r/FF7Rebirth

I just got done playing remake and then rebirth. I'm about to jump into crisis core reunion.

I just want to start off by saying I never finished the OG FF7 game, I was a literal child at the time, maybe 6 or 7, and my family did not own a ps1, we would rent it from blockbuster at a week at a time... (yes i'm that old, we RENTED consoles from blockbuster lmao) and I don't think I even got to the shinra building given the amount of playtime I had with a ps1. I did however, know a lot of lore around FF7 (I knew of Aerith's death). I've been a final fantasy enjoyer forever, FF6/3 (however you call the FF with Terra) is literally one of my all time favorite games up there with chrono trigger and mario rpg on snes, and I played the OG crisis core on PSP when it came out and loved it.

Now to get to the meat and potatoes, I'm mostly writing this to collect all my thoughts, but I'm really feeling quite upset/down at the ending of rebirth. Aerith literally deserves more... whether destiny/fate demands it or not.

Aerith lead such a tragic life, starting from being confined in Hojo's lab as a young child. She didn't have any friends, and her mother was her whole world. The only other person she had in her life was her mom, and the only joy she ever had as a child was her mom telling her stories of adventure and fun - an escape from reality if you will, since her reality was so dark.

Then Aerith and her mom escape Hojo's lab, while her mother was still very sick. On the train as they are escaping Aerith is afraid, and her mother tells her that they're going on an adventure and to not be afraid, everything is going to be okay. They get off the train and Aerith's mom is too weak, so Aerith goes to look for a doctor but can't find one. When she returns to her mom after some time of not finding a doctor, her mother tells her sorry for ruining their adventure, but she has to return to the planet.

Aerith's entire world up to that point... gone. Now Aerith gets a little bit of normalcy living with Elmyra, but not completely. She has to live a sheltered life, hidden from Shinra in the sector 5 slums, and having to overcome the grief of her mother's death. With not many friends, family, or loved ones, Aerith lives a fairly peaceful life for some time.

Then Zack comes into the picture, and she falls in love with him. And maybe, this is the first time Aerith has been truly happy for once... only for Zack to just disappear one day, the "first man she has ever loved" is just gone. Another one of Aerith's loved ones... gone, and the tragedy of Aerith continues.

5 long years pass since Zack's disappearance and the once bright light that lit up Aerith's life was gone. And then Cloud enters Aerith's life, almost the same way Zack did. And just like Zack, Cloud lit up Aerith's life. I think at first Aerith struggled with her feelings for Cloud, as if she was wrestling with the idea if it was okay to move on from Zack, but by the end of rebirth, I think it shows she truly did care for Cloud, despite still having feelings for Zack.

Fast forward to Nibelheim in Rebirth, there's an extra dialogue option with Aerith on the water tower where she asks to be alone, and Cloud asks if she's angry, and she responds with "Mm-hmm" - "Not at you, but everything" and she goes on to say how she is jealous of Cloud's childhood friend (Tifa), but I think she is more upset not about missing out on a childhood friend, but not having a childhood at all. She was jealous/angry that she was denied a normal life because of her bloodline.

Now rewind to Aerith's speech in cosmo canyon Aerith talks about her ancient/cetra bloodline and states, "For the most part... it's been a source of pain." She goes on to say how her blood has been a curse, but also a blessing since it brought such wonderful friends into her life. "And for once...I think I'm okay. Happy, even"

That's the line has stuck with me through the rest of the game and really made me think in retrospect. This girl, the most lovingly, sweet, sometimes mischievous, always putting on a smile and cracking jokes... she was always just putting on a facade. She was sad and depressed, but never let it show, until Zack and then Cloud came into her life... when she was truly happy.

Each character of the main party has had some major tragedy in their life, in which they were forced to relive in the trial of the cetra temple, but none of the other party member's lives were nearly as tragic as Aerith's. At least most of the other characters had a fairly normal happy life leading up to their tragic event... Aerith was living in tragedy since childhood.

tldr;
Aerith suffered her entire life, while most other characters lived a normal life until some tragic event. After having to lead such a tragic and sad life (with a few glimmers of light), she essentially had to sacrifice herself for the greater good. Which makes her lines about cherishing her time Cloud all the more sad, because at certain times I think she knew of her fate, and was trying to soak in/absorb the moments as much as possible... because she knew there wouldn't be many more.

If there is/was one character that deserves a happy ending in this story, it's Aerith. She lead a tragic life since birth, almost all the way to her death, and she died at a young age too. I thought by defying fate, she might actually get her happy ending, to only be sadly mistaken with her death at the end of rebirth.

It's got me so sad, because she literally deserves so much more. She is the shinning light that brightens the lives of everyone around her, despite having to go through hell.

PS. I know her death is important for Cloud's arc in part 3, but like... fate/destiny was "changed" (not really all the major plot points have remained the same), could a new version of the story be written where Cloud can overcome jenova with Aerith's help without her dying? It doesn't seem like defying fate has made much of a difference... at least yet, so why not?

And then fighting his beast form. One of my favorite moments and fights so far, because i finished him with Bahamut *chefs kiss* I haven't progressed any further than that so pls no spoilers for what comes after. I cant believe how big and long this game is 😂

I hope part 3 has optional dungeons just sprinkled throughout the open world, the dungeons in Rebirth are pretty decent, so I hope we get more of them

I am glad to see Yuffie riding shotgun every time. Speaking from experience, I MUST sit in the front seat if I am ever a passenger in a car. Good Job Devs

I've been playing this game's combat for a few days again, probably because of Part 3 being announced soon, i've been doing a few rounds of Odin with Tifa, but no one told me that he can do Helmcleaver to give you those rings, then Gjallarhorn's warning and right after that Zantetsuken..

Like bruh, that's such a pussy move!!! 😡😡

Yesterday it took me 20 attempts to get through white terror on Cloud's legendary challenge until I just gave up. Today I can breeze past him. Love how this game pushes you to master it's combat, but only if you want to.

So quick backstory, played Remake in about 2023, loved it, got Rebirth for Christmas this year. After playing for an hour or 2 I really felt like I'd benefit from the context of the original (tbh I felt as a new player the ending Sephiroth fight in Remake was weird because without the context of the og, you kind of have zero idea who he even is). So I bought the original and have finally gotten around to finishing it (literally just put in disc 3).

It seems like Zack will have a bigger role in Rebirth than he does in the og, so I'd like to ask, to what extent is Crisis Core necessary, not just to understand Rebirth, but to understand how it differentiates from the og timeline's story (from what I've heard, it doesn't divert too dramatically which is a little disappointing to me tbh but I get it). Since I already have Rebirth I'd rather just jump into it and get Crisis Core sometime down the line, but I want to have a good understanding of how Rebirth changes the og timeline. Thank you for any help!

I beat him thanks for all your help and advice got 58!

I played Remake and i thought it was the best thing i ever played, then i tested this 10 hour FF7 Rebirth demo masterpiece and its absolute peak, i really don´t understand the hate this game gets

lol. I’m playing for the first time during a dude quest in are birth. I never understood it in Remake and Rebirth gave terrible instructions so I’m just winging it. It moves so slowly yet the timer runs out too fast. And I don’t understand how to aim attacks. Any tips? I just want to win do I can complete the side quest and move on.