World Map

You have escaped from Midgar and found yourself on the world map of Final Fantasy VII for the first time. At this point in the game, there is nothing you can do on the world map aside from heading directly to the town of Kalm.

However, you may encounter an enemy called a Sweeper Custom (shown in the screenshot below). Sweeper Customs can use an attack called “Mantra Magic” on your party, which is an attack that they can learn using the Enemy Skill Materia. Mantra Magic is a strong magical attack for you to have in your arsenal at this point in the game, and you can use it to clear groups of enemies with lower HP.

In addition to that, you can also steal an Atomic Scissors gun from them, which is an excellent upgrade for Barret. It is a melee-based weapon rather than a long-range one, so it does have its drawbacks.

Kalm is just on the outskirts of Midgar. You will be able to see it if you rotate your camera enough (using the , , and buttons).

Use the map below, along with the mini-map on your screen, to help you navigate. Press to bring up the map. Travel to Kalm once you are ready to proceed.

The Town of Kalm

The story and conversations will continue as soon as you step forward into the town. Before you enter the Inn to meet up with the rest of your team, there are three shops that you should check out in the northwest section of town.

These shops include the Item Store and the combination Materia/Weapon Stores. You can purchase Earth Materia and Heal Materia in the Materia store, but both are lackluster options and a waste of your gil. There are a ton of new weapons available in the store, including:

• Mythril Saber
• Cannon Ball
• Mythril Claw
• Full Metal Staff

You can also purchase Mythril Armlets from the Weapon Store, but you likely already have armor that is stronger than these.

There are a few scattered items throughout town that you should also pick up. Enter the first house on the left, as shown in the screenshot below.

There is an Ether in the door underneath the staircase.

Enter the house next to it (the middle house shown in the screenshot below). The cabinet next to the two beds on the second floor of the house contains another Ether.

Enter the third house, which is furthest to the right. The closet next to the little girl on the second floor has a Guard Source inside it.

There is also a spiral staircase at the back of this house. The staircase leads to a room that contains a treasure chest with a Peacemaker inside. The Peacemaker is a long-range weapon for a character that you do not have in your party yet named Vincent.

The entrance to the last house is on the east side of town. Go inside and check the door underneath the staircase to find another Ether.

With all the Ethers that you have picked up, you will certainly not run out of MP anytime soon. Keep in mind that you can sell Ethers for quite a bit (750 gil). Sell them if you need to, as you will find more throughout your travels.

Enter the Inn once you have completed the tasks listed above to continue the story. The door to the Inn is near the entrance to Kalm, and your team is on the second floor.

You will be thrown into a battle against a Dragon with Sephiroth during the flashback scenes. You cannot die or lose this battle, so don’t worry about any of the actions you have Cloud perform.

Once Cloud, Sephiroth, and the other Shinra Soldiers arrive in Nibelheim, you can wander over to Tifa’s house and Cloud’s house.

Cloud has the option of playing on Tifa’s piano while in your house. Make sure to choose the option to “jam on it” when you’re in there. Jamming on the piano is a prerequisite step for obtaining an Elemental Materia later on in the game.

There is also a flashback scene once you enter Cloud’s house involving his mother. Once you have explored the town, proceed to the Nibelheim Inn. You will find Sephiroth on the second floor.

You can find him on the second floor. Engage in a conversation with him twice to progress the story and choose the option to “get some sleep.”

The story resumes in the morning with Tifa acting as the guide for the Shinra Soldiers, helping them reach the Mount Nibelheim Reactor. It is time to begin the ascent up the mountain!

Thankfully, the majority of this trek is taken care of automatically, and you don’t have to walk up the entire mountain this time. Unfortunately, you’ll be back here very shortly, and getting to the reactor will take significantly longer next time.

Follow the trail along once you have control of Cloud and the rest of the party. The rest of the flashback involves interacting with Sephiroth and completing actions as the game suggests (turning off valves, examining the pod, etc.).

You will regain control of Cloud back inside the Shinra Mansion. Climb the stairs to the second floor and take the pathway leading to the right.

There is a bookcase that will slide out of the way as you approach it in this room (shown in the screenshot below).

Go through the pathway and down the spiral walkway. Follow the path, and you will find Sephiroth in a room near the end of the pathway, reading about Professor Gast, Jenova, and his past.

If you approach Sephiroth after the short cutscene, he will tell you to leave him alone. As soon as you leave the room, the cutscenes will continue. Return to the basement after Cloud wakes up.

Follow Sephiroth back up towards Nibelheim—the entire town is now ablaze. Try to run into the house on the right after you speak with Zangan to continue the story.

The story then continues in the interior of the Nibel Reactor. Follow the pathway along until you find Tifa, and then follow her into the chamber in the back. Proceed up into the antechamber for another cool cutscene.

After the cutscenes have concluded, the game will return to your team on the second floor of the Kalm Inn. There are a few more lines of dialogue from the team before you can leave…

Tifa will give Cloud a “PHS” which will allow you to change your party members at any time you’re on the world map or at a Save Point.

Return to the second floor after you receive the PHS and look in the cabinet. You will receive a message saying “Can’t reach it…” when you attempt to open it but try five more times. Cloud will kick the cabinet to knock the item down, netting you one free Megalixir.

The team doesn’t specify which direction they should be going, but the only place you can travel to is the Chocobo Farm. If you plan to obtain the Best Bromance Trophy, you should adjust your party from the world map and re-enter Kalm before leaving this area, as outlined in the info box below…