Date Mechanics

This section covers the how-to's regarding the "Gold Saucer Date". This guide describes how the ranking/point system works, the mathematical jargon, so that you understand how exactly to get either Yuffie, Barret, Tifa, or Aeris to go on a date with Cloud at the Gold Saucer.


Affection Values:
There are four values in the game, deemed "Affection values" in this guide. Realize that in no point during or in FF7 are there any explanations of anything below. It's extra stuff that you need to know though. At the start of the game, the values are set as:
Aeris:  50
Tifa:   30
Yuffie: 10
Barret:  0
As the game proceeds, certain decisions you make or tasks you do will change these values. When you reach the Gold Saucer Date sequence, which is unavoidable and comes at a specific time, whoever has the highest Affection value will be the one Cloud goes on a Date with. If, however, there is a tie for the highest, then the priorities are:
Aeris > Tifa > Yuffie > Barret
(so if Tifa and Yuffie tied for the highest value, and both had 45, Barret and Aeris having values lower than 45, then Tifa would be the one that Cloud would go on a date with.)


GameShark Codes:
For the USA Playstation (not PC) version of FF7:
Aeris' Affection Value:   3009D28B 00xx
Tifa's Affection Value:   3009D28C 00xx
Yuffie's Affection Value: 3009D28D 00xx
Barret's Affection Value: 3009D28E 00xx
- Make the last two characters/gameshark-variables any two-digit number you want. This would be the value for their affection levels. If you entered "3009D28B 0099", then Aeris's affection value would be at 99. Good thing to know.


Changing the Date's Math Mechanics Values:
Midgar
------
Talking to Aeris the first time, no matter what you say (believe it or not),
has no effect. Buy the flower, unless you want to date Aeris or Yuffie.

Talk to Jessie twice on the train home from the first mission:
  "Thanks anyway"     --
  "Looking forward to it" (-3 Tifa)

When you enter Seventh Heaven, and you have a flower:
  "Give it to Tifa"  (+5 Tifa)
  "Give it to Marlene" (+5 Barret)

If you talk to Tifa while she's behind the bar:
  "I don't feel like it"  --
  "Give me something hard" (+5 Tifa)

When Tifa accuses you of leaving your childhood friend:
  "How can you say that!" (+5 Tifa)
  "...Sorry"       --

When Tifa asks how you slept:
  "Next to you, who wouldn't?"   (+5 Tifa)
  "Barret's snoring kept me up..." (+5 Barret)

Giving Barret a Materia tutorial has no effect.

Getting to the last car of the train without getting
caught by the Security Lockdown: (+5 Tifa, +5 Barret)

When Barret asks if you're alright:
  "(Be strong)"           (+2 Barret)
  "(I don't know if I can hold on)" (-3 Barret, +1 Tifa)

The conversation with Aeris after you awaken has no affect
at all. Treat her anyway you feel like.

When Aeris is fleeing the guards, if you:
  Push a wrong barrel    (-3 Aeris)
  Ask her to fight them   (-1 Aeris)
  Ask her to run       --
  Ask her to run and she
   has to fight       (-1 Aeris)
  Push the right barrel   (+1 Aeris)

When Aeris asks if Tifa is your girlfriend:
  "No way!"      (+1 Aeris)
  "Yeah, that's right" (-5 Aeris)

After you get through Sector 6 to the playground:
  "Take her home."   --
  "Go on to Sector 7." (+1 Aeris)

If Tifa is chosen as the Don's date:
  "You all right?"   (+3 Aeris)
  "We gotta help Tifa!" (-2 Aeris)

If Aeris is chosen as the Don's date:
  "You all right?"      (-2 Tifa)
  "We've gotta help Aeris!!" (+3 Tifa)
  (Yes, it *is* that way
   around. Don't ask me
   why....)

If Cloud is chosen as the Don's date:
  "Yes, his name's Barret..." (+5 Barret)
  (No other choice matters,
   not even almost kissing
   the Don)

When everyone lands in the sewer:
  Talk to Aeris first: (+3 Aeris)
  Talk to Tifa first: (+3 Tifa)

When Marlene tells you about Aeris:
  "I don't know" (-3 Aeris, +3 Tifa)
  "Let's hope so" (+3 Aeris, -3 Tifa)

When you first meet Red XIII:
  "Tifa, I'm countin' on you!" (-2 Tifa)
  "Barret, take care of her!" (+2 Barret)

If any of the following are in your party after you agree to split up:
  Barret (+2 Barret)
  Tifa  (+2 Tifa)
  Aeris (+2 Aeris)

