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After finding out that Cloud’s memories were actually that of his SOLDIER friend Zack, it goes without saying that people were very much dying to find out everything there is to know about this character. He’s an interesting character that the story doesn’t flesh out all that much, leaving many players wanting to know more about him, at least before Crisis Core.
10 Initially, Sephiroth Was Meant To Pose As Aerith’s Lover
Before Zack came into the picture as Aerith’s lover, there was another unlikely candidate that would’ve been in this role instead.
This person was none other than Sephiroth himself, which would’ve certainly made for a unique dynamic. However, this idea was swept under the rug, and Zack ended up being Aerith’s first love instead.
9 Zack’s Role In The Plot Was Decided Before His Character Was Even Designed
The idea of Cloud being an unreliable narrator with massive trauma was something that was already set in stone long before the elements of Final Fantasy VII were ultimately finalized.
So, it wouldn’t surprise anyone that the character of Zack didn’t even exist. Yet, someone like him was already planned to be the holder of Cloud’s memories all along.
8 He Was One Of The Last Characters Designed By Nomura For The Game
In fact, Zack’s character was formulated so late that he ended up being one of the last characters that Tetsuya Nomura designed for Final Fantasy VII.
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Given the massive role he plays in the plot and the seamless manner in which he was integrated, one would’ve never assumed that he was integrated so much further down the line, as compared to some of the other characters.
7 Zack And Cloud’s Moments Together After Their Escape Had To Be Cut Down Due To UMD Limitations
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core is easily one of the greatest spinoff titles in the series, which ends up fleshing out Zack’s character quite a bit and makes him a rather iconic character in his own right.
If there’s one minor thing that people can complain about when it comes to this game, it’s that Zack and Cloud don’t really share a ton of intimate moments before the former is gunned down viciously. However, there’s a reason as to why this came to be. Due to UMD limitations, Square Enix couldn’t really add these moments in the game. Thus, the story ended up focusing on Zack and his character development instead.
6 Gladio’s Squats In Final Fantasy XV Are Meant To Be A Homage To Cloud And Zack
Final Fantasy XV’s campfire sequences are quite entertaining in their own right, with one particularly notable moment happening when Gladio starts doing squats during these sequences. It’s a random event, but a fun one at that.
This is meant to serve as an homage to Cloud and Zack, given the fact that doing squats has become such an iconic part of Final Fantasy VII.
5 He’s The Reason Why The Iconic Bar In The Sector 7 Slums Is Named “Seventh Heaven”
Funnily enough, Zack has unwittingly helped shape the world of Final Fantasy VII in many ways. Although, he never really managed to see his influence firsthand, which is quite a shame.
For starters, he ended up coining the iconic name, “Seventh Heaven,” for the bar in the Sector 7 Slums. This occurs when he helps a man with a pile of wood who wanted to start a bar but didn’t know what to name it.
4 He Inspired Aerith To Sell Flowers & Gave The Iconic Hair Ribbon To Her
Zack’s romance with Aerith is easily one of the highlights of Crisis Core, and the manner in which he ended up shaping her character should definitely be noted as well.
From giving her the hair ribbon that has become a long-lasting aspect of her character, all the way to suggesting that she sell flowers to make a quick buck, Zack definitely inspired Aerith in more ways than one. It makes their connection feel real, and it makes his death all the more heartbreaking, as a result.
3 Yuffie’s Obsessed With Materia Because Of Him
While this might not be as much of a direct influence as others, Yuffie did have a natural inclination toward Materia from the get-go. Zack’s chance encounter with Yuffie did somewhat send her on the path to be a Materia-obsessed thief.
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She ended up sending him numerous emails, leading him to treasure that she would attempt to steal later on. She actually managed to accomplish this goal once and stole the Bahamut Fury Materia. That is, before sending it back because she wasn’t able to use it properly.
2 He Always Used The Blunt Side Of The Buster Sword
One rather interesting thing to note about Zack’s character is the fact that he was surprisingly clever when it came to using the Buster Sword.
Given the number of people he had to fight as a part of SOLDIER, Zack always tried his hardest to minimalize casualties by only using the blunt side of his Buster Sword. It’s a detail that some keen-eyed Final Fantasy fans definitely noticed in Crisis Core.
1 His Last Name Is Meant To Be A Contrast To Cloud’s
Zack didn’t have a last name before the creation of Crisis Core, where his full name was established to be Zack Fair.
His surname, Fair, was meant to denote a sense of calmness, which is in stark contrast to Cloud and his addled mental state, leading to a sense of “strife” within himself.
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