Chapter 16 - The Belly of the Beast - Final Fantasy 7 Remake Guide - IGN (2024)

This portion of the Final Fantasy VII Remake Walkthrough covers Chapter 16 - The Belly of the Beast, including combat tips for how to defeat key enemies, where all the good loot is found, as well as how to best use Cloud, and other party members, throughout the chapter.

Infiltration

After the intro cinematic concludes, head right and join Tifa and Barret by the stairs. Circle around to find some Shinra boxes, then head down the stairs and follow the path to reach a ladder.

Head across the short platform and take the next ladder down a level, then turn left and head down the path. Destroy the Shinra boxes on your right, then circle down the next set of stairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, head left and cross the long walkway to find a vending machine, a bench, some Shinra boxes, and a chest with a Turbo Ether inside.

Once you are stocked up, turn around and head back down the walkway.

Take the first right to find a chest with two Hi-Potions and a pile of Shinra boxes, then head down the stairs and follow the path to reach a bridge crossing the highway.

A short cutscene will trigger and the party will jump atop a Shinra truck to sneak into the back entrance and avoid unwanted attention.

Unfortunately, all does not go as planned and you’ll soon find yourself pitted against three Shinra Elite Security Officers.

Take them out with Punisher Mode, Fire damage, and blocking, and another wave will appear.

Head around the corner to the right to find three more Elite Security Officers and two Elite Grenadiers.

Rush the stairs and hit them hard with Triple Slash while they are clustered up to obliterate the group fast, then mop up the stragglers and the encounter will end.

Bust Out of the Garage

After the fight is over, head up the stairs, then follow the path as it loops around to the left. Head down the small staircase and you’ll see more Shinra troops on the other side of Gate-01.

Open the gate to initiate combat with two more Elite Security Officers. Once they’ve been dealt with, two 3-C SOLDIER Operators will appear. Block their attacks and hit them with Fire to Stagger them.

Once they’re dead, head through Gate-02. Run up the stairs and you’ll enter combat against two Elite Security Officers and a Guard Dog.

Continue to lean on Fire damage to Pressure and Stagger them, then two Elite Grenadiers will appear alongside two more Guard Dogs.

Focus on taking out the Grenadiers first, then dispatch the dogs.

Once the fight is over, head the northern corner of the storage room to find a chest with a Molotov co*cktail inside, then run to the southern end of the room and duck under the gate leading to the next area.

Head down the slope to encounter a Guard Dog and three Elite Riot Troopers. Circle around behind the troopers and hit them with Fire to take them out and two more Guard Dogs will appear alongside two 3-C SOLDIER Operators.

Keep picking off the Elite Riot Troopers first, as they will cause the most trouble if they are ignored. After that, take out the dogs, then isolate the SOLDIER Operators and take them down one at a time.

After they are all dealt with, loot the chest in the corner to find two Mega-Potions, then head inside the double doors to enter the building.

Once you’re inside, turn right and head up the stairs (or use the escalator, if you want to be extra cool), then turn left at the top and follow the path around to the right. Head up the stairs and through the double doors to reach the lobby.

Shinra Building Intel

Since the information kiosk is shielded, you won’t be able to access the item within, so head up the long staircase on the left side of the lobby to continue.

Once you reach the top of the stairs, check the door access panels next to the doors just ahead, as well as the doors on the far right side. Unfortunately, you’ll need a keycard to gain access, and you don’t have one yet.

The party will realize the item within the information kiosk is a keycard, so Tifa will offer to jump across the chandeliers to gain access to it.

Acquiring the Keycard

Run forward to jump to the first light, then inch your way around and leap forward to reach the next light. Rotate around to the front again and jump.

Clumsily jump from the light platform to the light suspended by a cable and Tifa will fall on the cushion below. Head to the back right corner of the ground floor to find a chest with 2000 gil inside, then return to the cars.

Climb onto the top of the car on the far right side, then jump to the short purple-lit wall and make your way to the scaffolding on the left.

Take the ladder up to the next level, then circle around the ledge and hop on the lightning and “monkey bar” your way across to the other side. Wiggle your way towards the middle to drop down to the next platform, the circle around to the right and jump to the next ledge.

Run forward to reach the next set of bars and jump up to grab the bars. Turn right and navigate the edge, then turn left at the end and keep going to drop down on the next ledge.

Move to the other side of the ledge and Tifa will hop up to the next set of bars. Turn left and navigate the edge again to reach the walkway mounted on the next pillar.

Drop down and turn right, then move forward to mount the next set of bars.

Taking the bars straight ahead doesn’t quite reach the next platform, so turn left instead and head to the scaffolding there.

Drop down and turn right, then move forward and turn right again to reveal a jump point for a section of monkey bars that reach the platform.

Drop down and climb the ladder on the left and you’ll finally reach a section where you can jump to the lights again.

