The Game-Changing Character in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth That Outshines Cloud

Highlights

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will deviate from the original game's storyline, with the late-game events of the first remake opening the door to a new future.

Zack Fair, a significant character linked to Cloud and Aerith, will have a crucial impact on the narrative of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. The presence of both Cloud and Zack in the game could potentially lead to their characters evolving in completely distinct directions.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will deviate from the renowned storyline of the original game. As the second part of a three-part remake, the events towards the end of Final Fantasy 7 Remake defied fate and created a drastically different future. The most remarkable outcome of this was the unexpected survival of Zack Fair, a character with a complex history intertwined with Cloud and Aerith. In Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the spotlight may shift away from Cloud, as Zack's presence in Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Intergrade suggests that his survival will play a significant role in the narrative.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will introduce several alterations to the original 1997 game's storyline. Final Fantasy 7 Remake concluded with the protagonists triumphing over the Whisper Harbinger, a supernatural entity that interferes when destiny is altered. Throughout Remake, ghostly whispers intervened at crucial points in the plot, reflecting the Harbinger's influence. By defeating the Harbinger, the party created a new timeline wherein they can potentially prevent the catastrophic events of the original game, including the death of Aerith Gainsborough. The immediate and profound impact of their victory became evident through Zack Fair's survival, Cloud Strife's closest companion and Aerith's first love.

Zack Fair is Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Most Important Character

When Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is released, all attention will be focused on Zack Fair and the paradoxical situation he presents. Zack's death is a significant event in Final Fantasy, profoundly impacting both Cloud and Aerith and motivating their journey to save Gaia. Through Zack's sacrifice, Cloud undergoes a transformative change, becoming the mercenary-for-hire that players encountered early on in the original and Final Fantasy 7 Remake. However, Zack's survival and return to the Sector 5 Slums, as depicted in Intergrade, shape a different future. Moreover, his survival has significant implications for Cloud's pre-narrative arc, elevating Zack into a more crucial character for what lies ahead.

The story of Zack Fair and his early interactions with Cloud Strife, a rookie SOLDIER, is told in Final Fantasy 7: Crisis Core. Throughout the events of Crisis Core, Zack develops a deep emotional bond with Aerith. The memories they share become a driving force behind Zack's heroic act of rescuing a comatose Cloud from the Shinra Army. As a result of Zack's death and the trauma experienced in Crisis Core's final act, Cloud's delirium causes him to merge Zack's memories with his own, and he takes up Zack's Buster Sword. From this point onwards, Cloud exists as a fusion of both individuals' personas, leading him to encounter and form a profound connection with Aerith Gainsborough. Interestingly, in Remake, Aerith appears to be aware of this duality, as demonstrated in Chapter 14's Resolution Scene where she informs Cloud that his love for her is not rooted in reality.

How Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Cloud and Zack Can Co-exist

In Crisis Core, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth establishes that the existence of Cloud in this version of the game is a result of Zack Fair's heroic sacrifice. However, a recent Rebirth trailer showcased at Summer Game Fest 2023 suggests that both Zack and Cloud will play important roles as main protagonists. It seems that Zack's survival can be attributed to Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, Barret, and Red XIII defying fate by entering a portal, possibly transporting them to a different timeline. This implies that fans of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will witness the continuation of the original timeline, albeit with a shifted focus.

The Summer Game Fest trailer for FF7 Rebirth reveals what appears to be Cloud and the party's lifeless bodies, left behind amidst the ruins after their defiance of destiny. This aligns with Zack's initial appearance after his survival, as seen in Intergrade, where he returns to the Sector 5 Slums Chapel but finds no trace of Aerith. It is likely that Zack will take on the narrative spotlight in the original timeline of Rebirth, while Cloud embarks on his journey in the new timeline crafted by his actions. Upon the release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth in 2024, these two characters may find themselves on a collision course, as fate seeks to realign the course of history and alter the fates of both Cloud and Zack.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will release in early 2024 on PS5.