When Tifa asks if you can break out:
  "(Leave it to me)" (+1 Tifa) (as many times as you like)
  "(Kinda hard)"   (-1 Tifa) (as many times as you like)

When you get the option to think about Barret, Red XIII or Aeris:
  Whomever you think about first: (+3 Barret or Aeris) or --
  Whomever you think about second: (+1 Barret or Aeris) or --
  Whomever you think about third: --

When you choose your party after escaping Midgar:
  If Barret's in it: (+1 Barret)
  If Aeris is in it: (+1 Aeris)
  If Tifa is in it: (+1 Tifa)



Kalm
----
When Barret leaves, and tells you to get a move on:
  "Wait a sec"           --
    "Beautiful, just beautiful!" (+3 Barret)
    "Is that all?"        (-1 Barret)
  "Right"             (+1 Barret)

Talking to a woman in Kalm, who says Mako energy is convenient:
  "Yeah, maybe"    (-2 Barret) if Barret is in party
            (-1 Aeris) if Aeris is in party
            (-1 Tifa) if Tifa is in party
  "You're full of it" (+2 Barret) if Barret is in party
            (+1 Aeris) if Aeris is in party
            (+1 Tifa) if Tifa is in party

Talking to a girl upstairs, who thinks the old life is better:
  "Yeah, maybe" (+2 Barret) if Barret is in party
         (+1 Aeris) if Aeris is in party
         (+1 Tifa) if Tifa is in party
  "No way"   (-2 Barret) if Barret is in party
         (-1 Aeris) if Aeris is in party
         (-1 Tifa) if Tifa is in party



Fort Condor
-----------
When you first talk to the old guy in Fort Condor:
  "I guess so"   (+5 Barret, +3 Aeris, +3 Tifa, +2 Yuffie)
  "Not interested" (-5 Barret, -3 Aeris, -3 Tifa, -1 Yuffie)

After the old guy tells you about his problem:
  "All right"   (+5 Barret, +3 Aeris, +3 Tifa, +2 Yuffie)
  "Not interested" (-5 Barret, -3 Aeris, -3 Tifa, -1 Yuffie)



Meeting Yuffie
--------------
(You can fail this as many times as you like, and you'll still get the
points every time you meet Yuffie until you get her in your party)
  "All right"        --
  "Not interested"     (+2 Yuffie)

  "Petrified..."      (+2 Yuffie)
  "You're gonna lose again" --

  "Go ahead"        --
  "Wait a second!"     (+2 Yuffie)

  "That's right"      (+2 Yuffie)
  "You kiddin'?"      --

  "What's your name?"    --
  "Let's hurry"       (+2 Yuffie)



The Cargo Ship
--------------
On the Cargo Ship, if Yuffie asks you for Tranquilizers:
  "Here, use this" (+4 Yuffie)
  "Nope"      (-2 Yuffie)

When Aeris asks you about the Airship:
  "I'll take you someday" (+2 Aeris)
  "I dunno..."      (-2 Aeris)

When Tifa asks you about war:
  "Yeah..."   (+2 Tifa)
  "I don't know" (-2 Tifa)



Costa Del Sol
-------------
I'm *very* disappointed with Costa Del Sol; there are a lot of dialogue
options that you could choose, but none of them seem to alter 'Affection'
values at all; even the ones that seem to *really* annoy the girls.



Mt Corel
--------
Stealing the Phoenix Downs from the Cokatolis nest does nothing to alter
'Affection' values. Neither does finding it but leaving it alone, for that
matter. And no, it doesn't even matter who is in your party at the time.
Another wasted opportunity, in my opinion.



Gold Saucer
-----------
Depending on who you choose first to accompany you in the Gold Saucer:
  Aeris:  (+3 Aeris)
  Tifa:   (+3 Tifa)
  Yuffie:  (+3 Yuffie)
  Red XIII: --

Depending on who you choose first to accompany Barret to see Dyne:
  Aeris:  (+10 Aeris)
  Tifa:   (+3 Tifa)
  Yuffie:  (+2 Yuffie)
  Red XIII: --



Gongaga
-------
If, after either Aeris or Tifa (or both) meets Zack's parents then:
  Ignoring Aeris         (-3 Aeris)
  Talking to Aeris        --
    "Poor guy"         (+1 Aeris)
    "(...jealous...envious...)" (+2 Aeris)
  Ignoring Tifa          (-3 Tifa)
  Talking to Tifa         (+1 Tifa)
    (doesn't matter what
    you say to her)


Wutai
-----
After Yuffie gives back all your Materia in Wutai: (+10 Yuffie)