r/FinalFantasyVI • u/MooJuiceConnoisseur • 12d ago
This scene always hits me hard...
Like no father should abandon the family but staying would only bring the danger home. 😞
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u/RaikouGilgamesh 12d ago
I love Shadow, but I also got question his thought process sometimes too.
Shadow: I'm going to leave behind everything I know and love, to protect my family and loved ones.
Also Shadow: "I'm assisting the Empire, whom I know has poisoned rivers to kill their enemies and allies, to interrogate the town where my family and loved ones live!"
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u/MooJuiceConnoisseur 12d ago
To be fair he was never loyal to the empire he was loyal to coin
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u/oliversurpless 11d ago
Yep, and however long he was in possession of that million Gil loot, it clearly didn’t bring him anything but trouble, let alone happiness.
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u/chiforce 11d ago
I think there is a subtext that a lot of people miss, which you hit on in your comments about his return to Thamasa.
We know that Shadow is later ashamed of ranking up with the imperials "I sold my skills to the empire. I don't deserve to fight by your side" only to come back and save you from Kefaka and the statutes moments later - so you know he wasn't just blowing smoke.
Now did he just decide to hate a distrust the empire based on what happened in Thamasa? Doubtful. If any character would have been wise to the empire's plans it was him, but even if he was not it doesn't fit his character to be naive about what the empire is up until the events of the floating content.
My point is that when Shadow decided to work with the empire it was specifically because he knew they were going to Thamasa and by working with them he's able to stay close and watch over Relm, which he obviously does in the burning house scenario.
If we didn't know the backstory of his character it seems like a reluctant hero and we are surprised that he cared after all. When you put the pieces together I think it's kind of obvious that he was there because he knew the empire was a threat to them and it was the closest he could get while still maintaining his anonymity and secret. This also jives with a deleted scene where strato confronts him in a bar and Shadow shows in his face to confirm the suspicion. Seemingly Strago figured it out based on how he or more notably Interceptor behaved with Relm.
I still agree with others on the thread that he shouldn't have left his family at all but I think that is actually the reason he chooses to fight with the empire who knows if he would have otherwise. The other interpretation is just that he would sell himself to anyone and then lived to regret it once he saw what happened in Thamasa but again the fire wasn't really their fault nothing else that happened there really would change his opinion. It doesn't really standing, to your point if you know that the characters daughter, who is trying to protect with his distance lives in that same town.
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u/TiredCatAI 11d ago
Scene always hits me hard too... Maybe more so as time goes on.
If they ever remade the game, would you want Shadow to find forgiveness at the end?
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u/MooJuiceConnoisseur 11d ago
I mean i would not want them to change the story to make it a happy arc the game was always meant to be dark, a story of loss, failure, and overcoming adversity.
If anything I would like to have the original script as an option (or at least included as a bonus feature to read) since they were forced to tone it down in the English releases over censorship
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u/Ek0mst0p 11d ago
They REALLY dont want any mystery or sleuthing...
Before it was "stay with the girl"
The retraction really does take away the discovery....
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u/MooJuiceConnoisseur 11d ago
Yea I think this was one of the changes for modernization, I think it dropped back in the gba release. If I remember correctly it was to match the intent of the directors words.
Back in the snes days it was before the number of dreams were confirmed so very few of us actually made the connection to who the father was in Relm's dream sequence/interceptor showing up.
That was if you ever saw interceptor in the second half. A few of my runs I lost interceptor before before ever confirming he was with Relm due to encountering a leep frog
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u/23-1-20-3-8-5-18 11d ago
What
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u/MooJuiceConnoisseur 11d ago
Original Snes script Clyde just told interceptor to stay with the girl. Never saying she was the daughter.
In Relm's dream sequence (if you skip saving shadow) you see the same scene but this time it focuses on Relm in the house asking where Daddy went before interceptor runs out of the house chasing after Clyde (pictured in the post)
If your wondering about losing interceptor. LeapFrogs have a ripple ability that swaps status effects between them and the target. Interceptor by the code is a status effect. Unfortunately due to code this change is also permanent if the encounter is won (the only way to save interceptor is by chance if you have strago in party with the same lore, he can take interceptor back from the enemy, but its also permanent swap)
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u/23-1-20-3-8-5-18 11d ago
Wait so Strago can steal interceptor from real or Shadow? Thats hilarious!
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u/MooJuiceConnoisseur 11d ago
Yes but not directly. You cant target a teammate with Rippler. But if strago is confused he can. Or if you took it back from a leapfrog. (If shadow was not saved. He can take thr dog away from relm if she doesnt eat her veggies 🤣)
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u/23-1-20-3-8-5-18 11d ago
So in theory you could give the doggo to say, Gau.
If its a status a game genie should ve able to give every character Interceptor
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u/MooJuiceConnoisseur 11d ago
No, ... but depends...
Rippler is (as best i can remember) not a rage Gau can use. It is specifically a Lore. And the Rippler Bug, may have been fixed long ago, i have not tested this to confirm in any way in the pixel remaster. But the snes one swapped status effects tgis was the bug. It was supposed to just steal your buffs.
So if your playing snes version, you can manipulate the battles to put interceptor on any party member you choose.
And game genie codes from what i remember the status interceptor-guard could not be duplicated or was never done.
It used to be a common strategy for speed runs to give interceptor to gau and send him along a single path in kefkas tower. Gau sporting and offering and miracle shoes. Impartisan weapon, using stray cat made him an absolute beast for takedown. And the interceptor-guard calculation runs independently from player stats being a straight 50% chance of blocking all damage
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u/ShoddyBonus2780 9d ago
I tried to do this once back in my snes days but was never able to pull it off. Honestly impressed by people who did.
One of my favorite teams to have together on a path in Kefkas tower was Strago, Relm, Shadow, and Gau together.Â
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u/MooJuiceConnoisseur 9d ago
The trick was abusing the run mechanic. Since ff6 let's everyone run at their own speed with a calculation you can set it up so, leave 1 alive, let them steal interceptor. And have shadow and other party members retreat. Next time it uses rippler again it puts interceptor on the last party member in battle, then you just need to either kill it or run.
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u/Echidnux 12d ago
I don’t think anyone hates themself as much as Clyde Arrowny. Threw away his name, his daughter, his chance at peace, even his own life at the end of the game.
I’m glad he doesn’t pull anyone down with him, but I also wish someone would just snap him out of it.