I killed emerald in so many different ways that i can't even remember , but yea red was boring, but still i never had problem killing it... i mean there are so many kind of counter and combination you can do, that you can do a fullcure everytime you get hit, and drain Mp everytime you do damage, which mean immortality if you don't get hit for 9999.. but well FF7 it's still one of the best game ever in my opinion, specially the materia system.