Manuscripts (VII Remake)

Manuscripts (スキルアップブック, Sukiru Appu Bukku?, lit. Skill Up Book) are items in Final Fantasy VII Remake and "Episode INTERmission" used to provide skill points for purchasing weapon upgrades, as well as second level limit breaks. Manuscripts are gained for completing various objectives, including Corneo Colosseum and Shinra Combat Simulator challenges, and by defeating certain enemies in hard mode.

Manuscripts are necessary to fully level up weapons after a character reaches their maximum level 50. There are 56 manuscripts in total in the base game. During an initial playthrough, only 12 can be obtained, and the remaining 44 require hard mode difficulty. There are 14 per character. The mechanic returns in INTERmission for Yuffie and Sonon.

Manuscripts differ for each character. Cloud's are known as The Art of Swordplay, Barret's are known as Sharpshooter's Companion, Tifa's are the Way of the Fist, and Aerith's are Telluric Scriptures.

Limit breaks being learned from books alludes to the original Final Fantasy VII where each party member's final Limit was learned from a manual, which often required doing a sidequest to find.

Cloud's The Art of Swordplay[]

A primer on proper sword technique. Increases Cloud's skill points.

Description

Any difficulty[]

Hard mode only[]

Barret's Sharpshooter's Companion[]

A handbook dedicated to the proper use of firearms. Increases Barret's skill points.

Description

Any difficulty[]

Hard mode only[]

Tifa's Way of the Fist[]

A manuscript detailing some of martial arts' best-kept secrets. Increases Tifa's skill points.

Description

Any difficulty[]

Hard mode only[]

Aerith's Telluric Scriptures[]

A collection of writings that discuss the mysteries of the planet. Increases Aerith's skill points.

Description

Any difficulty[]

Hard mode only[]

Yuffie's Secrets of the Ninja and Sonon's Secrets of the Staff[]

A collection of writings containing long-held mysteries of the ninja. Increases Yuffie's skill points.

Description

A manual of arms explaining the methodology for proper staff usage. Increases Sonon's skill points.

Description

Yuffie and Sonon's manuscripts are obtained at the same time, and only in hard mode. The manuscripts are gained from the Fort Condor minigame and from defeating bosses.

Legacy[]

They can be obtained at any difficulty.

Behind the scenes[]

Battle system designer Masanori Sato spent some time thinking about what SP-increasing items would look like for the game. Ultimately, manuals were chosen as they were the way that final Limit Breaks were unlocked in the original Final Fantasy VII, and because unlocking a new weapon skill equated to learning the secrets of the associated combat style.^[1]

Each character's manuscripts have a unique design when viewed in the inventory. The swords crossing on Cloud's resemble somewhat the basic sword SOLDIER members are issued . Barret's manuscript holds bullets on the cover, while Tifa's has a stylized image that somewhat resembles the shape of a boxing ring. The shapes on the covers of Aerith's manuscripts are her weapons bar the Guard Stick (from top to bottom):

• Mythril Rod
• Bladed Staff (closer to the shape from the concept art rather than from the game)
• Arcane Scepter
• Reinforced Staff
• Silver Staff (closer to the shape from the concept art rather than from the game)

Yuffie's manuscript is green and white closed with a beaded cord, and has her shuriken alongside a swallow insignia. In Japan it is considered good luck to have a swallow nesting in one's house. Sonon's manuscript is red and black with a cherry tree branch in gold. In Japanese culture, cherry trees and blossoms often symbolize renewal and the transience of life.

Gallery[]

Legacy: Ascension.

Sharpshooter's Companion.

Legacy: Catastrophe.

Way of the Fist.

Legacy: Dolphin Flurry.

Telluric Scriptures.

Legacy: Planet's Protection.

Secrets of the Ninja.

Secrets of the Staff.

Citations[]