Final Fantasy 7 Remake begins as a comparatively trustworthy recreation as a basic, however it certain takes some turns. Fans at the moment are asking: what does all of it imply?
Needless to say, this text will comprise full spoilers for Final Fantasy 7 Remake. And related spoilers for the unique Final Fantasy 7. We’re going to interrupt down the ending in as a lot element as we will – itemizing off the information but additionally going deep on some hypothesis and deduction of what this ending may imply for this game’s inevitable sequel and the world of FF7 going forwards.
Strap your self in, as that is going to be a giant one, and bear in mind: don’t learn any additional than this in case you’re not okay with spoilers. If you simply wish to know if the game is any good, take a look at our FF7 Remake review, or maybe learn our ending discussion for our quick response to what was offered. On this web page… we’re going to attempt to make sense of and clarify that ending. Gulp.
The position of the Whispers, the Arbiters of Fate in FF7 Remake’s ending
Final Fantasy 7 Remake adjustments up the unique FF7 story in a lot of methods, however probably the most vital adjustments all contain the Whispers – unusual, ghostly black-cloaked figures that seem at key moments within the story in an try and nudge occasions in the precise route. By the precise route, we imply the very same approach occasions play out within the authentic game.
When you first see the Whispers they appear innocent sufficient, however in a short time they start to have a much more vital impression on occasions. The extra occasions diverge away from the unique FF7 storyline, the extra usually they seem and the extra aggressive they turn into. On the battle for the Sector 7 Pillar, they seem to make sure Biggs and Jessie die. When Cloud, Barret and Tifa seem to have the Turks overwhelmed to cease the plate from falling, they intervene. Later on they cease Hojo from spilling the beans about Cloud’s previous too early, and of their most brazen act they revive Barret when he’s mortally wounded by Sephiroth just because he wasn’t alleged to die there.
Put merely, the Whispers exist to make sure occasions play out as ordained by future – and in a meta twist, the future of the FF7 universe is the story precisely as we noticed it within the authentic game.
As properly as escaping Midgar and Shinra, the ending of FF7 Remake entails the forged deciding to reject future’s intentions for them and do battle with the Whispers. In battle, three extra senior Whispers seem – one wielding a sword, one firearms, and one hand-to-hand. The in-game description of this trio describes them as entities “from a future timeline” that “fights to protect the future that gave shape to it”.
The three selections of weapon and elemental magic are curious, as they are often matched up not solely to Cloud, Tifa and Barret but additionally to the Advent Children antagonist group of Kadaj, Loz and Yazoo. Could or not it’s that is future variations of a few of the forged or the Advent Children characters coming again to attempt to protect the timeline and shield their future?
A future modified
Once the workforce fights and defeats the Whispers, they’ve an encounter with Sephiroth – however let’s skip previous that for a second and discuss what defeating the Arbiters of Fate brings round. It’s a giant deal, as Aerith says earlier than the workforce resolve to battle the Whispers:
“I’m asking you to help me. I know that, together, we can do this. But if we do… We’ll be changing more than fate itself. If we succeed… if we win… we’ll be changing ourselves. I guess… maybe, that’s why I hesitated.”
Aerith spends a lot of FF7 Remake conscious of the Whispers and seemingly conscious of the truth that she’s enjoying a job in a narrative that has already been written. Why that is we debate a bit of additional down – however on the finish of the Midgar Expressway she alters her thoughts. With the Whispers defeated, the longer term is presumably free to alter – and we see a number of key occasions have performed out in a different way already:
- We see the folks of Sector 7 rebuilding, choosing up the items of Seventh Heaven. In the unique model of the story, Sector 7 stays crushed and uninhabitable.
- Biggs is revealed to have survived the occasions on the plate – we see him get up, bandaged. If Jessie just isn’t alive, her physique was at the least recovered – her gloves and headband are on Biggs’ nightstand. Wedge’s standing stays unknown.
- Zack Fair, Cloud’s mentor, is seen to outlive an encounter with Shinra troopers that within the authentic FF7 and Crisis Core noticed him die, itself a key a part of Cloud’s journey.
Each time we see one in all these scenes revealing a considerably modified future, we see sparkles within the sky, scattering like snow to the bottom. This sparkles seem when the Whispers explode out of existence – suggesting that the sparkles will seem wherever that the Whispers have been at work attempting to govern occasions and protect the timeline.
