The Debug Room will always be one of Final Fantasy VII's worst kept secrets. I remember sometime after the game came out, whispers about a secret developers area began to circulate. The codes were given to me by a friend, who got them from another friend, and who knows where they got them from. I used a Pro Action Replay to access the room myself and kept an extensive record of the occurances within a notebook. Now you can find all of these details online across various sites.

The Final Fantasy Wiki has one of the largest archives that detail each room and what interacting with each character does. On LifeStream.net, there is a massive listing of unused dialog that was found. Further, there are countless videos, such as this one, that give details about unused scenes and other secrets.

The easiest ways to get into the Debug Room are via hacks or save editing. With a save editor, the player can start in the "startmap" area to get to the Debug Room. For the PlayStation version, a Gameshark code can be used. After entering this code, the player can either start a New Game to enter the Debug Room immediately, or load their game and enter the Debug Room by entering any Town from the world map.

8009ABF6 0041 for the NTSC version.
80099F2C 0041 in the PAL version.
800987F4 0041 in the Japanese version.

 

You don't actually need Yuffie and Vincent to beat the game. That said, not getting them leaves out so much of the story, it's sort of puzzling why the developers didn't make their recruitment mandatory. Getting both in your party isn't difficult, it just requires saying the correct things to Yuffie and simply going into the basement of the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim.

Yuffie can be found randomly in the forests all over the world. Go to a forest and you may fight her in a battle. When you win, she will be on the ground and you will be standing near her on a screen with a save point. Talk to her and she will ask you questions. First answer "not interested", then "petrified", "Wait a second", "That's right" and then finally answer "Let's hurry on".

You now have her in your party. [CAUTION: Do not go to the save point on the screen or check your stats by accessing the menu. If you do she will steal your gil and run away.] Then walk off the screen and onto the world map. Now you can save your game and you have Yuffie!

As for everyone's favorite gun slinger, getting Vincent requires a little more skill. He is located in the basement of the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim. But the door to enter the crypt is locked. In the main room of the mansion there are clues for a safe code written on a scrap of paper just to the left of the entrance. Because you can easily go look up where these clues are located, here is the code to open the safe: Right 36, Left 10, Right 59, Right 97.

After fighting the Lost Number boss, a key to the basement room becomes available. Head downstairs, unlock the door to the crypt and speak to the purple coffin. After a somewhat short conversation, Vincent tells you to leave and won't speak to you any more. However, on the way out, he asks if you'll run into Professor Hojo. After telling him you will, he decides to join after all. He also devulges that he used to be a Turk, which just makes having him even better. :)

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There is actually a way to date Yuffie or Barret as well. The instructions are simple in either case, ignore everyone else as best you can. Follow the instructions and you will be rewarded with Yuffie knocking on your door, wanting to see the sights of the Gold Saucer. She is also the only one to give Cloud a peck on the cheek, which makes their date scene so adorable.

Cloud and Barret's "date" is the hardest one to get because it involes so many steps in the instructions. And also being a jerk to Tifa and Aerith, which is hard to do when they're both so likeable! But it must be done in order to have Barret asking if you're still up (heh). He wants to check out the Gold Saucer too, but some of the events aren't open for your bromance, so the encounter is reduced to the gondola.

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One of the many additions that were added to the North American release of the game, the Kalm Traveler has the items necessary to fight the two Weapons added to the game, Emerald and Ruby. He is also the keeper of a set of Master Materia and a Gold Chocobo (just don't think about racing this one as it pales in comparison to the one you breed). But to give you these items, he's asking for some unique things in return.

The Guidebook is located in the Underwater Reactor glass tunnel, obtained by morphing the Ghost Ship enemy. This is turned in for the Underwater Materia which allows you to fight Emerald Weapon without a time limit.

After defeating Emerald Weapon, the next item is given to you for trade, the Earth Harp. This is given in exchange for the set of Master Materia.

Finally, defeating Ruby Weapon will get you the Desert Rose. Upon trading this in, you are given the Gold Chocobo.

Also, there's no way to open the chest in the room. This is where the old man stores the treasures he bestows upon you. After handing over his treasures, the man leaves for parts unknown.

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An absolute treasure trove crashed into the sea when Shinra lost the Gelnika. Too bad it was also filled with experimental mutants, most likely created by Professor Hojo. The enemies here are hard. Very hard. But the risk is not without its rewards. Several weapons and unique materia can be yours if you decide to brave the depths for fortune and glory.

Entrance: Heaven's Cloud - A weapon for Cloud.

Research Room: Conformer - A shuriken for Yuffie and her ultimate weapon.

Cargo Room: Spirit Lance - A weapon for Cid.

Cargo Room: Outsider - A weapon for Vincent.

Research Room: Escort Guard - A very nice bracer that nullifies Lightning, Water, Poison and Earth damage. It can be equipped by Cloud, Barret, Red XIII, Cait Sith, Vincent, and Cid.

Cargo Room: Highwind - Cid's final limit break.

