Scotch is a recurring character in the Final Fantasy VII series. He is a minor antagonist in Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
Scotch is a lieutenant in the Corneo Family, serving with his partner Kotch under Don Corneo. He is enthusiastic, somewhat perceptive, loyal to his boss, and has a flair for emceeing at events associated with the don.
Scotch appears as a boss encounter in Final Fantasy VII, but is never fought in Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
History
Original continuity
Scotch and Kotch oversee Corneo's audition.
Scotch, alongside Kotch, stood by Don Corneo as he auditioned Tifa Lockhart, Aerith Gainsborough, and a crossdressing Cloud Strife during "To Corneo Hall" in Final Fantasy VII. After Corneo made his choice and gave the "leftovers" to his men, Scotch saluted and escorted Cloud to a nearby room of henchmen. He announced they had "guests", praised the don's generosity, and walked to the back, where he leered and snickered at Cloud. When Cloud revealed he was a man, a shocked and enraged Scotch ordered the lackeys to attack. After they were defeated, Scotch fought Cloud directly but was knocked out.[1]
After the Shinra Electric Power Company raided Corneo's mansion and took him away prior to "Aeris's Secret", Scotch and the other henchmen, except for Kotch, were nowhere to be found.[2]
Remake continuity
Wall Market
Scotch and Kotch announce the Corneo Cup.
Scotch introduced and emceed the Corneo Cup at the Corneo Colosseum with Kotch during "The Town That Never Sleeps" in Final Fantasy VII Remake. He confidently provided commentary for every match and kept the audience entertained. The pair eventually announced Cloud and Aerith were the champions of the tournament.[3]
An excited Scotch sees the audition "leftovers".
Scotch later returned to Corneo's mansion and waited in the next room while Corneo auditioned Tifa, Aerith, and a dressed-up Cloud. After Corneo chose Cloud and handed the "leftovers" to his men, Scotch eagerly waited for them, smiling and flashing a gesture at Kotch upon seeing Tifa and Aerith. He asked the girls if they were ready, but upon recognizing Aerith from the colosseum, he was swiftly knocked out by kicks to the groin and the head.[4]
Scotch was forced into hiding following Shinra's raid on Corneo's mansion in "In Search of Hope". Gossiping townspeople discussed who would lead Wall Market in Corneo's absence, mentioning Scotch and Kotch as potential candidates, but were unsure if Shinra arrested or killed them.[5]
Beyond Midgar
Scotch and Kotch perform "Straight Outta Corneoland".
Scotch fled Midgar with Corneo and Kotch, eventually arriving at the Gold Saucer. He and Kotch delivered a notarized challenge from Corneo to Dio during "A Golden Key" in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, demanding ownership of the park through a naming rights competition, which Dio accepted. During the night of the tournament, Dio's opening speech was interrupted by a rap performed by Scotch and Kotch.[6]
Scotch and Kotch emceed the competition as Cloud's party battled Corneo on Dio's behalf. After Corneo was beaten, the duo joined Dio in providing commentary for Cloud's party's matches against the Turks and Rufus Shinra. Scotch, Kotch, and Dio eventually announced that both teams were unexpectedly disqualified.[6]
Corneo, Scotch, and Kotch shoot at Kid G in the Corel Desert.
Scotch regrouped with Corneo and Kotch in the Corel Desert, planning to steal Kid G's protorelic treasure. After being confronted by Cloud's group, they decided to wait until the party was given the relic before taking action. Once Cloud's party received the protorelic, the three arrived and held them at gunpoint until Gilgamesh's earth giant appeared, frightening them. After the giant disappeared, they fired at Cloud's party, Kid G, and his cactuar army, but were ultimately defeated. Scotch helped Kotch carry Corneo away, who vowed to rebuild, destroy Kid G and his minions, and pursue a "new frontier".[7]
Characteristics
Appearance
Scotch is a slim man with light skin, dark undercut hair tied in a high ponytail,[note 1] and brown eyes hidden behind sunglasses. In Final Fantasy VII, he wears a green jacket with white trim, dark teal pants, and white boots. In Final Fantasy VII Remake, he sports a Tangzhuang-style suit consisting of a green jacket with a white mandarin collar and cuffs, patterned black pants, tall black leather boots with white straps, and black and white gloves.
Personality
Scotch and Kotch emceeing the Corneo Cup together.
Scotch is loyal to Don Corneo and works closely with his partner, Kotch. The pair often emcees Corneo's events together, playing off of each other. As an emcee, Scotch is confident and enthusiastic, keeping audiences entertained with lively commentary.[3][6] Like his boss, he has a lecherous streak, leering at women and eagerly awaiting Corneo's rejected bridal candidates,[1][8][4][9] though he grew furious when a disguised Cloud revealed himself to be a man.[1] Compared to Kotch, he is more discerning, recognizing Aerith from the colosseum after Corneo rejected her during the audition.[4][9]
Gameplay
Final Fantasy VII
Scotch is a boss fought by Cloud after Corneo's audition during "To Corneo Hall" in Final Fantasy VII. Unlike his field model, his enemy model wears a ski mask and goggles.
Musical themes
Scotch and Kotch rap "Straight Outta Corneoland", composed by Mitsuto Suzuki, performed by their respective voice actors, and featured on the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Original Soundtrack, during "A Golden Key" in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. The song is a diss track to the Gold Saucer, hypes up the naming right competition and Corneo, and represents Corneo's plans to claim and rename the park to Corneoland.[6]
Etymology
Kotch and Scotch's names in Japanese are Kocchi (コッチ) and Socchi (ソッチ), literally meaning "here" and "there" respectively. These pun-intended names were lost in localization.
Notes
Annotations
- ↑ Scotch has brown hair in Final Fantasy VII and black hair in Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Final Fantasy VII script § "To Corneo Hall"
- ↑ Final Fantasy VII script § "Aeris's Secret"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Final Fantasy VII Remake script § "Underground Colosseum"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Final Fantasy VII Remake script § "Showdown with Corneo"
- ↑ Final Fantasy VII Remake script § "In Search of Hope"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth script § "The Fight for Naming Rights"
- ↑ Final Fantasy VII Rebirth script § "A Golden Key"
- ↑ Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega, p. 61
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Final Fantasy VII Remake Ultimania, p. 41
References
- Video games
- Square Co., Ltd. (1997). Final Fantasy VII [Game]. Square Co., Ltd.. PlayStation.
- Square Enix (2020). Final Fantasy VII Remake [Game]. Square Enix. PlayStation 4.
- Square Enix (2024). Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [Game]. Square Enix. PlayStation 5.
- Bibliography
- Studio BentStuff (2005). Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega [Book]. Square Enix. ISBN 978-4-8936-6678-9.
- Studio BentStuff (2020). Final Fantasy VII Remake Ultimania [Book]. SE-Mook. ISBN 978-4-7575-6586-9.
- Square Enix (2024). Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Ultimania [Book]. SE-Mook. ISBN 4757591349.