Jump to the first set of lights, then rotate around to the front and jump to the next set of lights. Repeat it until you can jump to the dangling lights.

Once you are hanging from the lights, Tifa will begin to swing. Hit Triangle while she is winding back to give her more momentum and, on the second boost, she’ll jump to the next dangling light.

Repeat that for the next light and she’ll drop into the kiosk, obtain the keycard, and find out that Aerith is being held in Hojo’s lab on the 59th floor.

Reach for the Skyview Hall

After the cutscene ends, you’ll need to choose to take the Emergency Stairwell or the Elevator to the 59th floor, so head up the long staircase to the second floor once again.

The path on the left leads to the stairs, while the path ahead leads to the elevators.

Either option works, and will lead to conversations between party members, but we’ll choose the elevator for the purposes of the guide.

Head forward and use the keycard to open the elevator room, then use the buttons next to the elevators to call one. Join Tifa and Barret in the compartment and the elevator will begin the climb.

At the 10th floor, the doors will open, revealing two Elite Security Officers who were trying to enter. Take them out and call the elevator again, as our current keycard doesn’t work on any of this floor’s exits.

Climb aboard the elevator and it will make another stop on the 20th floor. This time, there are three Elite Security Officers. Take them out just like the others, then call the elevator again and continue to ascend.

There will be two more… less eventful stops, and then it will continue moving up until it reaches the 59th floor, and a cutscene will trigger.

If you are interested in taking in a view of the city, head south towards the large windows, otherwise head north to the information desk.

Speak to the automated attendant, who will give you a keycard and initiate the Shinra building grand tour.

Playing the Tourist

With the keycard in hand, head left or right and use it at the double doors to gain entry to the back section of the floor.

Head around to the north side, then take the escalator to reach the next floor, and a cutscene will trigger.

Once you’ve arrived on the 60th floor, turn right and access the keycard terminal to gain entry to the museum. A short cutscene will trigger once you head inside.

Once it’s finished, head to the back left corner of the room and go through the door and the digital attendant will give a short speech about the next area of the tour.

Move to the right and head through the next door to reach the Business Division Exhibit. Look around and inspect the various exhibits, if you wish, then head to the back left corner and take the door to the next corridor.

Another short video from the digital attendant will play, then you’ll be able to exit through the next door to reach the Mako Energy Exhibit.

After the presentation about Mako Energy, head around the model of Midgar and access the keycard terminal near the exit door to upgrade your keycard to the next level.

Head through the door and up the stairs to reach the next level, then head through the door. Turn left and head into the theater and another cutscene will trigger.

After the cinematic has concluded, return to the door and upgrade your keycard at the terminal. Someone will interrupt and bring you to the 62nd floor to meet the mayor of Midgar.

A Helping Hand

Head through the door to meet Domino, who will reveal that he’s been secretly been helping you infiltrate the complex.

He’ll upgrade your keycard to grant access to the 63rd floor, and then tell you how to meet another Avalanche supporter in the Recreation Center, who can get you to the 64th floor. Head back outside to the archives.

Grab the chest on the other side of the room to snag 3000 gil, then head right to find the doorway leading to the stairs. Take them to the floor below.

Turn right and follow the path until you reach the double doors on the right side of the room. Head through them, then take the escalators up to the 63rd floor and another cutscene will trigger.

After the cinematic concludes, walk forward and use the keycard terminal to open the double doors leading to the recreation center, then head inside.

A short cutscene will trigger as you move through the hallway, so keep moving and head right at the end of the hall. Turn left at the end and head through the door to enter the recreation area.

Head up the stairs and you’ll find the battle simulation area, an Item Shop, and a rest area with a bench and a jukebox with Scarlet’s Theme.

Speak to the Shinra employee just outside the battle simulation and you’ll discover this man is your contact, but he is unsure of your abilities.

He’s unwilling to part with the keycard until he knows you are tough enough to survive, should the worst happen.

Head inside and you’ll find a pedestal which allows you to challenge his simulation. Activate it and you’ll be pitted against two Cutters.

Use Lightning damage and Punisher Mode to Stagger and dismantle the Cutters to complete the challenge, then head out to the collaborator and speak with him to obtain the new keycard.

He’ll then tell you about a place on the 64th floor, in the men’s bathroom, where you can eavesdrop on the meeting between division chiefs.

Reconnaissance

Get EXP Up Materia and Gil Up Materia

After obtaining the keycard, head to the stairs and one of Cloud’s old training buddies will appear in a short cutscene.

Continue downstairs after he leaves, then head back out to the lobby and you’ll see President Shinra and Heidegger boarding the elevator on their way to the meeting.

After they leave, head to the elevator they used and call it using your new keycard, then head inside. Turn left and use the terminal to select the 64th Floor.

