the Sufficiently Advanced YouTube channel. In the roughly 13-minute video, Pan decidedly uses his stimulus money to commission his friend to build a basic replica of the Buster Sword. While technically weighing only 50 pounds, the sword’s weight distribution requires 150 foot-pounds of torque to actually lift it by the handle, the same level present in car engines.
Pan naturally doesn’t possess a sufficient level of strength alone, which is where a $900 exoskeleton comes into play. Taking inspiration from sci-fi sleeper hit Edge of Tomorrow, Pan uses a passive camera-stabilizing exoskeleton modified with additional springs to account for the blade’s weight. Additionally, he adds a ring to the center of the sword which attaches to the exoskeleton to further offset the heaviness.
The ending results are mostly successful, with the YouTuber able to fairly effectively swing the blade. He’s able to slice and smash things such as coconuts and TVs, but isn’t able to recreate Cloud’s grace and signature flare with the weapon, something fans will see plenty more of in the next episode of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Later in the video, Pan enlists the help of a powerlifter, who astonishingly matches the modified exoskeleton’s abilities.
Final Fantasy 7 is one of the most popular entries in Square Enix’s long-running RPG series. Beyond inspiring countless cosplays, art, and YouTube videos such as this one, Square Enix has announced several Final Fantasy 7 spin-off titles, including Final Fantasy: First Soldier and Final Fantasy: Ever Crisis. Both mobile titles, these games intend to further flesh out FF7‘s complex narrative.
The ingenuity of Allen Pan’s video is nothing short of impressive. However, most fans don’t have hundreds of dollars in disposable income, let alone the know-how to build an exoskeleton. However, another fan of the game managed to recreate Cloud’s Buster Sword with cardboard, a material that is easier to build with and much, much, easier to lift.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is available now on PS4 and on June 10 for PS5.
Source: GameSpot
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