Beyond the Snow Fields

Beyond the Snow Fields is the twenty-fifth chapter of Final Fantasy VII, and the sixteenth chapter of the second act, "Pursuit". After the passing of Aeris Gainsborough at the hands of Sephiroth, Cloud Strife vowed to continue his journey to stop Sephiroth, following a vision which saw Sephiroth continue to progress north.
== Walkthrough ==
===Forgotten Capital===
After leaving the house, a brief scene occurs in which Cloud witnesses Sephiroth leave through the northeast path out of the Forgotten Capital. The inn can be used to rest.
The player can leave town the way they came and backtrack to Fort Condor to do Battle #13 of Condor War for three Elixirs if the player completed all battles thus far.
The objective is to follow Sephiroth northeast of the Forgotten Capital to a screen with a spiral staircase in the middle, where a few random encounters are fought (but none are noteworthy).
A treasure chest us found up the ramp on the right. This can be reached by heading left and around the staircase to the back, and then taking the path right to the chest, which contains a Viper Halberd, a weapon for Cid with mid-level stats but four Materia slots with double AP growth. Continue up the staircase to the top and then head left to the Corel Valley Cave.
=== Corel Valley Cave ===
The Corel Valley Cave has a few random encounters, though none are notable. The cave must be navigated by climbing between the cracks in the cave. Doing so correctly allows several items to be obtained:
* Climb the second crack from the entrance, head left.
* Climb the crack on this level up, take right.
* Continue right to a crack leading up or down; first take down to a HypnoCrown, then take hte path up and head right to a Megalixir.
* From where the Megalixir treasure was obtained, head back onto the crack, down, and left, then head left along onto another crack on the far left, and climb it for a Bolt Armlet.
* Return to where the Megalixir was obtained, but instead head left up to the highest crack, where a ladder is found. Take the ladder down to find a Magic Plus Materia, then climb it back up to the top to exit.
From the exit at the top, run into the cave for a chest with a Power Source, and then run straight forward to the world map.
=== Icicle Inn ===
On the world map is a simple path west along frozen cliffs to the western most end of the island, and then north to Icicle Inn, the next destination.
The first building in Icicle Inn, west of the entrance, is a Weapon Store with powerful weapons for this point in time, having high stats and Materia slots, meaning the player should stock up. Just behind it is an room where the player can view optional dialogue scenes of Ifalna and Professor Gast for lore.
At the east end of town is a house with two items—a Vaccine and a Hero Drink—in the top room at the back, and a map on the wall, which the player should take to obtain the Glacier Map. The building further back behind it is an inn, with a bar on the bottom floor, an an X-Potion hidden behind a window on the top floor.
The main objective is at the back of town. The player must talk to the woman at the back of town and select "I'm still going", triggering a scene as Elena arrives. After this, the player must dodge her punch by reacting in time. If she is dodged, Cloud remains there, otherwise, he awakes in Gast's house.
After Elena leaves, the next objective is to obtain a Snowboard key item. This is done by talking to the boy in the house in the middle of town, who gives it for free. After this, Cloud can head north to begin the snowboard minigame.
=== Snowboarding ===
The snowboarding minigame involves heading down a snow slope, avoiding snowmen, penguins, and other obstacles on the path. Though balloons appear, for the sake of this minigame, they do not affect the outcome. Though the minigame keeps track of Cloud's speed, it also does not affect the outcome.
The main outcome affected is which area Cloud will land in at the next destination, Great Glacier. This is determined by which forks the player takes to the next area. Cloud will either end up in the middle entrance area with a sign, in a forest, in an area with a tree, or in a path near the ice cave at the bottom right of the glacier.
Taking the following forks leads to these paths:
* Left
** Left/Left: The forest in Great Glacier.
** Left/Right: Leads to the middle entrance to the glacier with a sign.
* Right
** Right/Left: Leads to the lone tree.
** Right/Right: Leads to a rocky path near an ice cave.
=== Great Glacier ===
The Great Glacier is a maze area where a number of notable items are found. The objective is at the end of the glacier, where Mr. Holzoff's hut is located. Cloud will sometimes collapse after walking in the Great Glacier for too long, and be picked up by Mr. Holzoff, meaning all the player needs to do in this area is walk around. However, at least three items are very important to obtain.
