Summary
The release ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second title in theFF7 Remaketrilogy, is fast approaching. Details covering the game’s characters, mechanics, and even scope in relation toFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeand the originalFF7continue cropping up as the months go on. Leading up toFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s launch, attentive fans can expect to gain a good idea of what Cloud Strife and his party’s journey will be like, as well as what Zack and Sephiroth have to do with it.
The latter two characters have prompted the most fan questions surroundingFF7 Rebirth. While both were important in the PS1 original, the mysterious Cloud-lookalike Zack and the legendary hero-turned-villain Sephiroth were both kept mysterious for most of the game’s runtime. In spite of that, laterFinal Fantasy 7games gave them a lot of focus, culminating in their increased presence intheFF7 Remakeproject. The presence of Cloud, Zack, and Sephiroth together on one ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s posters can’t be ignored, and a comment on Sephiroth from the game’s creative director has only raised further questions.
RELATED:Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Seems to Go All-In with the Multiple Timeline Madness
New Sephiroth Details Throw Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Theories Into Question
In a September interview with the news site Shacknews, creative director Tetsuya Nomura addressed Sephiroth’s presence inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth. He emphasized that Sephiroth appears more often now, and will thus play an integral role in shaping the story. Nomura noted that players would have to seethe end ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthto appreciate how, but that wasn’t the end of his thoughts on the matter:
As far as Sephiroth being this extremely popular character, frankly, I’m very curious as to what makes him so attractive to users, because I hear this opinion very often. His appearance, firstly, I’m sure, but also perhaps there is something about his background that brings about a particular appeal to so many of the players that makes him this iconic character. And so, forRebirth, I would think that besides Cloud, Sephiroth is also a protagonist that we can think of for this title.
The last sentence flew under the radar at the time, but fans rediscovered it recently. Referring to the former SOLDIER as a “protagonist” inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthis baffling, especially since it contradictsSephiroth’s apparent role asFinal Fantasy 7’s antagonist. It’s possible that Nomura and his translator were simply referencing how Sephiroth’s actions are the main driving force behind the plot, but there’s another reading of the statement that turnsFF7 Rebirth’s story on its head.
Sephiroth’s Protagonist Role Could Mean Big Things For FF7 Rebirth
Fans deep inFF7’s community should be familiar with theories involving theRemaketrilogy taking place in a separate timeline from the original game. Another common guess is that a timeline where Zack survives intoFF7’s present events was seemingly created at the end of the remake. WithZack’s constant presence inFF7 Rebirthtrailers, it makes sense that he would share marketing space with Cloud. However, the idea of Sephiroth as a protagonist throws another wrinkle into the increasingly complex narrative.
How Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Could Introduce A Good Sephiroth
While the Sephiroth that Cloud fought inFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeseemed antagonistic, Zack may run into his own timeline’s Sephiroth, with a greater threat prompting them to join forces. This would explain whySephiroth has become a fully developed fighter inRebirth, as he could become a party member in Zack’s playable sections.
Alternatively, Cloud and friends may have inadvertently traveled to a universe where the native Sephiroth isn’t as bad as the invading one they’d been fighting. This is all based on a potential mistranslation, but whatever the case may be, theories like these can only make waiting forFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthmore interesting.