While there are two completely different variations of Zack’s demise – one depicted within the authentic FF7 and one other because the ending of Crisis Core that later outmoded the unique scene – this final result matches neither. It begins out trying just like the Crisis Core scene, however Zack in the end triumphs. Even he seems stunned at his survival – and the ultimate shot of the game sees Aerith seemingly acknowledge what has occurred – that Zack, the previous boyfriend she mentions in the middle of FF7 Remake, is now alive.
There’s yet another factor on this scene that’s curious, nonetheless. Take a have a look at this:
Above are two screenshots of FF7 Remake. One is from chapter 4, the place the Avalanche members go to Jessie’s mother and father’ above the plate. The second is from the ending scene the place Zack is revealed to have survived. As a part of that scene, this empty packet is blown in entrance of the digicam by the wind, however the scene takes a second to linger and deal with it, as if it’s vital. The packet depicts Stamp, the lovable cartoon canine used as Shinra army propaganda. So why deal with the litter in Zack’s dramatic survival?
Well, look nearer. The stamp you see all through FF7 Remake is one design and breed of cartoon canine, whereas this one is one other. Further, it’s not simply one thing that’s solely on the ‘Stamps Champs’ snack packet – as we see packets of those with the ‘correct’ Stamp all through FF7 Remake, together with right here on the desk in Jessie’s mother and father’ dwelling.
So, what does this signify? Well, it means that one in all two issues has occurred: both Zack’s survival occurred in a parallel, alternate universe the place amongst different issues the Stamp design is completely different. Or, the adjustments to the previous, current and future brought on by defeating the Whispers has brought on many ripples by time, together with a change to Shinra’s army mascot.
Regardless, there’s now one paradox: except Zack dies someplace within the interim between his new survival and the beginning of FF7 Remake (his demise or survival takes place years earlier), there are on the very least two Buster Swords: initially, Cloud is bequeathed his weapon by Zack in his ultimate moments. Could a sequel additionally see you enjoying as Zack? Time will inform, however the level is obvious whatever the actual particulars: the world has modified considerably, and so subsequent chapters of FF7 Remake can deviate from the unique story extra dramatically if that’s what the writers want.
It’s all about Sephiroth
Before we get on to the nitty gritty of Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s ending, there’s one thing vital to know. While that is hypothesis and inference, we’re assured it’s right — it seems that the Sephiroth we see all through FF7 Remake isn’t some new model of the character in step with the alternate takes on the likes of Cloud and Barret in FF7 Remake. Rather, it’s actually a Sephiroth from the longer term and is probably going a Sephiroth now we have seen earlier than – particularly and crucially the one which followers watched Cloud defeat in FF7 sequel film Advent Children.
The first clue of this appeared all the way in which again within the authentic key paintings launched for the game. You can see it above. FF7 followers may discover one thing off about Sephiroth – however it’s one thing adequately subtle that at the moment most thought little of it. Sephiroth has a black wing.
In the unique Final Fantasy 7, the flesh and blood Sephiroth has restricted presence. By the time you struggle him, he’s taken on the demigod type of Bizarro Sephiroth after which the multi-winged Safer Sephiroth. The iconic One-Winged Angel musical cue is known as for Safer Sephiroth, who has one darkish wing extending from the right-hand aspect of his physique, in addition to an entire bunch of white wings changing his legs. The predominant level is that this: within the authentic FF7, Sephiroth by no means sports activities a wing in his human type. This is vital.
Once we see Sephiroth in Advent Children, he descends from the skies with an enormous black wing, a hangover from his time as a god in FF7’s conclusion. This Sephiroth remains to be vastly highly effective, displaying these godly skills by utterly altering the setting round him and customarily being vastly highly effective. When defeated, Sephiroth virtually guarantees to return, vowing “I will never be a memory.” All of this, once more, is important.
So, we’re saying that the Sephiroth that seems to you in Final Fantasy 7 Remake isn’t a brand new one – it’s the exact same Sephiroth from the unique Compilation of FF7, travelling by time and universes within the wake of Advent Children. But the place’s the proof? Well… it’s within the game.