The following is a map around the Great Glacier maze:
The items available according to the letters on the map are Elixir, B: Mind Source, C: Potion, D: Safety Bit (in a cave, also), E: Added Cut Materia, F: All Materia, and lastly, the Alexander Materia. Acquiring Alexander involves touching the hot springs first, meaning it is easiest to head to the hot springs first and touch them before exploring the glacier and collecting treasures.
The player can begin the path toward area D, where the Safety Bit grants immunity to Instant Death attacks. As it is near most entrances to the Great Glacier, it can be the item the player picks up first, though doing so requires crossing the Icebergs puzzle from area C on the map. This is done by taking the path
The path up the icebergs is:
# Up.
# Left.
# Down.
# Left.
# Up.
# Right.
# Up.
# Up.
# Left.
# Down.
# Right.
# Right.
# Up.
# Exit.
After obtaining the Safety Bit, the path down the icebergs is:
# Left.
# Down.
# Right.
# Right.
# Down.
# Left.
# Down.
# Right.
# Down.
# Left.
# Exit.
From here, it is good to head right toward the tree screen (Green 4 on the map) screen, and then head right to the area marked E on the map.
Around E, Added Cut Materia is found. This pairs with an ability to cause the user to perform a physical attack after the Materia's ability is used, making it useful in a number of combinations for physical attackers such as Cloud, Barret, Tifa, and Cid. It is found by heading to the area marked E, and then heading up and to the right, where it is found on the second screen of the path between numbered areas. 
Once this is obtained, a good spot next is to head up and to the right or left from area E onto to area 5 (both right or left lead to the hot springs, but the right path has an Added Cut Materia on tthe way), and touch the hot springs (done by walking onto the water halfway along the path). If Cloud has not yet passed out, the path to the Alexander Materia is then to head up to F, where All Materia is found, and then right to the next area, Snow's Cave. If Cloud has passed out, F can be returned to by heading down from Holzoff's hut anyway.
Area F is an area filled with snow, that becomes difficult to navigate because the camera shifts. However, the path to navigate to the other areas is always up, down, left, or right from wherever Cloud starts. As such, placing the flags along the way will allow the player to navigate if they continue down the path they set on. All Materia is found by reaching the cave.
The Alexander Materia is a Holy-elemental Summon Materia. It can be found in Snow's cave after defeating Snow, who is found inside. Snow is a straightforward enemy who can be defeated with Fire-elemental attacks. If the hot springs were touched first, the player can then return south to the cave to find themselves in Snow Field and then directly onward ot the cave where All Materia is found. Leaving and heading directly to the right of the start and heading right leads to Snow's Cave, where Snow is fought if the hot springs were touched.
After either passing out or heading to the north end of the glacier, Mr. Holzoff is located and provides free rest and a save point.
=== Gaea's Cliff ===
While climbing the side of Gaea's Cliff, Cloud's temperature must be kept above 26°C by rapidly tapping the button. If it falls below, he will return to Holzoff's hut, and the climbing must restart. It is safest to keep temperature above 30°C. Inside caves, temperature is not a concern.
The cliff provides an opportunity to learn several powerful moves for the Enemy Skill Materia: Stilva, fought inside the cave, has Magic Breath, a powerful spell that deals damage of three elements at once to all opponents (meaning an enemy resisting or absorbing one element absorbs the whole spell, but one weak to one element is also weak to the full spell), and Trine, which deals Lightning-elemental damage to all opponents (though it never uses Trine unless Manipulated). Malboro, on the snowy slopes, teaches Bad Breath, which inflicts a number of negative statuses at once. This area is the the last chance to learn Trine if Godo was defeated in "Homecoming of a Miserable Daughter".
At the start of the climb is a red flag part way up. From here, climb up and to the right to reach a second red flag. Climb up again from the right side of the second flag, and head up and to the left to reach a third ledge. Continue to climb up the next two ledges to find a cave in the side of the cliff and head inside.
