[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for the original Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.]
The unique Remaining Fantasy 7 pulls an excellent, virtually nasty, narrative trick. Simply as the sport sells gamers on the concept its protagonist, Cloud Strife, is the hero and general cool man of the sport, we then study that surely, the entire concept of him that the sport has proven us relies on a lie. As an alternative, Cloud combined himself up along with his comrade Zack Truthful, and he cultivated a complete false model of himself predicated on another person’s recollections. Due to this, Cloud Strife is probably one of many least dependable narrators in actually all of video video games. And now, the ending of Remaining Fantasy 7 Rebirth simply provides an entire new layer onto that.
![The key art for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth with a huge spoiler warning slapped on it](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/l02s14r8DOPNo5yqhDczoB0NKIA=/0x0:920x1296/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:920x1296):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25308141/jlee_240226_1001_ff7r2_spoilers.jpg)
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Supply photos: Sq. Enix
The ending of Remaining Fantasy 7 Rebirth confused me. Positive, I believe I perceive what occurred in its broadest strokes, however nothing appears to be all that conclusive. It’s so unhealthy that I actually can’t even actually say for certain if Aerith died or not in a everlasting manner, just because there’s some funky multiple-worlds logic at play by the tip.
I’ll attempt to say what occurs anyway.
From the seems to be of it, there are two worlds in Rebirth. First, now we have the primary world the place we predominantly play as Cloud over the course of Remaining Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth. This world follows the story of the unique Remaining Fantasy 7, kind of, which suggests it follows a storyline the place Zack Truthful dies previous to the occasions of the sport. Besides Remake and Rebirth additionally present us an alternate world the place Zack survives the occasions of Disaster Core: Remaining Fantasy 7, whereas Aerith and Cloud solely reside on in a comatose state. On the ending of Rebirth, Aerith seemingly dies within the “fundamental world,” though we don’t see it — however the recreation does present her pals, like Tifa and Yuffie, grieving her loss.
That’s all complicated sufficient as it’s, however then figuring out the fundamental occasions of what occurred in Rebirth turns into much more topsy-turvy once we add one other potential layer of complication: Cloud has by no means been a dependable narrator.
![An image of Zack Fair and Cloud Strife fighting side by side in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. ](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rmccYBho37S0sDjC37SVzdiQSwA=/0x0:3840x2160/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3840x2160):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25356130/FINAL_FANTASY_VII_REBIRTH_20240310003913.jpg)
Picture: Sq. Enix through Polygon
Within the authentic Remaining Fantasy 7 and now in Rebirth, we see Cloud’s reminiscence fail. In each video games, Cloud tells an faulty model of the Nibelheim story the place he mixes up Zack Truthful with himself. That total opening chapter of Rebirth? It’s a lie. Sure, Cloud was at Nibelheim on the time, however he supported the mission as a low-level shock trooper, not as a member of SOLDIER like Zack. Rebirth hints at this discrepancy when Tifa privately confronts Cloud over his retelling of the Nibelheim incident, however now we have but to see Cloud unearth his absolutely authentic reminiscence.
When assessing the already complicated ending of the sport — which seemingly weaves collectively multiverses and desires — and issue within the further information that Cloud has messed-up recollections, it virtually turns into unimaginable to say what actually occurs within the actuality (or realities) of the sport. Some, or all of it, might actually simply be in Cloud’s fucked-up head. Throughout Aerith’s obvious demise scene, we see the display glitch out because it alternates between scenes through which Cloud efficiently saves Aerith, in addition to scenes the place Aerith dies. It could possibly be some kind of multiverse occasion, or it might simply be Cloud imagining that he saved Aerith. We simply don’t know.
If there may be one clarifying issue of all of it, properly, it’s Zack Truthful.
Not like Cloud, Zack appears to be confused by being whisked away to a brand new world, however he seems to be in good well being. His recollections appear kind of intact, and he instantly clocks Cloud’s out-of-character habits when the 2 worlds briefly collide in the course of the remaining boss battle in opposition to Sephiroth. On the finish of the sport, Zack finds himself within the church the place he met Aerith, the place he says that all the pieces he skilled felt “actual” and that he didn’t assume he dreamed it. So if Zack says he truly did expertise some kind of multiverse bounce, properly, then — possibly it’s not simply all in Cloud’s head.