The trailer reveals that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is still in the early stages of development, but that did not restrict the developers from including some very interesting details. The dialogue, areas, and characters showcased in the reveal initially pose more questions than answers, but a great deal is revealed upon close inspection.
7 An Allusion To Tifa’s Death
The only interaction between Cloud and Tifa in this trailer sees Cloud stating “I saw you lying there. I figured it was too late.” Tifa replies, “Wait, what are you implying? That I died? That I’m some kind of imposter?” This exchange is lacking in context, but it could be referencing two particular moments. The original game saw Tifa attacking Sephiroth with his sword, the Masamune, after he murdered her father. After a brief scuffle, Sephiroth reclaims his blade and slashes Tifa with it, leaving her for dead. Cloud is more than likely referencing this moment, but there is also a chance he is alluding to his vision in Shinra HQ.
Tasked with rescuing Aerith from Shinra’s maniacal clutches, Cloud, Tifa, and Barret all journey topside to gain access to Shinra HQ. As they venture to the top of the building, they come across a virtual reality experience that documents the history of the Ancients. The video begins to distort and Sephiroth appears to once again ruin the day by killing Tifa. Though it was only a vision, Cloud may very well be alluding to this moment.
6 The Sector 7 Plate
The end of the trailer shows Zack approaching the walls of Midgar with Cloud in his arms. As he stares upward at the city walls, he sees that one of the plates has been destroyed. Shinra has dropped two plates on the under city, but it is unclear which plate is being showcased in the trailer.
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Though it is not confirmed, there may be a chance that the tampering of time resulted in Zack returning to the same timeline that Cloud is currently in. If this is the case, Zack may be able to assist their party from a different plane, but it is still too early to confirm.
5 Cloud And Aerith Vanished From Zack’s World
The climax of Final Fantasy 7 Remake altered the course of history itself by changing Zack Fair’s fate. Having survived the past events of Crisis Core, Zack has finally returned to Midgar to find Aerith. As promising as his return seemed, the Intergrade DLC revealed that he could not find Aerith in the Sector 5 Slums, implying that she no longer exists in his new reality.
The final moments of the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth trailer presented Cloud and Aerith discussing how they have no idea of what became of Zack, so perhaps the alteration of time had a few side effects. With Zack no longer a part of their world, Cloud and Aerith may have to retrace their memories to uncover a way for him to truly return.
4 The Nibelheim Flashback
After Cloud and his companions leave Midgar in the original Final Fantasy 7, Cloud reminisces about his time as a SOLDIER. Once an employee of Shinra HQ, Cloud was tasked with returning to his home in Nibelheim alongside Sephiroth before Jenova possessed his mind. During his recount of past events, the player is allowed to experience Cloud’s seldom discussed past.
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Though Sephiroth’s appearance in the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth trailer may have confused fans, its meaning is quite simple. This segment is portraying how Cloud’s flashback will play out. The player will once again be able to play through Cloud’s journey to his hometown and more than likely witness Sephiroth’s sudden change in allegiances. It seems that Sephiroth will be briefly joining the party during this chapter as he did in the original game.
3 New And Improved Movement
Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s combat is one of the game’s strongest features. It was innovative but effective, permitting the player to soar to new heights while brandishing their overly large blades. Sadly, this fluidity did not transfer to exploration. The Remake saw players often confined due to its lack of fluid movement outside of combat situations.
Playable characters could walk and run, but any other form of movement was restricted physical confrontations. The unveiling of the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth trailer reveals that Cloud will now have the ability to traverse more difficult terrain. Very little is shown in this regard except for Cloud hopping over a rock. Developers clearly included this detail for a reason. Perhaps it implies a much-needed new traversal system will be implemented in the sequel.
2 The Feather
Final Fantasy 7 Remake saw Cloud and his friends plagued with the presence of black feathers. These feathers, for the most part, are only ever seen by Cloud, as his mind seems to be summoning Sephiroth back. Though a great deal of the narrative is told without referencing Sephiroth, black feathers are always a brief thought of him away.
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The Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth trailer is chock-full of feathery imagery, but not in the way fans would expect. These angelically white feathers seem to be referencing a different group of people. It could be a subtle hint to the return of Angeal and Genesis from Final Fantasy 7: Crisis Core, as they are both known to possess blindingly white wings. If Zack is capable of returning in this new future, perhaps his fallen comrades are too.
1 “What Is Fact And What Is Fiction?”
The unspoken line “What is fact and what is fiction?” may be alluding to the distorted timeline Cloud created during the climax of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Defeating the Harbingers has created something of a time paradox, thus blurring the lines between reality and fabrication. If anything specific is being referenced by this line, it is more than likely the return of Zack Fair.
Having died before the events of the game, Zack’s return may be damaging the flow of time or bringing it to a halt entirely. It may be impossible for Zack’s life to continue in the real world, so perhaps his existence is confined behind the gates of fiction. Zack will be a major character in Rebirth, but the reason for his presence is far from clear.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is scheduled to release in Winter 2023.
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