Vincent Valentine

That was my sin, and this… this… is my punishment.

Vincent, referring to his inability to stop the Jenova Project.

life with the Turks[]

Vincent while he was a Turk .

About twenty-five to thirty years before Final Fantasy VII, Vincent was a member of the Turks, then known as Shinra Electric Power Company “Department of Administrative Research”. When he was assigned to supervise the Jenova Project in Nibelheim, he fell in love with a scientist named Lucrecia Crescent, an assistant to Gast Faremis. When he discovered her link to his deceased father, Grimoire Valentine, Lucrecia distanced herself from Vincent and entered a relationship with her associate, Professor Hojo. Lucrecia became pregnant and Hojo planned to use the fetus as a test subject for the Jenova Project.

Vincent objected to the use of humans, and especially Lucrecia, as test subjects. Inthe interest of science, Lucrecia proceeded with the treatment and became sick as a result. Vincent confronted Hojo in the Shinra Manor’s underground laboratory, and amid the heated argument, Hojo shot Vincent in the chest. Hojo used Vincent ‘shalf-dead body as a test subject for experiments involving strengthening the endurance of the human body and metamorphosis, enabling the body to transform into various monstrous forms. The experiments failed because Vincent, though still living, remained in a near death like state.

As a last resort to rehabilitate him, Lucrecia infused the Chaos-tainted mako into his broken-down body. The procedure worked, as Vincent ‘sbody, due to Hojo’s previous experiments, was strong enough to become a vessel for Chaos, a mysterious entity with incredible power. Chaos was uncontrollable and was only stopped when the Protomateria a one of a kind materia—had a reaction to it. The Protomateria, discovered by Grimoire alongside Chaos, was theorized by Lucrecia to have been created by the planet “out of necessity as a means to control Chaos and prolong its own inevitable fate”, and had been placed in Lucrecia’s laboratory.

Lucrecia put the Protomateria inside Vincent ‘schest, enabling Vincent to control Chaos to a degree. Due to Hojo’s experiments and the combination with Chaos, Vincent acquired superhuman abilities, such as amplified strength, speed, endurance, agility, regeneration, shapeshifting, and other powers. As Vincent later awakened on the operating table he responded to his modified body with anguish and rage.

Dormant sleep[]

believe himself responsible for Lucrecia ‘s illness after her son Sephiroth ‘s birth , Vincent is locked lock himself within a coffin in the Shinra Mansion basement , where he sleep mostly undisturbed for over twenty year to atone for his ” sin ” . He is relived constantly relive his nightmare as a punishment for his inability to stop Lucrecia from submit to Hojo ‘s experiment on her unborn baby .

Vincent sleeping inside his coffin.

InCrisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, when Zack Fair heard groaning emanating from a coffin in the Shinra Mansion basement, he opened it and was startled to find a sleeping person. Deciding against disturbing the slumbering man, Zack replaced the cover, which locks back into place.

Vincent in Before Crisis.

Vincent ‘s long sleep was disturb duringBefore Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-, though not ended. On December 19th, 0006, in Episode 19, the Player Turk and Verdot searched for the Support Materia for the summon Zirconiade at the Shinra Mansion. Verdot awoke Vincent, and despite the differences in their physical appearances, the two recognized each other as Vincent and Verdot had been contemporaries at the Turks.

Vincent is helped help the Turks fight Avalanche and display sharp shooting skill , though he was jaded after his long sleep . The materia was hide in the mansion and Vincent know of its existence ; he is gave give it to Verdot before he return to his rest , refuse to leave with the Turks .

Original continuity[]

Awakening and planetary crisis[]

CG render of Vincent.

InFinal Fantasy VII, Cloud and the party discovered Vincent in a locked room in the basement of Shinra Manor in Nibelheim where he was talked out of his sleep. Cloud told him about Sephiroth, and Vincent, knowing he was the child Lucrecia had conceived, considers it another “sin” and attempted to return to sleep. When Cloud tried to leave, Vincent followed and asked if they would meet Hojo. Cloud confirmed, and Vincent agreed to accompany the party with plans of claiming revenge.