Cargo Room: Hades Materia

Research Room: Double Cut Materia

There are also two Megalixers, one in the Cargo Room and one in the Research room.

Better yet, you can use Morph on the enemies and turn them into precious Sources to up your stats. Just be careful when it's time to leave, sometimes Emerald Weapon likes to chill just outside and it's an instant fight if it's waiting. (Yes, this has happened to me.)

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Another item that you can find on the bottom of the sea is an ancient device that is needed to proceed in the game. I'm talking of course about the Key to the Ancients. It is located inside a narrow cave near Bone Village in the ocean.

Once obtained, you can travel back to the City of the Ancients and use it on the device in the main atrium. This will allow you see a glimpse of the past, the moment when Aerith was praying on the alter just before she met her untimely end.

 

You are shown that indeed, her prayer has reached the Planet as Holy is glowing a bright green from its watery grave.

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Being able to return to Midgar later on is pretty cool. However, you will need the key to Sector Five to get back in. This will allow you to pick up some missable items as well, so this is definately something you want to do.

Head to Bone Village just outside the Sleeping Forest. Tell the Foreman you want to find normal treasure. Hire his team and place them around the area in order to search and dig up treasure.

The key will be located on the bottom level near the skull. The next morning, it will be in the treasure box and you can now enter Midgar. If you don't get the key the first time, repeat the process. You can also find a few other unique items during this process, such as Cid's Mop weapon and the Buntline for Vincent. You can also pick up Phoenix and Bahamut Zero if you failed to get them from their designated quests.

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In a cave directly east of Junon, there is an old man sleeping. If you try to wake him, he will answer you in his sleep, giving you different battle statistics. (How many battles you've fought, how many times you've run away, etc.) You want him to tell you how many times you've fought and have the last two digits be the same (588, 2044, etc). If you need a few more battles to get the right number, just head outside and do a few random encounters.

Once you get him to tell you the right combination, he will wake up and give you some Mythril. If he gives you a Bolt Ring, restart the game. You really want the Mythril. Once you obtain it, take it to the Weapon Smith east of Gongaga.

When you give the Mythril to him he will let you choose a large or a small box. For Aerith’s Ultimate Limit Break go upstairs and open the small box. For a Gold Armlet choose the big box at the bottom right of his house. The choice is yours.

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Once you obtain certain chocobo, you are able to retrieve the special materia from four, otherwise impossible to reach caves. If you have the Gold Chocobo, you can get them in any order, but you only need the Gold Chocobo for Knights of the Round.

 

Quadra Magic: Allows the paired Materia to be cast four times in a row, albeit with reduced power; located north-east of Mideel. Accessed by a blue chocobo.

 

Mime: Gives the Mimic command that copies the last ability the party performed; located on Wutai island. Accessed by a green chocobo.

 

HP↔MP: Switches the character's HP and MP max; located in the Materia Cave across the river from the entrance to Mt. Corel. Accessed by a black chocobo.

 

Knights of Round: The ultimate summon spell, found on Round Island. Accessed by a gold chocobo.

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During the course of the game, you are gaining gil. At firsts, you don't even have enough to get the Gold Saucer perma ticket, but eventually you will have a ton of it. So where on Gaia can you even spend that much gil!? Cue the Villa in Costa del Sol. Once you've obtained 300,000 gil, wake the man sleeping in the bed and he will offer to sell you the place.

He gives you the keys and now you have your very own place to lay your head for free. If you haven't been here before, head to the basement to obtain the Motor Drive, a Power source, and a Fire Ring.

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One of the fun things about the submarine is using to to find some neat side quests. It is also useful in obtaining some good gear for your characters. There is a little cave that you have to use the sub to get to, located behind a waterfall.

Once inside, you are in what looks like a sanctuary of crystal. Make sure Vincent is in your party for a very interesting scene involving his former love, Lucrecia.

 

You find out that in his Turk days, Vincent was in love with Lucrecia, but the Jenova Project was more important to her than anything else. You already know that she is the mother of Sephiroth. If you have Vincent with you when you confront Hojo during the Midgar raid, you find out some other spoilers.

After the flashback scene, leave the cave and come back after about 10 battles. Lucrecia will be gone, but she leaves behind Vincent's ultimate weapon and limit break, The Death Penatly rifle and Chaos.

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After the Mideel section when Cloud rejoins the party, if you head back to the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim and examine the test tubes in the basement, it will trigger a flashback scene where Cloud and Zack escape Shinra custody.

It's a long story and dialogue sequence, but it helps to paint a different picture of the game and especially Cloud. Zack mentions that they should go to Midgar and become mercenaries. He also mentions his girlfriend, who we know is Aerith.

Sadly, Zack falls in battle defending Cloud, who through the trauma of the events he has experienced, adopts Zacks backstory and even weapon assuming his identity throughout the game.

It's easy for most to miss this section because there's little to no reason to ever return to the Shinra mansion at this point in the story.