The cave has a number of rare items inside:
* Go forward under the bridge and through the tunnel to another screen. Take the stairs in the bottom left corner to reappear at the second level of the first room. Next, go down and across the bridge, leading through the wall to reach a room with a blue chest containing Ribbon, a powerful accessory granting immunity to all statuses.
* From where the Ribbon was found, go back through the wall and head straight upward until Cloud is above the tunnel. Go over to the other side and open the chest to find a Javelin, a weapon for Cid with five slots of double AP growth.
* From where the Javelin was found, head through the door on the top left to another screen, and cross the bridge over the mako pool to reach a door at the top of the screen. Examine the blue rock ahead and push it down.
* After pushing the rock down, return to the room with the stairs. Here, head straight up through the door at the top of the screen, and then follow the path to the top corner. Go down to reach the first room, then go right outside to the cliffs.
Back on the cliffs, continue up, selecting the first "Go up" option when prompted, and then the "Go right" option when prompted the second time. Take this right path to the ledge on the right side, then go up to the next ledge, and then up and to the left to reach a final ledge, where another cave is found by heading right and up.
The second cave has several holes in the ground, a chest on the right side of the screen with an Elixir, and a save point in the top left corner. Take the door in the top right to return to a snow slope path, though one where temperature is not a concern. Malboros are fought here, meaning Ribbons must be equipped on any party members, especially whoever has Heal Materia equipped and can use Esuna to cure others or Resist to block statuses. At the end of the path is a way back into the cave.
Back in the cave, more items are found:
* A Fire Armlet is found on the right side of the screen.
* Running left from the Fire Armlet chest will begin battle with Icicle and Evilheads; Icicle is weak to Fire-elemental attacks, meaning Fire3 + All or pairing Fire + Elemental Materia on weapons is effective. After each battle, the icicle falls from the ceiling; continuing left (ignoring the option to jump down) repeating this four times will reach a chest on the left side, a Megalixir (erroneously named "Last Elixir").
* Once all are defeated, Cloud can jump down below and run to the left for a Speed Source.
* Below, with all icicles defeated, Cloud can hop across them in the water to reach the center cave, which leads back outside. Here, a chest contains Enhance Sword for Cloud, a powerful weapon with eight Materia slots (four linked pairs) but only decent stats.
Heading up from the icicle path leads onto the mountain and then back into the cliffs, this time on the bridge. Crossing it returns to the climbing cliffs.
Back on the cliffs, Cloud must simply take the path up continuously, with no real divergence in paths needed. This will lead to a final cave with a save point and a spring next to it that fully heals HP and MP. Blue Dragons are fought around here, and will drop Dragon Armlets, a powerful piece of armor that provide elemental resistance. Heading right will reveal a Sephiroth clone defeated by a monster, and a boss battle begins.
=== Schizo boss battle ===
Schizo's left head uses powerful Ice-elemental attacks, while the right head uses Fire-elemental attacks. Both heads are immune to their respective element, meaning attacks using multiple elements hould be avoided, and Elemental Materia should not be used on a weapon. However, targeting the head with the element it is weak to can be effective; for instance, using Fire2 or Fire3 on the left head, or Ice2 or Ice3 on the right head, can be effective. If damaging Materia is used in this way, HP Absorb is also a helpful pair.
The Fire Armlet and Aurora Armlet armors, Fire Ring and Ice Ring accessories, and the Elemental Materia on armor paired with Materia of the Fire or Ice Elements each provide ways to absorb or resist the elements. As usual, Big Guard offers protection against the attacks. Dragon Armlet halves elemental damage, but does not heal from it; it can nonetheless still be a useful slot-efficient way to protect against both attack types.
Aside from defending against the elements using equipment and targeting the elemental weakness, using powerful attacks, such as strong Summon Materia, Tifa's Powersoul with Death Sentence inflicted on her, and Limit Breaks is effective. Additionally, Magic Hammer can be used to curb both heads' abilities to attack.
After the battle, running outside and climbing up to the top of the cliffs leads up to Crater, where the next chapter, "That Which Waits in the Northernmost Reaches", begins.
== Citations ==
Category:Chapters in Final Fantasy VII