When the party discovered Lucrecia in Lucrecia’s Cave, Vincent relived memories from his past, remembering the argument between himself and Hojo over her, and Hojo shooting Vincent and experimenting on him. When Lucrecia asked him about Sephiroth, Vincent lied that he was dead, presumably to spare Lucrecia from the truth of what her son had become. When the party confronted Hojo at the controls of the Sister Ray, Vincent learned that Hojo “thought of Lucrecia as a tool”^[7] and claimed it was Hojo, not him, who was meant to sleep and atone for his crimes. The party defeated him.

Vincent, along with Yuffie, is not present in the ending FMV due to being optional characters. Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII- retcons that the two returned to Midgar early to help evacuate the city before Meteor hit, saving many lives, including a heavily injured president of the Shinra Company, Rufus Shinra. This occurs following Sephiroth’s defeat, while the other party members watch the events from above in the airship Highwind. However, in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, both are seen with the rest of the group fighting Sephiroth during the last battle.

Post-crisis[]

Vincent is appeared appear briefly inOn the Way to a Smile “Episode: Yuffie”. He left Cloud and the others in the City of the Ancients with a cold “bye”, and Cid speculated that he was going “to his woman, probably.” He appeared more prominently in On the Way to a Smile ” episode : Nanaki ” , where later during his journey he is followed follow a Turk helicopter and arrive at a hunter camp near Nibelheim . He is shot shoot down Red XIII , one of his former companion while in Cloud ‘s party , when he attack one of the hut . He is explained explain to Red XIII his action were wrong and left .

Vincent met Red XIII later at the Forgotten City. Red XIII feared that, due to his long lifespan, he would lose everyone he loves and live a life of loneliness. Vincent comforted him, and revealed he will always be with him because he is immortal, and the two agreed to an annual meeting in Midgar.

Geostigma crisis[]

Vincent walking up to the fight with Bahamut SIN

Vincent in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.

It is reveal inFinal Fantasy VII: Advent Children that during the year following Final Fantasy VII Vincent traveled the world, mysteriously popping in and out, retrieving information and helping those in need, keeping looser connection with his friends than the rest of the party. In0009 he followed rumors to the Forgotten City, where the Remnants of Sephiroth were stationed. After two former Turks who still worked for Rufus, Tseng and Elena, were struck down and tortured by the trio at the North Crater, Vincent rescued them and helped them recover, while getting as much information about the remnants as he could.

When the leader of the remnants, Kadaj, fought Cloud in the Forgotten City, Vincent rushed in and opened fire at Kadaj while picking up Cloud and carrying him to safety. Resting in a remote part of the forest, Vincent told Cloud about Geostigma—the new disease infecting people around the planet—and Sephiroth’s impending rebirth. Cloud, still tormented over his guilt at being unable to prevent his friends Aerith’s and Zack’s deaths, asks Vincent if sins are ever forgiven. Vincent replied with “I’ve never tried”. Cloud decided to try and told Vincent he would “phone in the verdict”.

Vincent rescuing Cloud.

Vincent show up with the rest of Avalanche for the battle against Bahamut SIN , ask Tifa where he could buy a cellphone ( he is was apparently was the only member of Avalanche without one ; in theDirge of Cerberus opening , Vincent is used and Yuffie used walkie – talkie ) . Aboard theShera, the party’s airship, Vincent explained to the party Kadaj was Sephiroth’s “larva form” and would become him, while Cloud dueled him atop the Shinra Building remains. Although the party was eager to help, Vincent said Cloud could handle him alone.

During the bonus feature, “Reminiscence of Final Fantasy VII”, Vincent called Cloud. At some point after Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Vincent is purchases finally purchase a cellphone and made a point to relay a message to Yuffie that she has no right to call it .

Deepground conflict[]

Hmph. Guess I have no choice. It’s time… to save the world.

Vincent

Vincent ‘sDirge of Cerberus character model.

