LogFAQs > #936842741

Speaking of being able to fail the train mission, I learned something new in my last FF7 playthrough last fall, what happens if you fail at Fort Condor. Played the game 30+ times, probably closer to 40 and still learning new things...

I was doing a "only mandatory battles" playthrough, made easier with the No Encounters option (fun fact: whether you get MBarrier in time for a certain boss that uses "Lapis Laser" comes down to whether you get the EXP from the bats in the icicle fights or not. And that boss without MBarrier is not a fun time. Big Guard is of course impossible, obtained from optional battle!)

I always give up on Fort Condor and just do the boss fight since it's easier + you get Imperial Guard armor. This time I lost the boss fight for the first time ever, in the spirit of it not really being mandatory since you can lose without a game over.

Not only do you get booted out of the Fort, and miss your chance to get Phoenix, but they withdraw the rope ladder to climb up there. By losing the boss fight you're apparently prevented from ever re-entering Fort Condor, lol.