The buggy is a land vehicle in Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Using reinforced tires, it is capable of traversing terrain that could not be crossed on foot. The buggy is owned by Dio of the Gold Saucer.
The buggy serves as one of the means of transportation on the world map in Final Fantasy VII, capable of crossing shallow waters on deserts on the western continent. The buggy serves as a replacement of a chocobo in the desert regions in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
History[]
Original continuity[]
In "Sanctuary of Amusement", Cloud Strife and the others were locked away in Corel Prison after a killing spree at the Gold Saucer. After "The Desert Prison", when Dio learned that the killing spree was carried out by Dyne and not by Barret Wallace, he wrote an apology letter to the party giving them a "special gift", and had the buggy delivered to them, declining to give it to them in person due to his schedule.[2]
Remake continuity[]
Dio gifted the buggy to the party in person upon them clearing Barret's name in chapter 8, "All That Glitters". When Tifa asked if anyone knew how to drive it, Cait Sith asked to leave it to him, taking the wheel. Tifa, however, sat behind him. The party escaped Rude and a group of Shinra Public Security Forces, Dio telling them to "leave the riffraff to him". They were pursued by Elena on helicopter, Shinra forces on motorbikes, and Palmer's Anuran Suppressor, but Barret fired back, allowing them to get away. Elena then attempted to attack the vehicle directly, but Tifa shook her off.
The party took off, uncertain of where to head next. They were forced to pull over due to Yuffie experiencing motion sickness. Cait Sith performed a reading and suggested heading to the nearby run-down reactor in Gongaga Region. Tifa provided Cloud with the keyfob for the buggy.
Characteristics[]
The vehicle is an all-purpose buggy outfitted with reinforced tires allowing it to cross shallow waters and deserts.[1] It has eight wheels, and is red with yellow stripe designs on the sides.
Gameplay[]
Final Fantasy VII[]
Buggy on the world map.
The buggy is obtained after "Sanctuary of Amusement". It is a land vehicle allows the party to cross rivers, as well as the sandy area surrounding the Corel Prison. While driving, random encounters still initiate.
The buggy can be transported to the Eastern Continent by use of the Cargo Ship (by driving into Costa del Sol). Because there is a river connecting Corel Area to the Gold Saucer Area, the buggy can provide a shortcut, saving the player time from having to cross the mountain.
During "In the Land of the Study of Planet Life", if the player tries to bypass Cosmo Canyon on the buggy, the vehicle breaks down just outside the town, but is repaired by a mechanic there. The work on the buggy will be finished after the events in the town are complete. If the player pays the mechanic well, he will tip the party off on the location of an Elixir.
After the events of "That Which Waits in the Northernmost Reaches", the buggy disappears without explanation along with the Tiny Bronco. Their roles are replaced by the Highwind. The buggy is the only means of returning to the field areas of Corel Desert, and thus the opportunity to return is lost with the disappearance of the buggy.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth[]
The player's performance during the "escape from Palmer" minigame affects Cloud's affection rating with Barret.
As in the original Final Fantasy VII, the buggy is capable of traversing shallow waters and it does so faster than the average chocobo. Rolling over materials for transmutation with the buggy collects them automatically.
The player can use the keyfob to call for the buggy in any location where it is available to ride. Unlike in the original Final Fantasy VII, the buggy does not travel with the player to the Junon Region, though the player can already use a chocobo to reach any areas they need. The buggy also cannot travel past the opening area of the Gongaga Region due to it being conceived as a jungle area with foliage too dense for the buggy.