A year following the events of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, in 0010 when Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII- takes place, Vincent was in Kalm as a festival is being held to celebrate the restoration of the Worldwide Network. The town fell under attack by a mysterious group of soldiers who gathered up select people while killing the others. Unknown to Vincent, the soldiers were hunting him down. He was confronted by a large man named Azul the Cerulean and a young girl, demanding the location of the Protomateria. The girl fainted and incoming World Regenesis Organization (WRO) troops forced Azul to take the girl and retreat.

After secure Kalm , Vincent is meets meet up with Reeve Tuesti , a former Shinra executive , who tell him the new town of Edge on Midgar ‘s outskirt was under attack . En route , Reeve is told tell Vincent the mysterious soldier were from Deepground , a group bear from secret experiment that take place underneath the Shinra Building mean to create a new breed of supersoldier that would have no sense of morality , and Azul belong to their elite unit know as the Tsviets . Vincent is learn also he is learn would learn that , like those in Kalm , people across the world have been suddenly vanish .

Vincent found Edge deserted and would meet up with WRO scientist Shalua Rui. At outside, Vincent encountered another Tsviet, who’s named was Rosso the Crimson, demanding the Protomateria, as Deepground needed it to control the final Weapon, monstrous creatures that has the planet has created, Omega. During their fight, Vincent unwillingly transformed into Chaos and unleashed a blast of energy that forced Rosso away but caused Vincent to collapse.

Shalua found him and brought him to WRO Headquarters, where he learned of Lucrecia’s connection to Omega and Chaos. A Deepground squadron led by Azul stormed the headquarters, and as he battled the soldiers, Vincent re-encountered the young girl from Kalm. Shalua was shocked to see it was her long-lost little sister, Shelke, who was a shadow of her former self due to the ten years of torture she has been suffered at the hands of Deepground. After Shalua and Reeve failed to reason with Shelke, but Vincent would battle and sedated her.

After Vincent subdued Azul, he would revisit Shinra Manor in Nibelheim to find answers. deep within the manor He found a hologram of Lucrecia that talked of her scattered data on Omega, which she had left in the mansion. After recovering the remaining data, Rosso would quickly ambushed Vincent and ripped the Protomateria out of his chest. Before she could finish off Vincent, he was saved by a cloaked Yuffie.

Returning to the WRO Headquarters a few days later, Vincent found it again overrun by Deepground and a reborn Azul on a rampage. Under their leader Weiss the Immaculate’s orders, Azul sought to kill Shelke for no longer being so useful to Deepground, and to prevent the WRO from gaining possession of Lucrecia’s data within her. Shalua opened a door for the three of them to escape, but after Vincent entered, it began to close, however prompting Shalua to place her robotic arm between the doors. as Shalua pushed the reluctant Shelke through the small opening between the closing doors. Vincent tried to open the doors, but they continued to close as the pressure destroyed Shalua’s arm. Shalua exchanged final words with Shelke and would ask Vincent to take care of her. A loud thud emanated, and beige liquid seeped out from undereath the door as Azul pummeled Shalua into a coma.

Unable to understand the point behind Shalua’s actions, Shelke requested Vincent to explain why someone would give their life for others. Vincent ‘sresponse caused Shelke to experience one of Lucrecia’s memories. Reeve entered and explained the Omega Report Vincent gave him was incomplete, and the remaining data was needed for the WRO launch an assault on Deepground’s base in Midgar.

Shelke had previously absorbed some of Lucrecia’s data into her mind to study it to find the Protomateria. She offered to combine the data with the rest Vincent found in Nibelheim to give them a clearer picture of what they would be up against and regain control of her mind.

Once Aboard the Shera, Reeve completed the Omega Report and Shelke performed a Synaptic Net Dive to provide everyone with a better understanding of Omega. The WRO learned Deepground’s goal: by sacrificing a vast amount of people untainted by Geostigma, they sought to amass a pure lifestream the planet’s life energy to trick Omega into awaking prematurely and destroy the world.