Once you’ve arrived, exit the elevator and turn left. Use your keycard to gain access to the conference rooms. Head inside and you’ll see President Shinra and Heidegger making their way to the executive conference room. Follow the path to the left and head to the back left corner of the area to find the bathrooms.

Turn left once you reach them and enter the door on the right. Head inside and walk into the last stall, then look up to find the grate.

Barret is too big to get inside the vent, so he’ll stay on guard duty, while Tifa and Cloud head up to eavesdrop on the meeting.

Once you’re inside the vent, follow it as it bends to the right. Take a left at the first junction, then continue on. Follow the path as it bends to the right again, then keep moving straight until you reach the next junction.

Get HP Up Materia

Take a right and follow the path to the end to reach the vent, then hit Triangle to watch the meeting.

After the meeting concludes, the group will resolve to follow Hojo back to his lab to find Aerith.

Operation: Save Aerith

Leave the bathroom and turn right. Run back to the lobby and you’ll just catch Hojo opening the door to his lab. After you’ve made it inside, head up the stairs until you reach the upper floor.

To your right, you’ll find a vending machine and a bench to rest at, as well as a chest containing two Antidotes. Rest up, stock up, then continue down the hall to find another chest which contains two Celeris.

Turn right and continue down the hall to reach a room filled with large tanks with green liquid inside. Follow the path around to the right to find a chest with two Remedies.

Head to the stairs and continue up to the next floor to catch up with Hojo.

After the cutscene concludes, you’ll be thrust into a battle with the next boss; Specimen H0512.

Boss: Specimen H0512

• Description: A monster created by Shinra’s R&D Division. Highly adaptable, it evolves during battle, where it exhibits extraordinary offensive and restorative capabilities.
• Weakness / Status Ailments: None
• Lesser Resistances: Lightning
• Greater Resistances:
• Immunities: Poison, Slow, Proportional Damage
• Absorbed Elements: None
• Abilities:
• Items Dropped: Talisman
• Rare Items Dropped: None
• Stealable Items: Timeworn Talisman
• Notes:Tactical data not available.

At the beginning of the fight, you’ll be surrounded by three H0512-OPT enemies and neither they nor the boss have any exploitable elemental weaknesses. It is worth noting, however, that they are not immune to Silence, Stop, Sleep, or other nasty status effects.

Take out the OPTs as you can, but focus on dealing damage to the Left Claw while you dodge the Poison-inflicting attack; Noxious Expulsion.

The area-of-effect of Noxious Expulsion is a long, straight line, but the wind-up is long, so once you see the boss begin the attack, dodge to the right, then circle around the boss to avoid it and continue dealing damage.

Punisher Mode does extremely well against Specimen H0512, but be careful, as it will pepper in the powerful unblockable grab attack; Seize, which crushes the grabbed character as it drains their life, restoring the boss’ HP.

The attack will end by slamming the party member against the ground, so if the character is low on HP already, have another party member heal them before the final blow, to prevent them from being knocked out.

Deal enough damage and the boss will approach a tank and drain its contents, evolving and transforming. It will then eject several evolved OPT Alpha creatures.

Keep dealing damage to the Left Claw, if you haven’t crippled it already. Once it’s crippled, the boss will be Pressured, so lay into the boss with heavy damage abilities, healing the party with Prayer as necessary.

The Mako Expulsion ability will Poison and Slow any member of your party it hits, so be sure to counter by casting Magnify Haste to make sure you can always act.

After it reaches roughly 1/3 HP, the boss will evolve again, and the OPTs will reach Beta forms, but not much will change.

Keep pressuring the boss, avoid Seize, cast powerful magic like Firaga on the boss’ appendage and you’ll come through with a victory.

After the fight is over, join Tifa and Barret by the elevator and activate the terminal to call it to activate another cutscene.

You’ll find yourself in another fight, but this time it’s against several Elite Grenadiers, Elite Security Officers, and Elite Riot Troopers.

Cast Magnify Fira/Firaga on one of the troops near the middle to deal massive damage to groups and clear the rest out with melee attacks and additional Fire attacks.

After the battle is over, Cloud will taunt Hojo, who will respond by saying that Cloud wasn’t quite a SOLDIER, and the Mysterious Entities will carry him away.

Barret will free Aerith, which also opens the cage of another creature downstairs, and the party will be attacked by a new enemy; the Armored Shock Trooper.

Hit the Armored Shock Troopers hard with Lightning damage to Stagger them. Cause enough damage and they will Eject, revealing Enhanced Shock Troopers inside.

Use Fire spells to Stagger them and the fight will come to an end quickly.

Aerith will run off, so follow her up the stairs and into the chamber and another cutscene will trigger. Hojo will escape, but Aerith will calm the raging creature from the cage downstairs, which will introduce himself to the party as Red XIII.

The party will decide to chase after Hojo, but Cloud will have another vision.

Walk towards the elevator and Cloud will collapse and another cutscene will trigger, marking the end of Chapter 16.