Though the game hasn’t been out for that long, it’s time to talk aboutFinal Fantasy VII Rebirthand the shenanigans that occur towards the end of the game. This is a space to break down some possibilities for the third entry in the trilogy, but also to examine how pop culture has shaped this part of theFinal Fantasy VIIcanon.
Before we go any further, you will need to have completely finished the main story ofFinal Fantasy VII Rebirthand reached the credits.This takes around 35 hoursif you mainline the core adventure.
Spoiler warning: This article contains major spoilers forFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth.
FF7
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Now, you might want to read ourexplanation of the game’s endingto understand everything. I’ll be looking at the multiversal properties of the remake project and how this could impact the trilogy and the series as a whole.
I wanted to title this article something along the lines of “Square Enixowes Marvel Comics some credit” but that would be slightly disingenuous. The idea is thatMarvel, specifically through the MCU films and TV shows, is leading the way when it comes to using the concept of a multiverse but, of course, we’ve seen this mechanic used in various areas of popular culture. However, since Marvel pushed the multiverse button, ushering in an age where the idea already feels a bit stale, it has become more of a trope brought into other areas, andFinal Fantasy VIIis not immune.
Zack the Harbinger
As we near the end ofFinal Fantasy VII RebirthforPlayStation 5, we discover something very important about Zack Fair. He is a harbinger of the multiverse. It began at the end ofRemakewhere we saw the traditional timeline split into two, with Zack surviving his battle with Shinra in one timeline, while the other carried on as we know it. Interestingly, this made Zack a tool for spawning more splits and producing more universes.
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While we’ve nursed both Aerith and Cloud back to health throughoutRebirth’sstory, we’ve also grown close to Biggs who wants to carry on the mission of Avalanche. At one point, Zack sits astride his motorcycle and must choose whether to find a cure for Cloud, nurse Aerith to health, or save Biggs from destroying himself and more reactors.
Biggs
Without realising it, Zack tears the timeline into three because there’s a possibility he can go in each direction. This wouldn’t be important normally, we’ve all had our own ‘Sliding Doors’ moments, but it’s important forFinal Fantasy VIIbecause of Sephiroth. InRebirth, Sephiroth is aware of the alternate timelines and their outcomes. He’s done the Dr Strange tactic of looking at all the timelines. He knows his role is to destroy the planet and absorb the lifestream within, to merge all timelines into one where he rules over it.
This brings into question, what will happen in the third part of the remake trilogy seeing as Zack is left in Aerith’s church at the end of the game, and Aerith herself has died and lives on only as a spirit Cloud can see and talk to? Will Zack be able to interfere with the timeline any further? More importantly, will Aerith? Seeing as Aerith pulls Cloud into a separate timeline to give him a working white materia orb, what’s to say she can’t have an impact on the outcome in the future, as more of a guiding hand?
Reunion
It’s difficult to do more than speculate, but we’ve been given some glimpses of ideas that could manifest into solid plotlines for the third part of the trilogy. One word comes up a lot towards the end ofRebirth- ‘Reunion’. Now, it’s likely this will be the subtitle for the game as the series sticks with the letter ‘R’ -Remake,Rebirth, Reunion - but it could also hint at several possibilities.
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As the game ends and Cloud talks to Aerith - the only member of the team who can - they make promises to each other. She promises to use her prayers to protect the planet, while he promises to defeat Sephiroth. A ‘reunion’ of sorts could happen in the third part which brings Aerith and Cloud back together, perhaps with her guiding him when Sephiroth’s control over Cloud’s mind becomes too strong.
Jenova
The meeting of two loves
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Zack and Aerith
The concept of a multiverse can allowFinal Fantasy VII’s trilogy to follow the original story, but bring new possibilities or new outcomes, tying up plots that have been left open for decades. We could also see this simplifying things - though that’s hard to tell, Square Enix loves complex storylines, I’m talking to youKingdom Hearts- as the original game spawned so many spin-offs and even a film where it made things kind of muddy.
Perhaps this ‘reunion’ is more about unifying and establishing one true vision for the classic RPG, which was the ultimate goal of the development team going into this project. As the team mentioned inan interview aboutRemake, they had “An overarching goal […] to make the game feel both “new and nostalgic” for players of the original game while exemplifying the idea ofFinal Fantasy VIIfor new players.”
Unifying
When I first saw the use of a multiverse inFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth, I felt a little saddened and annoyed. It felt like Square Enix jumping on a train that was already running off the rails. While the concept is always cool, the success can be a little spotty. Thankfully, after completing the game two weeks ago, I’ve had time for the idea to sit and percolate, and I’m confident that this could be exactly what the series needs.
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Topics:Final Fantasy,Final Fantasy 7,PlayStation,PlayStation 5,Sony,Square Enix
