Streamer MonetaryDragon’s six-month quest to reach level 99 on the first screen of Final Fantasy VII ended in heartbreak when the game crashed during the final battle. The player had invested a staggering 1,200 hours into the challenge, leaving his computer running continuously without any saves.
The moment of defeat was captured live on stream, showing the game freeze just as victory seemed within reach. The crash wiped out all progress, leaving the player and viewers stunned. Despite the setback, MonetaryDragon took the loss in stride and earned lots of respect from the community for his resilience.
This unique first-screen challenge pushed the boundaries of both player dedication and system reliability. He had gone to extreme lengths to keep the game running, even using external power solutions to prevent outages. However, the extended playtime ultimately proved too much for the machine to handle.
Some viewers speculated that the crash might have been caused by specific game mechanics, such as the “Lucky 7s” feature or Steam achievements triggering at level 99. Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997, remains one of the most beloved RPGs of all time. This challenge shows how classic games continue to captivate audiences, inspiring players to find new ways to speedrun the game.
The streaming community came together for the MonetaryDragon, offering sympathy and admiration for the attempt. Many debated the merits of this extreme challenge compared to more traditional speedrunning attempts. Let’s see if the streamer will take up on this unfinished business in a new challenge.