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You will have had to grab the Leviathan Scales from the Underwater reactor. If you did, you will be able to put of the fires within the cave and get Yuffie's Oritsuru weapon and a Steal-As-Well materia.

 

Without the Leviathan Scales, you will only be able to get Cid's Dragoon Lance at the cave entrance.

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After chasing Ultimate Weapon to the ends of Gaia, he finally decides to take his final stand near Cosmo Canyon. After being defeated, it explodes and removes some of the mountain range. This allows you to access the Ancient Forest and a whole plethora of goodies.

 

Using bugs and frogs to traverse the landscape, (don't forget to go into the tree tops), you will obtain: Supershot ST, Spring Gun Clip, Slash-All Materia, Minerva Band, Elixir and the Typhon Materia.

At the end of your journey, will be rewarded with the Apocalypse Sword, a weapon that gives triple AP growth to the equipped materia.

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Throughout the game, there are items hidden everywhere. This will be a fairly tight list as there are just so many in the game. For a complete list of items that can be missed, you should check out the list on GameFAQs.

 

After the collapse of Mideel into the Lifestream, Tifa will be able to approach a white chocobo in one of the shops. Have Mimett Greens on you or it will outright ignore you. After you give it the greens, you wil have the option to scratch the chocobo. Scratching it behind the ears will produce the Contain materia.

Another missable materia is the Full Cure, located in Cosmo Canyon. Go to the Item Shop after obtaining the Highwind and go out a previously blocked door and up some stairs.

 

After getting the Key to Sector 5, you can reenter Midgar. In the Wall Market, Tifa's Ultimate Weapon is held hostage by a rogue machine in the Item Shop. If you bring Cid with you, he can fix the machine and Tifa can obtain the Premium Heart fist weapon.

Another Wall Market find is the Sneak Glove. The man at the Weapon Shop will sell you this mystery item for 12,000 gil.

The Midgar Assault portion of the game really starts to ramp up the missable items list. Before you even enter Midgar, you've got to do battle with Diamond Weapon on the shore. This provides the only opportunity to get Yuffie's Rising Sun via steal. After the beast's defeat, it's time to enter Midgar using the Highwind to parachute into the city.

 

During the raid of Midgar, there are a number of items that are easily missed. Starting in the underground, make sure you grab the Aegis Armlet, the Starlight Megaphone and the Max Ray.

Arguably, one of the most important materia in the game, the W-Item has a trick to it (glitch) that let's you duplicate items in your inventory. This must have materia is located at the end of the track tracks in the Midgar Underground and only obtainable during the Midgar Assault quest.

The W-Item let's you use 2 items per turn, but there is also a glitch that allows you to dupe any item that can be used in battle. Simply select the first item you wish to use and then select the second, but before finishing the command to use them, hit X to cancel but only hit it once. Now you have two. Select the item once more and cancel. Now you have 3. Keep going until you have 99.

 

More items to obtain during the Midgar Assault can be found inside the Shinra Building. In the gift shop, the previously sealed chests will award you the Master Fist for Tifa and the Pile Bunker for Barret.

 

If you go up the floors, you can get the Glow Lance for Cid on level 63 and the HP Shout for Cait Sith on level 64 in a locker.

Using the stairwell to return to the street will reward you with the Behemoth Horn for Nanaki.

 

After beating Prod Clod, head to the upper screen and grab the Mystile from the top chest. If you wanted to make sure Barret got justice on Scarlet, having him in your party is essential to get the Missing Score weapon the stairs up to the Sister Ray.

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So it's near the end of the game, but you still haven't maxed your characters or your materia. What's a gamer to do!? In this case, you find the place with the best EXp in the game and it's in the bowels of the Northern Crater.

 

The first enemy we'll talk about are the Magic Pot gobins. If you hit them outright, prepare to be schooled. But heed their advice by tossing them an Elixir and you will be grealy rewarded. If you've got the W-Item materia, this is made all the more easy by duping them. If not, well have fun with stealing them from Master Tonberry and Gighi. After giving them the Elixer, their immunity will be turned off and you can trash them. The EXP they give is great, 16,000 xp and 2000 AP.

 

The next enemy we'll discuss is the Mover. They are far more rare to run into than Magic Pots, so you'll want to make sure you make quick work of them. If you aren't quick enough, they will run away. They don't give level EXP but killing the trio will award you 2,400 AP for materia growth.

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A hilariously awesome secret is that of Lucky 7's. It happens when one of your party member's HP is all 7's and it makes them go absolutely murder mode in battle.

The character will go on a killing spree as they are hasted and bererked.

First mentioned in an early game magazine, the secret was already known before the game hit US shores. I myself have only witnessed it once in my game when Vincent leveled up to have 7777 HP and he was a beast, until he leveled up again.

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A rare sight to see. When summoning Choco Mog, there is a 15/16 chance to perform DeathBlow!! and a 1/16 chance that you will instead see the Fat Chocobo squash your enemies.

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