The black wing is the primary and most evident piece of proof, however it isn’t alone. In the intro film, we see Aerith taking a look at a leak of Mako power in an alleyway, simply as within the authentic game. But the music takes an ominous tone and we hear Latin chanting that interprets to “Burning inside, with violent anger”, the primary traces of One-Winged Angel. This repeats a few occasions – and although it might merely be a nod to the grander risk, particularly utilizing the theme that within the authentic FF7 Sephiroth doesn’t achieve till he turns into a god and transcends his human type appears notable when taken alongside the remainder of the proof.
In the primary chapter of the game, Cloud has a minor episode earlier than planting the bomb in Mako Reactor 1. This freak-out is current within the authentic game, however one factor has modified – Cloud sees a black feather, which then disappears. In chapter 2, Cloud has his first encounter with Sephiroth. As properly as considerably altering the story, this encounter is adopted by a really curious alternative of musical cue: a brand new model of ‘The Promised Land’ from Advent Children, virtually as if to herald the looks of the AC model of Sephiroth. This is the one use of an Advent Children unique music piece within the game.
In basic, the Sephiroth we get in FF7 Remake matches up extra with the one from Advent Children than the unique game. The ultimate battle vastly resembles their showdown in Advent Children, proper right down to the strikes utilized by Sephiroth and the environments he creates. In the unique game Sephiroth is initially extra involved together with his personal grand plans and doesn’t regard Cloud as something vital. This adjustments over time, and by the point we attain Advent Children Sephiroth is virtually obsessive about tormenting and hurting Cloud. It’s this model we get in FF7 Remake, always taunting and smirking.
It’s a Remake – however it’s additionally a Sequel
The ultimate scene of the game with Sephiroth is vital. In a scene intentionally constructed to reflect the unique ultimate showdown between Cloud and the villain within the authentic game, the pair briefly spar. Cloud goes for it, doubtless attempting to kill Sephiroth – whereas he stays cool, calm and picked up, clearly holding again and never attempting to kill Cloud. More attention-grabbing than the preventing, nonetheless, is what is claimed.
“That which lies ahead does not yet exist,” Sephiroth says, reaffirming the newly open future created by the defeat of the Whispers. “Let us defy destiny together,” he goes on to say, urging Cloud to hitch in him creating a brand new future. Cloud naturally refuses.
This makes plain this Sephiroth’s targets: he has misplaced – twice now – and has traveled each again and throughout universes as a way to attempt to create a timeline and universe the place he’s victorious. His final objective, as earlier than, is to stroll in Jenova’s footsteps, conquering the planet, turning it right into a vessel to journey by the cosmos to wreak common destruction.
This being attainable doesn’t appear to be an enormous stretch, as it’s well-established in FF7 lore that sure highly effective beings can dwell on with a way of consciousness within the lifestream after demise. In Advent Children, the useless Aerith talks to Cloud, reaches out to a dying Kadaj and even reunites with Zack contained in the lifestream. The whole plot of Advent Children is pushed by the Geostigma, a illness brought on by the presence of Jenova and Sephiroth contained in the lifestream.
In FF7 Remake it’s established that historical past and future as we all know it’s “the will of the planet itself” and “the flow of the planet from inception to oblivion”, as described by Red XIII. We know the Lifestream connects and binds all issues on the planet of FF7 – so it is smart that the Lifestream might be used as a vessel to journey between completely different time intervals and universes.
This capability may clarify Aerith’s information. Throughout FF7 Remake’s story she seems to know greater than she lets on. She is aware of, as an example, that Marlene is Barret’s daughter with out ever being informed. Throughout chapter 10 and 11 when Tifa doesn’t fairly consider Shinra would drop the plate, Aerith appears to already know what’s about to occur. The Whispers are targeted on her, and when different characters contact her – like Marlene and Red XIII – they seem to achieve information of the longer term. Could or not it’s the Remake model of Aerith has been convening with the spirit of the unique and informed of what’s to return? Ancients talking to their ancestors and the planet is a well-established truth – so once more, it isn’t an enormous leap.
At the top of FF7 Remake the social gathering remains to be heading out from Midgar into the broader world, however the parameters have shifted. If the speculation of this being a later Sephiroth trying to alter his destiny ring true, what of the unique Sephiroth that ought to for now nonetheless be contained in the Northern Crater? Also, provided that Sephiroth’s objective appears to contain altering the longer term, has the social gathering merely performed into his fingers by defeating the Whispers? They might – and arguably should – go wild within the subsequent game. Only time – and sequels – will inform.
