The Stowaway Strategy

The first major area of what’ll become Part Two, Junon consists of Lower Junon, a forgotten seaside town, covered by Upper Junon, a Shinra-built city that, much like Midgar, overshadows and pollutes its lower companion. It’s likely Junon will remain prominent in the sequel as there are a number of story sections that take place here, including it being the base for the Highwind, your airship later, new President Rufus Shinra’s original head office, and then the site of his inauguration parade, and the site of a central scene in what’ll likely be Part Three.

Initially arriving at lower Junon, the party reach Upper Junon via a dolphin in the original game. It would be great if this stays, but it’s possible that will be cut. It’s important however to see Junon as a smaller Midgar, and it’s very likely there will be an expanded quest section in the Lower village, that also takes you up into the main city.

Cloud and the gang impersonate Shinra soldiers in a parade for Rufus, and then join the Shinra president as he takes his Cargo Ship across the sea to Costa Del Sol. If true to the original, the party will encounter Sephiroth on board, and likely Jenova.

The tension is broken by arriving at Costa Del Sol, a rich vacation town, like Gibraltar. Sephiroth moves on and for some strange reason the party find Professor Hojo on the beach catching some rays. Considering the new serious attitude to the story, I’d suggest this might also hit the cutting room floor, and without it, Costa Del Sol is another area that, although memorable, is pretty superfluous to the story. Will it make it? Only the Jukebox music makes me think yes.