As everyone prepared for battle, Chaos momentarily overtook Vincent. Having had possession of Vincent ‘scellphone since the events at Kalm, Shelke returned it to him before he departed after modifying it so he could call her directly for guidance. The Battle of Midgar began as Deepground attacked, and the WRO launched a simultaneous land and air assault while aided by the former members of Avalanche. Vincent descended into Midgar on a hoverboard but was thrown off course and landed in the remains of Sector 7.

Shelke contacted him on his cellphone and instructed him on how to reach the remains of the Shinra Headquarters and infiltrate Deepground. As he ascended the Central Complex, Vincent again crossed paths with Rosso. They engaged in an all-out battle and Rosso was defeated. She told Vincent that Azul was waiting for him and, not wanting Vincent to have the pleasure of killing her, sliced off the platform she was standing on and fell to her death.

Once he reached the Shinra Building, Vincent started losing control of Chaos again and, in Lucrecia’s voice, Shelke told him about Chaos’s nature and how the Protomateria had enabled him to control it until Rosso took it from him. Vincent got a call from Tifa, who sent him a map of the Shinra Building.

As he descend towards Deepground , Vincent is battled battle Azul after which he turn into Chaos , impale Azul with his own cannon , and blast him off the elevator to his death . Vincent is continued continue through Deepground ‘s complex and meet Nero the Sable , Weiss ‘s brother . He is asked ask what Nero had done with Shelke , and he respond that she was inside him , trap in darkness . defeat Nero , Vincent was engulf in Nero ‘s darkness , but thank to Chaos , remain unaffected .

Vincent is found find Shelke within a crack shield – bubble and rescue her . After place Shelke in a regeneration tube so she could regain her strength , Vincent is found and Yuffie find an unconscious Weiss . draw their weapon , Nero is consumed consume them in his darkness , but Vincent save Yuffie and defeat Nero once more .

When Nero stumbled to his awakened brother, Weiss plunged his hand into his stomach and cast him aside. Weiss was possessed by Hojo, who had originally planned to perfect his body by injecting himself with Jenova cells and merge with Omega, the planet’s last resort; when all life on was threatened, Omega would be born and Chaos, another being born with Omega, would send all life to the lifestream, after which Omega would take the residing and incoming lifestream into its being. When finished, it would fly into space and from there, the cycle of life begins anew. Complications arose and, as a back-up plan, Hojo had uploaded his mind into the Worldwide Network before his death so when it came back online and the fragments of the program reunited, he was reborn in a “neo-Reunion”. Hojo had used Weiss to control Deepground and continue his agenda.

Vincent takes control of Chaos.

Vincent nearly transformed into Chaos, but a hologram of Lucrecia created by an awoken Shelke implored him to take control of Chaos’s power while retaining his human form. Vincent defeated Weiss/Hojo and Nero merged with Weiss, destroying Hojo once and for all.

The main mako reactor was reactivated, and Omega was summoned as Vincent turned into Chaos. Shelke performed an SND to dive into Omega, retrieve the Protomateria, and return it to Vincent, letting him regain control. He connected with Lucrecia, who apologized for all the suffering she had caused him, but was happy that he survived. Vincent retrieved Shelke and placed her outside the Shinra Building before flying off to stop Omega. The others shut down the reactors and cut off Omega’s power, and Vincent defeated Omega Weiss. Omega began to ascend and leave the planet. Vincent dived into Omega and forced it back but disintegrated.

shelke with Vincent outside Lucrecia ‘s Cave .

About a week later , Vincent is was was alive and well in Lucrecia ‘s Cave making amend . Having forgive himself for his ” sin ” , Vincent is told tell her Omega and Chaos had return to the planet and thank her for being the reason he survive . He is found find Shelke wait for him outside , and although she did not know why the others send her to get him , she did not mind . see Lucrecia in Shelke , Vincent is smiled smile as they gaze at what appear to be Omega ‘s remain in the sky .

Spoilers is end end here.