Midgar Expressway

Midgar Expressway, also known as Midgar Highway, is a location in the Final Fantasy VII series. It is a series of winding roads in Midgar belonging to Sector 0, passing through the other districts of Midgar. 
The expressway is under the jurisdiction of Shinra's Urban Planning who intend to expand it ease interplate travel. While it is in use by many topside citizens, sections are still under construction and off-limit to citizens.
== History ==
=== Before Final Fantasy VII ===
In April 0001, depicted in chapter 4 of Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, Zack Fair emerges on the Midgar Expressway after being called back from the Sector 5 slums to stop an attack at the Shinra Building.
=== Original continuity ===
In December 0007, depicted in "The Nightmare Beginning Anew" in Final Fantasy VII, Cloud Strife's party escaped the Shinra Building via the Midgar Expressway after freeing Aerith Gainsborough and Red XIII. Cloud blasted through a window of the building riding a Hardy-Daytona motorcycle on the highway while Tifa Lockhart drove a Shinra Hauler SA-37 pick-up truck. The Shinra Electric Power Company sent troopers on motorcycles to chase after them, Cloud fighting them off by ramming them and using his Buster Sword. At the end of the highway in a seemingly unfinished portion, the party were cornered by a Motor Ball, which they defeated, after which they slid down a rope to the Midgar Wasteland to continue on to Kalm.
In 0009, depicted in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, the highway was largely abandoned, but still usable. Cloud rides his Fenrir motorcycle to Midgar on the highway while being pursued by Loz and Yazoo. Reno and Rude rig a portion of the highway with bombs and detonate them on Loz and Yazoo, destroying much of it.
=== Remake continuity ===
In December 0007, depicted in "Destiny's Crossroads" in Final Fantasy VII Remake, Cloud's party, after freeing Aerith and Red XIII from the Shinra Building, left the building while it was engulfed in Whispers. Cloud stole a Hardy-Daytona bike, which he used to help while Tifa stole the Shinra Hauler SA-37 pick-up truck, Barret providing fire support from the trunkbed and Red XIII occasionally using magic to heal Cloud. The group escaped the city, fleeing Shinra troops and fighting the M.O.T.O.R. on the end, but were helped by Whispers. Shinra Security mobilized in pursuit, using motorcycles, armored cars, and mechs. The party passed a series of high-rises outside of Sector 0, and a series of industrial buildings, before reaching the unfinished terminus at the edge of the Outer Sector 8 plate. 
At the end of the Midgar Expressway road, they saw a checkpoint where Sephiroth awaited them. Sephiroth opened a portal to the Singularity and invited them to destroy the Whispers and alter destiny. Aerith hesitated at first, but ultimately decided to destroy the Whispers also.
== Gameplay ==
=== Final Fantasy VII ===
In "The Nightmare Beginning Anew", upon escaping the Shinra Building on the Hardy-Daytona, Cloud must defend his friends' car from the Shinra forces' onslaught. He can use his weapon to attack nearby enemy bikers: attacks right and attacks left. The player can also attack enemies by ramming into them. There are two types of bikers whose AI differs slightly: the orange bikers immediately attack the truck and the red bikers try to drive Cloud away from the car. The original PC version also introduced a third, blue biker variant. The best strategy is to quickly dispatch bikers as they appear on the screen and to go for a domino effect when a group of bikers draws close.
Cloud's friends begin the battle against Motor Ball with the HP they have left at the end of the minigame when the highway ends. If they are KO'd during the minigame, they will be revived with 1 HP, but will soon perish as Motor Ball always attacks first.
The minigame can be replayed at the Gold Saucer's Wonder Square later, now named "G Bike".
MidgarHighway-ffvii-fmv-infantryman.png|Beneath the Midgar Highway in an FMV from Final Fantasy VII.
MidgarHighway-ffvii.png|Midgar Highway in Final Fantasy VII.
Battlebg-ffvii-highway.png|Final Fantasy VII Highway battle background.
=== Final Fantasy VII Remake===
The Midgar Expressway is the setting of the final chapter, "Destiny's Crossroads". As in the original game, the Midgar Expressway is explored for the bike minigame in the quest "Flying Through the Night". This is a lengthened version of the original minigame with a greater variety of enemies. At the end, M.O.T.O.R. is fought within the minigame (rather than as a boss battle after as in the original game).
Following this, the Expressway has a brief field map seen at the start of "The Turning Point", containing a bench and vending machine. The map lists the area as "End of the Road", under the level "Highway". At the end of the map, all four characters can be interacted with for dialogue before an option to enter the Singularity, where the majority of the final quest takes place.
=== Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII- ===
VIIBC Highway.png|Highway in Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-.
=== Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- ===
In chapter 4, Zack faces a G Warrior on his way to Shinra Building.
== Musical themes ==
The music that plays during the minigame in Final Fantasy VII is "The Chase". It is the 22nd track of the 1st disc on the Final Fantasy VII: Original Soundtrack.
The original version from Final Fantasy VII is included in the Final Fantasy XV music player. It is the 10th track of the Memories of FFVII album that is available by default.
"The Chase" returns in the remake as "Midgar Expressway", arranged by Yoshinori Nakamura, with a more metallic-type track and includes a male voice "singing" along with the music during later parts. The track also includes motifs from "Opening - Bombing Mission", "Let the Battles Begin!", and "Fight On!". It is the 5th track of the 7th disc on the Final Fantasy VII Remake Original Soundtrack. "Midgar Expressway - Long Ver." is a longer version and is the 16th track of the 4th disc on the Final Fantasy VII Remake Original Soundtrack Plus.
Nakamura stated that making the first arrangement demo for the crazy motorcycle at the beginning section took less than a week. He also kept the tempo at 190 bpm despite the difficulty of adding and changing motifs in the subsequent sections. He was particular about featuring guitars in all sections of "Midgar Expressway" and decided to incorporate the Advent Children versions for the sections of "Let the Battles Begin!" and "Fight On!".Godhania 2022
== Other appearances ==
=== Final Fantasy VII G-Bike ===
Cloud rode the highway on his Hardy-Daytona in the remake of the Final Fantasy VII minigame for mobile platforms.
=== Pictlogica Final Fantasy ===
=== Final Fantasy Record Keeper ===
Cloud's team escapes from the Shinra Building on stolen vehicles and races down Midgar Highway with Shinra soldiers in hot pursuit.
FFRK Midgar Highway JP FFVII.png|The Japanese dungeon image for Midgar Highway in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
== Behind the scenes ==
Originally, when developing Final Fantasy VII Remake, the developers planned to have Roche return in the Midgar Expressway, but felt that a goofy character such as Roche would not mesh with the serious story elements that were included at the time. When learning how windy the Midgar Expressway would be during the game's development, Kazuaki Yamada, Animation Technical Artist for the game, feared how much more complicated the physics simulations for the animations of the characters' clothes.
Final Fantasy VII Remake key art Midgar Highway.png|Final Fantasy VII Remake key art.
Midgar Expressway artwork 1 for Final Fantasy VII Remake.png|Concept art for Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Midgar Expressway artwork 2 for Final Fantasy VII Remake.png|Concept art for Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Midgar Expressway artwork 3 for Final Fantasy VII Remake.png|Concept art for Final Fantasy VII Remake.
== Citations ==
== References ==
;Books
* 
* 
;Websites
* 
ru:Мидгарское шоссе
Category:Locations in Final Fantasy VII
Category:Locations in Final Fantasy VII Remake
Category:Locations in Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-